Folk festivals have this ability to pop up all over the place these days, writes Peter Cann. The latest addition is on our doorstep -- the Chipping Norton Folk Festival on February 5.

If you want to kick off a festival in style then there is no better way than having Show of Hands as your headline act. The duo have been headlining at venues across the country for the past decade and their mix of traditional and new songs, with a particular emphasis on their native West Country, has drawn ever more fans.

The songwriting of Steve Knightley compares with the best and there is no finer multi-instrumentalist on the contemporary scene than Phil Beer.

Supporting the duo will be Tanna, a three piece band consisting of no less thena Steeleye Span's fiddle player Peter Knight, alongside fellow fiddler Tom Leary and guitarist Kevin Dempsey. Plus Dr Faustus which features Tim van Eyken and Benji Kirkpatrick.

There is also Daytella, with Jim Boyes, Thinking Jack, and Banbury groups Wee Alex and the Boxhedge Clippers.

The festival is being held at the town's theatre and the box office number is 01608 642350.