Welcome to this update for the first part of 2010 when I hope Friends of Folk can again present a programme of great music and musicians.

The programme for the next few months is a little more limited than usual, but starts off with what promises to be a great evening with Ashley Hutchings and Ken Nicol.  This gig is on Saturday 20 February in the Preston Guild Hall Foyer Bar which has proved to be a popular venue with audiences and artists alike.  The evening will be part of a national tour organised by Friends of Folk to celebrate the launch of their new joint CD ‘Copper, Russet and Gold’ soon to be released by Park Records –

In April we move to the Rose Theatre at Edge Hill University in Ormskirk for a truly enjoyable evening with Maddy Prior, Ken Nicol, Abbie Lathe, Chris & Siobhan Nelson, Andrew Keeling, The Bailey Sisters, Simon Fox and possibly more names to come……  On Friday 30 April the Rose Theatre will be the place to be!

The April gig will serve two purposes, firstly to celebrate five years of Friends of Folk and secondly as the launch of a new working partnership with the Rose Theatre to bring the best of folk and acoustic and singer/songwriter artists to this excellent venue – large enough to attract first class musicians, small enough to have a great intimate atmosphere. Details soon of more gigs at the Rose Theatre – keep watching this space.

With every best wish
Jim Minall