A night of rabble rousing.

THREE folk-related acts appearing in the region this week demonstrate just how diverse the genre can be. Sunday night at the Sage's Hall 2 should be a lively affair when the anarcho-punk folk-ish collective that is Chumbawamba take to the stage. The band has an uncompromising, often satirical take on life and nail their collective colours firmly to the mast. Chumbawamba draw much of their rebellious energy from the folk tradition and have released two albums entitled English Rebel Songs (1988 and 2003). The current release, The Boy Bands Have Won, leaves little room for doubt about the band's view of the current music scene.

A COUPLE of nights later (Tuesday), the same room will resonate with the sounds of a completely different style. Moya Brennan, the sister of Enya (and seven other siblings) and the lead voice of the Irish group Clannad, presents an altogether softer side. Now dubbed the "first lady of Celtic music", she studied harp, piano and singing at the Royal Academy of Irish Music in Dublin, far from her Donegal roots. The family members have, between them, released a couple of dozen albums with sales of around ninety million in total. Moya's solo career started in 1992 with the album, Marie, which was co-rjroduced with Donal Lunnv. She released her eighth solo album last year, Heart Strings, and has also written her autobiography, The Other Side of the Rainbow.

ADRIAN NATION will be a new name to many. His recently completed album, Fall Or Fly (Laburnum Bridge records), is due for release early next month and he has a 17-date spring tour to support the release, with three dates in the region. The album features some strong, melodic songs and dexterous guitar work, which seems sure to reach a wide audience. He plays Rothbury Roots at the Queens Head next Thursday (March 19), the Bridge Hotel in Newcastle a week on Monday (March 23) and Bellingham Acoustic club at the Riverdale Hall Hotel on Thursday March 26.

FINALLY, it is hard to escape references to West Africa once again. After the visits of Baaba Maal and Daby Toure in recent weeks another musician from that region helps launch the Fifth Gateshead International Jazz Festival next weekend. The jazz guitarist, Lionel Loueke - called "a gentle virtuoso" and maker of "music of engrossing intricacy and ambition" according to the New York Times - and his trio raise the curtain on the GIJF in Hall 2 next Friday night. His new album. Karibu is out now.