Ana, from what you say, I suspect you'd love Fifesing, which is held in Falkland in May on the weekend following the second Wednesday in May. Be warned though. It's an extremely small festival, so I'd get a ticket early.

Also, Halsway Manor, just outside Taunton, Somerset, hosts a moveable annual weekend of traditional singing. Next year it's in March. Again, it's a small event and it may already be sold out. So you might want to hurry.

If you're particularly after traditional singing, I'd avoid Rothbury Traditional Music Festival in mid July. No disrespect, but the festival is much reduced from what it was, with very few formal events. There were some excellent music sessions in the pubs, but hardly any songs. Some bloody good highland piping though.

There's a couple of festivals which have been highly recommended to me, but which I haven't got to yet, namely Girvan, early May, and The Morpeth Northumbrian Gathering, the weekend after Easter.

If you're planning to stretch your visit to Ireland, that would make a whole research topic in itself. I'm hopelessly out of touch with what goes on over there these days, but I do know there are heaps of small music festivals, plus a fair number of song weekends.

Finally, I agree with everyone who's singled out Whitby. If you haven't finalised your tour dates yet, I'd definitely build it around that. Lovely town. Lovely people. And so much going on that you couldn't fail to strike lucky.