THIS WEEK AT THE STABLES: WITH MAWKIN, CLARE TEAL, THEA GILMORE...

The Maz O'Connor Trio will be live at The Stables on Thursday (May 21), fusing traditional and contemporary folk. If the name is a new one for you, make a connection by getting hold of her second album, This Willowed Light, ahead of the Stage 2 show.

Tickets to see American folk legend Tom Paxton (below) on Friday (May 22) are pretty much sold out. 

MPMG Tom Paxton

Still, if you miss the boat, you can always make acquaintance with his new album, Redemption Road, which was released last month.

Incredibly, this tour comes half a century since he first toured these shores.

Some people never know when to retire.  Thank goodness!

Also looking thin at the box office are tickets to see Queen of Swing Clare Teal (below).

MPMG Clare Teal Top Hat

Performing live in intimate venues is still right up there in Clare's list of 'favourite things to do' despite live shows with her Big Band and Hollywood Orchestra.

Clare, who recently released her 14th album At Your Request, also figures on the new Van Morrison album DUETS: Re-Working the Catalogue.

It's not bad company to be in, is it?

Saturday's (May 23) live session will be a celebration of beautiful melodies with added wit!

Three time Folk Awards nominees Mawkin (top) return to the Wavendon venue this Saturday too, and their Stage 2 performance serves as a teaser for the release of their new album, The Ties That Bind.

The band say, rather charmingly, that the release is their boldest to date: "Ballsy folk tunes played with verve and conviction' are promised.

The Essex quintet will launch the album in July, when they take the stage at this year's Cambridge Folk Festival.

Thea Gilmore

Judie Tzuke is another returning voice this weekend, appearing in the Jim Marshall Auditorium on Sunday (May 24) evening.

Songs and Stories will be an intimate evening of old favourite and new songs interspersed with stories from the life and career of the lady behind the timeless classic, Stay With Me Till Dawn.

Thea Gilmore (above) is another Stables familiar, and her Monday evening (May 25) gig is almost sold out too.

She went On Track with Total MK.  Read here: http://www.totalmk.co.uk/on-track-thea-gilmore-answers-our-questions/

That's your lot for the week ahead.  If you want tickets you need to get on the case right away.

Call 01908 280800 or visit www.stables.org