EVEN if you're not in the slightest bit interested in folk music, you have probably heard of The Albion Band.

For more than 20 years the band has been packing in crowds at festivals and concerts across the country with its own varied brand of folk rock.

Now audiences have a chance to catch the latest line-up in action at Worcester's Huntingdon Hall on Friday, April 26.

The venue has some happy memories for band member Joe Broughton, as back in 1997 it was one of the first gigs he played with them after joining the band.

"It is a great venue," he said. "It is a good place to play, so we get there as often as we can. We always get a good atmosphere and a good turnout there."

In its various incarnations The Albion Band has featured some of the biggest names in British folk music. Past members include Martin Carthy, Ric Sanders, Richard Thompson and John Tams.

As a member for five years, Joe is one of the longest-serving of the current line-up brought together by founder Ashley Hutchings, who also founded Steeleye Span and Fairport Convention.

"He has this way of finding people," said Joe, who has been the band's fiddler since succeeding Chris Leslie, now with Fairport Convention. "He tends to know what's going on and who's around. I got the phone call off Ash and I'm still there."

He jumped at the chance of joining such an illustrious group and said: "The band has a great history and there's some great people in it. It isn't like joining a band where you have to fit in with what they do. This is musically a very democratic situation where you bring to the band whatever it is that you do.

"That is in a way the band's greatest asset in that it is always new and doing interesting things."

As well as Ashley and Joe, the current line-up features young singer and musician Kellie While, drummer Neil Marshall - "just about a master of every style," said Joe - and Pete Zorn on sax, guitar and percussion, who has worked with stars from Joan Armatrading to Gerry Rafferty.

Joe himself comes from a musical family. Brought up in Chester, his father was a Blues guitarist and his brother, Ben, is an accomplished guitarist in his own right. The two brothers often play concerts together.

"I started playing the fiddle when I was about six," said Joe. "When I was five years old I went to a Fairport Convention festival and decided I wanted to learn to play."

He was studying music at the Birmingham Conservatoire when he got the phone call to join The Albion Band and promptly signed up, although he still teaches there when the band isn't on tour.

One of the great things about the band, he believes, is the range of people its concerts attracts, from devoted fans to curious listeners. "You go to a lot of gigs and everybody looks the same, but this is amazing and it really reflects who's in the band."

By coincidence Joe will be back at the Huntingdon Hall in November where he will be appearing with guitarist Kevin Dempsey.

First of all, though, is The Albion concert, which is followed on Saturday April 27 by a workshop, part of the Hall's mentoring scheme for young up and coming folk musicians. It will be led by Joe and guitar and banjo player Damien O'Kane.

"We do encourage people to experiment, so it is open to everybody," said Joe.

The April 26 concert starts at 8pm and tickets, priced £11 or £10 concessions, are available from the box office on 01905 611427.