REAL ale flowed and the sounds of guitar and fiddle filled the air at the ninth Otley Black Sheep Folk Festival.

As a newcomer to the folk music scene I arrived at the three-day event armed only with a love of beer and a mild liking for some of folk's more commercial outpourings.

But I left on Sunday evening a far wiser woman, stocked up with some excellent CDs and a strange new affection for lengthy beards and patchwork trousers.

The festival kicked off on Friday evening and, despite the horrible rain and the ongoing petrol crisis, the folkies soon started arriving in force.

The packed programme meant I was soon wishing I could split into two - or three - or four. There really was something for everyone but I had to be ruthless and decided to take a look at the big name acts.

Steve Kipper was the first, at the Black Horse, a unique performer who mixes songs, stories and folk wisdom into his act and who certainly pulled in the punters.

Next, I dashed to Prince Henry's Grammar School where a full-to-capacity crowd enjoyed the magic of the mighty Vin Garbutt.

A highly-influential folk musician, his set was fresh and original and - big surprise to me - really funny.

So folk music isn't all Joan Baez sobbing over her guitar then?

Heartened by this revelation, I retired to bed, in preparation for lots of drinking, dancing and dashing about on Saturday.

Next day, I eased myself into the festivities with a pint or two and a set from the Menston-based FM Band at The Manor. The lunchtime crowd lapped up the mix of folk and country songs and I soon found myself humming along with the more traditional tunes and tapping a toe or two. All in all, a rollicking good set.

Shopping was next on my agenda and I meandered along to the Civic Centre to check out the craft market, bagging myself a new t-shirt, lots of incense and some funny beeswax soap.

And again, despite the lack of fuel, the hall was thronged with people. Some were taking time out from the music to enjoy a Thai massage or a spot of reflexology.

It was here too that I spotted my first morris dancer, a lady covered in feathers and with a alarmingly life-like goose perched atop her head.

Inspired by her bizarre attire I made a mental note to check out the morris dancing later on.

But in the meantime I arrived at the Black Horse, by now a fully-fledged folkie in my new hand-printed t-shirt.

A song-writing workshop was already in full swing which turned out to be lots of people swilling ale and chipping in with their favourite songs. Fantastic!

Hiding myself in a corner due to a decidedly poor singing voice, I was enthralled by 51-year-old Valerie Green who sang The Rape of Glencoe and received rapturous applause.

Meanwhile, another impromptu singing session had sprung up at the other side of the pub, but I left halfway through and went to The Woolpack for a mammoth morris dancing

session.

Here the Flash Company, dressed in punky outfits and para boots, gave a worthy performance but I preferred the charming Buttercross Belles, who smiled all the time and wore brightly coloured smocks and jangly bells on their shoes.

My next stop proved the highlight of the weekend.

The Leeds Branch of the George Formby Society played a storming set for three whole hours outside the Black Bull pub.

The band, including 78-year old Auntie Fay, pulled in a huge crowd and were an absolute pleasure to watch.

And if ukulele playing sounds a bit tame, think again.

The accomplished musicians and singers delivered favourite after favourite, whipping the crowd into a frenzy with young and old dancing in the streets. I felt quite exhausted after that...

Next day was spent recovering until I decided to brave the wind and rain and head for the Civic Centre for Tanglefoot and Kate Rusby.

The former were excellent - proper, foot-stomping folk music from five strapping Canadian men. The main hall was packed to the rafters and the crowd loved them.

Finally, Kate Rusby - already well on the way to becoming a superstar - delivered a blistering set.

The Mercury Music Prize nominated lass from Barnsley has an incredible voice and that, along with her sublime guitar playing, meant this was the perfect way to end the festival.

Songs about love, cows (?), castles and sailors were all played with beauty, affection and humour and her in-between banter had the crowd in stitches.

At the close of her set she thanked the crowd for being so lovely and that pretty much summed up the festival for me.

Everywhere I went I was met with friendliness and as one folkie put it, the town came alive for the three-day event.

I was truly astonished by the vast array of talent on show and now, feeling slightly worse for wear I've started looking forward to next year's festival.