THERE'S a feeling that the big bad world is once more turning a blind eye to folk music, following a healthy bout of interest and acceptance in recent years.

Few, if any, of the mainstream music festivals are including folk acts on their bills this year, preferring instead to waver towards the more acoustic pop that, however pleasant and sincere it may be, does tend to have a bland sameness about it after a while. News also reaches me that the forthcoming BBC Proms concerts have omitted all the folk and world music that was such a critical and audience favourite at last year's event. Looks like we might be on our own again, folk fans. We'll see.

There's plenty to entertain us this week, however, starting tonight with Kieran Halpin at Ashington Leisure Centre, Sara Grey and Kieran Means at Skelton's Duke William, The Ta nnahill Weavers at Hexham's Queen's Hall, and the beginning of a veritable splurge of activity from popular duo Bram Ta ylor and Roly Hindmarch, that takes them to Bishop Auckland Town Hall tonight, Reeth's Memorial Hall tomorrow, Mickleby's White Hart on Saturday, Guisborough Rugby Club on Sunday and The Smith's Arms near Chester-le-Street on Monday. Tomorrow also sees Keith Kendrick and Sylvia Needham at Hartlepool's Pot House, and a ceilidh at Ya rm's Fellowship Hall. Kieran Halpin is also at Washington's Davy Lamp on Saturday and Newton Aycliffe's Candlelight Club on Tuesday, while Sara Grey and Kieran Means return to the Sun Inn at Stockton on Monday. Lucy Ward, a new name to me, rounds off our week at Croxdale's Daleside Arms on Tuesday, and I'm also informed that Durham Folk Club starts a new regime tonight at The Tap and Spile in Framwellgate Moor.