THE next guest at Folk at the Barlow on Friday will be Duncan McFarlane who proved very popular at last year's Festival. Duncan is a talented guitarist and vocalist had has a lively stage presence and whether regaling the audience with a story, singing a traditional or one of his own cleverly written songs Duncan is a true delight. He will be supported by our own Seat of the Pants.

Tonight The Met starts its annual Homegrown Festival in venues across the centre of Bury including the theatre itself. There is a very strong line-up of first class singers and groups — too many to list here. You can find full details of who is on when and how to book tickets at themet.biz.

On October 29 The Met continues its excellent folk music programme with Aly Bain, Ale Moller and Bruce Molsky. Sharing their Celtic, Nordic and Appalachian musical cultures. Aly Bain is Scotland's supreme traditional style fiddle. Swedish multi-instrumentalist Ale Moller and American old time fiddler, singer, guitarist and banjo player Bruce Molsky complete the trio.

This Sunday at 12.30pm, 2pm and 3pm, dance group Regency Rejigged will be performing music and dances from the 17th to 19th centuries, dressed in costumes from the Jane Austen era. Come along and be entertained by these fantastic dancers and their musicians as they celebrate the English country dance tradition. Academie Glorianna will be doing a period sword fencing display and visitors will get the opportunity to handle some of the group's arms and armour. Tickets are £1 on the door, no need to book.

On Friday, October 23 the Lancashire String Band presents a charity concert and book launch in aid of Derian House children's hospice at Wheelton Village Hall, PR6 8HJ. Performers also include Trio Threlfall, Peter and Barbara Snape, The Well Dressed Gentlemen, Harry Cowgill, and Sid Calderbank. Tickets are £7, ring Dave Middlehurst on 01257 278527 or email d.middlehurst@btinternet.com.

On Saturday, October 24 from 8pm until 11.30pm there is a Family Ceilidh in aid of Cancer Research UK and Tourettes action with the band Still Reeling at Stanley Club, 1 Liverpool Rd Burscough, L40 5TN. Tickets are £8 from Julie on 07899 720593 or email juliebhopkins@yahoo.co.uk.

Folk Music in Ramsbottom continues at the Irwell Works Brewery with a singers' night on the last Wednesday of each month and guest night on the first Wednesday. Both events are hosted by Chris Rogan, who is worth the journey on his own! The next event there is on October 28.

The inimitable Saggy Bottom Girls will hold their usual singers' night at the Masons' Arms in Egerton on October 28.

Wigan Folk Club runs two singarounds a week. On Tuesdays, they are at the Bowling Green in Wigan Lane (i.e. October 20 and 27) and The Swan and Railway on Thursdays (i.e. October 15, 22 and 29) wiganfolkclub.co.uk.

There are regular sessions at The Black Bull, Edgworth where all are welcome, even if you don't sing or play. On the first Monday of each month, the session focuses on song and the third Monday, the emphasis is on tunes. These are friendly sessions in a great atmosphere. Next tune session is on October 19.

Music for All meets at St. Joseph's Social Club in Brinscall near Chorley, every Monday in school term time from 6.30pm to 8.30pm. If a young person you know wants to learn an instrument, these are the people to see.

Leap to Your Feet Appalachian dancers meet at 8.00pm every Wednesday. Phone 01204 593224 or go to leaptoyourfeet.co.uk for more details. Rivington Women's Morris meet at Blackrod Community Centre, Blackrod, every Wednesday at 8pm. Go to rivingtonmorris.org.uk for information. Horwich Prize Medal Morris men also practice every Wednesday night at Horwich Resource Centre. Contact Andy Stevenson-Jones on secretary@horwichmorris.org or 07749 240289 for more information. Crown Rapper, has male, women and mixed teams who meet in Horwich to practice twice a month — contact Gill on j.g.shiell@btinternet.com or ring 01204 669311.

If you feel like travelling further afield, there are two excellent websites giving details of folk music events across the North West and beyond. They also review gigs and recordings from artists often featured in this column. First is a locally hosted site full of useful and entertaining material. This can be found at northwestfolk.co.uk.

The other is the site of the Federation of North West Folk Clubs, of which Folk at the Barlow is a member, and can be found at folknorthwest.co.uk. The Federation produces a quarterly magazine with club dates and some excellent reviews of both recordings and concerts. It's only £2 per edition and subscriptions are available via the website (or you can usually buy it at The Barlow when you visit for one of our concerts!).

15-17.10.15 Homegrown Festival, Bury, themet.biz

15.10.15 Singaround at The Swan and Railway, Wigan

16.10.15 Duncan McFarlane, Folk at the Barlow 07427 613783

18.10.15 Regency Rejigged, Smithills Hall 12.30, 2pm and 3pm

19.10.15 Song Session, The Black Bull, Edgworth

20.10.15 Singaround at The Bowling Green, Wigan

22.10.15 Singaround at The Swan and Railway, Wigan

23.10.15 Charity Concert, Wheelton Village Hall, with Trio Threlfall, Peter and Barbara Snape, The Well Dressed Gentlemen Harry Cowgill and Sid Calderbank 01257 278527

24.10.15 Still Reeling, Stanley Club, Tickets are £8 from Julie on 07899 720593 or email juliebhopkins@yahoo.co.uk

25.10.15 Singers' Night, Masons' Arms, Egerton

27.10.15 Singaround at The Bowling Green, Wigan

28.10.15 Singers' Night, Irwell Works Brewery, Ramsbottom

29.10.15 Aly Bain, Ale Moller and Bruce Molsky. The Met, Bury themet.biz

29.10.15 Singaround at The Swan and Railway, Wigan