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).


BELLE PLAINE – Malice, Mercy, Grief And Wrath (own label)

Sharing her name with the Minnesota city that translates as ‘beautiful prairie’. raised in a remote Saskatchewan town of just 45 people, it’s understandable that ...

STEVIE DUNNE – Live At The Crosskeys Inn (own label SDB003)

Ireland is full of fine musicians who, unlike prophets, are honoured in their own country but not so much elsewhere. Stevie Dunne is one such ...

MICHELLE LEWIS – All That’s Left (own label)

Based in L.A., Lewis explores the softer edges of folk-pop Americana, her songs suffused with sadness and melancholy, dealing with loss and longing, delivered in ...

Marianne Faithfull announces new solo album

Negative Capability is the 21st album by Marianne Faithfull and the most emotionally powerful of her 54-year recording career. Facing down arthritis and bolstered by ...

TOM PETTY AND BOB DYLAN – New York 1986 (Rox Vox RV2CD2128)

In the mid-80s and in the midst of his own musical wasteland, Bob Dylan went down a number of different angles in a bid to ...

KITTY MACFARLANE – Namer Of Clouds (Navigator Records, NAVIGATOR104)

Given the praise heaped on Kitty Macfarlane’s 2016 EP, Tide & Time, expectations are understandably high for her first full-length album release, Namer Of Clouds ...

GREGORY ALAN ISAKOV – Evening Machines (Dualtone Records)

Evening Machines was released on October 5th, Isakov’s fifth album. Isakov is a full time farmer in Colorado, who tends to his music career in ...

PETE SEEGER BIG BILL BROONZY – Cahn Auditorium, Northwestern University (Echoes ECHO2CD2077)

Another recording from the vaults is Pete Seeger and Big Bill Broonzy from the Cahn Auditorium at Northwestern University, in Evanston, Illinois, 1956 – a ...

LONGSTAY – Calling Me Home (Goldrush Records, GOLDCD017)

Calling Me Home is the debut album from Longstay, a precocious Perth quintet, still with an average age of only 17 - and with four ...

ANNE MARIE ALMEDAL – Lightshadow (VMP 18/012 CD)

Anne Marie Almedal is a Norwegian singer and composer whose album, Lightshadow, is now on release. Almedal, was the lead singer of the band Velvet ...

BOB DYLAN AND THE BAND – 1974 Tour Live (Rox Vox RV3CD2137)

1974 Tour Live is a pretty self-explanatory title, but if you’re still curious for anything else other than the obvious, it is a three disc ...

Andy White tours reissued Rave On

“Andy White, Belfast born and Belfast bred, first picked up a guitar when he was thirteen. It was blocking up the hallway. He started strumming ...

LUKA BLOOM – Sometimes I Fly… (MIG MIG 02102 CD)

This album was recorded by Radio Bremen in 2001. Luka Bloom is big in Germany; he’s big in Ireland naturally but for some unfathomable reason ...

Catty Pearson releases debut EP

London singer-songwriter Catty Pearson, with her musical roots planted in folk, country and blues and her head set on unravelling some of the confusion she feels in ...

THE SALTS – Brave (Braccan Records BRCD9001)

The Salts perform shanties but not quite in the way you might expect. They are five seasoned musicians with a remarkable list of credits to ...

MALCOLM HOLCOMBE – Come Hell Or High Water (Gypsy Eyes Music)

If you feel that ‘Southern folk golem’ Holcombe’s croaky roll-up rasp suggests he’s been shovelling coal dust of his cereals and makes Tom Waits sound ...

Derbyshire stars at Derby Folk Festival

Derbyshire is famous for many things to those in the know, but for the casual mainstream music fan the county that gave the world Rolls-Royce ...

Yvonne Lyon announces new album with Stewart and Carol Henderson

Vesper Sky is a stunning and unique collection of songs and poems, written and performed by Stewart Henderson, Yvonne Lyon and Carol Henderson. Singer/songwriter Yvonne ...

Dan Frechette & Laurel Thomsen announce new album

As with their previous three albums, Canadian-American Roots-Folk duo Dan Frechette & Laurel Thomsen ponder contemporary subject matter with vintage sensibility in their fourth release, Driving ...

J.P. HARRIS – Sometimes Dogs Bark At Nothing (Free Dirt DIRT-CD-0090)

You might be wondering if J.P. Harris looks anything like the cover picture. Well, I can’t speak for all the tattoos but, yes, that’s pretty ...

SINGLES BAR 34 – A round-up of recent EPs and singles

Tablelands is the third of the trilogy of EPs by INDIA ELECTRIC CO. that began in the city with EC1M and ends somewhere hot, red ...

ETHAN HANNA – Welcome To The Batlands (Tin Man Heart)

Ethan Hanna is from Lisburn, Northern Ireland. He’s been around for while, paying his dues as a soloist and in bands, but Welcome To The ...

RIBBON ROAD – Paper Dolls (Shipyard RRD011)

The follow-up to Our Streets Are Numbered, one of my favourite albums of 2016, the Heslop family, songwriter Brenda, husband Geoff and daughter Jill, here ...

Breabach announce new album

Frenzy of the Meeting is the latest release from multi award-winning Scottish folk band Breabach. Continuing to build on the ideas and experimentation from their ...

TOWN MOUNTAIN – New Freedom Blues (own label)

Based in Asheville, North Carolina, New Freedom Blues is the quintet’s sixth studio album which, while their feet are still firmly planted in the bluegrass pastures, ...

THE BETTERDAYS – Backlash (NTB Records CD 1004)

I realise that this isn’t our usual fare but it’s such a gem that we couldn’t resist. The cover shows The Betterdays from Plymouth in ...

ANTOINE & OWENA – Hands, Hearts & Hangings (own label)

We receive a lot of unsolicited albums, often debuts from new artists. Some we may gloss over; others we play more than once. So it ...

Ewan Macintyre Band announce new album

In promotion of Ewan’s forthcoming album Road Junkie, Ewan and the band will be doing a series of tours throughout November in Scotland, England, Wales, ...

Stevie Dunne releases live album

Stevie Dunne is regarded as one of Ireland’s finest banjo players. Hailing from the small fishing port of Clogherhead in County Louth, Stevie now resides ...

CHRIS CLEVERLEY TRIO – Red Lion Folk Club, Kings Heath, Birmingham

Already well-established as a charismatic performer on the folk circuit and a critically acclaimed singer-songwriter as well as hugely accomplished guitarist, this hometown gig, the ...

GILMORE & ROBERTS – A Problem Of Our Kind (GR! GRR08)

Gilmore & Roberts are Katriona Gilmore (vocals, fiddle, viola, B3 organ and mandolin) and Jamie Roberts (vocals, guitar, percussion). Their album A Problem Of Our ...

DOLPHIN BOY – The Highland Swing (Skye Records SCRCX005)

There is story behind this album although I’m not sure I fully understand it. Once upon a time DJ Andy Dolphin, aka Dolphin Boy, was ...

YOUNG WATERS – Young Waters (own label YW1)

Now trading under a rather more attractive moniker (borrowed from a Scottish Child Ballad) than their previous appellation as Snufkin, guitarist Theo Passingham and percussionist ...

EDDI READER – Cavalier (Reveal 077CDX)

Forty years into her career, Reader’s 11th solo studio album, Cavalier, continues the recent trend of mixing original and traditional material with, naturally, something from ...

SLOW MOVING CLOUDS – Starfall (own label SMC003)

Dublin based trio Slow Moving Clouds blend Irish and Nordic traditions with modern techniques and influences to make music that might be described as “ambient” ...

ANNIE DRESSNER – Broken Into Pieces

Like Kurt Russell in 'Escape from New York', Annie Dressner has legged it as well and made it over here to fair Albion even without ...

JIMMY LaFAVE – Peace Town (Music Road Records MRR CD030)

A leading light of the Red Dirt country movement, LaFave succumbed to cancer last year, but not before laying down a 100 or so recordings ...

TUMBLING SOULS –Between the Dream And The Truth (Wee Studio Records WSTTS01)

The debut album from the country and bluegrass-influenced Hebridean eight-piece fronted by Willie Campbell, Between The Truth And The Dream has a firm emphasis on ...

JOHN SMITH – Hummingbird (Commoner COMM01CD)

John Smith is a name I’ve been circling around for some time without actually hearing him so I was delighted when his new album, Hummingbird, ...

SOLASTA – A Cure For The Curious (own label SLSTA18)

A Cure For The Curious is the debut album by the newest trio aiming to take folk music in new directions. Solasta are Elizabeth Flett; ...

THE LARK AND THE LOON – Homestead Hands (own label)

She’s the lark and he’s the loon and The Lark And The Loon are multi-instrumental husband and wife duo Jeff Rolfzen and Rocky Steen-Rolfzen. Homestead ...

PHIL DOLEMAN – Skin & Bones

In recent years the ukulele has become increasingly prominent in my life as a music teacher and workshop organiser, so it was with a degree ...

MAWKIN – Down Among The Dead Men (Good Form Records MKN005)

I was thinking that it was rather too long since I’d heard anything from Mawkin when David Delarre got in touch to ask if I’d ...

Katie Spencer – in praise of live music

Saturday night I find myself in a church in a small village. This settlement is so tiny that to describe it as a small hamlet ...

IAIN THOMSON AND MARC DUFF – No Borders (own label IAT 003)

Iain Thomson is a singer-songwriter brought up in Dumfries who works regularly as a duo with Marc Duff who plays bouzouki, pipes, piano and whistles ...

NATHAN BELL – Loves Bones And Stars, Love’s Bones And Stars (Angry Stick Recording Company)

In case you’re wondering, the title of the album is correct. Loves Bones And Stars, Love’s Bones And Stars is due for release on September ...

Neil Brophy Band announce new single and album

Neil Brophy Band, based in Copenhagen but coming from England, Scotland & Denmark, are a Celtic folk rock band championed by Steve Lamacq, whom will ...

Exploring Folklore at Halsway Manor

Venue website: www.halswaymanor.org.uk ...

RACHEL NEWTON – West (Shadowside SHADOW03)

I had better confess that I’m a bit of a fan of Rachel Newton. The last time I heard her perform live she demonstrated how ...

Take Flight with Afro Celt Sound System

Brand new album, Flight – with major UK tour - November 2018 With album sales now topping one and a half million and two Grammy ...

RICHARD DURRANT – Stringhenge (Own Label, TheBurningDeck003CD)

JS Bach’s elaborate baroque isn’t necessarily folk’s obvious partner, but for guitarist Richard Durrant they are simply links in a lengthy musical chain. In his ...

A DIFFERENT THREAD – On A Whim (own label)

Originally a duo comprising Staffordshire’s Robert Jackson and North Yorkshire classical cellist Isaac Collier, last year they were joined by North Carolina songwriter and fiddle ...

NORTHERN FLYWAY – Northern Flyway (Hudson Records, HUD013)

This eponymous album from Northern Flyway is a beautiful addition to a rapidly growing body of music prominently featuring birdsong. Northern Flyway is Jenny Sturgeon ...

SINGLES BAR 33 A round-up of recent EPs and singles

BURNING SALT – Hannah Hull (vocals, guitar), Bobby Williams (electric guitar) and John Parker (double bass) – base their music on Hannah's distinctive voice and ...

DUSTER BENNETT – The Complete Blue Horizon Sessions (Floating World FLOATM6367)

Younger readers may need a heads up about Duster Bennett but a title like The Complete Blue Horizon Sessions should pique anyone’s interest. Duster was ...

TIA McGRAFF – Stubborn In My Blood (Bandana)

Her first full-length release since 2015 (though there was an EP last year), Stubborn In My Blood  is McGraff’s seventh album and again provides ample ...

Annie Dressner announces second album

Annie Dressner was born and raised in New York City where she cut her teeth on the busy acoustic music scene, appearing regularly at such ...

Larkin Poe announce new album

Larkin Poe have announced details of their new album Venom & Faith, to be released November 9. The Nashville-based sister duo have also announced a ...

Eddi Reader announces new album

Eddi Reader announces her brand new studio album Cavalier released worldwide on September 28 by Reveal Records. Featuring sixteen songs, including recently performed live favourites ...

DAVID MILTON – Songs From The Bell Man (Story Records Strec1801)

Produced by and featuring Ange Hardy, this is the debut album by an affable chap from her home town of Watchet in Somerset who, in ...

John Smith – new album

John Smith talks about Hummingbird Ever since my teenage epiphany at the altar of folk music, hearing Nick Drake, Bert Jansch and John Renbourn for the ...

CHRIS THOMAS – Bound To The Ocean (own label)

Formerly part of a Pink Floyd tribute show, the soft-voiced Devon-based singer-songwriter has being flying solo since 2013, Bound To The Ocean being his debut album ...

GRYPHON – ReInvention (own label GRIFCD01)

It has been a long time. Gryphon broke up in 1977 after recording Treason, which a lot of people seem to like but which I ...

JIMMY ALDRIDGE & SID GOLDSMITH – Many A Thousand (MATRAI8001)

Rising stars of the UK acoustic scene, Aldridge and Goldsmith are what I guess those outside the fraternity would call finger in the ear folk ...

Iain Thomson announces new album with Marc Duff

Iain Thomson along with long-time friend and musician Marc Duff will release a new album entitled No Borders. No Borders includes eleven new self-penned songs ...

Guitar virtuoso Richard Durrant – new album

In his latest offering composer and guitar virtuoso Richard Durrant is once again living on the folk/classical cusp with the first of these two LPs ...

RICHARD THOMPSON – 13 Rivers (Proper Records PRPCD150)

Following three excursions into his back catalogue in a solo acoustic format, Richard Thompson is back doing the other thing he does best. Electric guitar ...

Folking.com Cropredy Interviews 2018

Paul Johnson introduces this years interviews... Dave Pegg - Cropredy 2018 The Folking.com 2018 Dave Pegg Interview from Cropredy Chris Leslie - Cropredy 2018 The ...

MIDNIGHT SKYRACER talk to Folking.com backstage at Cropredy 2018

Paul Johnson and Darren Beech catch up with Midnight Skyracer backstage at this years Fairport's Cropredy Convention. The interview took place on the Friday afternoon after their fantastic ...

NIAMH VARIAN-BARRY – Wings (own label NVB001)

Sometimes you just want to snuggle down and be wrapped in the voice you’re listening to. Niamh Varian-Barry has one of those voices. Have a ...

GRACE PETRIE – Queer As Folk (own label)

The only time I saw Grace Petrie on stage, I was bowled over. I bought an EP and was impressed by that. Always her own ...

Slow Moving Clouds announce their second album

Dublin-based band Slow Moving Clouds combine roots in the Irish and Nordic folk traditions with post-punk drones, baroque strings, and soaring falsetto vocals – creating ...

The Shackleton Trio take their new album on tour

Following a busy summer of UK and European Festivals, The Shackleton Trio will be taking their new release on the road. The Shackleton Trio features ...

STONE JUNCTION – Could We Start This All Again? (Eris Records SJCD001)

Stone Junction are a trio based in Sussex: Michael Prochak, Dan Lapins and Will Thomson. Between them they play guitar, banjo, accordion, mandolin and whistle ...

SKINNER & T’WITCH – Everybody’s Grotty (own label)

In the course of reviewing Skinner & T’Witch’s debut album, Rise, I mused on nominative determinism and wondered whether if Sandra Twitchett had not acquired ...

SMITH AND BREWER – Live 16/12/2017 (Own Label)

Riding high on their success in front of their biggest audience to date at Cropredy, as well as playing a host of other festivals, Americana ...

Jenny Sturgeon and Inge Thompson announce release of their new project

Humans have always looked to the birds.  In mythology, they are carriers of souls, messengers to the gods, our familiars.  In ecology, they are our ...

Commonalities and heritage explored in brand-new music residency

Musicians and poets from across the UK and Ireland create work inspired by ancient diversity Ten of the UK and Ireland’s finest traditional poets and ...

Ethan Hanna announces debut album

Welcome To The Batlands, the debut album from Northern Irish artist Ethan Hanna, will be released on Tin Man Heart records from 5 October 2018 ...

HANNAH RARITY – ‘Neath The Gloaming Star (Own Label, HR085NEA)

Winner of 2018’s BBC Radio Scotland’s Young Traditional Musician award, Hannah Rarity, has just successfully crowdsourced her debut album, and it’s exquisitely lovely. ‘Neath The ...

BOB COLLUM AND THE WELFARE MOTHERS – Pay Pack And Carry (own label)

Bob Collum hails from Tulsa, Oklahoma but now lives in Essex – actually, we’re beginning to detect a pattern there. His band is Macs Leyton, ...

Burning Salt’s “love letter” to Holloway Women’s Prison

Burning Salt – Hannah Hull (vocals, guitar, piano), Bobby Williams (electric guitar) and John Parker (double bass) – base their music on Hannah's distinctive voice ...

Will Varley talks to folking.com ahead of Autumn tour

Will Varley is touring the UK again this autumn, with the majority of the shows taking place in seated theatres and venues. Paul Johnson and ...

Chris Cleverley unveils his new project

September 2018 sees the launch of a new live outfit from Contemporary Folk songwriter and fingerstyle guitar extraordinaire Chris Cleverley. With an all-star line-up, Chris ...

DAN WEBSTER – Devil Sky (Paper Plane PPR1801)

Dan Webster is a British singer-songwriter who has been described as the fusion of folk and country. On his fourth album, Devil Sky, much of ...

FAIRYTALE – Autumn’s Crown (Magic Mile Music, MMM41112)

German folk-rockers Fairytale cunningly release their second album, Autumn’s Crown, as the first signs of seasonal change appear. Having already secured the support of some ...

DREW MORRISON AND THE DARKWOOD – Electric-Notes Wild (Storm Cloud SCCD002)

Electric-Notes Wild, to be released on September 7th, is the debut album from Drew Morrison And The Darkwood. It follows a well-received EP, Tales of ...

Eriska launch debut album

Eriska is a six-piece Glasgow-based folk band established in 2016. The band's line up includes members from the traditional music, jazz, and classical courses at ...

Daphne’s Flight talk to Folking.com

Reunited after a 21 year gap in 2017, Daphne’s Flight brings together the talents of five highly acclaimed singer-songwriters: Julie Matthews, Chris While, Melanie Harrold, ...

Stone Junction release their debut album

Stone Junction have released their debut album Could We Start This All Again?, replete with the accomplished and varied transatlantic sounds of guitars, mandolin, accordion, ...

JENNIFER BELL AND WILSON WALKER – …And So To Bedlam (own label JBWW01)

It isn’t often that a lutenist will send us a CD but Jennifer Bell did just that. Jennifer is a singer-songwriter and, in addition to ...

Grace Petrie announces new album

Make way for protest singer, LGBTQ + activist, folk singer, socialist and social commentator Grace Petrie. Smart, witty, a talented lyricist and an electrifying live ...

Dan Webster releases new album this month

Dan Webster is described as ‘one of the U.K’s best kept musical secrets and one not to miss!’ and an ‘An insightful lyricist with a ...

The Folking.com 2018 Merry Hell Interview from Cropredy Fringe

Paul Johnson and Darren Beech create Merry Hell as they attempt to break the world record for ‘how many folk-rock musicians you can fit round a table ...

Ben Somers announces debut solo album

Acclaimed folk and jazz musician Ben Somers releases his brand new album, Poor Stuart on 7 September - a polished and accomplished collection of twelve pieces, ten ...

THE TANNAHILL WEAVERS – Òrach (Compass Records 7417172)

Few bands get to celebrate fifty years together – and some of those have taken a breather mid-career – so The Tannahill Weavers have joined ...

The Folking.com 2018 Dave Pegg Interview from Cropredy

Paul Johnson and Darren Beech track down Dave Pegg at this year at Fairport Convention’s Cropredy Festival. The interview gets off to a great start ...

THE GLOAMING – Live At The NCH (Real World CD/Vinyl)

It almost goes without saying that Martin Hayes (fiddle) and Dennis Cahill (guitar) have shaped Irish traditional music for the last quarter century and are ...

WILL KEATING – Cornwall My Home (Kernow Ow Thre) (Own Label)

As it happens, I'd heard quite a lot of Will Keating's CD Cornwall My Home (Kernow Ow Thre) before a copy came my way, having ...

ASSYNT – Road To The North (Garthland Records, GAR001CD)

The trio of musicians who make up Assynt may still only be in their 20s but between them have already amassed a barrowload of nominations ...

HILARY SCOTT – Don’t Call Me Angel (Belltown)

Released in the 20th anniversary of her older brother’s death, which saw her take her stage name in his honour, Don’t Call Me Angel  is ...

The Folking.com 2018 Chris Leslie Interview from Cropredy

It would not be Cropredy without an interview with the ‘Jewel In The Crown’ of the Fairport five, so here are Paul Johnson and Darren ...

THE HOT SEATS – Stupid Mountain Too Big

Not only is Stupid Mountain Too Big a great title, but it is also the first album in three years from the Virginia-based Hot Seats ...

Introducing Young Waters

Young Waters’ twisted neo-folk is a tapestry of emotionally powerful vocals, stirring harmonies, lyrical strings and finely mastered acoustic guitar. Their exhilarating rhythms and intricate ...

DUNCAN McCRONE – Land Of Gold (Greentrax CDTRAX398)

A well-established veteran of the Scottish folk scene, Duncan McCrone returns with Land Of Gold, his fourth solo album, and his first on the esteemed ...

MARTIN BARRE – Roads Less Travelled (Garage Records GAR0002)

I don't think I've heard Jethro Tull for decades, but one of the highlights of the band's music was, for me and many others, Martin ...

Swedish Celtic punks Sir Reg announce new album

Sir Reg is an energetic six piece from Sweden fronted by Irishman Brendan Sheehy on vocals, who left his home-town of Dublin to come to ...

Gryphon announce new album – forty-one years on

Would you believe it? Gryphon are releasing an all-new studio album of especially written, previously unheard material – and this comes all of 41 years ...

Karine Polwart announces new album

Multi-award winning songwriter and musician, theatre maker and published writer Karine Polwart - six-time winner at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards, including 2018 Folk ...

NITEWORKS – Air Faìr An Là (Comann Music, CM002)

If the combined words “folk” and “electronica” bring on an attack of the vapours, a lie down with the reviving sal volatile of Niteworks’ second ...

Levellers on limited edition coloured vinyl

To celebrate their 30th anniversary, the Levellers have announced the release of a series of limited edition coloured vinyl albums, including the never before released ...

RACHAEL McSHANE & THE CARTOGRAPHERS – When All Is Still (Topic TSCD596)

It’s been nine years since Rachael McShane realised her solo debut, the time since then keeping her busy as cellist, fiddler, viola player and singer ...

Aly Bain and Phil Cunningham announce major Scottish tour

Together Aly Bain and Phil Cunningham have established themselves as the epitome of excellence in the world of traditional music. With their musical magic and ...

MAIREARAD & ANNA – Farran (Shouty Records SHOUTYCD04)

Farran is the Scots word for the starboard side of a boat and is also Mairearad Green and Anna Massie’s fourth album as a duo ...

John Smith unveils debut single from new album

John Smith had just announced the release of his new album Hummingbird.  It features appearances from Cara Dillon, John McCusker and Ben Nicholls, and will be ...

NIALL HANNA – Autumn Winds (own label)

I have to say out the outset that this is rather lovely. Two years ago Niall Hanna received a Young Musician’s Platform Award from the ...

DAN JOHNSON – Hemingway (State Fair)

In 1987, when Dan Johnson was just ten, his father, an injured US Air Force veteran, finding his skill set was not transferrable to civilian ...

Duster Bennett – complete Blue Horizon recordings set for release

Duster Bennett was one of the most distinctive and unusual artists to emerge from the very productive period of the late 1960s latterly dubbed the ...

GREGORY PAGE – A Wild Rose (own label)

His mother lead vocalist London’s first all-girl pop band The Beat-Chics and his uncle Tom Jones’s dummer on ‘What’s New Pussycat’, born in North London ...

Tyler Childers – new album and London date

26 year-old Tyler Childers of Lawrence County, Kentucky has announced details of the physical release of Live On Red Barn Radio I & II, out ...

JACKIE OATES – The Joy Of Living (ECC Records ECC018)

Jackie Oates’ new album, her seventh, is an intensely personal one with songs spanning four generations of her family from her grandfather to her daughter ...

Allan Yn Y Fan release their first single and announce tour dates

Welsh traditional band Allan Yn Y Fan will be celebrating their 22nd year on the road with the release of their first single in September, ...

Mairearad and Anna announce their new album

Given that Mairearad grew up by Achnahaird bay and is now living by the sea in Ullapool and Anna is from the village of Fortrose ...

THE SHACKLETON TRIO – Fen, Farm And Deadly Water (own label)

The name having slimmed down from The Georgia Shackleton Trio, though still comprising fiddle player, locally accented vocalist and songsmith Georgia alongside guitarist Aaren Bennett ...

Hannah Rarity announces debut album

Hannah Rarity - BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician of the Year 2018 - releases her much anticipated debut album Neath The Gloaming Star on 2nd September ...

SINGLES BAR 32 A round-up of recent EPs and singles

Named for the Virginia city, but based in Nashville, ROANOKE are a rising Folk Americana five-piece led by guitarist Joey Beesley and Taylor Dupuis, alongside ...

TONY WINN – Push And Pull (Freefall FF011D)

Hailing from Essex and while you’ve likely never heard of him, an actor and poet as well as a musician, Winn has sufficient a following ...

LETITIA VANSANT – Gut It To The Studs (own label)

Letitia VanSant is an American activist whose first album, Gut It To The Studs, has a UK release date of August 28th. Gut It To ...

Seth Lakeman announces new album

Fresh from his whirlwind world tour with rock legend Robert Plant, charismatic singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Seth Lakeman releases his stunning, ninth solo album The Well-Worn Path ...

Martin Stephenson re-records Gladsome, Humour And Blue

There is rarely a dull moment in conversation with Martin Stephenson, but that’s exactly what you’d hope for from someone who’s never stood still during ...

PHILIP MARINO – Chasing Ghosts (own label)

Philip Marino released his fourth CD, Chasing Ghosts, on July 27th. Marino is an American singer-songwriter who lives in Essex in the UK. In style, ...

EFDSS NATIONAL YOUTH FOLK ENSEMBLE – Grand Arcade, Cambridge

Serendipity. It’s great isn’t it? I was just leaving John Lewis (other department stores are available -Ed), doing a spot of late-night shopping, when I ...

LONESOME GEORGE – Flat As The Earth (own label)

What do you do if you’re essentially an Irish traditional band who also want “to represent an underlying dissatisfaction that we believe to be present ...

BEINN LEE – Osgarra (own label BL18)

Beinn Lee are a young six-piece band who are deeply rooted in the music of their home in Uist. Osgarra is their debut and I ...

JULIE JULY BAND – Who Knows Where The Time Goes (Aurora Folk Records JJB18CD1)

The Julie July Band has built a substantial reputation on reinterpretations of Sandy Denny's songs, so it comes as no surprise that the CD Who ...

IRA BERNSTEIN & RILEY BAUGUS – Appalachian Roots (Yodel-Ay-Hee CD-0046)

I’m pretty sure I saw Ira Bernstein demonstrating his Appalachian clogging and flatfooting when he was the sensation of the festival circuit back in the ...

WE BANJO 3 – Haven (own label WB3CD005)

I know I’ve said this before but there are four members of We Banjo 3: two sets of brothers David and Martin Howley and Fergal ...

Techno-folkies Niteworks release their second album

Air Fàir an Là, the second album by Niteworks releases 17th August, and is the follow up to Niteworks critically acclaimed debut album, NW. The ...

JACKIE OATES – Lush Studio Soho

I have reported on CD launch events from a number of venues; the BBC Club, The Convent, even Wigan but none as lush as …well, ...

Philip Marino announces fourth album

Philip Marino is excited to announce the 27th of July, 2018 as the release date of his fourth CD, a ten-track album, entitled Chasing Ghosts ...

Martin Barre announces new solo album – Roads Less Travelled

Martin Barre, best-known as guitarist in Jethro Tull - one of the biggest selling prog bands of all time, releases his new solo album Roads ...

STEPH GEREMIA – Up She Flew (Black Box Music BBM009)

I was beginning to muse about why it is that Irish, and indeed Scottish, musicians have such a deep desire to rework and circulate the ...

Baka Beyond: 25 years of Spirit Of The Forest

A full 25 years after the release of Baka Beyond’s groundbreaking debut album, Spirit Of The Forest, the band celebrate their beginnings with a series ...

YVES LAMBERT TRIO – Tentation (La Prûche Libre PRU2 4818)

Yves Lambert's is a well-known and well-respected name in Québécois traditional circles, as a founding member of La Bottine Souriante, as founder of the Bébert ...

SHEILA K CAMERON – Those They Chose (Glalell SKC1708CD)

Over the past couple of years, Sheila K Cameron has completed the reissue of her 7-CD back catalogue and recently released Those They Chose, an ...

GEORGE DUFF – The Collier Laddie (BEAGCD BEAG CD005)

Although he’s been singing for many years and is well-known and respected in Scotland George Duff hadn’t until now made a solo album. He is ...

ROO PANES – Quiet Man (CRC057CD)

Roo Panes released his third album Quiet Man on June 15th. Panes has a strong following – I gather his first two albums clocked up ...

Richard Thompson: new album in September

Richard Thompson is set to return with 13 Rivers on September 14, via Proper Records. The thirteen-song set is the Grammy nominated artist’s first self-produced album ...

TRAIL WEST – From The Sea To The City (TW Records TWO1CD)

Trail West’s third album, From The Sea To The City finds the band contemplating the often necessary transition for islanders (Hebrideans, in this case) to ...

Bert Jansch – Just A Simple Soul: a definitive best of collection

From his 1965 iconic debut album, Bert’s peerless musicality, songwriting and interpretation of traditional song has held generation after generation spellbound and inspired musicians in ...

TARA BEIER – California 1970 (Red Raven)

The title, California 1970, pretty much tells you where this is coming from musically and lyrically, as the Canadian singer-songwriter and classically trained pianist (not to ...

STEVE TILSTON – Distant Days (Riverboat Records TUGCD1117)

Steve Tilston has enjoyed a long career as a singer, composer and guitarist both solo and in partnerships. It seems to me that his popularity ...

PAUL COWLEY – [Just What I Know] (Lou B Music LBM 005 2018)

In the notes that arrived with Paul Cowley's third solo CD [Just What I Know], he explains the album's title by quoting the Reverend Gary ...

Dave Whetstone talks about returning to The Resolution

"Why did I stop?" asks melodeon player Dave Whetstone, as he prepares to return to the stage for only the second time in twenty years ...

SINGLES BAR 31 A round-up of recent EPs and singles

Special Commissions is just that, a set of songs written or recorded by JIM CAUSLEY, for one-off projects and left in search of a home ...

Scottish trio Assynt announce their debut album

Assynt are one of Scotland’s newest, most exciting folk trios featuring award winning musicians Graham Mackenzie (fiddle), David Shedden (pipes/whistles) and Innes White (guitar/mandolin). Having ...

CLANNAD – Turas 1980 (Made In Germany Music, MIG02092)

On the heels of their 1979 US tour - the longest by any Irish band back then - a five-piece Clannad fetched up in Germany ...

Jimmy Aldridge and Sid Goldsmith announce new album

The release of their critically acclaimed second album Night Hours in 2016 cemented Jimmy Aldridge and Sid Goldsmith’s reputation as two of the most exciting ...

I SEE HAWKS IN LA – Live And Never Learn (Western Seeds WSRCD-013)

Having released a solo covers collection in 2016, lead singer Robert Waller returns to the band nest for their first album in five years. The ...

Trail West announce new album

From The Sea To The City is the latest album from Trail West, a band leading the thriving scene of Gaels in the city of ...

Hamish Napier announces new album, The Railway

The Railway is the much-anticipated new album from Scottish musician Hamish Napier. The follow-up to Hamish Napier’s critically-acclaimed debut solo album The River, Hamish’s newest ...

DAMIEN O’KANE & RON BLOCK – Banjophony (Pure Records PRCD48)

If you’re not a fan of the five-string egg-slicer you might be thinking of moving on but hold hard there, stranger. This is no ‘Duelling ...

CHRIS RONALD – Fragments (Borealis Records BCD 248)

With a solid body of work since 2004’s Pacific Time, the English-born/Canadian-based singer-songwriter, Chris Ronald has just issued album number four, titled Fragments. On this ...

COWBOY JUNKIES – All That Reckoning (Proper PRPCD149)

It has been six years since the Cowboy Junkies last released an album. The Nomad Series may have been something of a diversion for the ...

Jake Morley – new recordings

Singer, songwriter and virtuoso guitar player Jake Morley is a firm believer in straight talking, direct songs.  His Spotify playlist, Tell It To Me Straight, ...

BOB & GILL BERRY – Echoes Of Alfred (WildGoose WGS427CD)

This takes me back. I knew Bob Berry’s parents back in the day when albums were still issued on cassettes. Len was a genial gentleman ...

MICHAEL McDERMOTT – Out From Under (Pauper Sky Records 2018)

I’ve been bewitched by the music of Michael McDermott for a few years now, I’m late to the party I know, as the Chicago based ...

BEN SURES – Poema Poematis (BS11CD)

Ben Sures is a Canadian singer songwriter whose latest album, Poema Poematis, was released worldwide on June 17th. His website tells you, “We are holding ...

REG MEUROSS – Reg Meuross (Stockfisch SFR 357.40922)

I don’t often get to review a Reg Meuross album, usually because someone else gets to them first but this time that someone else wrote ...

ALISTAIR McCULLOCH TRIO – Off The Hook (Rostral Records RTRLCD015)

The Alistair McCulloch Trio summer tour has become a well-established Scottish fixture over many years now, yet this busy bunch has only just got around ...

Alt-country band Lucero announce new album and tour dates

Celebrated rock / alt-­country quintet Lucero celebrate twenty years together with the announcement of the August 3rd release of their ninth studio album Among The ...

Landermason announce new album

Northumberland based song-writing duo Landermason are soon to release their 6th studio album on their own label Lama Records. The combined talents of Fiona Lander ...

THE FRETLESS – Live From The Art Farm (own label TFCD004)

The Fretless is a string quartet – two fiddles, viola and cello although Karrnnel Sawitsky and Ben Plotnick double up on viola and fiddle so ...

FEAR OF DRINKING – Live In Zurich (own label)

There was an Englishman, a New Zealander and several Canadians who met in Vancouver and formed a band. While I don’t altogether approve of their ...

Australian singer/songwriter Ben Salter to tour UK

Acclaimed Australian songwriter and performer Ben Salter returns to Europe in 2018 to promote his new solo album Back Yourself (available now). Back Yourself is ...

BRACKENBURY & NEILSON – Crossings (Monoline MLRC1)

Crossings is an album that falls into a category generally known as “music”. Faith Brackenbury and John Neilson have worked together for some time and ...

THE ANDREW COLLINS TRIO – Tongue / Groove (own label, ACT003/ACT004)

Finally, there’s an album paying long-overdue homage to practical, yet rustic bathroom panelling. What’s that? It’s not? Fortunately, Tongue / Groove is a paired album ...

JEFF WARNER – Roam The Country Through (WildGoose WGS425CD)

If you haven’t yet heard Jeff Warner live, you have a rare treat in store. Jeff is the son of two of America’s foremost song ...

THE BEVVY SISTERS – This Moment (Interrupto IM007)

The Bevvy Sisters first came to our ears in 2009 with an album of mostly old songs sung in the close harmony style of the ...

RAB NOAKES – Welcome To Anniversaryville (Neon Records NEONCD021)

I was delighted to receive a review copy of the new Rab Noakes CD Welcome To Anniversaryville – scheduled for release on the 13th July ...

FOLKY MACFOLK FACE – When Night Falls (own label)

Can we just accept that this is the worst band name since Sconce The Ogives and move on? When Night Falls is the debut album ...

DOWALLY – Somewhere (own label, DW002)

Are we there yet? Today’s destination is highland hamlet Dowally – or rather, the immensely talented Scottish trio of that name, who decided to call ...

VARIOUS ARTISTS – Destination (Fellside Recordings FECD282)

The Fellside Recording label has been a major force in independent folk music recording for 42 years and has over 600 albums to its credit, ...

Jackie Oates: new album

We are proud to announce the release of the seventh studio album, The Joy Of Living, by Jackie Oates. It’s a record that covers an ...

Rab Noakes announces new album

Welcome to Anniversaryville released on Friday 13th July 2018 In February of 2017 Rab Noakes performed a well-attended, highly-acclaimed concert, with his ‘70/50 in 2017’ ...

THE KIMBERLEYS – The Kimberleys (Popla OB7)

It can be difficult to take a well-known traditional song and attempt to do something new with it. Those of us with long memories will ...

ALDEN PATTERSON AND DASHWOOD – By The Night (own label)

Arriving in a hand printed card sleeve, By The Night is the second album from the Norwich-based trio of Christina Alden, Alex Patterson and Noel ...

Fellside Recordings announce their final history triple-CD set

After 42 years of the business and with the release of over 600 albums managing directors Paul and Linda Adams are now wanting to take ...

TONY ROSE – Medicine Tunes (Cannery Row Records. CRR 1824/ CRR 1825)

Recorded in just one session in the spring of 2017, Medicine Tunes is the debut solo album by Tony Rose. Moving away from his more ...

JAMIE MACDONALD & CHRISTIAN GAMAUF – The Pipe Slang (own label JMCG01)

Jamie and Christian met on the Isle Of Uist and, having participated in a cultural exchange in Asturias and paid their dues at small gigs, ...

LUCY WARD – Pretty Warnings (Betty Beetroot BETTY03)

Having been finally converted to Ward with her last album, I Dreamt I Was A Bird, I was unsure whether that was a one-off or ...

Adrian McNally talks to Dave Freak about The Unthanks and Molly Drake

The songs of Molly Drake have been slowly seeping into public consciousness for the best part of a decade. There was a fleeting glimpse of ...

SERIOUS CHILD – Empty Nest (TCR Music TCRM75099)

The core of Serious Child – or as the CD sleeve has it, SERIOUS CHiLD – consists of Alan Young on guitar and vocals, Carla ...

PARKER MILLSAP – Other Arrangements (OkraHoma OKRA004CD)

Three albums in, two of which have topped the US Americana charts, the Oklahoma singer-songwriter is expanding his musical horizons and looking to broaden his ...

THE MOONBEAMS – This Land (Moonbeam Records MBR003)

The Moonbeams band forms the core of The Moonbeam Collective, a multi-platform arts community based in the Yorkshire Dales. This Land, the band’s third album, ...

Serious Child announce debut album

Empty Nest is the affecting and impressive debut album from Serious Child, a talented trio fronted by singer/songwriter and guitarist Alan Young with Carla March ...

HECTOR GILCHRIST – Gleanings (WildGoose WGS426CD)

Hector Gilchrist, as you will quickly discover, comes from Ayrshire but is much travelled. To misuse a common phrase, however: you can take the man ...

CARDBOARD FOX – Topspin (own label, CARRIVICKSCD09)

Featuring the shared lead vocals of sisters Charlotte and Laura Carrivick (who also perform as a duo), with backing provided by Joe Tozer and John ...

HÒ-RÒ – Hex (own label)

Since their eponymous debut album two years ago, Hò-Rò have expanded to a six-piece with Paul Martin and DC Macmillan joining Calum MacPhail, Lucy Doogan, ...

SKERRYVORE – Evo (Tyree09CD)

Skerryvore release Evo, their sixth studio album, on June 11th. You get an album to review and it’s a bit like sitting in the marquee ...