SEPTEMBER sees the Black Swan Folk Club launching a further season of formal concerts at the National Centre for Early Music on Walmgate in York.

First up in the new concert series is Scotland's all-women folk band The Poozies on Wednesday, September 10. This is a rare English date for the group and a first chance to see the new line-up, with fiddle player and singer Eilidh Shaw taking the place once occupied by Kate Rusby.

October sees popular folk diva June Tabor in concert with her band on Wednesday, October 8, followed by Hilary James and Simon Mayor on Saturday, October 25.

Further events are scheduled for the centre in November and December, but in the meantime there is a full programme of Thursday night folk events to look forward to in the Wolfe Room at the Black Swan Inn on Peasholme Green.

And there is a distinct international flavour to the club's programme over the coming months.

First up is Martin Curtis on July 10 - one of New Zealand's few professional folk singers, followed closely by Kieron Means on July 24, a singer of traditional and modern songs from Britain and North America, some inherited from his folk singing mother, Sara Grey.

American musical troubadour Dana Robinson is at the club on August 28, while Debby McClatchy, who specialises in the music of the Appalachians, will be performing on September 25.

Five-piece Tanglefoot will be in town on September 4, while James Keelaghan plays on September 18. Both write songs inspired by Canadian life and history but with much wider resonance.

From closer to home, The Sham Rock Band from Otley will be mixing folk, country and rock classics with off-beat originals on August 7, while Hampshire trio The Hot Tamales promise good-time, ragtime, blues and folk on August 21.

Doors open each Thursday at the club at 8pm and the music starts at around 8.30pm. Tanglefoot aside, there is no advance booking facility and tickets are available on the door only.

For more information call 01904 632922 or visit: www.freeweb.telco4u.net/blackswanfolk

Updated: 10:24 Friday, July 04, 2003