IT'S been a hot and sultry weekend here at The Old Songs Folk Festival in upper New York State.

Almost exactly 40 years ago, just 50 miles south of here, the infamous Woodstock Festival was just limbering up for a historical happening. Though Old Songs is a somewhat more sedate affair, there's been some great music going down from people like Peggy Seeger, Christine Lavin, Lou and Peter Berryman, and Gateshead's own Louis Killen, plus as much spontaneous jamming, dancing and partying as could be crammed into three fun-filled days.

Meanwhile, back home, there's a lot I'm missing, such as Stan Gee and Evelyn May at Skelton's Duke William, and Geoff Higginbottom at Darlington Arts Centre tonight.

Saturday's choice is between Eddie Walker at Washington's Davy Lamp and The Raffeleites at Richmond's Outward Bound Club. There's an all-star concert at Saltburn Spa on Sunday featuring Eric Bogle, John Munroe, Judith Haswell and Ray Thom, and watch out too for Badapple Theatre's latest production, The Land Girls of Yorkshire, which is at Reeth's Memorial Hall on Friday, To pcliffe Village Hall on Saturday and Sherriff Hutton Village hall on Sunday. It features some music by yours truly, and has been playing to sell-out audiences across the region for the last three weeks.

Catch it while you can.

Meanwhile, I'm off to New Jersey, and then heading to The Isle of Skye for next weekend, but always reachable at Jezfolk@aol. com BBC Radio 2's Folk Awards Duo of the Year 2008, John Tams and Barry Coope, will be performing at Bishop Auckland Town Hall on Wednesday at 8pm.

Tickets are £10.

Tams is best known as Rifleman Daniel Hagman in the Sharpe ITV series. He is a five times winner at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards.