‘Come and play’ plea after North Elmham folk nights go global

It's got a potential global audience of billions - but the organisers of weekly folk nights in a Norfolk village would be more than happy just to get a few more bums on seats.

Sunday sessions run by the Folkspot club at the Railway pub and its Tracks venue at North Elmham go out live on the internet so that people can tune in wherever they are in the world.

Folkspot moved to the village in April and encourages musicians and singers who go along to do a turn in the first and final hours. Sandwiched in between is a guest spot in which performers from across Norfolk, Suffolk and beyond play.

Jane Knights, of the Folkspot organisers, used to be involved closely with Wayland Radio, the community radio station for the Watton and Swaffham areas, which broadcast for two or three years before closing last August because of a lack of funds and difficulties in securing grants. She said the Folkspot team was keen to sustain the momentum from that because they had made many friends back then among both musicians and enthusiasts.

In the Wayland days there were listeners from as far away as America. Jane, from South Creake, said Folkspot Internet Radio had a core audience of about 150 tuning in to hear the Elmham gigs and other live gigs and she was keen for the audience to grow.

'We're not sure where everyone is, though we do ask on one of our jingles for people to contact us,' she said. 'It has been quite exciting for us so far.'

But, more importantly, she was keen for greater numbers to turn up to the sessions themselves, with or without instruments, not just to provide a good evening for those present but for those listening in, wherever they might be. 'More people makes it sound better – a better atmosphere,' Jane explained.

Folkspot sessions run on Sundays from 7pm to 10pm. More information at www.folkspot.co.uk