Hi Noreen. As I said in another thread, there is a rare opportunity on Saturday evening (6.30pm) to catch Mick Ryan's song-cycle story of the workhouses, which was commissioned by the Southwell folk festival and premiered last year in the grounds of the workhouse that inspired it (now a National Trust museum).

Catch it if you can. It doesn't come out of wraps too often and you will see some fine performers - not least Mick himself, and the wonderful musician and guitarist Paul Downes. And this will be one of the rare occasions when the cast is joined by members of Thoresby Colliery brass band. (I am sometimes equivocal about brass instruments accompanying folk, as in Bellowhead and Brass Monkey, but they work really well with Mick's songs.) If it's not sold out, be sure to include it in your festival itinerary!

The Pauper's Path.