Westhoughton Folk Club plays its part for Bolton Festival by presenting an evening of entertainment, maintaining a 100 per cent record.

The club has organised an event each year since the very first festival, and this time round is no exception.

Chris While and Julie Matthews (ex Albion Band members) headline the evening of folk music at the town centre's New Pack Horse Hotel on Monday, August 27, 7.30pm.

Chris's voice has been compared to singers such as Joni Mitchell and Sandy Denny, and although her songs have been covered by others, she is the definitive interpreter of her own work. She joined The Albion Band in 1993 as lead singer alongside Simon Nicol and Ashley Hutchings, during which time she gained critical and public acclaim. However, she left the group in 1997 to concentrate on working as part of a duo with Julie.

Julie is recognised as one of the most talented songwriters in Britain, being compared to Richard Thompson and Mary Chapin-Carpenter. Her songs have been covered by Fairport Convention, Mary Black -- Thorn Upon The Rose was a top 10 hit in Ireland and Japan -- Frances Black and Mary Duff. She was a leading member of The Albion Band from 1990 to 1997, but in the last couple of years has emerged as a producer.

The pair initially got together as a one-off project in 1994 but response was so overwhelming that the act soon became established.

In addition to Chris and Julie, special guests at the event will include vocalist and instrumentalist Kristina Olsen on tour from California, and The Auld Triangle, Westhoughton Folk Club's resident band.

Tickets, £8, are from the Albert Hall ticket office or telephone 01942 812301. WESTHOUGHTON Folk Club plays its part for Bolton Festival with an evening of entertainment.

The club has organised an event each year since the first festival.

Chris While and Julie Matthews headline the event at the New Pack Horse Hotel on Monday, August 27, starting at 7.30pm.

Chris's voice has been compared to Joni Mitchell and Sandy Denny. She joined the Albion Band in 1993 as lead singer with Simon Nicol and Ashley Hutchings.

She left the group in 1997 to concentrate on the duo with Julie, who is recognised as one of the most talented songwriters in Britain, and been compared to Richard Thompson and Mary Chapin-Carpenter.

Her songs have been covered by Fairport Convention, Mary Black and Mary Duff. She was a leading member of the Albion Band from 1990 to 1997.

Special guests will include vocalist and instrumentalist Kristina Olsen from California, and the Auld Triangle, Westhoughton Folk Club's resident band.

Tickets, priced at £8, are available from the Albert Hall ticket office. FOLK SCENE: The Avid Triangle DYNAMIC DUO: While and Matthews