THE SONGS of Sandy Denny will be performed in Otley this month.

The Sandy Denny Project will be playing a selection from the artist’s solo and group work when it takes the stage at Otley Courthouse on Friday, January 31.

Considered one of the founders of the British folk-rock movement, Denny has also been hailed as the country’s finest female singer-songwriter.

After a short spell with the Strawbs Denny joined Fairport Convention in 1968, working with them for a year before forming the short-lived Fotheringay in 1970.

After that she focused on a solo career that saw her release four albums between 1971 and 1977 - The North Star Grassman and the Ravens, Sandy, Like an Old Fashioned Waltz and Rendezvous.

Led Zeppelin fans were also treated to her voice when she duetted with Robert Plant on The Battle of Evermore, one of the stand-out tracks on the rock band’s album Zeppelin IV, in 1971.

And her composition Who Knows Where the Time Goes? has been recorded by a host of other artists including 10,000 Maniacs, Eva Cassidy, Judy Collins, Nana Mouskouri, Lonnie Donegan, Nanci Griffith, Susanna Hoffs and Matthew Sweet, Eddi Reader, Kate Rusby, Nina Simone and Barbara Dickson.

Denny’s life was cut short in 1978 when she died at the age of 31 following injuries and alcohol-related health issues.

The Sandy Denny Project - first known as Listen-Listen - was formed in 2017 to celebrate her music covers her whole repertoire - from the Fairport Convention days through her Fotheringay and solo periods.

The band features Fotheringay MkII members Sally Barker (The Poozies, BBC TV’s The Voice) and guitarist PJ Wright (TradArrr, The Dylan Project) along with frequent Fairport Convention guest Anna Ryder and rising star Marion Fleetwood (voice, fiddle, guitars).

The rhythm section consists of bassist Mat Davies and drummer Mark Stevens - both from the now-defunct folk-rock legends Little Johnny England.

The band’s promotional material states that: “With every year Sandy’s reputation continues to grow in stature as a songwriter and interpreter of traditional material and the six musicians in the band, who share an impressive folk-rock pedigree, are each at the very top of their musical game.

A ‘sublime evening of music at its very best’ is being promised at their Otley show, which starts at 8pm.

Tickets cost £22 and can be bought by visiting www.otleycourthouse.org.uk, calling (01943) 467466 or popping into the venue on Courthouse Street, Otley.