FOLK music comes with centuries of tradition.

But Kris Drever reckons a modern phenomenon is responsible for its resurgence in popularity.

The singer-songwriter from award-winning folk trio Lau thinks the internet and music streaming sites like Spotify have helped artists like Mumford and Sons, Laura Marling and Bellowhead make the leap into the mainstream.

He said: "I don’t think there are more people who like folk music now than there were 15 or 20 years ago.

"But it’s just that the internet has changed the way people choose what music they listen to.

"Before that it was just record companies telling people what they liked or what was going to be the big thing.

"Now people can stumble across things really easily and there’s nobody there telling them it’s right or wrong.

"It’s great. The folk music revival means I don’t have to go and get another job."

Kris will play at the Pyramid centre on Sunday with Ian Carr.

He added: "Ian’s got a new album and I’m about to go into the studio to make a new solo album, which he’s going to be part of.

"So it kind of made sense to take all these new things out on the road.

"It’ll give us a chance to figure out how best to do the songs and let everybody hear them in anticipation of the release."

But Kris admitted that his partnership with Ian means more to him than that. The pair met while working together in Kate Rusby's band about a decade ago and for Kris it was like meeting a hero.

He said: "We’ve been good friends since and he’s one of my favourite guitar players.

"It would probably be fair to say that the six string acoustic guitar is one of the world’s most popular instruments.

"But you could never hear Ian Carr and think it was anyone else. He has a unique way of doing things.

"A lot of guitarists can only rely on dexterity to show their skill, he can do it just with the power of his harmonic knowledge.

"He’s just an extraordinary musician and one I have never stopped learning from."

But the partnership has come with its challenges.

Kris added: "Ian lives in Sweden and I live in Shetland so there is a geographical challenge but it’s not too bad.

"We have a lot of history musically so we’ve got things we can draw on and we share ideas with each other online.

"We always have a rough idea what we might do and then we’re going to meet up in Glasgow three days before the tour starts to cement everything."

Kris, who worked with Ian on his first two solo records, will be heading to the studio after the tour to record his third album, If Wishes Were Horses. It is due out early next year.

- Kris Drever and Ian Carr perform at the Pyramid on Sunday. Tickets are £14. Visit pyramidparrhall.com or call 442345.

DAVID MORGAN