Before I extol the virtues of this coming week's folk and acoustic music events I would just like to take some time out to congratulate one of the clubs in the area, and its resident/organisers, for their outstanding contribution to the less fortunate amongst us through their considerable charity work.

The Mucky Duck Folk Club that runs every Monday night between September and July at The Ewloe Social Club, Old Mold Road, Ewloe is a reincarnation of a very popular and well-loved club from the 1970s that used to hold its weekly evenings at The Liberal Club and, then, The Oaklands Hotel in Hoole Road, Chester. The residents, at that time, were The Wild Geese, a trio comprising of Paddy Nagle, Sean Gilligan and Ian Chesterman. The unlikely combination of two Irishmen and an English man had won The Song for Wales competition in 1972 and recorded a debut album, Songs For Tomorrow If Not Today, so the logical progression was running their own club. Ian left the group in 1975 and went on, much later, to spend 28 years as a member of Wrexham Folk Club resident band Offa.

Fast forward to this century, and the names of Paddy Nagle and Sean Gilligan have, once again, become linked with their old friend, The Mucky Duck, the club reinvented once more with the help of Pete Massey. The trio, called The Celtic Notes, became the resident band and, like true troupers, battled through illness, to continue to run the club. With the help of friends like Tony Kensall and Neil McKay who played with the band, when necessary, they created a very faithful following every Monday night. They have also managed, along the way, to raise a few thousand pounds for their favourite charities Their most recent contribution was to hold two charity events at the club. One in aid of the Welsh Air Ambulance that raised £800, and the other, for the Alzheimer's Society, the latter putting £404.44 into their kitty.

The Celtic Notes also played, last week, at another of their favourite venues, The Dolywern Leonard Cheshire Home, in Llangollen, giving a free two-hour show. This free gig is something they have done twice a year on a regular basis for the last several years and, God willing, will continue to do. How refreshing it is to see someone giving of their time selflessly in this ever more mercenary world we live in, where the planet is sacrificed on the alter of greed and political expediency and power (witness the destruction of the Brazilian rain forest that gives us 20% of our oxygen!!).

I applaud the endeavours of The Celtic Notes and the audience at The Mucky Duck Folk Club. When the club opens its doors again in September be sure to go along. I know you will always receive a warm welcome.

Now, to this weekend and the main folk event, in the beautiful North Wales countryside around Lake Vyrnwy, Powys is the Llanwyddin Weekend of Folk and Acoustic Music (August 30-September 1)), now celebrating its seventh anniversary.

The brainchild of Ruth and Ken Powell this is a tribute to the whole community of this tiny hamlet of just 36 houses and one shop. They have all pulled together to create and promote this event following their initial success with the first Day of Folk in 2013 and it really shows what you can do with community spirit.

The programme starts this Friday (August 30), with a ceilidh/twmpath with music from Twmpathology from Caernarfon and the ticket includes a welcoming supper too. It continues Saturday (August 31) with both afternoon and evening concerts and there will no doubt be sessions in between and food and craft stalls will be open from 11.30am as will the all-important real ale bar.

The guest line-up is also an attractive one with Midnight Skyracer, topping the bill. This sensational young bluegrass band comprise of five very talented female singers and musicians. In just two years since their inception they have made a tremendous impact in their own musical field and clocked up an impressive number of major festival slots, including Cambridge Folk Festival and Fairport's Cropredy Convention, also touring Germany and Switzerland along the way and releasing a much acclaimed debut album, Fire in 2018. Singer and songwriter, Steve Tilston, is in support, together with The House Devils, a superb four-piece Irish traditional band who are really at the top of their game. Also performing will be Risky Business (more affectionately known as The Riskies (aka Ken & Ruth Powell and Dave Walmsley) and the highly rated duo of Jimmy Aldridge and Sid Goldsmith. However, I suspect that, first on both mine, and many other fans list, will be those Wrexham wonders, the band who have rocketed to fame quicker than a space shuttle, The Trials of Cato.

If you cannot make the opening night's ceilidh, there is still a full day on Saturday (August 31) and, for those overnighting, you can enjoy a calm and reflective interlude, courtesy of a 'folk service' held at the lovely St Wyddyn's Chapel on the Sunday morning, a peaceful way to start September. With sing-a-rounds, sessions, a real ale bar, craft stalls, a pop-up bafé and BBQ it should be a great weekend. Tickets are sure to sell fast, so I recommend you pick up your phone now to book on 01691 870501.

As a footnote to the artistes listed above those who cannot get to Llanwyddyn for the weekend, can take comfort in the fact headliners, Midnight Skyracer, will also be in concert at the nearby Hermon Chapel Arts Centre, Oswestry the first Sunday (September 1) from 7pm to 9.30pm. Tickets are £12 (early bird) and £15 (on the door) and can be booked via the web or by phoning 01691 662 196.

Elsewhere, this coming week, the Wirral singer songwriter, Phil Chisnall is at Wallasey Folk Club on Sunday (September 1) at 8pm and the female singer songwriter, Gerry Ffrench, will be at The Hungry Horse Acoustic, the Whitby Club, Chester Road, Ellesmere Port on Thursday (September 5) at 8pm. Gerry won the Costa del Sol talent competition a couple of years ago and has never looked back. Her album, River City Echoes, is a triumph of original songs with many being about her home city of Liverpool.

As always, whatever you do and wherever you go, enjoy your music.

By D.C.M.