A COUPLE of local sound-smiths have set about putting the funk into folk.

Folk musician Robbie Byrne has teamed up with Kendal College's Alec Lyon, a professional sound engineer to mix and record a new blend of folk rock at musician Mike Harding's personal state-of-the art recording studio in Dent.

Robbie, who plays the Uilleann pipes, is one of a handful of artists across the region to scoop a millennium Award of £2,900 to help him realise his ambitions.

Alec Lyon, who teaches on Kendal College's Popular Music and Sound Recording Techniques course, helped to set up the recording sessions through his contacts with Mike.

Robbie said: "I want to try to help change things by maybe adding a little bit of new rock and funk music to traditional folk to try and capture an audience."

Robbie has also been backed in his bid for funding by folk music development group Folkworks.

Millennium awards project coordinator Vicky Halligan said: "We are delighted such an experienced team of professionals has come together to support Robbie's project.

The support of Folkworks and Alec Lyon at Kendal College has enabled us to convince the Millennium Commission of the creative value of this project

for both Robbie and the wider

folk music communities of Cumbria."

l Millenium Awards are small lottery grants that help people put their creative ideas in motion from learning new skills to running community projects.

Musicians and budding artists can find out more on 01229-430801.