The folking.com music archive for album reviews and news

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This is a list of everything we have on folking.com in date and month order. So if you like trawling the depths of the site for amazing content that you may have missed then this is the place to “net” an article, feature or review or two.

The archive is a work in progress as we still have gaps to fill from 2009 back to 2001. Most of the missing content are older album reviews which require reformatting with each article having to be submitted back on to the site with album covers and links to where they can be obtained from (where available).


NAOMI GEE WRIGHT – Meteor Trail (Oti-O Records – Oti-O 009)

Naomi Gee Wright’s Meteor Trail is one of those albums that defies easy classification. It’s folk, jazz, classical, world music, and blends all of these ...

DAVID MITCHELL – Contours (own label)

David Mitchell is a classical guitarist with a penchant for traditional music who is also a luthier, half of the duo Mitchell and Vincent and ...

The London Lasses play two January dates

Internationally renowned traditional Irish band The London Lasses will be playing two January dates in their home town! The first event is on Sunday 12th January at Walthamstow ...

PRIME MINISTER – Everything Turns To Dust (digital release)

The Village, or Phil Matthews as he’s known down the pub, has been very good to me already this year. He has afforded me an ...

LIZ JONES & BROKEN WINDOWS – Double Measures (own label)

Double Measures was released in November – and it’s the longest period of time from receipt of an album to finalising a review that I’ve ...

Paul Jones & Dave Kelly – UK Tour

Paul Jones and Dave Kelly, for over forty years part of the remarkable British Roots Rock musical institution that was The Blues Band, are taking to the road in January ...

FOURWINDS – Allta (own label FW005)

The title Allta meaning wild” or “untamed” in Irish and reflecting the musical spirit, this is the traditional trio’s second album, (the first since co-founder ...

Merry Hell release digital single ‘Peace Can Be Louder Than War’

Written by band member Virginia Kettle, 'Peace Can Be Louder Than War' is the first single to be taken from our new and soon coming album Rising Of ...

Will Finn & Rosie Calvert announce their new album

Fallow Alchemy, the new album from Will Finn & Rosie Calvert, is a concept about the radical and transformative power of rest and stillness - ...

JOHN McCUTCHEON – Field Of Stars (Appalsongs)

A native of Wisconsin, Field Of Stars is McCutcheon’s 45th album in an illustrious career that has embraced folk and Americana alike, with songs ranged ...

Happy New Year from Mark Harrison

Hello everyone, 2024 has been a busy and successful year for us, hope it's been OK for you. The photos above show just some of ...

Sidmouth Folk Festival 2025

The Sidmouth Folk Festival is all fired up and poised to ignite the beautiful Devon seaside town for the 71st time in summer 2025 with ...

SINGLES BAR 109 – A round-up of recent EPs and singles

Described as a quirky indie-folk duo, the COULDN’T BE HAPPIERS are married couple Jodi Hildebran and Jordan Crosby Lee, Couple(t)s being the first half of two EPs, ...

NORMAN PATERSON – Loved (own label NPCD003)

The name of Hebridean singer/ songwriter Norman Paterson has graced our pages in the past. He made his musical debut with Torn at the age ...

Daria Kulesh announces her new album

“I was born a woman” – this simple statement opens the album. What a time to be a woman, an immigrant, and a mother. The ...

FITKINWALL – Uist (NXN Recordings – NXN2021)

Migration is rarely out of the news these days, and one might be forgiven for thinking that mass population movements are unique to our own ...

Alan O’Leary presents Copperplate Podcast 300

folking.com brings you the latest podcast from that aficionado of Irish music, the one and only Mr. Alan O’Leary with his regular monthly instalment of ...

Fairport’s Cropredy Convention 2025

7th - 9th August Cropredy Village, nr Banbury, Oxfordshire Seminal Folk Rockers Fairport Convention are very happy to announce the line up for their Cropredy Convention in August, and ...

GJERMUND LARSEN TRIO – Christmas Sessions (Hello Records HCD7436)

If you crave something different for your Christmas musical entertainment this year you might try Christmas Sessions by the Gjermund Larsen Trio. Gjermund is a ...

HELEN GENTILE & LEWIS WOOD – Violet Sky (Grimdon Records CD009) 

Clarinet and fiddle are a time honoured combination, the core feature of many an Eastern European town band, as well as being part of the ...

Official Folk album chart – November 2024

On Tuesday 3rd December the Official Charts Company, produced by English Folk Expo, reveals the Top 40 best-selling and most streamed folk albums released in the November reporting period in the ...

Fairport Convention – winter tour dates

After a packed year, including two acclaimed tours and another highly successful Cropredy Convention, the architects of British Folk Rock - Fairport Convention - announce ...

JACKIE OATES & JOHN SPIERS – A Midwinter’s Night (Needle Pin Records NP3)

There is sometimes a temptation to deconstruct music for Christmas but that is something Jackie Oates and John Spiers have no truck with. A Midwinter’s ...

BEANS ON TOAST – Wild Goose Chasers (BoT Music BoT17)

Tomorrow, at the time of writing, is Beans On Toast’s birthday and therefore sees the release of his annual album. Sixty years ago, two or ...

SINGLES BAR 108 – A round-up of recent EPs and singles

ANNA is Anna Howells, a crooning smoky-voiced saxophonist and clarinettist who spent time in various Yorkshire orchestras and ensembles, the self-released Fall Of A Leaf ...

St AGNES FOUNTAIN – Christmas Starts With (CFATCD053)

Given they’ve been doing this for 23 years, it’s about time they got round to another ‘live’ album, the last being in 2002. With the ...

EVELYN LAURIE AND NEIL THOMSON – Silver Threads (own label STPEN10001)

Before I heard this CD I knew two things about Paisley. Firstly, of course, was the famous pattern and secondly was that it was Gerry ...

GERRY COLVIN – The Last Christmas Needle (Crocodile Music CA0058)

Despite consistent sell-out shows and the fact that he’s one of the finest showmen and songwriters of the past 50 odd years, Colvin's not the ...

THE UNTHANKS – In Winter (Rabble Rouser Music RRM029 / RRM029LP)

Things get well underway for the seasonal releases as The Unthanks deliver a double album of new and traditional festive sounds, many of the tracks ...

FINE LINES – Bourbon Hymns (Parade Recordings)

Bourbon Hymns could only be an Americana album. From the title to the cover photography - a desert scene, complete with cactus trees a telegraph ...

AMY SPEACE – The American Dream (Goldrush Records)

Amy Speace has recently finished a UK tour, has released a new album, The American Dream, and has sent a copy of the album to ...

MICHAEL CHAPMAN – Party Pieces (Live in Bremen 1975) (Made In Germany Music)

Michael Chapman’s posthumous Party Pieces (Live In Bremen 1975) is a very good recording that is, thankfully, “Still Making Rain”, as it features his acoustic ...

STATE OF THE UNION – Paper Tigers (Reveal 201DDX)

Two musicians, Boo Hewerdine and Brooks Williams, who will work with anybody and everybody occasionally get to work with each other. As a result, Paper ...

HANDS OF THE HERON – Quiet Light (Cuculi CUO19CD)

Comprising Bec Garthwaite, Beth Roberts and Claire Vine, based in Bristol Quiet Light is their third album and the first as an official psychfolk trio, the songs ...

JERRON PAXTON – Things Done Changed (Smithsonian Folkways)

Things Done Changed is a modern-day gem – one which would still be a treasure if you slipped ninety or a hundred years through the ...

THE TANNAHILL WEAVERS – Solstice (Hedera Records HRCD124) 

The Tannahill Weavers occupy an odd place in the Scottish pantheon, almost a bridging post between the woolly jumper cosiness of the Corries and the ...

Paul Johnson talks to David Boardman about ‘FineLines’ Bourbon Hymns

Hi Paul Johnson here... and welcome to another one of our folking.com podcasts. Here I talk to the ever engaging and charming fellow David Boardman ...

RIP Iconic’s Stevie Horton

It is with great sadness to all in the folking.com community to hear of the sudden unexpected death of Stevie Horton.This was a terrible shock ...

LUKE JACKSON – Bloom (First Take Records FTCD006)

It has been a while since we’ve heard from Luke Jackson. There was a digital EP (now available on CD) called Of The Time back ...

EVE GOODMAN – Summer Sun, Winter Trees (own label EveGAlbum2024)

A native of North Wales, Goodman writes and performs in both Welsh and English and was recently a guest artist on Bryn Terfel’s Sea Songs ...

Seth Lakeman announces new album and tour

Acclaimed folk musician Seth Lakeman is set to release his self-produced new album The Granite Way on 14th February 2025, with an accompanying headline UK tour to ...

BETH MALCOLM – Folkmosis (own label BAM104)

Fifty years ago we might have called Folkmosis a concept album. What it actually is is an autobiography in three acts told in music and ...

ANDREW GABBARD – Ramble & Rave On! (Karma Chief KCR12029)

Andrew Gabbard and his brother Zachary have passed this way before; now Andrew returns with his third solo album, Ramble & Rave On!. Despite its ...

KATIE KNIPP – Me (own label)

I have a thing about genre defying music and Me, the eighth release by California based Katie Knipp certainly ticks that box. Country? Yes. Blues ...

THREE IDLE WOMEN – All Hands Together (Woodshed WSCD003)

Nothing to do with indolence, published in 1947, ‘Idle Women’ was a book by Susan Woolfitt about the waterways equivalent of the women's land army ...

The Official Folk Album chart – October 2024

On Tuesday 5 November the Official Charts Company, in partnership with English Folk Expo, revealed the Top 40 best-selling and most streamed folk albums released in the October reporting period in ...

SUNJAY – I’m Just Like You (Mighty Tight Records MTRCD292401)

For Sunjay Brayne this album marks a pivotal point in his career as he finally reaches the end of an ill-advised publishing deal. Unless you ...

MARTIN FLETT – When The Introverts Come Out (own label MF2024CD)

When The Introverts Come Out marks the point where the Outer Hebrides meet Monument Valley. Martin Flett was born and still lives on the former ...

SINGLES BAR 107 – A round-up of recent EPs and singles

Following on from the single of the same name as part of the Radio 2 21st Century Folk Project a song telling of the rescue of Marc and Vicky ...

LAURA MARLING – Patterns In Repeat (Chrysalis/Partisan Records)  

Laura Marling’s Patterns In Repeat is an intimate album that conjures the magic touch of 70s iconic artists like Peter Hammill, Kate Bush, Roy Harper, ...

Foy Vance on tour next week

Emmy Award-winning songwriter Foy Vance will embark on the very special ‘You & I UK Tour’ next week. Named after a track from Vance’s breakthrough ...

Emma & Ellika announce debut album

Emma & Ellika, two master musicians in a musical interplay cooking with drive and richness of colour. Tight, attentive and wilful, always with the groove ...

State Of The Union announce new album and tour

Paper Tigers is the fourth album from State Of The Union (Boo Hewerdine and Brooks Williams). It was written in fits and starts whenever they ...

MIKE REINSTEIN – The Birds Don’t Sing Around Here (Irregular Records)

Mike Reinstein has graced these pages previously but it has been six years since I last wrote about him. He has enjoyed a varied career, ...

FURLINED – Kill Devil Hills (Concave Music CCV03) 

A name new to me, it seems Furlined have been around for some time, Kill Devil Hills being album number three. However, the name seems ...

REITIR – Fe Alt Som Eingong Va (Eighth Nerve Audio 8nerve012)

We get some unusual albums here at Folking Towers and this surely counts as one of those. Reitir are as much a project as a ...

Three Idle Women release debut album

The Three Idle Women were forged by a shared love of the Oxford Canal and a fondness for close harmony singing, folk music and stories ...

Erlend Viken Trio announce new album

With hardanger fiddle, electric guitar, and double bass, the Erlend Viken Trio presents folk music with a distinctive soundscape; rooted in Norwegian tradition, and drawing ...

EWEN HENDERSON – Léirsinn – Perception (Sgadan Records)

An initial inspection of Ewen Henderson’s new album left me puzzled. The front cover looks old-fashioned, something from the 1960s perhaps, not suggesting anything ground-breaking ...

Songs Of Protest – one night only

The Staves, Bess Atwell, Grace Petrie Hosted by Pauline Black Sunday 27 Oct 2024, Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry Coventry and 2-Tone legend Pauline Black (The ...

AERIALISTS – I Lost My Heart On Friday (Fiddlehead Records 015) 

We know these Canadians, an earlier outing getting the Golembeski seal of approval some time back, for last album, ‘Dear Sienna‘, in 2020. Based around ...

Sunjay announces his new album

I’m Just Like You – the new album from UK based international singer/songwriter & guitarist Sunjay is lined up for release on Monday 11th November ...

GOZER GOODSPEED – Ruben

A charity single released on Bandcamp November 1st., Ruben’ is a charity single with a difference. ‘Ruben’ was written, arranged, performed, mixed and mastered by ...

TIM EDEY – Little Bird (Gnatbite Records GBR024) 

Subtitled 22 Compositions from 1995 – 2024, that, inescapably, is exactly what Little Bird is. And if you are still unaware of who Tim Edey ...

The 35th Scottish International Storytelling Festival – next week

The 35th Scottish International Storytelling Festival’s packed programme of over 130 events, taking place in Edinburgh and across Scotland, kicks off next Friday 18 October thanks to support ...

3 DAFT MONKEYS – Information Camouflage (own label 3DM17)

3 Daft Monkeys are a band that would have John Peel salivating if he were still with us. They are from Cornwall and it may ...

STEVE KNIGHTLEY – The Winter Yards (Hands On Music HMCD054)

Astonishingly, it has been seventeen years since Steve Knightley’s previous solo album. Mind you, the popularity of Show Of Hands and his low-key solo tours ...

STICK IN THE WHEEL: A Thousand Pokes (From Here Records SITWO24CD)

Pokes? The dictionary suggests jabs or thrusts, such as in the eye, sharp stick optional, but, other than figuratively, I'm not sure that is quite ...

CATCH THE RAIN – Alder Grove (own label)

A quartet from Stourbridge comprising Julia Disney on keyboards, Odilia Mabrouk on violin, percussionist Lisa Westwood and Jon Hazelwood on bass and guitar with all ...

GEMMA HAYES – Blind Faith (Gemma Hayes Music)

Irish singer-songwriter Gemma Hayes’ (first album in ten years!) Blind Faith bends melodic gravity. Yet paradoxically, it lands with a cover-art cloud of parachuted comfort amid the ...

ALISON McMORLAND – Some Ballads Of Anna Gordon Mrs. Brown Of Falkland (own label AGB01)

My, oh, my. Some Ballads Of Anna Gordon Mrs. Brown Of Falkland is an album that transcends the pieces of plastic that carry it and ...

MAIREARAD GREEN & RACHEL NEWTON – Anna Bhán (Shadowside Records SHADOW06)

There is a story behind this record; a story told in music, song and spoken word. Mairearad and Rachel are cousins although this is their ...

THE LEGENDARY TEN SECONDS – Folk Mellotronica (own label)

A variation on his folktronica approach to traditional folk, as the title suggests this time Ian Churchward has opted to feature the mellotron on the ...

Beans On Toast – new album and tour dates

This 1st December will herald the release of a brand new Beans On Toast album: Wild Goose Chasers. An illuminating insight into what lies ahead, ...

3 Daft Monkeys – new album and tour dates

Information Camouflage, the latest release from 3 Daft Monkeys, is a rich, life-affirming tapestry that masterfully blends world folk inspirations with wild punk-infused energy and ...

COHEN BRAITHWAITE-KILCOYNE – Play Up The Music! (Grimbon GRICD008)

I’ve spoken before about Cohen Braithwaite-Kilcoyne’s rise from folk wunderkind to the youngest elder statesman on the circuit and will no doubt do so again ...

ANGELINE MORRISON – Ophelia (own label AMCD2401)

Originally available via Bandcamp and now getting a pink CD and blue vinyl release, serving as a prelude to next year’s alchemy-themed official follow-up to ...

Le Vent Du Nord visit UK for short tour

The award winning and highly acclaimed Le Vent du Nord is a leading force in Québec’s progressive francophone folk movement.  The group’s vast repertoire draws ...

BEAU JENNINGS & THE TIGERS – American Stories Major Chords (Black Mesa Records)

Oklahoma-based act, Beau Jennings & The Tigers return this month with an LP of all-new material, American Stories Major Chords. Coming in at eleven tracks, the ...

Official Folk Albums chart – September 2024

On Tuesday 1 October the Official Charts Company, in partnership with English Folk Expo, revealed the Top 40 best-selling and most streamed folk albums released in the September reporting period in ...

SINGLES BAR 106 – A round-up of recent EPs and singles

Birmingham’s funky alt-folk band BONFIRE RADICALS have a new EP called Flywheel for no readily explicable reason. If you haven’t heard them before you really ...

Paul Johnson talks to Gerry Colvin about his new download album among many other things…

Hi again and welcome to another of my mini podcasts.Being a songwriter, singer and musician myself with my band 'Shanakee' it's always a pleasure for ...

Bella Gaffney announces autumn tour

Bella Gaffney plays an Autumn 2024 Tour beginning from this week and then from late October until the end of November in between appearances with ...

Quiet Lights announces festival programme

Cork City | 21 – 24 November 2024 As the hush of autumn falls, Islander announce the 5th iteration of their winter festival, Quiet Lights, ...

JON BODEN & THE REMNANT KINGS – Parlour Ballads (Hudson HUD052CD)

I don’t know about you but for me the phrase “parlour ballads” conjures up a vision of a wobbly soprano and a rather iffy upright ...

THE SUTHERING – Leave A Light On (Bessie Records)

The Suthering’s new album, Leave A Light On, is a burning bush collection of beautiful folk songs plaited with guitar, piano, fiddle, and sublime harmony ...

Ralph McTell Announces Time Drift Of The Road – Ireland Tour 2025

Legendary British singer-songwriter Ralph McTell will embark on his most extensive tour of Ireland to date in 2025. Spanning 20 shows over four weeks, the ...

THE RHEINGANS SISTERS – Start Close In (own label RSC005)

Like many artists in the folk world Anna and Rowan Rheingans divide their time across several projects which goes some way to explaining why Start ...

ALASTAIR SAVAGE & ALICE ALLEN – Where The Good Ship Lands (Woodlands Records SAV007CD)  

Cellist Alice Allen is on somewhat of a roll these days, her muse becoming ridiculously productive, both as a solo artist and in the many ...

CHRIS WHILE AND JULIE MATTHEWS – Days Like These (Fat Cat FATCD050)

Days Like These is released to mark the duo’s 30 year partnership, the UK’s longest serving female duo. Not bad going for what was originally ...

THORPE AND MORRISON – Grass & Granite (own label)

Guitarist Harry Thorpe and fiddler Sean Morrison are based in Birmingham, but the title of their third album together – Grass & Granite – refers ...

Paul Johnson talks to ‘Bluenose B’ about his brilliant new concept album

Paul Johnson talks to Bluenose B about his new concept album'Minstrel of the waste land' in this 'mini pod' Here I talk to Bluenose B, ...

JESS TUTHILL – Beautiful Disaster (own label)

Another late bloomer in terms of recording, after some 20 years writing music, singing and, more recently, playing ukulele, Reading’s Tuthill (an insight analyst in ...

LUKE DE SCISCIO – Theo (Folk Boy Records)

Despite the exoticness of his name, Luke De Sciscio is from Bath. And despite his tender years – he’s just 32 - he’s something of ...

Aerialists announce new album

Aerialists, the Juno-nominated, boundary-pushing neo-trad, folk, and Celtic ensemble, is thrilled to announce the release of their highly anticipated new album, I Lost My Heart ...

Christy Moore announces new album

There are few artists who can legitimately claim ‘living legend’ status – without question, Christy Moore is one of those few. 56 years on from the release ...

Deepdale Festival – just a week to go

In a week’s time the Deepdale Camping & Rooms team will welcome an incredible array of musical talent for Deepdale Festival 2024, their music festival ...

Katie Spencer ‘The edge of the land’ album review

New audio album review... After meeting up with hugely talented young singer song writer Katie Spencer at The New Forest Folk Festival, and talking to ...

Paul Johnson audio reviews a new very limited edition – solo album by Oyster Bands Alan Prosser

Hi all... well as you know I was at the New Forest Folk Festival covering the event for us here at Folking.com - when I ...

Mairearad Green and Rachel Newton announce new album and tour

Mairearad Green and Rachel Newton are both well established and celebrated Scottish musicians. They are also cousins, their mothers hailing from Achnahaird, Coigach in the ...

TARREN – Outside Time (own label)

From Bristol they came and set about conquering the folk world. Sid Goldsmith, Alex Garden and Danny Pedler have already built their reputations with other ...

BARD EDRINGTON V & THE BLACKBIRDS – Tired & Branded (own label)

Bard Edrington V lives in a part of the USA where, musically, “something appears to be happening”. It was apparent on his previous album, Two ...

MICHAEL McDERMOTT – Lighthouse On The Shore AND East Jesus (PSR016CD)

Michael McDermott releases two albums on September 13th. It’s worth making the, possibly esoteric, point that even though they come in a single CD sleeve ...

DEN MILLER – Bless The Rains (own label)

Den Miller is a singer/songwriter/ multi-instrumentalist from West Yorkshire. We’ve mentioned him before but Bless The Rains is the first of his albums we’ve got ...

GRYPHON LIVE – A Sonic Tonic (Talking Elephant TECD497)

It may come as a surprise to learn that Gryphon have never before released a live album but with A Sonic Tonic they more than ...

Alan O’Leary presents Copperplate podcast 297

folking.com brings you the latest podcast from that aficionado of Irish music, the one and only Mr. Alan O’Leary with his regular monthly instalment of ...

Bob Fox and Billy Mitchell announce October tour dates

OCTOBER 3rd SOUTH SHIELDS - Customs House - website 4th DURHAM - Gala Theatre - website 5th WHITLEY BAY- Playhouse Theatre - website 6th KIRKBY ...

FELIX HATFIELD – House Of The Artist (FB04)

Felix Hatfield released House Of The Artist at the end of July and with all the summer frolics, I’m only just reviewing it. Which has ...

Hayden Thorpe announces his new album

Today, Hayden Thorpe announces a special new record entitled Ness, due for release on September 27th via Domino. Using a process of redaction, Thorpe brings songs to life from the pages ...

LEE DeWYZE- Gone For Days (own label)

Chicago-born DeWyze described his sixth album, Gone For Days as being about growth, questioning, and self-exploration, on which he’s variously joined by Union Station alumni ...

ORAN – Rebellious Rebirth (own label)

As Rebellious Rebirth is a debut album with an inspiring back story, by an artist – Oran - who is likely to be unfamiliar to ...

Chris Cleverley – Christmas record and tour dates

Dream-Folk songwriter Chris Cleverley returns as you’ve never heard him before, with a collection of ambient acoustic Christmas songs and winter tour dates. Three Counties ...

HOME SERVICE – A Live Transmission (Talking Elephant TECD500)

It’s an understatement to say that Home Service have had a turbulent career but they are still with us, albeit in a very different form ...

GOOD GUY HANK – Silver Lining (own label)

Two Scots and an Australian met in a pub in Dunkeld and, united by their love of Hank Williams, formed a band - hence their ...

GHOSTWRITER – Tremulant (Subexotic SUBEX00162 vinyl/SUBEX00163 digital)

Founded by musician and novelist Mark Brend in 2009, Ghostwriter is a fluid project that brings together a revolving cast of contributors, recording remotely. Tremulant, ...

The Official Folk Album Chart – August 2024

On Tuesday 3 September the Official Charts Company in partnership with English Folk Expo revealed the Top 40 best-selling and most streamed folk albums released in the August reporting period in the UK ...

Lewis Barfoot announces new EP and tour dates

Contemporary folk artist and singer-songwriter Lewis Barfoot returns to the UK for an 11 date solo tour opening at the illustrious Green Note in London ...

THE SHACKLETON TRIO – The Shackleton Trio (own label)

With their tenth-year celebratory self-titled release, East Anglia’s Shackleton Trio takes Jethro Tull’s Ian Anderson at his word and, in their own way, sings, “Let’s ...

THE DONALD ANDERSON BAND – No Time For Turning Back (Making Waves MWCD002)

No Time For Turning Back, their second album, fronted by songwriter Anderson and featuring Alan McKay on guitars, drummer Ian Barrie and bassist Rick Nickerson, ...

THE GLEEMAN – Something to Say (own label)

Here at folking we’ve been following the career of The Gleeman for a couple of years; a career peppered with excellent singles, fine songwriting and ...

THE LOST NOTES – Good Luck Shoes (own label)

The Lost Notes’ Good Luck Shoes is softly brilliant Americana folk music – all the way from Moseley, Birmingham. Odd, for those of us with ...

SINGLES BAR 105 – A round-up of recent EPs and singles

Despite co-writing Nitty Gritty Dirt Band hit ‘Buy For Me The Rain’ and releasing critically acclaimed albums Revenge Will Come, Diana And James and The Tango Bar, GREG COPELAND has always ...

LINDA MOYLAN – The Fool (Talking Elephant TECD499)

Of London-Irish heritage, Moylan spans a folksy bridge from pub singalong Irish country on the one hand to more considered and complex material on the ...

SUSY WALL – The Spaces In Between (own label)

The Spaces In Between is yet another example of a début album from an artist that I've not come across before being an absolute gem ...

Native Harrow announce new album

Philly-based Native Harrow have remained largely independent - musically, professionally, and aesthetically, since their beginning, meticulously crafting and perfecting a sound that is melded together from pieces ...

HANK WEDEL – What Happens In Cork (own label)

With his melodic pop-infused folk album, What Happens In Cork, Hank Wedel tosses his songs into the (metaphorically-measured) sizzling singer-songwriter tuned cauldron, to add a ...

The Rheingans Sisters announce new album and tour dates

The Rheingans Sisters release their highly anticipated new album Start Close In on September 27th. Sonically arresting, drenched in drones, and pulsing with age-old patterns ...

Sharon Shannon plans Shane MacGowan tribute

The Sharon Shannon Big Band are set to deliver a captivating tribute to the late Shane MacGowan this Winter. This homage holds profound significance, as ...

PETE LAMBERT – I Told You A Story (Broken Chair Records) 

It’s been a funny old summer, as quiet as I can remember on the folk, as in folk, release front, a varied stew of US ...

THE CHARTISTS – Cause For Complaint (Steam Pie Records SPCD 1021S)

Chartism was a 19th century working class movement which agitated for political reform based on the People’s Charter of 1838. It was particularly strong in ...

CHRIS BANNISTER – The Calling Course (Libra Records, Libra CD0724)

A Lancashire-born singer-songwriter and sometime John Denver tribute act, Chris Bannister’s latest, The Calling Course, draws inspiration from his own family history with several generations ...

Nuala Kennedy and Eamon O’Leary – Guardian’s folk album of the month

Following the hand of fate which guided them from a remote village in the Austrian Alps to a tiny island in Greece, long time musical ...

Jamie Sutherland announces new solo album

Fresh from promoting the latest Broken Records album released at the end of last year, frontman Jamie Sutherland is once again venturing out on his ...

JORDIE LANE – Tropical Depression

Maybe it’s because he’s a ‘Stralian? Tropical Depression is released on August 23rd. It’s the most fascinating album to cross my (metaphorical) turntable this year ...

Bungay announces its inaugural folk festival

Bungay Folk Festival Friday 6th-Sunday 8th September. 3 days of fine folk music, dance, workshops, food and drink.  Small town with a big and creative heart ...

Jon Boden announces new album of Parlour Ballads

Parlour Ballads is the new album from Jon Boden, a piano led record full of sentimental ballads that tie together parlour music and folk song ...

PAUL JOHNSON’S CROPREDY FESTIVAL 2024 LITTLE POD CAST REVIEW

Hi all Well we all know its been a bit of a hard and dramatic year in our world this year with many sad passing's, ...

ANDREW J. NEWALL – My Lucky Charm (own label AJN2024CD)

This is a true story. Andrew J. Newall is quite explicit about that. My Lucky Charm is the soundtrack of a musical drama based on ...

MARK HARRISON BAND – Fools & Clowns (Highway Records HR0008)

Mark Harrison: bluesman, bandleader, songwriter, singer and guitarist. He’s supported by regular sidesmen, multi-instrumentalist Charles Benfield and drummer Ben Welburn, with extra guitar and keyboards ...

ANDREW COMBS – Dream Pictures (Loose Music)

Andrew Combs's album Dream Pictures is a soulful folk record with a candle’s dance and melodies that sip from a drowsy glass of wine. This ...

The Govan Footbridge Festival

The opening of the new Govan-Partick Bridge is to be marked with a musical extravaganza in the form of a free one-off festival on Saturday 7th ...

TANGLEJACK – The Ragged Edge (own label)

John-Paul Davies and Duncan Leigh – the two friends who make up Swansea based duo TangleJack – have been perfecting their own sound, based on ...

Stick In The Wheel announce new album and winter tour

Stick In The Wheel’s fourth studio album, A Thousand Pokes is a satirical celebration of mistakes. A joyous lambasting of everyone and everything that’s wrong in ...

KAREN JONAS: The Rise & Fall Of American Kitsch (Goldrush Records) 

I am uncertain where Ms Jonas’s tongue sits for this one, but I’ll hazard and hope it is firmly in cheek, the whole of this ...

STEVIE JONES AND THE WILDFIRES – Getting There

Getting There is the fourth album from Stevie Jones and the Wildfires. It’s due to be launched on August 16th at The Musician in Leicester.  ...

Honey and The Bear celebrate their 10th anniversary

It’s hard to believe that fast-rising East Anglian duo Honey And The Bear (aka Lucy and Jon Hart) are celebrating their 10th anniversary this year ...

THE KEITH JAMES SONGBOOK – A long awaited Concert tour

A unique voice within the fabric of music in the UK WORD PAINTINGS THE KEITH JAMES SONGBOOK A long awaited Concert tour Mature, insightful and ...

LUCY PARKER – A Beautiful Place To Die (B Side Recording)

A new name from Wolverhampton (though currently at university in Surrey), taking inspiration from Taylor Swift, Ed Sheeran, and Lewis Capaldi, Parker’s debut album, A ...

WILLS & THE WILLING – Another Long Week (Smash & Grab Music SMASHGCDE2)

I’m not quite sure, listening to this, his fifth album, how The Times came to describe Ian Wills as a 21st century Ian Dury. Certainly ...

VARIOUS ARTISTS – Mo Ogg – The Bard Of Coleby (Folk Round ‘Ere SCM1043)

Maurice Charles (Mo) Ogg was a joiner, musician, song-writer and song collector in and around north Lincolnshire. He died tragically young at the age of ...

 R.R.WILLIAMS – Unremarkable Lives (Black Mesa Records BMR085)

The packaging is rather minimal but that’s about all there is about Unremarkable Lives to complain about. Unless, of course, you’re determined to force R.R.Williams ...

Official Folk Albums chart – July 2024

On Tuesday 6 August the Official Charts Company in partnership with English Folk Expo revealed the Top 40 best-selling and most streamed folk albums released ...

TANITA TIKARAM – The WEA/East West Albums 1988-1996 (Cherry Red OCRCD5box174)

Born in Germany to Indo-Fijian parents and raised in Hampshire, in 1988 Tikaram burst on to the music scene with her Top 3 debut album ...

FolkEast presents three firsts for 2024

Suffolk’s FolkEast festival has always been one for innovation and this month, for its 12th year – and its last at Glemham Hall - it ...

THE LONG RUNNERS – On The Run (WildGoose Records WGS447CD)

At the turn of the 20th century, in the fashionable salons of New York and Boston, fashionable things were happening. Meanwhile the working folks of ...

SINGLES BAR 104 – A round-up of recent EPs and singles

One third of Harp & A Monkey, SIMON JONES takes inspiration from the world of British TV and film horror, such as Hammer House of ...

JOSHUA ARNOLD AND THERINE – A Wonderfull Discoverie Of Witches (own label)

Composer and multi-instrumentalist Arnold and vocalist Therine are an experimental folk duo from the north of England, their album, borrowing its title from clerk of ...

Le Vent Du Nord announce UK tour

The award winning and highly acclaimed Le Vent du Nord is a leading force in Québec’s progressive francophone folk movement.  The group’s vast repertoire draws ...

MORNINGBIRD – Echoes In The Meadow (own label)

MorningBird’s Echoes In The Meadow drinks from the unassuming northern Minnesota Lake Itasca trickle, which, once given momentum, pulses into the Mississippi River Americana mythical ...

THE CELTIC HARPER – Carnivorine And Other Songs (own label)

I really like Carnivorine. It’s not in the least what I expected and that in itself is no bad thing. The Celtic Harper is actually ...

KEEPING IT LIVE – Folklincs Humber Fest 2024

To start with the conclusion: Humber Fest is a rather splendid new festival, located in Barton on Humber and is the kind of thing that ...

Nick Harper announces new album and tour dates

Recorded in Abbey Road Studio 2 on Earth Day 2024, Earth Day Blue is the 14th studio album release from Nick Harper, the wildly talented ...

Gillian Welch & David Rawlings announce new studio album

Gillian Welch & David Rawlings announce Woodland, their 10th studio album, out August 23rd via Acony records and share new song ‘Empty Trainload Of Sky’ ...

The New Forest Folk Festival 2024 a pod cast review by Paul Johnson

Our very own Paul Johnson reviews, via a mini podcast, this years fabulous New Forest Folk Festival that was held from 4th - 7th July ...

SILAS J. DIRGE – Swan Songs (own label)

For a journey into the darker elements of Americana music, Amsterdam might seem a surprising place to start. And yet it’s the Dutch capital from ...

CHARLIE O’BRIEN – The Trackless Wild – Irish Song Of The Pampa (Trouble or Fortune Records)

Argentina is not, perhaps, a country you might readily associate with Irish balladry. So, its title referring to the South American low grasslands, Killarney ex-pat ...

Sarah McQuaid announces another marathon tour

Building a fanbase one gig at a time She’s been mentioned in a quiz question on BBC Radio 4’s Counterpoint, featured on the O2 Music ...

KEEPING IT LIVE – ELY FOLK FESTIVAL 2024

“Do you want a pass to Stevie Nicks, VIP area?” “Sounds good.” “July 12th.” “I can’t I’m already booked - Ely Folk Festival.” Ah well ...

Ely Folk Festival – another successful year

Amazingly warm and dry weather and the best in contemporary roots music greeted fans as they flocked to the Stuntney Estate last weekend for the ...

KINGS HEATHENS – Old Tall Stories (own label)

Respectively from Milton Keynes and Texas, busker David Fisher and barber Evan Ritchie are now based in the Birmingham suburb from which they take their ...

The Celtic Harper announces his debut album.

The Celtic Harper (Andrew Smith) is an outlier harpist and lyrical tenor based in Calderdale, U.K. After twenty years working as a psychotherapist, he eventually ...

MARK NEAL – Cool Waters (Eh Records EHCD08)

Mark Neal is a singer/songwriter/musician/producer and all-round clever chap from the banks of the Clyde near Loch Lomond. He works in a duo with Eilidh ...

DAVID CARROLL AND FRIENDS – Bold Reynold Too (Talking Elephant TECD493)

Talking Elephant haven’t had to spend much on artwork for Bold Reynold Too. The first volume was a great success and I have no doubt ...

THE NEW LEAVES – A Sketch Of Home (Corn Crake Records)

The New Leaves are a quartet from County Down. Decky McKay and Cian O’Hare sing and play guitar, Patrice McKevitt sings and plays bass with ...

Official Folk Albums Chart – June 2024

On Tuesday 2 July the Official Charts Company in partnership with English Folk Expo revealed the Top 40 best-selling and most streamed folk albums released ...

GANDALF MURPHY AND THE SLAMBOVIAN CIRCUS OF DREAMS – A Good Thief Tips His Hat (Talking Elephant TECD498)

Paul Johnson reviews the 25th Anniversary reissue of the first album by the wonderful Gandalf Murphy And The Slambovian Circus Of Dreams: A Good Thief ...

Manchester Folk Festival launches its 2025 line-up

Manchester Folk Festival makes its eagerly awaited return to the city’s Northern Quarter and Ancoats' best-loved venues on Thursday 20th - Saturday 22nd March 2025 ...

Hoolie In The Hydro Returns to Celebrate 100 Years of Scottish Music

Scotland’s biggest night of traditional music, Hoolie In The Hydro, will return to Glasgow’s iconic OVO Hydro on Saturday 7th December 2024 to commemorate 100 ...

SINGLES BAR 103 – A round-up of recent EPs and singles

Now just a solo project for Bristol’s Hannah Pawson, FRITILLARIES follow up their(her) 2022 eponymous debut album with the self-released EP Thank God I Have ...

NICK PYNN – Visions/Revisions And Impressions (Brand Oscar Records) 

The “Octopus of Sound” is a pretty fine handle to have as your by-line, the description(?!) bestowed upon him by comedian (and music lover), Stewart ...

CHEERY ODIN – Gan Yer Dinger (own label)

I love reviewing because I can take a punt on an album. I've never sent one back and there are occasions when I find a ...

The New Leaves announce their debut album

Following the tremendous feedback from lead singles ‘Donaghaguy Reservoir’ and ‘Country Lane Lament’, Corn Crake Records and Cobra Promotions are proud to announce The New ...

SAM REIDER & THE HUMAN HANDS – The Golem And Other Tales (own label) 

So what is the link between Django Reinhardt, Planxty, Duke Ellington, Astor Piazzolla, Bernard Herrman and Raymond Scott? Well, apart from having to look the ...

Sam Carter – new solo album and tour dates

Sam Carter announced his fifth solo album, Silver Horizon, for release on Captain Records on Friday, 16th of August. Featuring eleven hook-driven indie folk songs ...

The East Neuk Festival marks its 20th anniversary

The East Neuk Festival begins next week (26-30 June) with a celebratory programme of music to mark 20 years since it was first founded, thanks ...

Organisers of Underneath The Stars festival have issued the following statement:

Dearest Stargazers, it is with heavy hearts that we announce this year’s festival will be our last for now and that we have decided to ...

Wickham Festival on the move

Wickham Festival is moving home – but only a few hundred yards. The popular long-running event is switching to a different site for this year’s ...

SIMON CARE AND GARETH TURNER – Two’s Up Two (Talking Elephant TECD478)

Way, way back in 1997 two bright-eyed and bushy-tailed young melodeon players got together to record an album, Two’s Up. Distinguished careers intervened and it ...

Joan As Police Woman announces her tenth studio album and new single

Multi-instrumentalist and singer-songwriter Joan As Police Woman today releases her new single ‘Long For Ruin’, the first taste of her forthcoming new album Lemons, Limes ...

Tarren announce their second album

Outside Time comes two years after new folk trio Tarren’s critically acclaimed debut Revel, an album that established their unique sound and quickly gained them ...

CHURCH STREET SHUFFLE – The Five Day Weekend (own label CCS001)

Church Street Shuffle are the fiddle and guitar duo of Neil Ewart and Ali MacQuarrie. Their name is derived from the street in Inverness which ...

BLUE ROSE CODE – Bright Circumstance (Ronachan Songs)

Blue Rode Code (the band led by Scottish songwriter Ross Wilson) released the new album Bright Circumstance on June 7th. If Wilson/the band are new ...

BROOKS WILLIAMS & AARON CATLOW – Greens & Blues (Red Guitar Blue Music RGBM 2401)

I’m pretty sure that it’s impossible to keep Brooks Williams out of a studio much less separate him from his guitar. An inveterate collaborator, for ...

MICHAEL WAUGH – Beauty & Truth (Compass Bros Music)

Australian Michael Waugh’s Beauty & Truth is a strong-voiced melodic folk album (produced by Shane Nicholson!) graced with a dramatic live buzz of electric guitar, ...

THE CIDERHOUSE REBELLION – And Even The Sheep Shall Dance (Under The Eaves Records UTE 010) 

To say that Adam Summerhayes and Murray Grainger are busy bees would be a vast understatement of their reality, spreading themselves across any number of ...

JESSIE SUMMERHAYES & THE CIDERHOUSE REBELLION – Tales of Colonsay (UTE011)

Poet Jesssie Summerhayes has one again teamed up with the great improvisers The Ciderhouse Rebellion (Adam Summerhayes fiddle and Murray Grainger accordion) to bring out ...

MOLLY DONNERY AND THE CIDERHOUSE REBELLION – A Little Bit Slanted (Under the Eaves – UTE 009)

You might have noticed that the masters of folk improvisation, The Ciderhouse Rebellion, are embarked on a series of collaborations with leading singers on the ...

JON BUDWORTH – In Sight Of Home (FF002CD)

Jon Budworth has just released In Sight Of Home. ‘Just’ because it’s out right now and ‘only just’ because the idea for the album came ...

The Official Folk Album chart – May 2024

On Tuesday 4 June the Official Charts Company in partnership with English Folk Expo revealed the Top 40 best-selling and most streamed folk albums released ...

FLO PERLIN – Clay (own label)

The third album by the London-based singer-songwriter and sometime Nest Collective member, Clay serves as a metaphor for the human capacity to adapt and adjust ...