Folk fans have been spoiled over the past 18 months with gigs by veterans like Martin Carthy, Norma Waterson and Dave Swarbrick.

Now is the turn of the next generation of folk musicians to impress music lovers in the Worth Valley.

Kathryn Roberts and Sean Lakeman take time out from folk-rock band Equation to perform in Haworth on February 22.

Kathryn rose to fame in the late 1990s by touring UK folk clubs with fellow rising star Kate Rusby.

Sean toured as one of the Lakeman Brothers -- who performed in Keighley a couple of years ago -- before joining Equation. The band has toured the world, playing to packed houses from Los Angeles to Lisbon and its members have little time to appear in the clubs.

This will change on February 22 when Kathryn and Sean drop into the Parkside Social Club to "wear their roots and influences proudly on their sleeves".

The pair promise a varied repertoire mixing traditional songs with favourites from the likes of Randy Newman and Suzanne Vega.

Book £5 tickets for the 8pm gig by phoning 01535 642566 or 07799 275323.

n The Skeletal Family are the stars of a special Goth issue of music magazine Meltdown.

The Keighley band, 80s favourites who reformed last year, are interviewed in the issue now on sale.

"They talk about what it's like to play to an audience of people who weren't even born when they released their first record," says the magazine.

There is also fashion, beauty, clubbing news, reviews and "living for the dark side".

Read the interview on the web site www.meltdownmagazine.com.

n The women of Grace Notes will be among friends tonight as they celebrate their 10th anniversary.

The three singer-musicians are performing a special concert at Keighley's Bacca Pipes Folk Club.

Maggie Boyle, Helen Hockenhull and Lynda Hardcastle are long-time club stalwarts and performed together for the first time there.

In the intervening decade they have built up a strong reputation across the UK for their harmony singing and multi-instrumental playing.

The trio can be seen after 8.30pm at the club's premises in Keighley Ukrainian Club, 9 Henry Street (off Cavendish Street).

n Johnny and the Poorboys are again playing a St Patrick's weekend concert at St Anne's Catholic Club.

The March 15 concert and a February 28 performance at Holy Family School, will be among the last featuring guitarist Wayne Marshall.

The Celtic rockers are currently looking for a musician to take over Wayne's position.

Johnny says: "The rumour is the band have found a new 'gunslinger' who has just relocated to the UK after a spell in the USA.

"He played with the likes of Ryan Adams, Bryan Adams, the Addams Family, Willie Nelson and goth metal mob Marilyn Manson."

Regular readers will probably prefer to take Johnny's comments with the usual pinch of salt.

Tickets for St Anne's gig cost £3 by phoning 07973 950660 and for the Holy Family gig from the school itself, or by phoning 01535 210212.

n Local favourites head over to the Topic Folk Club, Bradford, this winter to headline at its Thursday get-together.

Singer-songwriter Steve Tilston and his guitar will appear on February 27 and singer, poet and multi-instrumentalist Tim Moon plays on March 13.

Tim recently released a three-track CD entitled No Room in aid of St Mary's Centre for the homeless, in Bradford.

The disc included the specially-written title track and a solo rendition of Tim's recent song The Money Keeps Rolling In.

There was also a live version of Black Concertina -- which appeared on Tim's album Anger and Kiss -- recorded two hours after it was written in 1999.

The CD costs £3 by phoning 01535 647832 or 07778 422857.

Also at the Topic, the oldest folk club in Britain, is Jon Harvison (March 20) and recent Keighley performers The Witches of Elswick.

The Topic is at the Melborn Hotel, in White Abbey Road, from 8.30pm. Phone Philomena on 01274 883412 for details.

n The Big Bang plays its Sixties Variety Club, Russell Street, Keighley, tomorrow. Admission £2, start 9pm.

n Hush shows off its new indie-rock colours at the Coniston club, Idle, next Friday.

n Bill Jones thrills audiences with her soulful voice and "slow songs to tug at the heart". She is joined by Sarah Wright, who appeared with the Kathryn Tickell Band, next Thursday, at the Square Chapel, Halifax. Expect lively tunes and tales to enthral. The Phoenix New Orleans Parade Band performs on February 15. Phone 01422 349422 for details.