VietNamNet Bridge – Multi award winning UK folk musician Jim Moray, dubbed by Billboard magazine as "the future of British folk", will hit the stage in Ha Noi on Friday night.

Famed for bringing a modern twist to old folk songs, he cut his first album Sweet England while still studying classical composition at Birmingham Conservatoire in the day and playing drums in power-pop bands by night.

Jim Moray emerged on the UK folk scene seemingly fully formed in 2003 when the album won Folk Album of Year from BBC Radio 2.

His re-imaging of English traditional music, blended with orchestral flourishes, guitars and electronics, also won him the unprecedented combination of Best Newcomer and Best Album at the 2004 BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards.

After notching up a live reputation with performances at Glastonbury, Cambridge Folk Festival and WOMAD festival, Jim followed up with albums Jim Moray in 2006 and Low Culture 2008. The latter won Folk Album of the Year from Mojo magazines and fRoots Critics Poll.

Moray, 30, now finds himself at the forefront of a folk revival in the UK and hailed as a pivotal influence by a new generation of folk musicians.

During his performance in Ha Noi, that will take place at the Bao Son Paradise at the An Khanh new urban zone in Hoai Duc Commune, the multi-instrumentalist will play alongside local and international artists. His performance is part of a Gala Concert to welcome the 8th UNESCO Congress.

Moray will also play at an invitation-only event for UNESCO delegates at the Grand Plaza.

Besides the Ha Noi performances, Moray will play alongside local favourites Van Mai Huong and Quoc Thien at the Hard Rock Cafe, in HCM City, at 8pm next Monday. The show is being organised by British Council Viet Nam in partnership with Hard Rock Cafe and Music Faces Entertainment.

For information on tickets for the UNESCO Gala Concert in Ha Noi call 0904630211 or 0904875382. Free tickets for the HCM City event can be collected from the British Council, 25 Le Duan, District 1, HCM City.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News