ONE of the main aims of this weekly column, more important really than letting local folk enthusiasts know what's going on in the region, is to encourage those readers with no particular interest or affinity with this type of music, to go to a concert, festival or club and experience it for themselves.

That is why I keep reiterating just how much variety of styles there is under that one "folk" banner, and while not all of it might be to your taste, you might just find something special out there to enrich your listening pleasure and get your weary toes a-tapping.

Just look at this week's list of offerings! A choice tonight between the blues-guitar expertise and subtle songs of Julie Ellison at Darlington Arts Centre, 40 years of songs and stories from veteran folkies Louis Killen and Mike Waterson at The Black Bull in Blaydon, and ex-President Bill Clinton's favourite Irish Celtic band Altan at Gateshead's Sage.

On Saturday at Washington's Davy Lamp, Grant Bainham and Hilary Spencer unite as Quicksilver for a night of witty songs, flash guitar and powerful vocals, all delivered with style and panache.

Sunday brings Lancashire Lad Geoff Higginbottom to Guisborough Rugby Club, and suave young instrumentalists Cross Current to Westoe Rugby Club, while Monday night at The Locomotion in Heighington sees great fiddle, guitar and vocal duo Joe Wright and Joe Topping bring their crowd-pleasing act to one of the region's most intimate club settings.

All of these acts have a wide following across the country and beyond, and here we have a chance to see them up-close in our own backyard. The fact that this sort of quality is so often available to us, at such reasonable prices too, shouldn't make us feel complacent. Get out there and lap it up, along with a healthy helping of local talent that invariably goes with it.