FRESH from taking part in this month's inaugural Costa Del Folk Festival in Málaga, Spain, raucous York band Blackbeard's Tea Party play a home-city gig this weekend at The Duchess.

Formed in 2009, they began as a busking, function and ceilidh band, but progressed to gigs in York and further afield at festivals and ceilidhs and on tour around Britain. On the way, they have released three records, 2009's Heavens To Betsy, 2011's Tomorrow We'll Be Sober and 2013's Whip Jamboree.

Last year was their most successful yet, their album release being accompanied by their first British headline tour. During the summer, they performed at numerous festivals, such as Sidmouth, Beverley, Galtres, Broadstairs and Holmfirth, but they could still be found busking on the streets of York too.

The Blackbeard diary for 2014 has gigs booked for as far ahead as September, including Fruit in Hull on April 9 (box office, 01482 221113); Howden Live, Shire Hall, Howden, May 16 (01430 431535); Whitby Folk Week, August 20 and 21 (01274 833669); and Galtres Parklands Festival, Duncombe Park, Helmsley, August 22 (07803 570399).

Expect funky folk tunes and storming songs grounded in English traditions, but never afraid to explore more exotic musical avenues, whenever and wherever Blackbeard's Tea Party take to the stage with raucous fiddles and squeezeboxes, guitar noise and synth bass and all manner of hand percussion.

Blackbeard's Tea Party, The Duchess, York, Saturday, 7.30pm.

Tickets for Saturday are on sale on 08444 711000 or at theduchessyork.co.uk