The Mick Fleetwood Blues Band (featuring Rick Vito) have announced a nationwide tour celebrating 40 years of the original Fleetwood Mac. Expect to hear old favourites such as 'Oh Well', 'Rattleshake Snake', 'Albatross', 'Black Magic Woman' and many more.

Full details can be found here.

This year's North Devon Folk Festival runs from Friday 5 September to Sunday 7 September and is based in Ilfracombe. This year's headliner is Melanie Safka with support from Bellowhead and Eddi Reader amongst others. Further details can be found here.

Southern Fried is about American roots at its best, crossing boundaries and melting genres in a sizzling summer festival.

Southern Fried's lineup is bubbling with international names and homegrown talent; a searing mix featuring Nanci Griffith, Eddi Reader, Allen Toussaint, Dean Owens, Sid Griffin, Rachel Harrington and Elizabeth Cook as just a taste of this three-day spectacular.

With cosy late-night clubs at Perth Theatre and sassy big gigs at Perth Concert Hall, Southern Fried will make sure this summer is cookin'.

Running from Friday 1 Sunday 3 August, Southern Fried is on sale now at www.horsecross.co.uk and 0845 612 6319.

Folk, the people's music, means many things to many people. Join the legendary singer Barb Jungr, the Daily Telegraph music critic Ivan Hewett, Time Out music editor Eddy Lawrence, together with the music journalist Neil Davenport, music scholar Cara Bleiman, folk artist, composer and lyricist Chris Wood and folk enthusiasts Don Eales and Abdul Rehman-Malik in discussion with the Institute of Ideas and Guardian arts blog's Shirley Dent to find out who really does give a folk.

Vibe Live, 91-95 Brick Lane, London, E1 6QL, 7 - 9pm 29 July 2008

Tickets £7.50/5.00 available online at www.battleofideas.org.uk or by telephone on 020 7269 9220

This year’s Womad festival runs from 25 July - 27 July and features the usual stellar mix of acts from the four corners of the globe. Acts confirmed include: Orchestra Baobab, Little Axe, Mavis Staples, Cara Dillon and Chic - a list that gives some indication of the rich and diverse talents that can be enjoyed over the three days.

As if this was not enough, the WOMAD Summer School which runs from 28 July - 01 August offers the perfect chance to extend a weekend of world music, arts and dance by participating in a collection of workshops brought to you by some of the performers at this year’s festival.

The summer school offers an incredible opportunity to learn first hand from some of the world's most vibrant and accomplished performing artists - from drum legend Billy Cobham to Egyptian master percussionist Hossam Ramzy, classic UK songwiter Chris Difford (Squeeze) to West African kora and guitar maestro N'Faly Kouyate and acclaimed guitarist Justin Adams.

For more details of the summer school check out www.womad.org.summerschool.

For more details of the festival visit www.WOMAD.org/charltonpark.

As part of the iVamos Festival an evening of readings from To Make The People Smile Again will take place at the Morden Tower, Newcastle on 14 July 2008. Full details can be found here

Tickets cost £3.00 and proceeds go to International Memorial Trust.

Rock'n'Reel News Editor David Burke has just had his first book published.

Crisis in the Community: The African Caribbean Experience of Mental Health explores the reasons behind the disproportionate rates of mental health among the UK's African Caribbeans - despite this community making up only 1% of the population.

Burke himself says, "It's a book as much about the British problem with race as it is about mental health."

To purchase a copy go to www.chipmunkapublishing.com

The Georgian Theatre, Stockton on Tees, adds another feather to its cap with the booking of acclaimed guitar maestro and songwriter Martin Simpson for the launch of its Georgian Folk Season on Friday 2nd May at 7.30pm. Support comes from rising local stars Cath and Phil Tyler

Look out for further highlights of the Georgian Folk series over the coming months including Michael Chapman on Friday 13th June and Dick Gaughan on Saturday 20th September.