MULTI-TALENTED, multi-instrumentalist folk trio Blue Blokes 3 play a Merseyside date this weekend.

The band, who perform with several instruments including the banjo, guitar, saz and mandolin, will appear at Southport Arts Centre on Saturday.

Formed as an impromptu folk club trio to pay tribute to folk legend Shirley Collins, after she was awarded an MBE, Blue Blokes 3 are old friends, with a long musical history.

The line-up is Ian Anderson on vocals, guitar and slide guitar; Lu Edmonds on vocals, cumbus, saz, guitar (and more), and Ben Mandelson, vocals, mandolin, baritone bouzouki, banjo, tenor guitar, guitar (and more). The band is described as having a contemporary sound of blues and string bands of the 1960s. Ben Mandelson and Lu Edmonds are best known as members of 3 Mustaphas 3 and Billy Bragg's Blokes.

At the Southport gig, they are joined by journalist and musician Ian Anderson for a cheerful, twanging acoustic work-out in a set that ranges from re-workings of Mississippi Fred McDowell and Louis Jordan, to English traditional material.

They will be supported by Manchester-based US songwriter Zoe Mulford.

Tickets cost £8/ £6 concessions, available from 01704 540011 or by logging on to www.seftonarts.co.uk