BRUCE Molsky, old-time American music's answer to Ry Cooder, opens the Black Swan Folk Club spring season on Thursday (4th).

Welcoming the 2003 Grammy Award nominee to York, club promoter Roland Walls says: "Bruce is one of America's finest fiddle players in the Appalachian Mountains style and he's an excellent singer, banjo player and guitarist too. His high-spirited music melds the traditional sounds of mountain music with influences from the blues and African rhythms."

Roland reckons Thursday's concert could not be better timed. "Thanks in part to the film soundtracks of O Brother, Where Art Thou? and Cold Mountain, there is renewed interest in American traditional music and now comes an opportunity to see one of its best exponents."

Doors open at 8pm at the Black Swan Inn, Peasholme Green, and admission is £6, concessions £5.

Updated: 15:19 Thursday, February 26, 2004