THEY'VE been called the folk Beatles, one of the most experimental and influential bands of the 1960s and the godfathers of English folk music.

Now folk supergroup Pentangle are coming to Colchester.

In what is an incredible coup for the town's folk club and arts centre, the five-piece band will be doing two warm-up gigs at the Church Street venue later this month, before they go out on their first national tour for more than 30 years.

The original line-up of Bert Jansch, John Renbourn, Jacqui McShee, Danny Thompson and Terry Cox announced earlier this year they were re-forming for a special anniversary concert to mark 40 years since they recorded seminal double album, Sweet Child.

Within days of revealing the June 29 date at the Royal Festival Hall, in London, it sold out, prompting another date and a national tour.

Elaine Barker, who runs the folk club, said: "I'm absolutely thrilled they have picked us for these shows.

"We have had Bert Jansch play here a number of times and John Renbourn and Jacqui McShee as a duo, so we have struck up quite a relationship with them over the years."

Pentangle were formed in 1967 by young guitarists Jansch and Renbourn, already leading lights of the folk scene at the time.

For six years they became one of the most exciting and innovative groups in the world, enjoying unprecedented worldwide success for an acoustic band, playing such venues and events as The Albert Hall, Carnegie Hall in New York, the Newport Folk Festival, and two Isle of Wight Festivals.

They disbanded in 1973, but their influence still makes a musical impact today, as demonstrated by the critical and commercial success for The Time Has Come - the definitive four-CD box-set released in March last year, plus their BBC Radio 2 Lifetime Achievement Award in the same year.

l Pentangle play Colchester Arts Centre on June 25 and 26. Tickets priced £25 go on sale at 10.30am on Thursday, and are limited to just four per person.

To book either call 01206 500900, visit the box office in person or go on-line at colch esterartscentre.com