Big music names are coming to the district as part of a season of folk music.

Mike and Norma Waterson, Martin Carthy and Bellowhead will form part of the impressive line-up as the folk music genre continues to grow in popularity across the district.

The season, organised by music promoters SaltaireLive, included last week’s Seth Lakeman concert at St George’s Hall, his debut show at the Bradford venue.

SaltaireLive organiser Simon Heginbotham said Saltaire and Bradford have become major venues for big folk names.

SaltaireLive organises concerts at St George’s Hall, Saltaire’s Victoria Hall and Otley Courthouse. Mr Heginbotham said: “In the last few years we’ve had most of the biggest names in English, Scottish and Irish traditional music at SaltaireLive, from Kate Rusby to Dervish.

“Saltaire and Bradford have now become major venues, and that’s down to the loyalty of the audience in coming to the shows and spreading the word.

“As long as people keep supporting the shows, we’ll keep bringing the very best artists.

“The season builds on the district’s already-thriving grassroots folk club scene, in venues such as Bradford’s Topic Folk Club and Keighley’s Bacca Pipes, where the acts on their way to bigger things all started out.”

Mike and Norma Waterson started out in Yorkshire folk act The Watersons. Norma and husband Martin Carthy often perform as top folk act Waterson:Carthy, with their daughter Eliza, a contemporary folk star. Their Saltaire line-up will feature at least six musicians including Mike and Norma Waterson, Martin Carthy and Jim Causley.

Eleven-piece acoustic sensations Bellowhead are three-time winners of Best Live Act in the BBC Folk Act awards. Mixing folk, funk, jazz, world, classical, music-hall and big band, they whip audiences into a frenzy.

Bellowhead will be on BBC2’s Later with Jools Holland on Tuesday. Other acts which have played concerts by SaltaireLive include Kathryn Tickell, Dervish, Chumbawamba Acoustic, Altan and Fiddler’s Bid.

l Bellowhead are at St George’s Hall on Saturday, November 13, and Show of Hands are there on Thursday, December 2. Tickets for both are available on (01274) 432000.

Waterson, Carthy, Frost and Fire are at Victoria Hall, Saltaire, on Tuesday, December 21. For tickets ring (01274) 588614. For more about SaltaireLive visit saltairelive.co.uk.