Another big festival weekend beckons, from as far afield as Cornwall with The Falmouth Sea Santy Festival (June 14-16) and South Wales with The Gower Folk Festival (June 14-16). However, much nearer home, as I reviewed in detail last week, is the Middlewhich FAB Festival (June 13-16) and, before I move on, a quick reminder of the main attractions of this unique "folk and boat" mixture for late comers to the column.

The Middlewhich FAB Festival runs from Thursday (June 13) through to Sunday (June 16) and, although the musical content has moved towards more mainstream pop music, there is still a strong acoustic Fringe Festival running alongside the main concert venues and, of course, the boating element of the weekend still makes this a unique one in the calendar.

Also, most of the events on the field and around the town, apart from the main stage concerts on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, are free. The other striking feature is that this unique festival combines the best of a canal tradition stretching back over 200 years with the best of contemporary and roots music. The whole town becomes part of the festival, with street performers, a street parade, dance workshops, Morris dancing, artists from all over the world, a large marquee for concerts, as well as a variety of other venues around the town and in the pubs.

Headliners are Toploader Friday (June 14) with support from singer songwriter Emma Stevens and The Peacocks. On Saturday (June 15) chart toppers, Showaddywaddy, top the bill with Backwoods Creek, Wildfire Folk, Felicia Neilson (Sweden), Baskey (Sweden), Cinder Hill and Izzie Walsh in support and, on Sunday (June 16), Electric Swing Circus are the top name but, from our point of view, I would say that the main attractions will be folk rockers, Merry Hell, Chris Jagger's Acoustic Roots and local North Wales duo, Vicar's Son. The festival has a very comprehensive website, including ticket booking instructions, if you want to see any of the big names in concert.

One omission from last week's colum was my failure to mention that there will be a Saturday Night Ceilidh with one of the best English Ceilidh Bands on the circuit, The Aardvark Ceilidh Band, and tickets will be sold separately for this event that takes place from 8pm to 11.55pm. Prizes for last couple standing anybody?

There will be plenty to occupy everyone and if you fancy a walk along the towpath there will be those beautifully painted narrowboats, some selling food and drink and, of course, traditional painted canal ware. Go along and enjoy.

Another gig that you will need a quick heads up on takes place this Friday (June 14). It is the latest Soundbox presentation at St Mary's Creative Space, St Mary's Hill, Chester at 7pm and features one of the most creative musicians of her generation, Nancy Kerr, who will be performing a solo gig at this popular Chester venue. This is quite a coup for Soundbox as Nancy is a very busy lady these days, much in demand across the UK and abroad. In a glittering career to date she has won six Folk Awards from BBC Radio 2: Folk Singer of the Year, Horizon Award 2000, Best Duo 2003, and again, in 2011, with James Fagan (her husband), Best Group 2014 with The Full English, Nominated Best Original Song 2011 for Queen of the Waters and Winner Best Album (Navigator) 2011. That is some pedigree for any artiste and, if you intend going, I recommend that you check out ticket availability on the Soundbox website or phone 01244 976187 before you go.

Other gigs this Friday (June 14) include Irish supergroup, The Sharon Shannon Band at the Liverpool Philharmonic Hall at 7pm (box office 0151 709 3789) and Frodsham Folk Club, whose Monthly Folk Session is being held at a most unlikely, but fascinating, venue. It is the 1905 restored Steam Tug, The Daniel Adamson, brought back to life after languishing in the lower basin of the National Waterways Museum at Ellesmere Port for decades. It is currently moored art Sutton Weaver Swing Bridge on the River Weaver, a convenient place for road access. This Free Singers evening starts at 8pm and could be another one to cross off your 'bucket list' of unusual folk venues that you have visited. Just think, you can wallow in the historical and nostalgic surroundings whilst listening to some excellent music. On the same evening at Telford's Warehouse, Canal Street (get the connection?), Chester they are holding their Monthly Fee Folk Session at 8pm, hosted by The Deportees, with local singer and guitarist, Luke Gardner as guest.

In the Parish Notices for this week I see that Vicki Swan & Jonny Dyer are at Frodsham Folk Club next Friday (June 21) and it could be a chance for you to visit The Daniel Adamson again. On the same day those busy, busy, bees, Merry Hell (Acoustic) continue their never-ending tour of the UK at Knutsford Music Festival, again promoting their new album, "Anthems to the Wind". I see that they are also at The Beardy Folk Festival, Cleobury Mortimer, Shropshire on the following Sunday (June 23). On Saturday (June 22) there is chance to witness a musical tradition that goes back all the way to 1204 and takes place at St John, the Baptist, Church, Chester. The Minstrels Court was an event that took place every year between 1204 and 1756 before mysteriously disappearing fro0m the ecclesiastical calendar. Enthusiastic folklorists, traditionalists and musicians researched the ancient ceremony and it was revived in 2008. It starts at 10am and is well worth a trip over the border to see.

Finally, also on Saturday (June 22), the one-day revival of Fylde Folk Festival takes place at Fleetwood as a celebration of the remarkable life of Alan Bell. It was originally planned as a celebration of Alan's 85th birthday but he didn't quite make it, passing away a few weeks ago, at the age of 84. As founder and organiser of the Fylde Folk Festival for several decades, founder of the much-loved folk group The Blackpool Taverners, and a great songwriter too, his place in folk history has long since been established. I will pay my own tribute to this amazing and remarkable man in next week's column.

One late notification, that I will follow up on next time, is the folk event at Mollington & Backford Village Hall, Station Road, Backford 6NT (off the A41). The much-missed John Wright is remembered in the band that carried on after his untimely death, Other Roads, and they will be in concert at the Hall next Saturday (June 22) at 7.30pm. Telephone Meggi Silva on 01244 371771 for tickets (£12).

In the meantime, whatever you do, and wherever you go, enjoy your music.

By D.C.M.