JULIE Felix is celebrating her 40th anniversary at the forefront of folk with a new album, her first concert DVD and the long and winding Ruby Tour.

On Sunday, the tour reaches York for a gig at Fibbers, where she will be showcasing songs from I Walk With Beauty, complemented by Bob Dylan and Leonard Cohen covers, native American Indian chants and her Sixties' signature tune, Going To The Zoo.

Felix's music resists label and boundaries. In the past couple of years, for example, she has recorded duets with Led Zeppelin's John Paul Jones, Kiki Dee and folk musician Martin Carthy and appeared on stage with former Rolling Stone Bill Wyman, Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel and Roy Harper.

This year she has performed at the London Pride event and she is working with the Christian Aid and Oxfam charities, as well as the Mines Advisory Group and Adopt-A-Minefield.

Felix, who made her name as the resident singer on David Frost's satirical show The Frost Report, is addressing more personal issues on I Walk With Beauty, her new release on the Remarkable Records label.

"This collection of songs and chants reflect my love of Mother Nature, my passion for earth and its rhythms, its music and its wonder," she says. "The songs also reveal my longing for peace and respect for the connection between healing and music."

The album and concert DVD, recorded on the Isle of Wight last October, are available through the website www.juliefelix.com.

Tickets for Sunday cost £9 in advance; £10 on the door.

Updated: 15:52 Thursday, July 22, 2004