Colony Club, Trott Road, Hamilton. Tomorrow, doors open 8 p.m. Tickets $15 non-members, $10 members, available at Hamilton's Music Box.

*** John Conolly doesn't play the fiddle -- and after decades in the folk music business he could hardly be described as green.

And the singer/songwriter -- who numbers the folk classic Fiddler's Green and Punch and Judy Man among his writing credits -- is set to put on a right rollicking show with partner John Sumner as the climax of the Bermuda Folk Club Spring Festival on Saturday.

The two have played together for years, in bands like Rational Anthem and Donkey's Breakfast.

But, for the last 18 months, they've been operating as a duo -- with remarkable success.

Conolly, who hails from the seafaring town of Grimsby, is a specialist in sea shanties.

And ex-Bermuda investment banker-turned-piano restorer Sumner is first rate as first mate to Conolly's songwriting skills.

And they are set to provide a superb finish to a Folk Festival which has attracted star names like Fairport Convention and Acoustic Nuisance to Bermuda's shores.

Conolly said: "It's my first time here, so I'm very excited -- it's a fabulous place and I'm looking forward to performing here.'' But for Sumner, a visit to Bermuda is a trip down memory lane -- for he worked at the Bank of Bermuda between 1974 and 1983 before quitting the rat race for a career as a folk singer and piano restorer.

Conolly plays guitar, squeeze box, and tin whistle, while Sumner provides most of the musical back-up on guitar, mandolin, banjo and cittern.

Conolly said he is best-known as a songwriter and cites firebrand Scots folkie Ewen McColl as among his inspirations.

He added: "It's probably Ewen McColl who started me off writing songs -- my early stuff was very much like the songs he wrote.'' But he said: "He was a writer of very literate songs with great lyrics. But hopefully, I'm at the stage where I'm writing John Conolly songs -- I hope so, anyway.'' Sumner, however, cites Conolly as a major influence on his career, which took root in the Folk Club while he worked on the Island.

He said: "He was one of the first people I saw on stage -- he was my hero. Of course, he's a lot older than I am!'' He added: "What I tend to do is give John his head because he's very creative -- he runs with the songs and I underpin what he does. It's just bouncing ideas off each other all the time.'' The two clearly complement each others strengths and their offstage rapport is a clear signal that the two will work well on stage together.

And a booking for the prestigious Mystic Seaport Festival straight after their Bermuda appearance backs up their reputation.

Conolly said: "There's been a very strong revival of interest in sea songs and sea shanties -- they're even popular in Poland these days.'' And the popularity of sea shanties mirrors the remarkable rebirth of the Folk Club under the presidency of Paul McCoy.

He has masterminded not only getting the club on a firm footing, but this year's Festival, which has provided -- without exception -- some of the best entertainment seen in Bermuda this year.

If you haven't caught any of the acts, more fool you. But Conolly and Sumner promise to be habit-forming.

DOUBLE ACT -- Folk duo John Conolly and Pete Sumner, set to take Bermuda Folk Club by storm with rollicking sea shanties and folk songs tomorrow night.