IF your idea of Christmas music is gathering round the box for the festive edition of Top Of The Pops then perhaps it's time you broadened your horizons. And what better way than in the company of Maddy Prior and the Carnival Band.

Their show, Carols and Capers, will be staged at the Grand Theatre tomorrow (Friday) but star Maddy chatted to The Citizen about the festivities.

"I can't wait to get to Blackpool. It'll be something of a homecoming as I was actually born there in 1947. I was brought up in Bispham until I moved south at the age of 11. I do miss it though and it'll be great to perform there."

Maddy has been a singer all her life and is well known for her work with Steeleye Span and a range of traditional and folk songs spread over a back catalogue of more than 36 albums. Carols and Capers features a range of Christmas songs all performed on medieval instruments courtesy of the Carnival Band. Maddy said: "They are a really great band and play modern and ethnic instruments, all of which are acoustic. Included in the line-up is a set of medieval bagpipes, an original lute and a very old fanfare instrument called a shawm."

As well as traditional carols such as The Holly and the Ivy and I Saw Three Ships , the show will feature secular numbers like The Boar's Head and Old Joe Clark.

Maddy said: "The word 'carol' originates from an old French word meaning 'dance', so we wanted to reinvest the songs with that kind of energy."

She added: "It's a shame we can't perform 26 shows in one day, but the festive spirit grows more and more with every show we do."

Carols and Capers is at the Grand Theatre tomorrow (Friday December 8) at 8pm. Tickets cost £12.50 and are available by calling the Box Office on 290190.