NORMA Waterson will return to the concert platform next month for Two Nights At The Coliseum, Whitby, performing alongside daughter Eliza Carthy, husband Martin Carthy and special guests.

Norma's recent illness has curtailed her schedule of live shows, so the January 9 and 10 gigs will be a rare chance to see the Robin Hood's Bay folk singer in performance.

So much so that, in order to satisfy her legion of fans worldwide, it is planned that these shows will be broadcast live over the internet.

Presented by Whitby festival organisers Musicport, in association with the Waterson family and Netgigs, the nights will have contrasting bills. The Friday night will begin with a set by Marry Waterson, combining material from her own repertoire with songs from Bright Phoebus, the legendary 1972 album by her mother Lal & Mike Waterson.

Marry will be accompanied by Neil MacColl and Kate St John. MacColl, the son of Ewan McColl and Peggy Seeger, has played guitar with The Bible, Eddi Reader, David Gray, Nanci Griffith, David Gilmour, Beth Gibbons, Steve Earle, kd lang and Kathryn Williams, among others.

St John has worked Dream Academy, Marianne Faithful, Van Morrison and Tom Waits and has been musical director for projects with Leonard Cohen and Damon Albarn.

This set will be followed by The Gift Band, alias Eliza and Norma, accompanied by guitarist Martin Carthy and melodeon player Saul Rose.

Twenty four hours later, the Saturday concert will open with Sheema Mukherjee, the sitar player from Imagined Village and Transglobal Underground.

Norma, Eliza and Martin will then be joined by various family members including Ann, Eleanor and Marry Waterson and Davoc Brady, to revisit the family and traditional songs that have made the Waterson/Carthy dynasty the "first family of English folk".

Doors will open at 7pm for the 7.30pm start each night. Tickets cost £18 per night or £30 for both, available from the Whitby Coliseum or Musicport, Skinner Street, Whitby, or on 01947 603475. Early booking is advised amid significant interest already.

Did you know?

Eliza Carthy sang alongside Stevie Wonder, Sir Elton John, Chris Martin, One Direction, Sam Smith and Pharrell Williams on this year's BBC Music cover version of Brian Wilson’s God Only Knows.