Some of the pubs and bars around Douglas will be ringing to the sound of traditional folk music this weekend.

The Isle of Man Traditional Music Weekend begins tomorrow (Friday)and will feature four days of free and informal folk music sessions, taking place in five different locations.

The festival gets underway with an open session in the Pinewood Community Club in Pulrose, from 8pm tomorrow evening, and then on Saturday there are two sessions taking place, one at the Sir Norman’s bar, at the Sefton Hotel, from 4pm until 8pm, and an all day session at Brendan O’Donnells, in Castle Street, running from midday until late.

Sunday sees another all day session at the Prospect pub, on Prospect Hill, beginning at midday, with the final day’s music taking place at the Thirsty Pigeon pub on Victoria Street on Monday, from 11am.

The sessions at Sir Norman’s bar and the Prospect are also open to children to take part in.

The sessions are free and open to anyone who wishes to join in.

The Traditional Folk weekend began 25 years ago and, according to one of the organisers, Ann-Marie Murphy, the festival is getting bigger as it goes along.

’The festival has just built up by itself over the years, and each year it seems to get bigger and bigger, with more people taking part,’ said Ann-Marie.

’We have visitors coming from all over the place, from Scotland, Wales and Ireland to play, and we also will be having people coming from as far away as America to join in, so it is becoming quite a popular event.

’The pubs have been so brilliant and helpful with us, and it is great that we are able to have a couple of places that will let the kids in too.

’There are two venues that we can have children in to play with us, and it is great to have so many generations playing, alongside the locals and the visiting players, wherever they are coming from,’ she continued.

’It’s good to get a mix of nationalities and different music, played by musicians of different ages.

’When you get loads of different people together, this is how music grows and develops.’

More information is available from the Isle of Man Traditional Music Facebook page.