PETER Tavy Village Hall will be among the venues five-time BBC Radio 2 Folk Award nominee Jim Causley will be appearing at this month through the rural touring scheme Villages in Action.

Jim is a rising folk star who draws heavily on the traditions of this beautiful county.

‘Without exception, rural crowds are warmer, more appreciative and more up for a laugh,’ he said.

In June last year, Jim represented Devon on BBC’s Countryfile, singing his ballad Pride of the Moor for John Craven and a film crew on windswept Dartmoor. John Craven was suitably impressed, but things went downhill from there.

‘I trod on (and smashed one lens of) John Craven’s glasses whilst we were filming unfortunately. Oh well. I wasn’t particularly interested in Newsround as a kid and was always waiting for it to finish so we could get on with the cartoons!’

Devon audiences can expect tracks from Jim’s first entirely self-penned album, containing reworked folk classics and contemporary tracks inspired by eclectic sources.

‘I get ideas from everywhere; other musicians, history, nature, loved ones and rubbish I read on Facebook… the list is endless.’

He accompanies himself with the accordion and his very own touring stage piano, which is just as well, as there are etiquettes at play in village halls!

‘I once shocked the good people of Plymtree by being brave/foolhardy enough to play the village hall piano!’

Jim is described by Mojo Magazine as ‘the finest male folk singer of his generation’.

But his showmanship isn’t just down to musical accomplishment. The Yorkshire Post describes his inter-song patter as ‘cheeky and charming’. Move over Billy Bragg. And he strives to look the part too.

‘I always use the disabled loos to get ready as they have the best mirrors. Often the gents don’t have any mirrors at all! I wait until I arrive at the venue to put the gunk in my hair that day as it gets me into the performing psyche!’

Despite his fresh face (and good looks) Jim has a ‘lived in’ voice which belies his years and he’s been embraced by the older generation of Folkies.

His latest album was produced by local legend Phil Beer and he has performed and recorded with Waterson:Carthy (led by folk legend Martin Carthy). In spite of keeping such stellar company, audiences will find Jim remains refreshingly down to earth.

‘I once ran behind a curtain to do the usual encore shenanigans and painfully discovered there was nothing but a brick wall behind it!’

The charity, Villages in Action (ViA), subsidises Jim’s tour, which makes prices unaffordable for village audiences. In a time of cuts, the singer hopes Devonian companies and individuals will keep the scheme running through private donations.

‘I know from personal experience as a child how hugely inspired I was, the few times I got to see theatre and music in my village hall or primary school. Without such events I doubt I would be doing what I am now doing.

‘Villages in Action is a cultural lifeline for people in rural communities.’

With such a sense of mission, and sense of humour, Jim Causley looks set to give many an encore. Just check those curtains first, Jim!

Jim will play Peter Tavy Village Hall on March 12 at 7.30pm.