As regular readers of this column will know, the same names often appear at venues locally, and in North Wales and the North West in general, so it is always refreshing to see new faces coming into the area. One such act, an Anglo-German duo from Staffordshire, who made their first visit to the area in early 2017 when they guested at Wrexham Folk & Acoustic Music Club are to revisit North Wales on Monday (February 25).

Paul Walker and Karen Pfeiffer took the unusual and quite courageous step of coming across here for a recent Singers Night to showcase their talents and it worked, as many of the regulars at the club were asking Goff Jones, at the end of the night, when he was going to book them. A case I think of following that old politician’s advice of “getting on their bike” to seek work!

After several successful forays since they return once more, this time as the guests of The Mucky Duck Folk Club, Ewloe Social Club, Old Chester Road, Ewloe on Monday (February 25) at 8pm. With their unique onstage chemistry and their often commented-on special harmonies they entertain and engage their audiences with acoustic originals and folk club favourites or, as a German newspaper recently put it, “songs with groove and goose bumps guaranteed”. They certainly have been busy with gigs in the UK and Europe (Germany), including festival appearances all over the UK and a two-week tour of Ireland in between.

With powerful vocals, harmonies and exceptional musicianship and their own very original songs to sit alongside their immaculate covers of people like Richard Thompson, Dougie MacLean, Jimmy McCarthy and Christy Moore, with the odd German folk song tossed in, they will certainly present a very diverse and entertaining night for the Mucky Duck faithful.

It might also be worth remembering to take a few more pounds with you as their last two albums, Marble Town (2015) and The Whole Charade (2018), received great reviews in the music press and I am sure that they will have a few with them on the night. Admission is pay on the door. Phone Paddy Nagle (of The Celtic Notes) on 01352 720045 for further information.

If you missed Geoff Lakeman on Friday - a man who has probably become famous through the deeds of his family, sons Seth, Sean and Sam, being bright stars on the folk scene but is certainly no slouch himself - you can always catch him on Monday (February 25) when he continues his northern tour at Runcorn Folk Club, Runcorn Golf Club, Clifton Road, Runcorn at 8pm. Phone Tony Toy on 01978 561431 for tickets.

At Heswall Hall, 111, Telegraph Road, the popular Port Sunlight Sea Dogs will be holding a Sea Songs and Shanties evening that will also feature, as one of their guests, the legendary Hughie Jones of The Spinners.

I am also informed that fresh scouse will be on sale before the concert and during the interval. Tickets, at £10 (£8 in advance) can be booked through the website or phone 0151 342 2614 for further details.

As I previewed Chester’s February Folk Day (February 23) in this column last week I will just reiterate the essential details if you are thinking of going. Held from noon to midnight, it is really a mini festival, and that means concerts, folk club sessions and a ceilidh, all enhanced by home cooked food and real ales with all ages welcomed, from toddlers to OAPs. Tickets are available on the door, or online, being £20 all day (concessions £16) with cheaper alternatives for single sessions.

Also, on Saturday (February 23), there is a concert in Chirk that was only brought to my attention recently so, my apologies for not telling you earlier. The concert features The BBC award-winning singer songwriter Steve Tilston, whose songs have been covered by many illustrious artistes, including Fairport Convention.

It takes place at Black Park Chapel, Chirk at 7.30pm and tickets, at £12 each, can be booked by phoning 01691 650293. Further afield, the problem of being spoiled for choice, on this bumper Saturday (February 23), continues with Michael McGoldrick, John McCusker & John Doyle in concert at Trelawnyd Memorial Hall, near Rhyl at 7.30pm and folk-rockers Merry Hell at the Liverpool Philharmonic Hall Music Room at 7.30pm. Tickets are available from the websites or by phoning 0791 211 6277 (Trelawnyd) and 0151 709 3789 (Liverpool).

The two other main gigs this week also feature big names at big venues. On Wednesday (February 27) those legends of Irish music, The Fureys, are at The Brindley Theatre, Runcorn at 7.30pm but legends don’t come cheap and it will cost you an eye-watering £24 a ticket from the box office on 0151 907 8360. Coming in at half the price (£12) are BBC 2 double Folk Award winners, Greg Russell and Ciaran Algar, at the Liverpool Philharmonic Hall Music Room on Thursday (February 28) at 8pm. As above phone the box office on 0151 709 3789 for tickets.

Finally, on a local music note, congratulations to Heal the Last Stand vocalist Laura Leigh-Dickenson who is to tie the knot with her partner, Emmi Manteau, in the very near future. I wish them both all the best for their life together and I know I will be joined by all those involved in the Wrexham music scene, for which Laura has done so much over the years. Incidentally, you can go along and add your own good wishes on Fridays, as Laura starts a new regular weekly residency with her LLDJ sessions at The Fat Boar, 11 Yorke Street, Wrexham from 7.30pm to 11.30pm.

As usual, whatever you do and wherever you go, enjoy your music.

By D.C.M.