I hope you've had a good winter solstice and I wish you a a happy, healthy and peaceful new year. The news for this month is the arrival of a new grandson, a beautiful and healthy boy with the name of Henry! Jessica has a baby brother and Siobahn and David a bonny son. So, as the song says "Welcome to the world". We're all delighted. A miracle indeed!

This year is my 50th year on the folk scene. It all began in 1958 with skiffle. My agent (Kit) is working on promoting a concert here in Sheffield to mark the year. I suspect she's thinking of September/October time? I have no idea as to the format or who might be involved but I'm hoping some friends will come and join us? If it happens I'll be sure to let you know.

Whether this anniversary has anything to do with my diary I don't know but I'm delighted to see I'll be at quite a few Festivals as the year passes (see Concert Dates). I'm looking forward to these as I enjoy the opportunity to actually spend some time talking to friends which at clubs and concerts is often not possible. So please come and say hello if you happen to be where I am.

It is also possible I'll get the opportunity to meet up with friends in Canada and the USA this year cos I'm invited to the Vancouver Folk Music Festival in July. Of all the festivals I've attended over the years and with no disrespect to any of the others, Vancouver has probably been the most influential as far as I'm concerned. It's where I've met and played with so many outstanding folk artists from around the world (including the UK). I first went to Vancouver in 1981 and subsequently every year til 1990 - ten fantastic years and a few times since, I think my last visit was 2002? This will be my final visit and I'll have an opportunity to say goodbye to my many friends there. I can't list all the artists I've met but they include some of my most precious moments, like sharing the stage with Billy Bragg and Pete Seeger. Pete actually got up and played banjo on one of my songs. I almost stopped singing, I was so excited!

So let's hope this year sees some progress towards the kind of world I want my grandchildren to grow up in? Take care and I look forward to meeting some of you through the course of the year?

I have just learned that Martin Simpson has been nominated for five awards in BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards next February! 'Best Album' : Prodigal Son; 'Best Original Song' : Never Any Good; 'Best Traditional Track' : Andrew Lammie; 'Musician of the Year' and 'Folksinger of the Year'. Not just cos he's my son-in-law but the nominations are wholly deserved. I think this is the best CD/Album he has made. So ... "Good luck Martin"

Days and weeks even months simply rush by and I can't believe the pace! It seems only a week or so since the summer rains came! Here we are in November with the shops full of xmas stuff.... it's been so for ages! I've played quite a few festivals this year. The early ones were often wet and muddy but then the weather became more considerate and I managed to stay reasonably "tidy". I was really pleased to play at the Edinburgh Festival. This was with Tony Benn and The Writing on the Wall programme. The concert was great and we had a good time. I'm sure the audience did too judging by their response and their comments after. A friend, Matthew Kelly, who I hadn't seen for many years, was also playing in town, came along to the show. David Ferrard and I then went to his show at the Assembly Rooms. I also found myself 'doing the door' at David's one man show for the few nights when I was free. He played for about 26 consecutive nights and sold out each show! That's exhausting. Then to Fylde and Bewdley. The latter with John Kirkpatrick. I must say singing with John is wonderful. The drive and energy of his playing seems to energise me in a way no one else does. We're doing a tour togeher next year and I'm looking forward to that (see Concert Dates). I'm being called so I'll pause here and continue after dinner!