Ildiko Csige, who is originally from Hungary, will mark a decade of making music with local folk enthusiast Michael Billington with an appearance at the Manchester festival where they first connected.
The pair met ten years ago, when Ildiko was running a Hungarian folk music workshop at outdoor city centre festival Góbéfest .
For folk scene stalwart Michael, who had a decades-long fascination with Hungarian music, it was a meeting of the utmost importance.
The pair decided to embark on a skill swap and cultural exchange, with Ildiko teaching Michael Hungarian language and folk music, and Michael reciprocating with the offer of an English language and music education.
According to Ildiko, despite Michael being "old enough to be my dad", they can talk to each other about anything, which has led to a most productive working relationship.
Having played together all over the north, including in Chester, Hull, Northwich and at Manchester Cathedral, in 2024, they performed for the first time in Hungary. Ildiko and Michael plan to release their first album - which will combine both English and Hungarian language songs - later this year on Michael's Epona label.
Ildiko, who works as an activities coordinator at Tameside General Hospital and is also a member of Manchester International Roots Orchestra (MIRO), said: "Making music with Michael is really refreshing. Whenever he has a new idea for our next song, I always like it. I think it comes from the fact that we trust each other professionally and know that the other person really understands what they do."
For Ildiko, Michael's skills as a multi-instrumentalist set him apart. Included in the former primary school teacher's repertoire are the citera (zither), the ütőgardon, which looks like a cello but is played like a drum, the furulya (a wooden flute), the hurdy gurdy and the duda, a Hungarian bagpipe.
She said: "I admire how many instruments Michael plays, which is partly due to the fact that he has a huge collection of musical instruments. He spends all his pocket money on them!
"I learned a lot from Michael. There is a big age difference between us - Michael could be my dad! He has much more life experience and knows what is important and what is not."
Michael, who lives in Trafford, Greater Manchester, has played in a number of local folk and ceilidh bands over the years, including Rebec, Madcap and Maggoty. Between 1984 and 1989, he hosted the Folk Like Us show on BBC Radio Manchester.
He said: "I have loved Hungarian folk music since one of my bands represented England, along with Kathryn Tickell, at a Budapest festival in 1990.
"Ildiko and I have the same musical passions about performing the traditional music from both Hungary and England. We are more than just musical colleagues; we have also become firm friends".
Ottilia Ördög, Góbéfest founder, said: "Michael and Ildiko's musical partnership and ongoing friendship embodies the spirit of Góbéfest.
"The festival prides itself on serving up new cultural experiences every year, whether that's exposure to a style of music you've never heard before, trying a totally new food, or having an enjoyable random chat with another festival-goer.
"We're looking forward to Ildiko and Michael's anniversary performance and to their first album together."
Góbéfest (go-bee-fest) is Manchester's original urban folk music and dance festival and it is celebrating a decade of love, lutes and lángos (Hungarian sour cream and cheese-topped fried flatbreads) this June.
The weekend promises a mix of bands and solo artists, folk dance groups, choirs and more. Headliners include legendary Hungarian artist Ildikó Keresztes and the Bekecs Dance Theatre from Transylvania.
Ildiko Csige and Michael Billington play at Góbéfest in Cathedral Gardens, Manchester on Saturday 20 June 2026 between 11.30 and 12pm. Tickets are pay as you feel https://gobefest.com/
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