I’M just back from playing some concerts in Switzerland, where audiences seem hungry once more for UK folk music, after a period where bluegrass and world music has dominated their roots and acoustic gig scene.

We certainly had a great time, and even met up with some exiled Geordies hidden away among the lakes and mountains around Geneva and Zurich, who had turned out for a quick fix of homeland music and news of the folk scene back here.

We’re off to Holland next week, so it will be interesting to compare the two countries and their current attitudes towards British folk music.

Holland has certainly been a long-standing stomping ground for UK and Irish musicians, and in fact I first played over there as a callow youth, way back in 1981!

Meanwhile, nearer to home, Northumbrian songstress Carolyn Robson is at Blaydon’s Black Bull tonight, and tomorrow there’s a choice between Chris Milner at Saltburn’s Marine Hotel and the legendary Dave Swarbrick at St Andrew’s Church in Grinton, which is a change of venue from Reeth Memorial Hall.

Saturday is a busy night, with Ben Sands at Washington’s Davy Lamp, Rachel McShane at Newcastle’s Cluny, Brother Crow at Staindrop’s Scarth Hall and Welsh folk-rock band Mabon at Gateshead’s Sage, as part of their current nationwide tour. On Sunday Vic Gammon leads the students from the Newcastle Folk Degree Course in a night of music at Westoe Club in South Shields, and on Monday The Wilsons are at Stockton’s Sun Inn, so be sure to get their early for that one. Tuesday sees Jim Eldon at Darlington’s Britannia and Chris Milner is on home ground at Croxdale’s Daleside Arms.

Don’t forget you can keep me up to date with your news and views at jez@jezlowe.com, rather than my previous address, and I’ll do my best to keep the nation informed.