THREE of the county's finest are in the line up for Furness Tradition's first gig of 2019 staged at Ulverston's Coronation Hall, on Friday, February 15 (7.30pm). On the bill are the Wierdstring Band, who sing about anything from love and time travel to the ancient art of worm charming. Furness Tradition also brings Mike Willoughby’s power trio Raving Rock to the Coro; they offer up new music steeped in folk, yet possessing a socially relevant, contemporary edge. Completing the bill are Stooshie, a four-piece band, whose sweet melodies and raucous reels blend traditional and self-penned fiddle tunes with bass and percussion. Box office 01229-587140.

TOP folk trio Lau return with a new album Midnight and Closedown, and a gig at Lancaster Grand Theatre on Saturday, February 16 as part of their 2019 UK tour. Lau are a four-time BBC Radio 2 Folk Award-winning band hailing from Edinburgh, comprised of musicians Kris Drever (vocals, guitar), Martin Green (accordion, wurlitzer, keys, electronics) and Aidan O’Rourke (fiddle). The trio achieved great acclaim with their 2007 debut album Lightweights and Gentlemen, going on to release numerous accolade collecting albums. Midnight and Closedown is their fifth and was written in Shetland and highlights the continuation of Lau’s experimental approach to folk music with increasingly minimal arrangements in song form which include the themes of togetherness and forgiveness. Box office 01524-64695.

COME Thursday and the Brewery hosts one the hot bands of the moment - Holy Moly and The Crackers. 2019 has kicked off in terrific style for the Newcastle-based six-piece with a new single All I Got Is You out now and a new album heading for an April 5 release on the band’s own Pink Lane Records. In March they zip off on a European tour with Skinny Lister and return to the UK the following month for the album's launch tour, culminating with their biggest headline show ever, at London's Scala. Before that though music fans can tune into the band's concise, passionate take on folk, blues and indie rock at the Kendal arts centre on February 14. Holy Moly and The Crackers make riotous party music for the masses. Box office 01539-725133.