MUSICIANS will be dusting off their accordions and tin whistles over the next few days for a folk music celebration.

Folkworks' Durham Gathering had a rousing start yesterday evening at the Gala Theatre, with fiddle players from Scotland, England, Sweden and America playing traditional music from their respective countries.

The three-day event, taking place at various locations in Durham City, follows on from the Durham Folk Party last weekend.

Today, an hour-long concert by squeezebox players will take place in the theatre during the afternoon, followed by an evening performance by people who have been taking part in the Folkworks Summer School.

Tomorrow, the summer school will be playing in the Market Place at about lunch-time.

During the afternoon, it will provide free entertainment at a Folk Picnic in the grounds of the DLI Museum and Durham Art Gallery, when there will be prizes for the most unusual or mouth-watering picnic.

In the evening, two more folk concerts will be held at the Gala Theatre, with a Northumbrian Concert at 5.30pm and a Celtic Night with Scottish and Irish music at 7.30pm.

There will be Scottish fiddles and concertinas, Irish flutes and whistles and songs performed from both countries.

All the musicians will be taking part in a rousing finale to the event.

Tickets are available by ringing 0191-332 4041.