THE wind of change blows through the Black Swan Folk Club this month.

CrossCurrent, five musicians who studied under celebrated Northumbrian piper Kathryn Tickell at Newcastle University, make their debut at the York club on July 21 following their graduation.

"According to Kathryn Tickell, they play with finesse, flair, fire and fun," says club organiser Roland Walls. "They've already been featured in fRoots magazine and have several festival bookings this summer to tie in with last month's release of their debut album, Momentum."

The emphasis is again on young talent when new duo Rosie Doonan & Ben Murray play the Black Swan on August 25. "There's a real buzz about them. Rosie's heart-melting vocals and the guitar/keyboard arrangements have a strong folk-jazz ambience," says Roland.

From America comes a trio of shows. Bayou Seco, alias New Mexicans Jeanie McLerie and Ken Keppeler, serve up a chilli-gumbo of southern USA roots music on August 4; mother-and-son duo Sara Grey and Kieron Means perform traditional songs, ballads and blues from North America on August 18; quirky American singer and raconteur Mike Agranoff plays the Black Swan for the first time on September 15.

Judy Dinning, once of The Bad Pennies, turns up again, this time with Real Time for a July 28 concert of traditional ballads and modern songs, performing alongside Kenny Speirs, formerly of the John Wright Band. Leeds singer-songwriter Kevin Loughran features Jake Thackray songs in his September 8 set and, best of all, the wonderful blues and soul singer Christine Collister has signed up for a rare small club date on October 6.

Australia is not left out of the Black Swan mix. Cloudstreet, the Aussie duo of Nicole Murray and John Thompson, follow up their first British tour last year with an autumn return, playing York on September 29.

Doors open at 8pm each Thursday at the Black Swan Inn, Peasholme Green, York. Admission is on the door only, except for Christine Collister, whose tickets go on sale on August 25 at £8, concessions £6.50, on 01904 632922.

Updated: 08:56 Friday, July 08, 2005