Folk icon Johnny Coppin has always been inspired by the run up to Christmas, writing songs and creating shows based on the magic of midwinter.

And this year is no different as he releases his new album, All On A Winter's Night, out now on Red Sky Records. Johnny will be singing tracks from the album and spreading some Christmas cheer when he plays at Folk In Fernham at St John's Church, Fernham near Faringdon on Friday, December 2.

Johnny's first band The Shifters was formed in 1959 with his cousin Martin Wright on bass, Neil Dunwoody on guitar and Howard Jones on drums. They performed their first gig in the church hall at Woodford Green. The folk singer went on to form a number of bands, the best known being Decameron which was signed by the Fingimigig Agency run by Jasper Carrott and John Starkey.

Johnny studied architecture at the Cheltenham College of Art and now lives in Gloucestershire. In 1980 he became the musical director for the musical, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat, at the Everyman Theatre in Cheltenham with actor Anthony Head as Joseph.

Today Johnny presents Folk Roots on BBC Radio Gloucester, an acoustic music programme. He works solo, as a duo and in a trio which he will be bringing to St John's. The Christmas tour will be with Paul Burgess and Dik Cadbury.

Johnny said: I've always loved the music associated with Midwinter and the Christmas season. The Carols and songs on the album were featured in my All On A Winter's Night show over the past few years.''

The album includes his own songs such as the title track, and a poem by William Morris which he set to music called Snow In The Street. There are a few Carols, and an Irish tune written by the late Mick Dolan called The Christmas Star.

Tickets for the Christmas special which starts at 7.30pm are £12 in advance from www.wegottickets.com/event/367538 or call 01367 820062 - Flicky Harrison