I CAUGHT the tail-end of Whitby Folk Week last Friday, and it was enough to get an idea of what a fantastic time everyone had had in that great little seaside town. It really is an annual pilgrimage for folkies from all over the country, keen to get totally immersed in the atmosphere and the music.

I would heartily recommend it for those of you wanting to dip your toe into the folk water during next summer’s festival season.

The local club scene is also gathering pace once again following the summer break, and highlights this week include a choice tonight between The New Prarie Home Companions at Darlington’s Copper Beech, and Tom McConville at The Queen’s Head up in Rothbury. Scottish entertainer Tich Frier is at Guisborough Rugby Club, on Sunday, and at The Iron Horse, in Newton Aycliffe, on Monday. Also on Monday, Vin Garbutt is at The Light Dragoon in Etton, while on Tuesday, Joe Topping is at The Clef and Cask, in Cramlington.

Elsewhere there are sing-around sessions to be found in all the usual places. The festival season is far from over of course, even if the weather thinks it is, with Sedgefield Festival looming up next weekend, as well as the very last Fylde Festival happening over in Lancashire at that same time.

I’m heading south to the New Forest Festival tomorrow, with a bunch of other such events still to come. It does seem that festival fever shows no sign of waning, but let’s not forget the hardworking club organisers around the region who will ably be filling the void in the winter months.