Chris Ricketts and runners-up Andy Broad and Sweet Edge will be performing in the intimate setting of the historic venue's Stage 2 Theatre Studio.

It's set to be a foot-stomping, hand-clapping, rip-roaring night of the very best in folk music from the area.

At last year's Guide Awards ceremony, organised by The News and hosted by the Kings Theatre, talented young folk singer/songwriter Chris Ricketts wowed the audience with his songs all about local life, including one called Mudlarks based on the children who used to scavenge for coins and other treasures in the mud at low tide in The Hard.

He had topped the public poll as well as gaining the experts judges' approval.

Says Chris: 'I'm looking forward to Friday night and meeting up with Andy and Della from Sweet Edge again. I'll be performing lots of new songs influenced by old English traditional music and musicians such as Ewan MacColl.

'I've had quite a few local gigs since the Guide Awards last November and I've also been asked to perform at a club in Manchester. I'll be at the Southsea Folk Festival this weekend and at The Cellars, Eastney, on August 26. Then I'll be off to university in Newcastle in September to take a degree in Folk and Traditional Music Studies.'

Tickets £7 in advance, £8 on the door. Call (023) 9282 8282, or go to www.kings-southsea.com