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As part of their prize for winning, the girls got to play on the main stage at Cambridge Folk Festival, Towersey Village Festival and Fairport's Cropredy Convention and also get to record a session for my programme. As often happens with Young Folk Award winners the girls have also been signed up to a record label - in this case, Greentrax, that great Scottish label.

The CD, I am extremely chuffed to say, is simply wonderful. Great playing, tight and meaningful arrangements and voices to die for. Their version of the traditional ballad 'Edward' is the best I've ever heard, and the singing and production belie the girls' relative youth. I hope they'll forgive me saying that they sound like seasoned old professionals. I'm looking forward to following their careers because they are world class. Hear a track from their album 'In A Bleeze' on my programme this Wednesday.

This year's Young Folk Award is now closed to entries and I am looking forward to the semi-final weekend in early October in Stratford upon Avon, where as well as performing to a full theatre (and a panel of judges) the 12 semi-finalists will take part in performance and stage craft workshops, and hopefully learn a thing or two from semi-final tutors Tom McConville and Damien Barber.