ANOTHER week to remember coming up for local folk fans of all ages and tastes, starting tonight when Eliza Carthy visits Durham's Gala Theatre as part of her current UK tour.

Saturday's choice is between the newlyexpanded four-piece Celtic band, Last Night's Fun, at Skelton's Duke William for the Cutty Wren birthday night, John Wright at Hartlepool's Studio and the grandmaster of folk cool, Dave Burland making a rare local appearance at Washington's Davy Lamp.

It's a four-way choice on Sunday, with folk guitarist J P Slidewell at Guisborough Rugby Club, Canadian rootsy girl-duo Salt at Newcastle's Cluny, current media-darling Rachel Unthank at Gateshead's Sage and Irish balladeer Donal McGuire at Westoe Sports Club.

Monday's puzzler is between newly-crowned World Spoons-playing champion Bert Draycott at Heighington's Duke William, Keeper's Folk at Brecon near Chester-le-Street and Tasmanian folk-devils John and Caroline Bushby at Newcastle's Bridge.

Keeper's Fold return to Croxdale's Daleside Arms on Tuesday, and then Wednesday's highlight is our own local guitar virtuoso Eddie Walker at Eaglescliffe's Pot and Glass.

All of these are very highly recommended, I have to say. Meanwhile, BBC4 promises another instalment of the Transatlantic Sessions at 8.30 on Friday, with Paul Brady and Capercaille among those on offer, and the airwaves will also soon be buzzing with Mark Knopfler's new album, Kill To Get Crimson, on which the local lad has gone all Celtic on us, with help from fiddler John McCusker and accordianist Ian Lowthian.

I heard a sneak preview, and it sounds great. Phew, I think that's enough to be getting on with, don't you?