MANY of our local folk venues are slowing down for a summer break, but I’m finding that I’m just as busy as usual despite that. I’m heading up to the picturesque surroundings of Newbiggin by the Sea, in Northumberland, this weekend for their music festival at The Maritime Centre.

My Bad Pennies and I will start off proceedings on Friday night, followed by local band Northumberland Fayre on Saturday and Below the Salt on Sunday.

Next day, I’m heading down to Willington in County Durham, for a solo night at the Spectrum Leisure Centre. After these two shows, I’m off to Canada for a few weeks.

Elsewhere this week, one of the region’s most popular singers, Di Henderson is at South Shields Customs House on Sunday, starting at 7.30pm. And on Monday, Newton Aycliffe’s Iron Horse welcomes French singer Claude Bourbon, a real scoop for the club, with a man who calls himself “The Frog with the happy blues.” They’ve had American, Canadian and Dutch artists at the Iron Horse this year, and I think it’s admirable that they’re so keen to introduce overseas acts to their audiences throughout the year.

On Tuesday, Beggar’s Bridge are at Redcar Bowling Club for the Cutty Wren crowd, many of whom will be looking forward to the impending Saltburn Festival, which starts on August 10, and which grew out of the Cutty Wren club more than 40 years ago. It continues to attract crowds from all over the country each year. I must also say thanks to everyone at Washington’s Davy Lamp who made me so welcome last weekend. The club is now taking a wellearned break for the summer, and starts up again in September with esteemed songwriter Allan Taylor as their first guest of the season.