THE Discovery Museum in Blandford Square, Newcastle, has an interesting addition to its already formidable collection of displays, starting next Tuesday.

Titled North-East Beat, and running for the next six months or so, it is a display dedicated to the music of the region since 1940, and alongside contributions from The Animals, Lindisfarne and the best of local rockers and jazz performers, there's a nice section dedicated to the massively influential local folk scene. It's certainly worth dropping in to see it if you happen to be in town.

There's also a fine and varied collection of live music in the area this week, starting tonight with Canadian songster Dan McKinnon at Blaydon's Tynefolk, and a choice tomorrow between Duncan Chisolm and Ivan Drever at Reeth's Memorial Hall, and The Bad Pennies and myself at Guisborough Cricket Club. Sedgefield Parish Hall hosts a lively night of music with the Happy Cats and The John Wrightson Band on Saturday, and then Sunday's choice is between Ray Storr at Guisborough Rugby Club and Steve Dawes and Helen Pitt at Westoe Club in South Shields. Ken Wilson is at Stockton's Sun Inn on Monday, the same night as Gateshead's Sage presents an acoustic evening with the legendary songwriter Al Stewart. I have a solo gig at Croxdale's Daleside Arms on Tuesday, and then on Wednesday, The John Wrightson Band and Gardeloo are at Bishop Auckland's Town Hall.

There's quite a bit of folk music sneaking through on BBC radio these days, with Mike Harding's Wednesday evening show, and Radio Three's nightly Late Junction as the main national outlets.

There are other regional award-winning folk shows still going strong, and easy to pick up on the internet, often with lots of NorthEastern artists being regularly featured. Ta ke note, Radio Newcastle.