WHEN the most successful North West bands are discussed, it’s likely you’ll find the same names cropping up time and again - but one name which is unlikely to feature is that of the Houghton Weavers,

But should that be the case? After all here is a band which has been together for over 40 years, they have had their own successful TV and radio shows and their theatre shows attract a legion of devoted fans.

On Saturday, the Weavers will be returning to the Empire Theatre in Blackburn.

“We always have a good night there,” said the band’s musical director Steve Millington. “We’re looking forward to it. It’s a fabulous venue. There are certain theatres that have that magical atmosphere and that certainly does.”

Steve is a relative newcomer to the band. “I think it’s 23 years this year so I hope I’ve served my apprenticeship,” he laughed.

The Weavers’ winning formula hasn’t changed over the years. Stories, Lancashire folk songs and plenty of laughs pepper the show and eventually the audience ends up singing along.

“We thoroughly enjoy it, it’s a lovely band to work with,” said Steve.

“We all get on very well and it’s a pleasure to go to work. It’s not like work to be honest, it’s something we love.

“The fans are a part of it really. We have been doing it for so long that we know a lot of them by their first name. It’s like going out socially with all your friends and we get the chance to show off.

“I suppose we have become something of an institution. For us it’s like being in a hobby club which we get paid for.”

The band pride themselves on their family-friendly show and love nothing better than seeing younger faces in the audience.

“There was a time when we were on Radio One every day being mentioned by Mark and Lard,” said Steve. “As a result we started to get a lot of students coming along to the shows.

“We’re not a pop band, we’re not Bellowhead or one of the younger trendy folk bands but I think we have our place in the folk fraternity.

“The good thing about us is that we’re not scared of doing any gig. We’d go on at a festival – we’d love to do Glastonbury but that’s probably not going to happen, but who knows.

“We invite anybody to come along and see us.

“Our objective is to have a good fun night with songs to sing along to, plenty of humour and some stories. Our motto is ‘keep folks smiling’ and it has been that since the band was formed.

“There’s nothing better than a good community sing especially in the world we’re in at the moment. We need more laughter and more singing and community spirit and folk music has always provided that.

“Folk music might not have been everyone’s cup of tea over the centuries but it’s always survived and there does seem to be an increasing amount of interest in it now.”

Steve believes that frontman Tony Berry is a key reason for the Weavers’ longevity.

“When you go out with Tony as a frontman, you never need to worry because he has got this way of instantly connecting with the audience,” he said. “I’ve been out with bands before and if you haven’t got that rapport, the stage can be a frightening place, you end up with dead air.

“That’s never something you have to worry about with the Weavers.”

The Houghton Weavers, Empire Theatre, Blackburn, Saturday, April 21. Details from 01254 685500 or www.blackburnempire.com