THE renowned Urban Folk Quartet celebrate their tenth anniversary this week with a show in Maldon.

Events group macTheatre have booked the folk legends to perform at the Swan Hotel this Saturday as part of their anniversary tour.

A spokesman said: “We are absolutely delighted to be part of the Urban Folk Quartet celebratory tenth anniversary tour by hosting the band again in Maldon.

“They’ve become something of an annual event over the years, bringing their unique style of original rhythmic dance music.

“They’re set to dazzle the crowd with their fiddle gymnastics, banjo and string acrobatics, all led by the thrills and heart-leaping cajourn and percussion.”

The first of the phenomenal fiddlers is Galician Paloma Trigás, who has shared stages and recorded with the likes of the Chieftains, Sharon Shannon and Altan, as well as Spain’s biggest folk star – Carlos Nuñez.

The second is Joe Broughton, who has long been established on the folk scene as one of the fieriest English fiddlers and showmen of his generation.

An exceptional guitarist and mandolin player, Joe deftly shares multi-instrumentalist duties with Dan Walsh.

Defined as one of the finest banjo players in the country, as well as a gifted singer and guitarist, Dan joined UFQ in 2014.

The line-up is completed by Tom Chapman, who is widely considered to be the most accomplished and innovative cajon players the UK has to offer.

The quartet’s distinguishing features include fiddle-led music that draws heavily from Celtic dance forms and traditional song.

Just as English country dance met with big band jazz in the mid-20th century, the UFQ’s approach to the folk genre is to embrace every influence that fits them.

The band incorporates funk grooves, middle eastern melodies, afrobeat, and north Indian rhythms

The show starts at 8pm and tickets cost £16.50. To find out more, visit mactheatre.org.uk.