BUSY border folk song and dance star John Kirkpatrick will be performing his exciting seasonal solo show, “Carolling and Crumpets”, at St Nicholas’ Church, Montgomery, this Saturday, December 1, at 7.30pm.

One of the most prolific figures on the English folk scene, John is a master of the free reed instrument, playing melodeon, button accordion and anglo concertina, as well as having an enviable reputation as a fine singer and interpreter of English folk music.

He has performed solo, in duos, in acoustic groups and in electric bands; he has been a member of the Albion Country Band, Magic Lantern, The Richard Thompson Band, Umps and Dumps, Steeleye Span, Brass Monkey, Trans-Europe Diatonique, and Band of Hope, as well as numerous ceilidh bands.

Currently he is leading a Christmas carols project at Bishops Castle which will be brought to local pubs during the festive period.

Saturday’s concert promises to be a heart-warming look at the timeless rituals and folklore of midwinter England. Mysterious and magical songs of wassailing, wren-hunting, stirring the fire and incessant feasting come dressed up in a glittering finery of toe-tapping tunes and cracking choruses.

Add a smattering of hilarious original songs and a sprinkling of carols both familiar and unfamiliar, all stirred up with John’s usual panache and supported by his scintillating skill on squeezeboxes, and you have the recipe for a rattling good evening, guaranteed to keep the spirits cheery and the cold at bay.

This event is organised by Montgomery Civic Society, and chairman John Welton said: “We are very pleased to have engaged this very highly regarded and entertaining musician, who lives just over the border in Shropshire, to spend an evening with us in Montgomery. He is internationally known as one the world’s finest accordion players. As is usual for the Civic Society’s festive events, it will be followed by Pies and Punch.”

Tickets are available from Bunners shop in Montgomery for £10 (or £12 on the door if any remain).