PLENTY to recommend for the region's folk music enthusiasts this coming week, starting tonight with the second show at Gateshead's Sage for Christy Moore.

At the Ship in Middleton near Spennymoor (not far from the old Top Hat nightclub, where I first saw Christy play with Planxty back in 1973! ), there's a chance for everyone to try their hand, and their voice, at one of the singarounds held there on a semi-regular basis.

One of the folk-scene's elder statesmen, and a tremendous all-round entertainer, Johnny Silvo is at Darlington Arts Centre tonight also, while tomorrow the zany humour of Stanley Accrington will be in full swing at Robin Hood's Bay folk club.

Saturday sees the return of Pegleg Ferret to the White Hart at Mickleby, while Monday finds two of my very favourite acts visiting the area, in a very welcome Australian invasion, with the fresh and vibrant songs of MundyTurner at The Brecon near Chester-le-Street, and the perceptive and hilarious ditties of Bernard Carney at Stockton's Sun Inn. Cath Mundy and Jay Turner have built up a huge following around the UK folk scene in recent years, and Bernard's regular trips from DownUnder have shown us all that he is easily one of the best songwriters on the scene today, and comes highly recommended, especially as The Sun Inn is one of the best folk venues in the North-East to see a performer of his calibre. Don't forget the fabulous array of folk music available at www. radiobritfolk . co. uk, the on-line folk radio station that is about to celebrate its first successful year of broadcasting around the world, with a huge selection of roots and acoustic music available with a click of the mouse. Find me at Jezfolk@aol. com and share your opinions, thoughts and requests.