Two giants of the folk world do battle in Kent this coming week, trying to tempt fans to clashing concerts.

Steeleye Span play at the Theatre Royal Margate on Tuesday, February 24 while Fairport Convention will play at Canterbury’s Gulbenkian Theatre on the same night.

Kent folk music expert Doug Hudson said: “If you’re a fan of English folk/rock music then your loyalties will be divided. Fairport Convention and Steeleye Span were rivals for folk bragging rights in the early 1970s and Steeleye edged ahead with the big hit All Around My Hat in 1975.

“Many folkies were appalled at the apparent selling-out of their heroes to the mainstream, whereas others argued that it brought some semblance of folk music to the masses that previously only had TV specials with the Spinners as a guideline.

“As far as great female singers went, it was very much Sandy Denny of Fairport Convention versus Maddy Prior of Steeleye Span, and after Denny left, Fairport afficionados would claim their heroes’ album Liege and Lief was, and has remained, a benchmark for innovative folk/rock.

Fairport’s line up has been fairly stable for the last 10 years or so, while Steeleye have had several changes of personnel. Both will be excellent concerts.”

For those who desperately want to see both bands and compare them, then there will be a chance when Fairport Convention play at the Assembly Hall Theatre in Tunbridge Wells on Wednesday, February 25.

Tickets to see Fairport Convention at the Gulbenkian Theatre, Canterbury on Tuesday, February 24 cost £22. Visit www.thegulbenkian.co.uk

Tickets to see Steeleye Span at the Theatre Royal Margate on the same night cost £19.50. Visit www.theatreroyalmargate.com

Tickets to see Fairport Convention in Tunbridge Wells on Wednesday, February 25 cost £21. Visit www.assemblyhalltheatre.co.uk