NORTHWICH Folk Club has scored a major coup by signing up the BBC Radio 2 Folk Singer of the Year for a guest night.

Award-winner Bella Hardy is regarded as one of the most creative, prolific and original singers in the UK, and is a five-time nominee of the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards.

She won the Folk Singer of the Year award in 2014, and Best Original Song in 2012 for The Herring Girl.

Her songs range from fairytales to working class history, via childhood nostalgia, myth, murder and the human condition.

“It is a coup for the club to get such a high flyer as Bella, who will be appearing at the first of two guest nights coming up,” said folk club committee member Pete Thompson.

Bella appears at the Weaver Hall Museum on Wednesday, May 14, at 8.30pm, doors opening at 8pm. It is an all-ticket evening, and for tickets contact Brenda Yates on 01565 733197 or tickets@northwichfolk.co.uk.

The second guest night on Friday, May 16, is at the Galdstone Social Club, and features Skyhook, a group from Sheffield, who feature twin fiddles, guitar, bouzouki and voice.

The evening starts at 8.30pm, with doors opening at 8pm, and tickets can be obtained from folk club members or on the door.