"FOLKIES" from across the country are expected to converge on Clitheroe from Friday for the town's annual folk festival weekend, supported by the Lancashire Evening Telegraph.

The event promises street entertainment, special workshops for youngsters, pub sessions, ceilidhs, comedy nights and a grand finale concert.

Tickets are selling well and festival organisers are offering prizes of tickets to the opening concert at Clitheroe Parish Hall at 8pm on Friday featuring Canadian fiddler Pierre Schryer and vocalist Rory McLeod.

A concert at the parish hall on Saturday featuring The Poozies and The Albion Band, followed by a ceilidh with Jabadaw and caller Dave Hunt, is a virtual sell-out.

St Michael and St John's Social Centre will host a comedy night on Saturday, with Joe and Ben Broughton, Dave Summers and double-act Maxi and Mitch.

On Saturday, there will be street displays in the town centre by Morris dancers, including Bradshaw Mummers, the Witchmen and Buckle Down. Workshops for budding musicians will take place at the Trinity Youth and Community Centre and the New Inn

A brass concert on Sunday at Clitheroe Civic Hall will feature the newly-formed Clitheroe Town Band and Slaidburn Brass Band.

And a grand finale concert at the parish hall will feature Bernard Wrigley and top Irish acts Jack-e-McCauley and The Poormouth.

A first prize of two tickets to the concert, as well as the Pierre Schryer CD "The New Canadian Waltz," and a second prize of a pair of tickets are up for grabs.

Winners will be the first two people to ring the competition hotline (01254 397623) between 9am and 10am on Friday with the answer to the question: Which country is Pierre Schryer from?

Clitheroe Tourist Information Centre (01200 425566) has details of all events.

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