IT MAY be a long way from Bay City, but one-time tartan pin-up Eric Faulkner is looking forward to playing Upper Cwmtwrch when he appears at The Festival Of The Celts over the August Bank Holiday.

The former Bay City Roller - now a multi-instrumentalist - will be performing an acoustic set on what will be his first visit to the Swansea Valley.

"I'll be playing acoustic guitar with lots of fiddle as well as mandolin," Eric, a youthful 57-year-old, told the Guardian. "This lets me walk around stage and tell a few stories. Anything can happen - and usually does!

"It's better than having a band - I only have myself to worry about."

The former teen idol admitted he felt "musically frustrated" during his time in the Rollers.

"We had an horrendous record deal which was signed too soon," he said. "People may not believe it, but the Rollers were actually a fantastic live band."

But he revealed some of the band's stomping old classics might well get an airing this weekend. "I imagine people will want to hear Shang-A-Lang, won't they? I kind of just go with the flow..."

In his recent autobiography former lead singer Les McKeown accused his former bandmate of "acting like he was John Lennon", but Eric insists there are no hard feelings.

"Musically we were very different - Les did things where I wouldn't want to go and vice-versa," he said.

"What would I say to Les if I saw him walking down the street? I'd offer to buy him a drink."

But knowing McKeown's reputation wouldn't that have to be several drinks, Eric?

"You said that, mate, not me!" he laughed.

*Eric Faulkner is scheduled to appear at the Festival Of The Celts on Monday (August 29).