FOLK fans in Herefordshire and Worcestershire will get their first chance next week to see what their southern counterparts have been enjoying for years.

The Ridgeriders open their first 10-date tour at Esher, in Surrey, tonight (Friday) and arrive at Worcester's Huntingdon Hall on Tuesday (January 30).

The outfit was formed by Ashley Hutchings, founder member of The Albion Band, Steeleye Span and Fairport Convention, to provide music for a Meridian TV series of the same name.

He recruited Chris While, a former Albion Band member who also tours with Julie Matthews, and Phil Beer, a familiar figure for local audiences through The Albion Band and Show of Hands.

The series is a curious mix of classic motorcycles, folk music and local history but has proved a success since its launch in 1993. A seventh series is being filmed shortly.

"The idea was that they would get media personalities to ride classic motorcycles along the old ridgeways and trackways that have been there for hundreds, if not thousands, of years and talk about the history," said Mr Hutchings. "You get lots of nice shots of the countryside, it's an interesting mixture of old and new."

The Ridgeriders provide an original song for each episode, so there are a number of works which only got a wider hearing on an album of the series - until this tour.

Sky has picked up the series for its travel channel and there have been talks with the BBC, but for the moment it remains unknown by the bulk of the viewing public.

"We can't understand why it hasn't been taken up nationally," said Mr Hutchings.

"It's so interesting and such a nice programme. It's far more interesting than your average countryside programme."

Folk fans can make their own minds up on the 30th from 8pm. Tickets are £9 (£8 concs), from 01905 611427.