Dartmoor, tin mines, a murderous incident near Bodmin: you could never accuse Seth Lakeman of wanderlust.

For the last 23 years the folk singer-songwriter par excellence has regaled the world with his tales of Westcountry life and lore through masterful albums like the Mercury Prize-nominated Kitty Jay and Freedom Fields.

Even if you’re not a folk fan, you’ve probably heard of him and he’s a revered figure both within and outside the genre.

Just ask East Hampshire’s own Ward Thomas: the Hawkley sisters leapt at the chance at working with Seth on his One More Before You Go “jig” that also features a certain Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull fame.

“I’m a big fan of their voices,” said Seth about the Ward Thomas girls ahead of this Friday’s concert at Farnham Maltings.

“It was an idea that came up around the time I was working with Ian on this song, which we thought would be a great Christmas carol anthem.

“It’s a big tune and it’s a jig, really. But it needed voices so we approached the Ward Thomas girls and they were really up for it. We had a good time and really connected.”

Fans of the folk troubadour are set for a treat this Friday as Seth’s appearance in Farnham comes hot on the heels on the release of his 13th album, The Granite Way.

The granite refers to the fabled stone of Dartmoor while the Somerset-born musician continues to look locally for inspiration. While the music has flashes of modernity, the stories behind the lyrics remain steadfastly historic, with ditties about fishing, tin mining, moors, notorious murders and the disappearance of the area’s traditional industries.

He's particularly fond of Black Fox, another song with a regional connection which is almost an anti-hunting ditty.

The saying goes it’s best to write about what you know, and Seth’s penchant for his native Westcountry and its rich history means he rarely looks further afield.

“There’s just something about Cornwall and Devon which inspires,” said Seth.

“There’s a wild west feel to the place. It’s timeless and it’s the same with Dartmoor, you can’t change it in any way.”

Anyone who fancies seeing Seth in Farnham this week might be disappointed as ‘Sold Out’ notices went up several weeks ago, such is his popularity in the genre. The Herald can’t stress what a big event this concert is for many folk fans and in local musical circulars.

The audience can expect a performance of two halves, with the first drawing on his latest release before he belts out, if that’s the right term, some favourites in the second.

He said: “The new album harks back to Kitty and Freedom Fields and I’ve worked very hard on it.

“I think it’s album number 13 but I’ve nearly lost count and the last 23 years have flown by. But I’ve tried to keep things real and recognisable, all the while experimenting and exploring all music.

“It’s been so enjoyable and I love it.”