IT'S a case of booking early if you want to spend an evening with a couple of songwriting legends at the Sage in Gateshead.

Songs like Heartbroke, a hit for Ricky Skaggs who also appeared at the Sage a couple of weeks ago; Let Him Roll, a Johnny Cash favourite and Desperadoes Waiting for a Train from the Highwaymen - Cash, Kristofferson, Jennings and Nelson - show off the writing ability of Guy Clark.

After success at last year's Americana Tyneside weekend at the Sage, he appears again on Tuesday September 25 with a mixture of folk, blues and country. From debut Old No 1 in 1975, Clark has provided a legacy of songs that have lasted the test of time.

The same can also be said of the troubadour who follows in October. John Prine's rare appearance promotes his new album entitled Standard Songs For Average People.

He appears on one of only three dates in Britain on Wednesday, October 17, in a show not to be missed. It's good to know that at long last the North-East country fan is being catered for by those forward-thinking people at the Sage.