Award winner to play St Neots Folk Festival

THE winner of two BBC Radio Two Folk Awards will headline this year's St Neots Folk Festival.

Martin Simpson picked up the prestigious best album award (for Prodigal Son) and the best original song award (for Never Any Good) at the 2008 event.

Simpson will perform in St Neots on May 10 (8pm) and will take part in a meet and greet session at the festival the following day (noon-4pm).

His musical style is based on traditional music and songs from Europe and South America, and his influences include Martin Carthy, Davey Graham, Richard Thompson and Big Joe Williams.

Patti Pitt, treasurer of St Neots Folk Club, which is organising the event, said: "This is a highlight of the town's social calendar and we are thrilled to have secured Martin Simpson as a guest."

She added: "The event is very good listening, even if you can't dance it promises to be good fun for the whole family."

All of the events, which this year will include Scottish traditional dancing and vocal workshops as well as the live music, take place at the Priory Centre in St Neots from May 9 to 11. Other highlights include performances by Paul Cherrington and Pamela Ward, Mary Paton and Tom Bliss.

The event, now in its 26th year, will be launched on Friday, May 9 at 8pm with a ceilidh and song and music sessions featuring The Hosepipe Band. On May 10 there will be dance displays in St Neots Market Square from 10.30am to 12.30pm and again from 2 to 3pm.

And on the Sunday from noon to 4pm there will workshops for dance and another for music.

INFORMATION: Tickets for the weekend cost £35/£32 while the cost of daily activities varies between £2 to £24. Full festival details are available from St Neots Museum, the Priory Centre or the King's Head Hotel in St Neots. To book tickets, or to register for the open stage session, call 01234 376278 or

visit www.stneotsfolkclub.co.uk