It's that time of the year when four strangers from the east, the midlands and the north, come again to a town near you to bear witness to the Christmas miracle. Or something like that. St Agnes Fountain are Chris While, Julie Matthews, Chris Leslie and David Hughes and together they make some of the most beautiful - and entertaining - festive music we've ever heard. They're not coming very near Brighton on this tour - boo - but if you can catch them, we'd recommend it. A very special evening.

Here's Michael Chapman playing one of his classic songs - Soulful Lady at the club in November 2009. Thanks to everyone who turned out to see this great performer in action. We had a fab night with some especially good floor singers as well - hats off to everyone who took part. See you all next month for Paul Downes.

The brilliant Chris While and Julie Matthews (deserved winners best duo at the BBC Folk Awards this year) are playing just up the road - well, you know what we mean - at the Hailsham Pavilion on Sunday May 31st at 7.30pm. They’ll be joined by Bella Hardy, a fine young fiddle player and singer. Get more details from the venue or the girls’ web site. Go and see them - they’’re great songwriters, wonderful singers and generally very fab human beings.

Blimey. It doesn’t seem that long since Fairport were out on the road for their annual winter tour which saw them play Worthing Pavilion as part of the annual electric slog round the country. Although featuring exactly the same line up, this is the acoustic Fairport with less gear, which allows them to play different - smaller - venues. The electric band’s great and anyone who’s caught the acoustic Fairport proper knows how good that is, so this hybrid could bring the best of both worlds. Closest they get to us is Hailsham, but full details of the tour are on the band’s web site.

Don’t miss this. Steve Knightley’s back in Brighton on May the 6th doing his day job together with Phil Beer - as one half of Show Of Hands, one of the world’s finest folk duos, supported here by Miranda Sykes on bass and backing vocals. This is like listening to U2 play English roots music: powerful, anthemic songs that still manage to sound personal and intimate. They’re great performers, serious about what they’re doing and a great laugh as well. Show of Hands have a strong connection with Brighton and it’ll be a great night. Tickets are on sale from the Komedia box office. Call 01273 647100 for details or e-mail them.

The joy that is Feast Of Fiddles is on the road again. Never heard of them? Try these names for size: Dave Mattacks, Joe Broughton, Brian McNeill, Tom Leary, Ian Cutler, Phil Beer, Peter Knight, Chris Leslie, Dave Harding, Martin Vincent, John Underwood and FOF mastermind Hugh Crabtree. These lads are some of the finest fiddlers in the land and it’s a hoot to boot. They’re touring at the moment. More details from their site.