YOU can tell summer is in the air, when local singer-guitarist Jack Burness decides to revive his successful Flash Folk concept, which has seen local singers and musicians descend on unsuspecting venues for a day of spontaneous merriment for all the family.

Not entirely unexpectedly, the setting for this Saturday’s event will be The Beamish Mary in No Place near Stanley, where Jack runs a successful weekly folk club. Things start happening around lunchtime.

That’s just one of many great things happening locally this week, with other highlights that include tonight’s choice of Lester Simpson at Blaydon’s Black Bull, Clive Gregson at The Portland, in Ashington, and Ribbon Road at The Lowlights Tavern, in North Shields. Two talented singers and comedians from Lancashire show up in the region this weekend, with Bernard Wrigley at Washington’s Davy Lamp on Saturday, and Stanley Accrington at South Shields Customs House on Sunday. Both of these zany characters have a long and loyal following here in the North-East, and continue to be on the top of their game.

On Monday, Johnny Handle returns to his spiritual home at The Bridge Hotel, in Newcastle, with partner Christine Hendry, and on Tuesday we have a rare chance to hear the excellent songwriter Kieran Goss at Redcar Bowling Club. Looking ahead to the end of the month, tickets are going fast for the annual BAMFEST, the Bedale Acoustic Music Festival, which starts on May 30. That same weekend, award-winning Celtic band Lau are hosting their own mini-festival at Gateshead’s Sage, with a star-studded line up of concerts over that whole weekend. Details of who is on where and when, is available on their respective websites.

Finally, Festival on the Moor at Danby Dale, in North Yorkshire, runs from May 26 to 28 with special guests and local acts appearing.