This month sees a jam-packed programme at Hitchin Folk Club as musicians look to get the year off in style.

First up at The Sun Hotel venue are Dorset-based duo Ninebarrow who will be performing on Sunday as part of an extensive national tour.

They were nominees at this year’s BBC Radio 2 Folk Award in the ’Horizon’ category for ‘Best Emerging Artist’.

Since the release of their debut album in 2014, Jon and Jay have been rapidly fulfilling Shire Folk Magazine’s prediction that they will “become a major force in English folk music”, having received high praise from the likes of Mike Harding and folk legends Seth Lakeman and Kate Rusby.

Supporting will be Zoe Wren who, since completing her degree, has decided to follow a career in music full time.

A regular performer at Hitchin, she continues to grow in stature at every visit.

Then on Sunday, January 21, Jackie Oates and Tristan Seume will make a return to the club in Sun Street.

Since appearing as a finalist in the BBC Radio 2 Young Folk Awards 2003, Jackie has performed extensively at festivals and venues across the country and beyond both in a solo capacity and with her band.

In 2008 Jackie was honoured with two BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards including the Horizon Award for best newcomer, plus nominations at the 2010 Folk Awards for Folk Singer of the Year, Album of the Year and Best Traditional Track for ‘Isle of France’.

As a soloist, accompanist, writer, teacher and session musician, Tristan is one of the UK’s leading acoustic guitarists. Strongly influenced by folk, jazz and country, he has released two instrumental solo albums – featuring a mixture of original compositions, traditional tunes and a few choice covers.

John Dipper and Dave Malkin will be supporting. John was one third of The English Acoustic Collective and currently works with string quartet Methera, while Dave was a founding member of trio Tandem, combining traditionally informed compositions with live electronics.

January’s folk festivities close with the annual visit by the Bully Wee Band on Sunday, 28.

Tickets, available on the door, cost £12 for members or £14 for non-members. Doors open at 7.30pm, ahead of a 8.15pm start.