Mark Rodger was a troubled man, a hassled man – a man who had said "no" to people for too long.

But his resolve has finally wilted and he has given into popular demand. And that can only mean one thing – a tribute band will once again be playing at Howden Live.

Yes, you heard it right folks, Keep It Cash will be playing at the Shire Hall, in Howden on Friday, March 26.

"I've been pestered about it for ages, but I've never really enjoyed tribute acts," says Mark, who is one of the promoters for Howden Live. "Friends and family keep coming up to me and saying: 'When are you going to organise a tribute band?'

"It seems tribute bands are really popular these days, but I've never really got into them. At least there are some very good musicians in them these days, which you couldn't always say in the past.

"We've had quite a few requests specifically for Keep It Cash, too, but I've never been a huge Johnny Cash fan either. The band are very good, though, so we are doing it properly."

However, keen not to be outdone – or, more accurately, outvoted – Mark and fellow organisers of not-for-profit Howden Live have organised a "mini-festival" of events for next weekend.

The Keep It Cash gig on Friday, March 26, will be followed by a workshop and performance from Claudio Kron and The Papa Jaca Band the following night, with drama from Spike Theatre rounding off the weekend on Sunday, March 28.

Brazilian-born Claudio Kron travels the world promoting his culture using a range of different traditional instruments.

Together with The Papa Jaca Band, he will host a percussion workshop on the Saturday afternoon, from 3pm to 5pm, and a Brazilian dance workshop in the evening, from 7pm to 7.30pm, with a live performance to follow and traditional Brazilian food served throughout.

The following day, Spike Theatre presents Top Of The World – a combination of animation, puppetry and a whole load of snow, in which two actors tell the epic tale of Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay's ascent of Everest.

"I'm reluctant to describe the weekend as a mini-festival," says Mark. "They're three completely separate events, on different days and people need different tickets for each.

"It's just worked out that they're fairly close to each other. But it should be a good three days for us and the audience – it will certainly be something different.

"There's a bit of everything in there – theatre, music and culture – so it's nice to be able to offer something that appeals to a wide range of people.

"Tickets have been selling quite well so far, too, so it seems people will be voting with their feet."