LAST week I made mention of the upcoming BBC Folk Awards, not realising at that point that I myself would be among the lucky nominees in this year’s list!

I’m not alone in representing the region, with Northumbrian native Nancy Kerr also in the running, as well as Whitby residents Martin and Eliza Carthy. There’s also a lot of new names alongside the more established acts featured, and the folk social media sites have been awash with discussion and disagreement about it all as usual, some of which was interesting and to the point, while some was so ill-informed as to be quite comical.

One person insisted that I should be excluded from the whole thing, because I was American, and so ineligible! The choice of Yasuf/Cat Stevens as the main attraction at the ceremony itself in April has also raised some eyebrows, and though admittedly he was an acoustic pop-singer rather than a folksinger, I can recall that his early ‘70’s albums were often to be found in people’s LP collections, alongside the Fairport Convention, Joni Mitchell and Joan Baez records. And where would we be without a bit of controversy now and then? The final results will be announced on April 22nd.

Meanwhile, back in the real folk world, highlights around the region’s venues this week include Kieran Halpin at Washington’s Davy Lamp on Saturday, where he is launching a brand new album, and a choice on Sunday between sparkling newcomers The Rachel Hamer band at Guisborough Rugby Club and Scots balladeer Ewan McLennan at Gateshead’s Sage. On Tuesday, the very popular Edwina Hayes is at The Borough Bowling Club in Redcar, and on Wednesday we can choose between local heroes Eddie Walker and Frank Porter at Bishop Auckland Town Hall and the evergreen Fairport Convention at Gateshead’s Sage.