A NEW series of high profile folk music events launches in Okehampton on March 17 with a continental evening of entertainment.

The 'Folk Comes to Town' series will launch with a French dance evening with duo Matta-Rouch from Southern France, multi award winning border piper David Faulkner and French dance music aces, Eelgrinders.

The series is being organised by Wren Music with financial support from Okehampton United Charity and Devon County Council. More events are planned for later in the year, all featuring leading UK and overseas artists from diverse folk traditions.

French virtuosos Robert Matta and Pierre Rouch specialise in music old and new from Gascony, Languedoc and central France.

They play a wide variety of traditional instruments, including the boha, and chabrette, both types of bagpipe.

The concert will be their first ever performance in England.

Devon-based David Faulkner is at the forefront of the English pipe tradition. He has been playing pipes for more than 25 years with groups such as Eeelgrinders and the English Bagpipe Orchestra.

He has a wide knowledge of English and other traditional British music, as well as great enthusiasm for British and European traditional dance.

Eelgrinders are noted for their vibrant tunes, interweaving harmonies and lots of rhythm to get everyone up and dancing.

Alongside David Faulkner, the line-up includes Steve Turner on accordion, violinist Helena Torpy, and Lawrence Morgan-Anstee also playing bagpipes.

All are welcome to take part in the French folk dance, which will take place in the Charter Hall from 8pm to 11pm.

From 7pm to 8pm, keen dancers can come along and learn some of the steps in more detail with Exeter's French dance specialists d'Accord!

Tickets cost £8 full price, £6 for concessions, or £20 for a family of up to two adults and three children.

During the day there will be a series of workshops for bagpipers as well as for players of other acoustic instruments, plus the rare chance to try out playing bellow bagpipes for complete beginners with Ian Clabburn from the Bagpipe Society.

All of the workshops will be held in Fairplace Church, with a morning or afternoon workshop costing £15 each.

Alternatively you can pay an all-day fee of £35 for both workshops and the evening dance.

Advance booking is advisable to ensure places at the workshops. Further information and booking can be found at http://www.wrenmusic.co.uk">www.wrenmusic.co.uk or by calling 01837 53754.