A local venue that has not been featured in this column for a while gets star billing this week. Llandegla All Styles Music Club started life some years ago at The Crown pub on Llandegla crossroads before moving to the Willows Restaurant just up the road, and finally to its current home of the Memorial Hall in the village. It is one of the hundreds of similar small clubs throughout the land that are the backbone of the live music scene, providing a platform for both beginners and those more experienced performers to play their music to small but appreciative audiences, without fear or favour. Co-organised and run by Llandegla residents Barry and Kath Evans since its inception, everyone, both performers and audience alike, are always guaranteed a warm welcome and long may they continue to receive the support that their dedication and efforts deserve. It has always run on a Monday evening at 8pm and hosts Singers Nights interspersed, now and then, by a guest evening.

Next Monday (March 18) is one of the latter and welcomes a band from the Wirral with many years' experience as their guests. Fiddlestone have had a long and distinguished career having formed in 1977. Based in Ellesmere Port, they are Les Bourne (guitar, whistle, vocals), Mal Ashman (bouzouki, banjo, vocals), Dave Burrows (English concertina, vocals), Carl Rogers (high and low whistles, double bass, bodrhan, vocals) and Lee Creswell (fiddle, mandolin, whistles, vocals). Their music, in the main, has been of a traditional flavour but, over the years, has evolved to include more contemporary material. As you would expect they can now draw from a varied and extensive repertoire of several hundred songs and they have a loyal following throughout North Wales and North West England. They have performed at many clubs and festivals and appeared on local radio and national TV. The current five-piece line-up can often be seen at Festivals in the area such as Chester, Shrewsbury and the Wirral and has also appeared at the prestigious Liverpool Philharmonic Hall. Despite their longevity and years on the road, the demand for their brand of music has not waned and they can always be relied on to play a tight, professional and entertaining set. Their album, It's About Time, received great reviews and will, no doubt, be available on the night so, take some spare cash with you. To book your ticket, at a modest £5, phone Barry, or Kath, now on 01978 790671.

Returning to this weekend, there may still be time, for those of you with a free night, to catch a premiere in nearby Chester. This Friday (March 15) the popular Anglo-Irish band Wet the Tea, from the Wirral, are launching their new EP in St Columba's Church Grounds, Newton Lane, Chester at 7.30pm. Visit their Facebook page for more details. As you might expect, Wet the Tea, are also celebrating the venerable St Patrick's Day on Sunday (March 17) with a musical session. This time it is at Tanskey's Café Bar, West Kirby, Wirral with a lunchtime/afternoon slot allowing other fellow Irish patriots (with deep pockets!) to go along to The Floral Pavilion, New Brighton at 7.30pm where the legendary band, The Fureys, will be performing some of their hit songs like, I Will Love You, When you were Sweet Sixteen, The Green Fields of France, The Old Man, Red Rose Café, Her Father Didn't Like Me Anyway, Steal Away and Clare to Here. Though not one for the purist aficionados of Irish traditional music their "folk-based" music and performances have received standing ovations in some of the biggest concert halls in the world and, without them, far less people would have gone on to explore and discover the diversity and enduring attraction of folk music in all its many forms. Tickets, at an eye-watering £24.50, can be booked through the box office on 0151 907 8360.

Other weekend events include a Welsh Talent Showcase at Plas Pentwyn, Coedpoeth this Saturday (March 16) at 7.30pm at the new community centre that only opened its doors on March 13. Nice to see it being put to good use already and, with tickets at £10 and one of the artists being Alys Williams, who was chosen by Sir Tom Jones on The Voice, it is worthy of your support. The event is bilingual and, for tickets and further information, phone 07732 561460. Also, on Saturday (March 16) at 7.30pm, Trelawnyd Memorial Hall, near Rhyl present the Scottish duo, Ross Ainslie & Ali Hutton in concert with tickets available from the Folk at the Hall website.

Moving into next week there is another gig on Monday (March 18) that may be of possible interest to readers. It is at the Mucky Duck Folk Club, Ewloe Social Club, Old Chester Road, Ewloe at 8pm where the guest band will bear the distinction of being led by, arguably, the 'last man standing' in terms of folk longevity in the area, octogenarian John Finnan. John's pedigree goes back to 1964 when he opened the first ever folk club in Chester, The Tuning Fork, and his enthusiasm for and continued love of the music he has always played is remarkable to behold. His band, Welcomme, Finnan and Chrimes, continue their never ending "twilight" tour ably supported by resident band, The Celtic Notes, who are mere youngsters, being still in their 70s!!!

On Thursday (March 21) Wrexham Folk and Acoustic Music Club holds its monthly Singers' Night at the Nag's Head, Mount Street, Wrexham at 8.15pm. Residents, Offa, have faithfully stuck to the tried and tested formula practised by Folk Clubs over the last 50 years. Once again, the floor is thrown open for both young and old alike to go along and "do their own thing". Despite the almost unhealthy preponderance these days of Open Mic nights, both in the town and outside, this still remains the longest running, the truest in terms of musical genre and, certainly, one of the friendliest and welcoming, So, please keep supporting it whether you perform or just enjoy listening and singing along. Oh, I almost forgot - it is also FREE!

It's that time again so, as usual, whatever you do and wherever you go, enjoy your music.

By D.C.M.