As ever the summer months have proved to be great for festivals and travelling around the country. In July, Charlie went back to The Tap in Hull for their weekly acoustic music night and once again the local people and performers gave Charlie a very warm welcome back.

August has been the month for the festivals. First of all a trip back to Bakewell where their 11th Arts Festival was underway. Charlie played to a lively crowd in the festival tent and shared a bill with amazing, Ukulele duo, The Re-Entrants. It was also the month Charlie supported the RSPB charity and played at the Old Moor Reserve’s ‘Voice’s For Nature’ festival with Kellie While, Carrie Elkin & Robbie Hecht, Ray Hearne and WWW.Combo. Everyone managed to raise £650.00 for the RSPB reserve in Barnsley. Well done to Marie and Julia for putting on such an enjoyable and successful first event.

Whilst Charlie was on her travels this month taking a well earned break down south, she just so happened to bump into actor and comedian Alexander Armstrong of comedy duo Armstrong & Miller filming a documentary at Wookey Hole in Somerset, pictured in the gallery here on MySpace.

Musicians and fans of The Venue’s Open Mic night will be pleased to hear that the August gathering will be going ahead on the last Friday (28th Aug), starting from 8.30pm. As ever listeners are just as welcome as performers. Be sure to bring your weapon of choice and either plug in or mic up on the night.

On an even better note you’ll be pleased to know that The Venue have been listening to your suggestions about the future progression of the open mic, after all it is your night.

From 25th September (the last Friday of the month) we’re launching the night as the Last Friday Folk Club… we were up all night dreaming up that one! The Venue have now committed to a full year of folk club events, always on the last Friday where you take to stage along with a set from our invited guest.

The folk club will still remain in the Samuel Fox Suite at The Venue and there will be some very significant changes and modifications to suit the needs of a regular musical event hosted in that room.

We’d love to see you at the launch party on 25th September. More details will follow in the coming month and at the 28th Aug Open Mic night. Look forward to seeing you there!

As month's go June has been a pretty good one. Charlie was very pleased to have the opportunity to support two legendary folk/ singer songwriters, Dick Gaughan and Dougie MacLean at The Venue, Stocksbridge (pictured in the MySpace photo gallery). Dougie has always been a hero of Charlie's since she was young, seeing him first on the Transatlantic Sessions with Kathy Mattea and learning to play their music.

We had a great time at two new festivals both on the same day: Manor Folk Moot in Coalville and Worral Folk & Ale Festival in Sheffield. Down in Coalville our friends Greenman Rising, Chloe Merriot and Sam Sweeney (who played on Charlie's album 'Sleeping at the Station'), were also on the bill. Back up in hometown Sheffield, there was an appreciative crowd who came to see Charlie along with other acts Paul Pearson, Treebeard, Lou Marriot and Berkana. Everyone was in true festival spirit and the weather was perfect making a very enjoyable first festival for both events.

Thanks go out to our special guests at The Venue Open Mic for May and June. We were joined firstly by Rotherham's Andrew Morley and then Pete Thornton-Smith. Our next open mic will be on Friday 31st July with an 8.30pm start. As ever under 16s are welcome but must be accompanied by a responsible adult. For more information contact: The Partnership Media on 0114 2361040 or thepartnership@charliebarkermusic.com.

There's a few additions to Charlie's online sites to mention. If you've not read Charlie's published journalistic work and photography then get yourself along to http://charliebarkerjourno.wordpress.com. There is a range of work on there from Charlie's work at SHU Print newspaper, Folking.com and various radio work and appearances on the BBC. Feel free to leave any comments too!

There is a new addition to the downloads on the 'Journalism' page. You can now take a listen to Charlie's comments on the sudden death of pop icon, Michael Jackson here.

And finally, if you're into 'tweeting' or are wondering what on earth we're on about then take a look at Charlie's Twitter page http://twitter.com/charliebarker and all will be revealed. Fans of the site include Stephen Fry, Philip Scofield, Demi Moore and Kevin Spacey. One warning though... it can be addictive!

Charlie's official website has undergone a dramatic makeover in the last few months and is now sporting a completely new look with some new content and features. Take a look at www.charliebarkermusic.com and see for yourselves.