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).
CHARLIE DORE – Cheapskate Lullabyes (Black Ink Music BICD6)
I suppose it must be at least 20 years since I saw a live performance (I believe it was The Hope & Anchor in Islington) ...
Martyn Joseph – Live at the Brook
Martyn Joseph captured live on DVD at his folking best playing solo in front of an enthusiastic audience at The Brook in Southampton in November ...
Bellowhead – Hedonism Live
Released in October 2010, the 'Hedonism' album has quickly become one of the best selling folk releases of modern times. After a packed summer of ...
ALBION CHRISTMAS BAND – A Sound In The Frosty Air (Rooksmere Records RRCD104)
I've just had to slag off a certain ‘folk’(???) band for daring to ruin our traditional songs by taking liberties with the arrangements and smothering the ...
Christy Moore – Folk Tale (Sony Music Ireland)
It's quite possible that there couldn't be a more fitting title for this album, and not just because it's the title of one of the ...
MOONSHEE – Moonshee (Park Records PRKCD114)
I suppose the mark of any good CD is when you can play it to your mates (even those not remotely interested in ‘folk’) whilst ...
VARIOUS ARTISTS – A Treasury Of Shanties And Songs Of The Sea (Proper Records)
Now don’t get me wrong, I suppose like many of the general public I've come to be seduced by the qualities of a good old shanty and ...
JD SOUTHER: YOU’RE ONLY LONELY
The great JD Souther is one of the elite bunch of singer-songwriters based in the fertile Los Angeles community of the late 60’s and early 70’s ...
DRIVE BY TRUCKERS: UGLY BUILDINGS, WHORES & POLITICIANS – GREATEST HITS 1998 – 2009
Not just whistling Dixie: The Drive-By Truckers career with the New West Records label is righteously celebrated by way of Ugly Buildings, Whores & Politicians Greatest Hits ...
BILL WYMAN’S RHYTHM KINGS: LIVE COMMUNICATIONS
Bill Wyman’s Rhythm Kings have, since the redoubtable Bill convened the combo in the early 1990s, carved themselves an awesome reputation as one of the most reliable, ...
Jerry Leger – TRAVELING GREY
What possesses a young person to pick up an acoustic guitar and write a song? One reason is certainly the eternal desire to find the ...
The Woodbine and Ivy Band
The Woodbine & Ivy Band is a group of Manchester musicians who came together to arrange and perform traditional songs whilst channeling the hazy spirit ...
Gavin Adam Wood – SOULS APART
Gavin Adam Wood is an up and coming singer-songwriter who was born in Leek on the edge of the Peak District, bought his first guitar at ...
TOM MORIARTY – Fire In The Doll’s House – DRIFTWOOD RECORDS DRIFTW00
I wonder how many artists get to record their debut album at Abbey Road these days. Not many, I suspect, which says a lot for ...
MACMASTER/HAY – Love And Reason (MDM Records MDMC001)
We in the ‘folk’ world are blessed with inventive musicians and although, it must be said that the coupling of vocals, harp and drums (or ...
STEELEYE SPAN – Now We Are Six Again (Park Records PRKCD113)
Who said you can’t re-live your youth? Well, I certainly have by going back to 1974. Was it really that long ago that Steeleye first ...
Tales from the Barrel House – Seth Lakeman folking album review
Seth Lakeman’s hotly anticipated new album – Tales from the Barrel House has now arrived on the streets and it’s HOT! All 10 tracks are ...
Mary Black – Stories From the Steeples (3ú Records / Blix Street Records)
This is the first studio recording from Mary Black in six years, and it's a collection that demonstrates an artist in full command of her ...
PECSAETAN MORRIS – At One With The Bells – Seville House Records SEVCD02
There are always new ways making records. We've had ‘sequester a bunch of songwriters in a lonely house and give them a week to write a complete ...
TIM READMAN & JENNIE BICE – Out Of The Green – Big City BC021
An album of British traditional and modern songs by a Canadian artist is an intriguing prospect. Even more intriguing is Tim Readman’s track record which ...
MAGGIE HOLLAND – The Music Institute, Guildford – 18th November 2011
The return of Maggie Holland to this area always brings the old lags – sorry, distinguished members of the local folk scene, past and present ...
PETER GABRIEL – New Blood (Real World Records)
Watching Peter Gabriel’s stunning performance with the New Blood Orchestra on Jools Holland’s Later the other evening proved inspirational. OK, so the luxury of being ...
Seth Lakeman Announces New Album ‘Tales from the Barrel House’
Celebrated folk singer-songwriter and virtuoso fiddler Seth Lakeman has just released details of his forthcoming sixth album 'Tales From The Barrel House'. Nominated for the Mercury Prize in ...
CHRIS RICKETTS BAND – The Cellars At Eastney – 1st November 2011
The Cellars At Eastney would be a decent pub if it wasn’t for the music. Or, to put it another way, it would be a ...
New Country Rehab
Take one of Canada's hottest country fiddle players, a guitarist that's a cross between Tom Morello and Kevin Breit, a percussionist that plays saw blades ...
THE CARRIVICK SISTERS – FROM THE FIELDS
The Carrivick Sisters are twins Laura and Charlotte Carrivick from South Devon. Both are skilled multi-instrumentalists and between them they play a variety of bluegrass-associated instruments - guitar, ...
Seattle singer-songwriter, Anna Coogan … new album ‘The Wasted Ocean’
Beautifully crafted and oddly unsettling, Anna Coogan’s new release The Wasted Ocean places her incomparable voice front and centre. Driving banjos, soaring guitars, and swelling strings ...
PETER KNIGHT’S GIGSPANNER – Doors At Eight (Own Label GSCD002)
I must admit that I couldn’t wait to get my hands on this gem of a recording from Steeleye Span’s virtuosic violin player Peter Knight ...
THEA GILMORE – Don’t Stop Singing – ISLAND/MIGHTY VILLAGE
I’m always a little wary about the posthumous raking over of an artist’s work. Sandy Denny has been well served by compilations and archive tapes ...
THE ONCE – Row Upon Row Of The People They Know (Borealis Records BCD212)
Not many Internationally established Canadian folk artists immediately spring to mind with the possible exceptions of Gordon Lightfoot, Leonard Cohen, Loreena McKennitt and Stan Rogers ...
Eliza Carthy releases Monkey 7th November…
Eliza Carthy will release her new single Monkey through HemHem Records on 7th November. The single is taken from her current album Neptune, which was ...
KATE DOUBLEDAY – Pied Flycatcher – COPPER RECORDS CRCD003
Following two full-length albums, Kate’s new EP features three songs: delicate pastoral acoustic gems which embody her closeness to nature and her home in Wales ...
BRYONY GRIFFITH AND WILL HAMPSON – Lady Diamond (SELWYN MUSIC SYNMCD0007)
Bryony Griffith and Will Hampson have been working together for nearly twenty years, most recently in The Demon Barbers. I take this on trust since ...
JOHN DOYLE – Shadow And Light (Compass Records 4562)
John Doyle may, at first hearing appear an earnest, thought provoking artist but at least he cannot be accused of being dull. By that I ...
THE BAD SHEPHERDS – By Hook Or By Crook (Monsoon Music)
At first the idea of ‘folk’ with a punk attitude didn’t appeal to me more than likely due to my ‘traditional’ prejudices but when I ...
CHLOE & SILAS – Spring Hill (One Tree Hill Records OTHRCDSI – 01)
Every now and then I receive an album of which I have no expectations but pleasantly surprises and “Spring Hill” by Chloe Hall (vocal and ...
PHIL ODGERS – Sunday Morning Coming Down – Vinyl Stac Records VSREP001
Phil Odgers, better known to his friends as Swill, has developed an interesting solo career alongside The Men They Couldn’t Hang. With Paul Simmonds there ...
Cheyenne Brown – Parallel Latitudes
Alaskan harpist Cheyenne Brown’s beautifully packaged new album “Parallel Latitudes” is a project which aims to highlight connections between music of her homeland, her adopted ...
LORCÁN MAC MATHÚNA – Northern Lights – Darkness And Light – Own Label LMMO11001
Lorcán Mac Mathúna is best known in Ireland as a Sean-Nós singer. He’s also a man of great imagination and Darkness And Light (Dubh Agus ...
Graham Robins – THE SHIPPING NEWS
THE SHIPPING NEWS is the brand new album release on The Global Sessions Label by singer songwriter Graham Robins emphasising his love of soul, blues, ...
The Sunshine Delay – KEEP IT TOGETHER
Since 2001, The Sunshine Delay have been winning admirers throughout the UK and the USA for their classy original songs, cohesive musicianship and a style ...
Bert Jansch…R.I.P
I was very sad to learn today that Bert Jansch has died of lung cancer. I was lucky enough to catch the man back-stage at the ...
Kevin Henderson – “Fin Da Laand Ageen”
Kevin Henderson comes from the Shetland Islands, an island with one of the richest fiddle traditions in the world. He is in hot demand as he ...
THEA GILMORE – Don’t Stop Singing
The prolific and ever-talented Thea Gilmore has announced details of a unique new collaborative album, ‘Don’t Stop Singing’. Released on November 7 via Island Records & Mighty Village, the record brings together Gilmore’s songwriting ...
DAMIEN BARBER & MIKE WILSON – The Old Songs – DBS Records DBS004
The Old Songs is the second album from Damien and Mike and follows the pattern of their debut, Under The Influence, drawing material from, in ...
Luke Ritchie – The Water’s Edge – Album released 21st November
Two years in the making, Luke Ritchie's debut album 'The Water's Edge' is testament to the amazing journey this singer-songwriter has been on. In Autumn 2009, ...
Les Barker’s Guide Cats for the Blind Vol. 5 ‘Herding Cats’
The Guide Cats for the Blind album series was produced to raise funds for a project run by the British Computer Association of the Blind (BCAB) ...
STUART CASSELL has left the RED HOT CHILLI PIPERS
Founder and frontman of The Red Hot Chilli Pipers and the phenomenon of Bagrock, bagpipe rock-star Stuart Cassells (32) has left the band. After nearly 10 ...
ROY HARPER – Songs Of Love And Loss – SALVO SALVOCDC222
Roy Harper is seventy and living in semi-retirement as far as making new music is concerned. He has, however, been preparing to make his complete ...
DAN DONNELLY – COUNTRY AND NORTHERN
The long-awaited album from Belfast born singer/songwriter Dan Donnelly is upon us, after a fabulous taster of an EP released a while before his full ...
MERRY HELL – Blink…And You Miss It
Once upon a time a band emerged from Wigan. They were raucous post-punk folk-rockers who named themselves after a make of pram – Tansads. They ...
CHRIS RICKETTS – Port Of Escape – ACOUSTIC FUSION RECORDS AF01
Shanties seem to be coming back into fashion, which some of us regard as a good thing, and Chris Ricketts’ debut solo album is thus ...
PETER KNIGHT’S GIGSPANNER – The Electric Theatre, Guildford – 15 September 2011
Gigspanner are a band for whom improvisation is as important as composition. In theory, no two performances will be the same even with the same ...
ELBOW JANE – THE BOLDEST BLOOD
Now established as one of the finest live acoustic acts in the UK, Elbow Jane have just released their second CD with Fellside Records entitled ...
Paul Johnson interviews PJ Wright – (Harvey!) at Cropredy 2011
The incomparable Mr. Paul Johnson's interview with PJ Wright at Cropredy 2011. Paul talks to PJ about: Dylan Project, PJ and Peggy tour news, the weather, the ...
The Waterboys – An Appointment with Mr. Yeats
‘An Appointment with Mr Yeats’ sees the words of W B Yeats, one of Ireland’s greatest literary sons, merged with the music of The Waterboys, ...
Kristy Gallacher – ‘Fending off the Frost’
Kristy Gallacher is a singer/songwriter from Coventry. I was impressed with her new video of a song called 'Fending off the Frost' and thought I ...
David Ferrard releases ‘Journeyman’ on 03.10.2011
Scottish-American singer-songwriter and folk musician, David Ferrard, releases Journeyman, an album of finely-crafted original songs marked by a strong social conscience. Ferrard takes the listener on ...
JANIS IAN – ‘Best of Janis Ian’ CD/DVD
JANIS IAN, one of America’s most durable, thoughtful of singer-songwriters, makes a very rare visit to these shores in October 2011 for an extensive UK tour (details below). The tour ...
RADICAL FACE – ‘The Family Tree: The Roots’
After four years milling over the concept and fifteen months recording alone in the tool shed behind his mother's house in Jacksonville Florida, Ben Cooper, AKA ...
Harp and a Monkey – The Soldier’s Song…
From the forthcoming album on Folk Police Recordings due out in September 2011. Memorably described as Elbow for seafarers and ramblers, the harp 'n' banjo driven ...
Hat Fitz & Cara Robinson – Check it out! Amped up old time blues with a Celtic twist…
Already firmly established on the Australian festival circuit, Hat Fitz and Cara Robinson have arrived in the UK and Europe to entertain audiences with their ...
ROY HARPER – ‘SONGS OF LOVE AND LOSS’
Few survivors from the golden age of British folk-rock have kept their reputations intact. Of the generation of troubadours who came of age in the folk ...
JUNE TABOR & OYSTERBAND – Ragged Kingdom (Topic Records TSCD585)
No one could ever accuse the ‘oysters’ of not opening up and here, fitting tighter than a pair of latex gloves on a surgeon’s hands ...
HOME SERVICE – Live 1986 (Fledg’ling Records FLED3085)
This recording should be a required purchase by every music consumer who considers themselves tuned in. My formative years of the folk-rock scene in the UK were ...
Katriona Gilmore & Jamie Roberts
BBC Radio 2 Horizon Award nominees Katriona Gilmore & Jamie Roberts combine relentless rhythmic guitar, driving mandolin and trademark harmonies on their new single 'No ...
SPAGHETTI WESTERN ORCHESTRA – Classic Ennio Morricone ‘Live’
You just know you have to get a copy of a CD with the title “Classic Ennio Morricone Live” especially if, like me you enjoy ...
GEORGE WILSON – Who’s The Fool Now (Own Label)
I’ve been privileged to know many fine singers and musicians and some have become good mates. One of these happens to be George Wilson whose ...
VIN GARBUTT – Teesside Troubadour (Pancrack TV PAN4DVD)
For those not in the know, Vin Garbutt is the kind of bloke that you would like as your best mate. He could talk the ...
CHRIS STOUT’S BRAZILIAN THEORY – Live In Concert (Chris Stout Music CSMUSCD001)
OK so I might, on listening to the opening strains of this album have been a bit too prepared to write Chris Stout’s Brazilian Theory ...
A Crooked Mile – by Society
Following on from their hugely successful release SONGS FROM THE BRICKHOUSE, Society are back in 2011 with A CROOKED MILE. This stunning new release is ...
PETE SCOTT – Why Sing Goodbye Songs
If considering the proposition that the world would be a very different place if Yuri Gagarin had been allowed to play his banjo in space ...
JAYWALKERS – 16 Miles
The sawing phrase that opens ‘Lonesome Fiddle Blues’ grabs your attention from the moment the disc hits the player and you’re right to suspect that ...
RETURN OF THE CROPREDY EXILE – By Dai Jeffries
Whisper this, but I hadn’t been to for twenty years. I had felt it was getting too big for my personal comfort – when I ...
TIM EDEY & BRENDAN POWER – Wriggle And Writhe (Gnatbite Records GB 010)
For those that have not seen them before, Tim and Brendan are two of the nicest blokes on the UK ‘folk’ circuit. They are also without ...
Ady Johnson – TELL THE WORRY DOLLS
Having fronted Colchester’s organ driven rock ‘n’ roll band FuzzFace for some years, Ady Johnson now embarks on a solo acoustic project with the launch ...
PEATBOG FAERIES – “DUST”
Label: Peatbog Records Format: 6 page Digipak & Download Catalogue number: CDBOG006 Bar code: 5060131890296 Distribution: Proper Music Distribution & Highlander Music Date Released: 8th ...
REG MEUROSS – The Dreamed And The Drowned (Own Label)
I must have been in a stupor (not drunk…just a stupor) for not having been more aware of Reg Meuross most of my ‘folk’ music ...
LUCY PRINGLE & CHRIS WRIGHT – The Speaking Heart (Mondegreen Music MONDCD01)
An album that beguiles from the moment go with “Rose Song” utilising Chris Wright’s finger-picked twelve-string guitar tuned to open C acting as a perfect ...
STRAWBS – Acoustic Gold (Witchwood Media WMCD 2052)
As the blurb says, The Strawbs have created a unique niche for their progressive folk-rock sound but, stripped bare it is the ‘acoustic’ element that ...
Brothers Reid – TOP OF THE OLD ROAD
Artist – Brothers Reid Title – TOP OF THE OLD ROADLabel – Fat Hippy Records FH57 REID2Release Date – August 15th 2011“…virtually impossible for anyone ...
GEORGE STEVENS – 3 Tunes
Three tunes, two camels and a bouzouki are just some the ingredients of George Stevens’ debut EP. His featured instruments are bouzouki and border pipes ...
CYRIL TAWNEY: A MAYFLOWER GARLAND
"A collection of folk songs from Devon and Cornwall offered as a tribute on the occasion of the 350th anniversary of the sailing of the Mayflower". The 1970 ...
JOHN HIATT – DIRTY JEANS AND MUDSLIDE HYMNS
Dirty Jeans and Mudslide Hymns, the new album from acclaimed musician and songwriter John Hiatt, will be released August 8th2011 on New West Records. This is Hiatt’s twentieth solo album ...
JACKIE OATES – Saturnine (ECC Records ECC 004)
In these times of austerity, to make your way in the world, even if it is just the ‘folk’ world you have to diversify and ...
Whalebone – Three Fires – TWO WILD WOMEN RECORDS TWW278
If you’re looking for something new and different, how about an acoustic trio from Shropshire who cover Guns’N’Roses and Led Zeppelin? whalebone have evolved over ...
SEAN SIEGFRIED – Backwoods
Sean’s debut album contains six solo acoustic guitar compositions in a very English style. The opener, ‘Sam’s Brewery’, is satisfyingly chunky as is ‘Compelled’. Both ...
Martyn Joseph Solo Show – Hitchin Folk Club – 12 June 2011 – Review
How do I articulate adequately the magnificence that was Martyn Joseph at Hitchin,well in a nutshell, it was a vintage show to top them all ! ( until ...
BOB FOX – Dorking Folk Club, Dorking (08.06.11)
The nice thing about arriving at Dorking Folk Club is that you are automatically made welcome by host and organiser Neil McRitchie and the friendly ...
Will Scott – KEYSTONE CROSSING
Will Scott is known for his bluesy voice, distinctive guitar-playing and heartfelt song writing. Blending blues and Americana with a dash of rock and outlaw ...
MARLA FIBISH & JIMMY CROWLEY – The Morning Star (MFM001)
Towards the end of the 1990’s the Celtic mandolin family seemed to explode on the ‘folk’ scene and one of the finest exponents in this ...
Rosie Nimmo – HOME
With comparisons to Billie Holliday, Alison Kraus, Patti Smith and Dory Previn, Rosie Nimmo has a voice of clarity and depth. Rosie has been singing jazz ...
Folking.com’s favourite Radio 2 moment…
The Radio 2 Folk Awards are chosen and voted for by a panel of professionals (broadcasters, promoters, festival organisers and record companies) who all work ...
IARLA O’ LIONAIRD – Foxlight (Real World Records)
Ignorant peasant that I am, I hold my hands up and declare that I have never understood the Gaelic language or, more than likely never ...
HILARY JAMES – English Sketches – Acoustics Records CDACS 059
“Pastoral” is the word that first comes to mind when discussing Hilary James’ new album. In fact, ‘A Song & Jig For Good Measure’ which ...
RICHARD DIGANCE – Letter From Afghanistan (Own Label)
Along with John Foreman and Dave Sealey, Richard Digance is one of the folk music scenes few masters in the art of the Music Hall ...
BATTLEFIELD BAND – Line-Up (Temple Records COMD2104)
The drama of an opening chord sequence to grab the listener’s attention was never an issue with the Battlefield Band. Starting with the driving rhythm ...
Walter Strauss PLANET SOLITAIRE
2011 will see US guitarist and songwriter Walter Strauss releasing PLANET SOLITAIRE, a collection of ambitious solo recordings inspired by a diverse world of influences. There are ...
PAUL LIDDELL – MILESTONES AND MOTORWAYS
Paul Liddell is a tireless working musician/singer/songwriter/recording artist hailing from North East of England. He tours continually around the UK and I was reminded of ...
Are there any women here? Bearded Theory 2011 review
In the quest to experience something new every year, it was the turn of The Bearded Theory to fulfil this self-indulgence. Situated in the picturesque ...
CORNCROW – SWEET NIGHTINGALE
Cornish duo Steve Hunt and Kim Guy together with their guests - celebrated award winner Jackie Oates, Jason Steel and Gareth Young have put together ...
FAIRPORT ACOUSTIC CONVENTION – Fairfield Halls, Croydon (11.05.11)
Taking their seats for this performance at Croydon’s Fairfield Halls the legendary Fairport Convention (Simon Nicol, Dave Pegg, Chris Leslie, Ric Sanders and Gerry Conway) ...
Des Horsfall’s Kuschty Rye – THE GOOD GENTLEMAN’S TONIC
Honouring the legend of the late great Ronnie Lane, in the only way he knew how, roots-rocker Des Horsfall and his band Kuschty Rye embarked on a ...
I love: Tom T. Hall’s Songs of Fox Hollow
In 1974 Tom T. Hall, American country balladeer, released an album called “Songs of Fox Hollow”. The songs had evolved from a summer spent with ...
Marybeth D’Amico – Releases THE LIGHT INSIDE
Artist – Marybeth D’Amico Title – THE LIGHT INSIDE Label – LongMan Records LongMan 057CD Distribution- Proper Distribution Release date-June 13 2011 "Very good indeed...just wonderful." ...
The Lorelei – Due to release their stunning new album… "FACES" May 16
The Lorelei formed in 1990 in a garage in Dyce with Jonny and Beefy being original members along with Martin Watson, the original singer. Over the ...
DAVE STEWART RELEASES FIRST SOLO ALBUM FOR 16 YEARS…
Proper Records have recently announced a partnership with Weapons of Mass Entertainment and Surfdog Records for the release of an exciting new album project from Artist/ ...
Bella Hardy signs to Navigator Records and releases her 3rd album Songs Lost & Stolen
Navigator Records recently announced the signing of Bella Hardy and the subsequent release of her new album on 18th April. Entitled ‘Songs Lost & Stolen’, it ...
Trevor Midgley (a.k.a. Beau) – The Way It Was
On Monday 14th March to celebrate forty years since the 1971 release of Trevor Midgleys (a.k.a. Beau) psych/folk “Creation” LP on John Peel’s Dandelion label, ...
TICKLED PINK – Ceilidh (Rooksmere Records RRCD101)
The term Ceilidh, meaning “…an informal social gathering at which there is Celtic dancing, singing and storytelling” is now regularly being adopted by many English ...
GOLDEN – the new instrumental solo album by Robert Illesh
GOLDEN is the new instrumental solo album by Robert Illesh, who is an internationally acclaimed guitarist, producer and composer. Robert is protagonist in the progressive ...
STEELEYE SPAN – Fairfield Halls, Croydon (05.04.11)
It’s always a pleasure popping down the road to recapture the ‘folk music’ of my youth and the Fairfield Halls in Croydon has certainly provided ...
TOM McCONVILLE – Tommy On The Road (Tomcat Music TCCD08)
As one of the acoustic music scene’s genuinely nice blokes, Tom McConville has endeared himself to the circuit with a Northern charm and wit that other artists ...
GUIDEWIRES – II (Own Label GWMCD002)
Now I don’t know what it is about Guidewires…possibly, from my perspective it’s their approach to the opening bars of some of their set pieces ...
Interview with Joziah Longo from Gandalf Murphy & The Slambovian Circus of Dreams
Gandalf Murphy & The Slambovian Circus of Dreams have been called "the hillbilly Pink Floyd," which is an apt description, particularly if you throw in elements ...
DAVID GARRETT – ROCK SYMPHONIES (Decca Records 4782686)
In my youth I was switched-on to Bach by the producer Waldo De Los Rios and his album Symphonies Of The Seventies. Here in the ...
DREADZONE – BEST OF: THE GOOD, THE BAD & THE DREAD
On 9th May 2011 Dreadzone, the fervently followed British institution and original pioneers of UK bass culture present The Good The Bad And The Dread - ...
STAN ROGERS – The Very Best Of (Fogartys Cove FCM 013)
It can be a hard and cruel life at sea but you’d never guess that from the way Stan Rogers occasionally portrays his subject matter ...
Gareth Davies-Jones, Chasing Light (Heading West Music, 2011)
Gareth Davies-Jones wastes no time with this follow up to 2008's thoroughly captivating "Water & Light". In many respects, it's business as usual here; but when ...
THE BURNS UNIT – Side Show (Own Label TBU 001)
Bitter recrimination is the order of the day particularly on the opening track “Since We’ve Fallen Out” on this, The Burns Unit’s (Emma Pollock, Future ...
BLAZIN’ FIDDLES – Thursday Night In The Caley (Blazin’ Records BRCD2011)
The unrestrained passion bursts forth from the string driven sound that is Blazin’ Fiddles and from the very first track “Fashion O’ The Lassies/Sound Of ...
Fairport Convention With Sandy Denny Live At Ebbets Field 1974
3/16/2011 – Philadelphia, PA - Much to the excitement of Fairport Convention and Sandy Denny fans around the globe, Philadelphia's ItsAboutMusic.com will release ultra rare recordings ...
HOLLY KIRBY – A Woman You Don’t Know (Tinkers Lane Records TLCD010220)
A new name to the folk music scene but surely one to watch out for and I’d definitely suggest you get a copy of Holly ...
EZIO – ‘THIS IS THE DAY’ – Released: 4th April 2011
This is the Day is NOT just another Ezio record. Here, after many years, we finally have the ultimate ’Ezio in a nutshell’ record. Recorded ...
GUIDEWIRES – Guidewires Live (Guidewires Music GWMCD001)
Since 1973 when Planxty challenged everyone’s stereotypical preconceptions of how ‘Irish-Celtic’ music should be perceived outside the comfortable existence of The Dubliners and Clancy Brothers ...
VARIOUS ARTISTS – Transatlantic Sessions 4 (Whirlie Records DVD03)
You can tell from the photo on the sleeve of “Transatlantic Sessions 4” that this DVD is going to be something special. It depicts Aly Bain ...
BILL EVANS & MEGAN LYNCH – Let’s Do Something (Native & Fine Records)
It’s interesting listening to an artist and seeing how, from formulative years they can flourish over the passage of time. From her early career as ...
MADDY PRIOR BAND – Hooked On Glory (Park Records PRKCD 110)
For those that can cast their minds back far enough to remember the early 80’s you may be lucky enough to remember the Maddy Prior ...
SHAUN DAVEY – Voices From The Merry Cemetery (Tara Records TARACD 4023)
Three modern orchestral composers from Ireland who immediately spring to mind are Phil Coulter, Bill Whelan and Shaun Davey. Each have a background with traditional ...
SHAUN DAVEY – Voices From The Merry Cemetery (Tara Records TARACD 4023)
Three modern orchestral composers from Ireland who immediately spring to mind are Phil Coulter, Bill Whelan and Shaun Davey. Each have a background with traditional ...
STEAM RADIO – The Twilight Shift (Own Label SRAD 01)
Some years ago I had the pleasure of performing alongside multi-instrumentalist Martin Matthews (ex-Champion Sting Band) on a tour in France along with the Clann Na ...
STEVIE PALMER – Heartprint Shadow (Greentrax Recordings CDTRAX 347)
I don’t know about you but I’m getting tired of watching ‘music’ award ceremonies where pristine trophies are thrust in the direction of the likes ...
GILBERT O’SULLIVAN – Gilbertville (Hypertension HYP 11275)
I don’t know why but I suppose you could call me a Sunday afternoon kind of person. Perhaps it’s due to my nature of relaxing ...
Any Forgotten Thing – The new album form HUNGRYTOWN
Any Forgotten Thing is the second album by the acclaimed songwriting and performing team of Rebecca Hall and Ken Anderson, known collectively as Hungrytown. The ...
JIM MALCOLM – Sparkling Flash (Beltane Records BELCD107)
Somebody pass me the smelling salts or better still the latest recording by Jim Malcolm. I’d just had the pleasure (?) of reviewing an album ...
SHAMUS O’BLIVION – The Devil Made Me Do It (Own Label)
Over thirty years ago, being a callow youth, I entered the ‘folk’ music scene naive to the mechanics of it all and in rushing headlong ...
GILBERT O’SULLIVAN – Fairfield Halls, Croydon 23.02.11
To quote the man himself “In a little while from now, if I'm not feeling any less sour I promised myself to treat myself and ...
SHOW OF HANDS with MIRANDA SYKES – Covers 2 (Hands On HMCD32)
Ah, a three-piece suite always looks and feels better with a new set of covers and a new set of covers is exactly what you ...
CARA DILLON – Live At The Grand Opera House (Charcoal Records CHARDVD001)
OK, some of us lesser mortals working within the confines of the poverty stricken ‘folk scene’ would find it hard to muster enough funds to ...
ALAN REID – Recollection (Temple Records COMD2103)
This CD represents a nostalgic look-back over many years of creative input from Battlefield Band’s longest serving member Alan Reid. Now, I’ve been following the ...
BERNARD WRIGLEY – Every Song Tells A Story (Loofy Records 020)
There was a time (some time ago admittedly) when the words folk and ‘entertainer’ weren’t looked upon in such a derisory way as they are ...
ROSIE DOONAN – Pot Of Gold (Silvertop Records SRCD03)
Moving away from your previous audience comfort zone (in this instance the ‘folk’ music scene) can never be an easy choice for any artist to ...
JIM CAUSLEY – Dumnonia (Wild Goose Records WGS 377 CD)
At least young Causley is thinking outside the box, even if it is by reflecting in song his local county of which he is justifiably proud ...
Pilgrims’ Way – EP (Own Label)
In these days of ever encroaching technology isn’t it pleasing to hear someone getting back to their ‘roots’ and performing on the unassuming, some might ...
BARBARA DICKSON – Words Unspoken (Greentrax Records CDTRAX353)
Having travelled musically from her recognised commercial sound back to traditional roots, Barbara Dickson has now become…more or less…a duo working with her collaborator of ...
RICHARD WOOD – A Change Of Reasons (GCP 098)
With over two decades behind him as a professional musician fiddle exponent Richard Wood is very much a ‘traditional’ performer. Although he’s Canadian his Scots roots ...
STEVE KNIGHTLEY – Live In Somerset (Hands On Music HMCD33)
It’s certainly to an artist’s credit when he opens a live performance by singing a traditional unaccompanied ballad “All Things Are Quite Silent” with such ...
Doghouse Roses, This Broken Key (Yellowroom Music, 2010)
This Broken Key is the second full album release from the distinctive Glasgow-based duo, Doghouse Roses. Most marked about this follow-up to their 2008 debut, ...
RUA MACMILLAN – Tyro (Greentrax Recordings CDTRAX346)
Now, don’t get me wrong but the opening track of fiddle player Rua MacMillan’s debut solo album featuring his own composition “The Ewie Wi’ The ...
JAMES FINDLAY – Sport And Play (Fellside Recordings FECD238)
Fast becoming the ‘British’ version of America’s Green Linnet record company the astute Paul Adams catches yet another rising ‘folk-star’ for his ever burgeoning roster ...
PETER TWITCHETT – Many Thousand Miles Behind Us (Own Label)
My association with Peter Twitchett goes back some thirty odd years…some of them very odd…and my personal folk music education owes a lot to this sensitive ...
EWAN ROBERTSON – Some Kind Of Certainty (Greentrax CDTRAX328)
Ewan Robertson isn’t a name I was aware of but on the strength of this album I’ll certainly be keeping an eye out for him in ...
Oak, Ash And Thorn – Various Artists 24-01-2011 Folk Police Recordings
John Peel was a fan of Peter Bellamy’s album of Kipling songs Oak, Ash And Thorn. ‘I hope Oak, Ash and Thorn will not be ...
Brendan Hendry, Paul McSherry & Nodlaig Brolly, Stringtones (self-released, 2010)
Stringtones offers a selective trio of distinguished musicians from Northern Ireland, playing slightly more than a trio of instruments: Brendan Hendry on fiddle, Paul McSherry ...
Introducing Folk Police Recordings…
A new Manchester-based record label, Folk Police Recordings, releases its first offerings in January 2011. The 'purveyors of folk brut and other rough music' will ...
CIORRAS – Silver Lining (Wispy Cloud Records)
Ciorras were brought together by the legendary (in folk music circles at least) Donal Lunny for a TV series not dissimilar to the X-Factor. There of course ...
LORG LUNNY featuring Donal Lunny (TG4 TV)
My good friend Paul Dengate had recently travelled to Ireland (he knows how to make a chap jealous) and told me that he had been to ...
Steve Knightley – Live In Somerset album
KNIGHTLEY TO RECORD DEBUT LIVE SOLO ALBUM... Show of Hands’ inspired frontman Steve Knightley, hailed as one of England’s finest songwriters, recorded his debut live ...
Dala win 2010 Canadian Folk Music Award for Vocal Group Of The Year!
Amanda Walther and Sheila Carabine of Dala have come a long way in a short time. The two best friends, who met in their high ...
MICHAEL FLATLEY – On A Different Note (Unicorn Entertainments)
There’s one thing Michael Flatley can never be accused of and that’s shying away from his own self-created public image. More established these days for his ...
UNUSUAL SUSPECTS – Big Like This (Big Bash Records BBRCD017)
Well, if the opening track “Pressed For Time/Hull’s Reel/St Kilda Wedding” doesn’t put a grin on your face the size of the Cheddar Gorge then you ...
LOREENA McKENNITT – The Wind That Shakes The Barley (Quinlan Records QRCD114)
I’ve followed Loreena McKennitt’s career for over two decades and she has never failed to captivate me with her slightly mannered vocals and well-crafted musical landscapes ...
EMILY SMITH – Traiveller’s Joy (White Fall Records WFRCD004)
Since 2002 when she won Scotland’s Young Traditional Music Award Emily Smith has garnered many accolades from the folk music press with no less than ...
CHRIS NEWMAN – Still Getting Away With It (Old Bridge Music OBMCD19)
Chris Newman is not only a really nice bloke but also one of my favourite ‘folk’ guitarists along with Simon Nicol, Frank Simon (ex-Bully Wee), Ken ...
EMMA SWEENEY – The Other Crossing (Own Label)
Some things are best left simple and, as if to prove the point comes this first recording by Manchester based fiddle player Emma Sweeney sensitively backed ...
Adrian Nation FALL OR FLY
A talented, committed musician in his youth, Adrian Nation described his first compositions as "the ramblings of a searching teenager". He may ramble less these days, ...
Barry Hunt – Living In The Shadows
Midland based Barry Hunt - singer/songwriter, guitar teacher and a master of his craft with a Masters Degree in Song writing - has unleashed an album of ...
Chris & Siobhan Nelson – Early Birds (self-released, 2010)
The independent music scene is a wonderful place, and in particular that element of the scene which is nurtured and supported by our wonderful network ...
WEST OF EDEN – A Celtic Christmas (Zebra Art Records ZAR852)
Ah, a hearty goodwill to all men (and women)…and spreading the word with this gently evocative offering are Sweden’s Celtic influenced West Of Eden. Now, ...
FLYING TOADS – In Stitches (Own Label)
What’s in a name…well, quite a lot actually and I don’t know where the Celtic influenced Flying Toads acquired theirs but (to me at least) they ...
CHRIS DE BURGH – Moonfleet & Other Stories (Ferryman Records Ferry444P)
In much the same way that Robert Louis Stevenson captured the imagination with his ‘boys own’ adventures “Treasure Island” and “Kidnapped”, John Meade Faulkner created ...
SARAH JAROSZ – Song Up In Her Head (Sugar Hill Records SUG CD 4049)
Sarah Jarosz was a new name to me when I first heard this stunning record played during the interval of a Martin Simpson gig. For those ...
The Be Good Tanyas’ Frazey Ford Returns With Her Debut Album Obadiah
Frazey Ford, lead singer with acclaimed Canadian trio The Be Good Tanyas released her debut solo album Obadiah on July 19th on Nettwerk records. Obadiah combines ...
Alexander Wolfe – MORNING BRINGS A FLOOD
Alexander Wolfe is a New Cross based singer/songwriter. He started his musical career in the band ‘Taxi’ with none other than Jamie Cullum, who he ...
ALBION CHRISTMAS BAND –Traditional (Talking Elephant Records TECD152)
I don’t have a problem with re-packaging tracks from previously released albums…I really don’t. Let’s take for instance this aptly timed recording courtesy of the ...
DAVE SWARBRICK – Raison D’etre (Shirty Records Shirty 1)
We are all, one way or another influenced by our heroes and much like Dave Swarbrick is one of mine, he is quite happy to ...
RICK WAKEMAN & JON ANDERSON – Fairfield Halls, Croydon (12.10.10)
I thought I’d wandered onto a set from the recent “Sherlock Holmes” movie as rows of candles festooned the stage at the Fairfield Halls concert ...
SKERRYVORE – Skerryvore (Tyree Records TYREE01CD)
No messing here as Skerryvore kick off with the riff based “Path To Home” featuring a mixture of Jimmy Shand meets the Tannahill Weavers. I’m pleased ...
RED HOT CHILLI PIPERS – Music For The Kilted Generation (Rel Records RECD572)
Be warned, The Red Hot Chilli Pipers should be labelled with a government health warning for their seriously pleasurable excursions inflicting harm to those of a ...
Kyron & The Strangels – If We Were Kings
Kyron & The Strangels have built up a loyal following through their live shows and a series of five wacky videos that are now viewed throughout the ...
HUEY LEWIS &THE NEWS: SOULSVILLE
Grammy-winners Huey Lewis and The News recently confirmed Monday, October 18th as the release date of their new album Soulsville, their first in nine years, to be released ...
EWAN McLENNAN – Rags & Robes (Fellside Recordings FECD235)
You sometimes know from the opening track if an album’s for you and this first release by Ewan McLennan is one such recording. In bringing together ...
BELLOWHEAD – Hedonism (Navigator Records Navigator042)
With a sleeve cover (superbly photographed by David Angel) that looks as if it had just leapt off the canvas of a Hogarth painting Bellowhead return ...
THE SHEE – Decadence (Shee Records 2)
Opening with a choral harmony that any church would be proud to have leading their congregation The Shee make their mark with the Gospel tinged ...
SONJA KRISTINA – RETROSPECTIVE – CURVED AIR
Beautiful lead singer Sonja Kristina and violin virtuoso Darryl Way were the kingpins of a group that caused a sensation with its innovative music and ...
PETER DONEGAN & THE LONNIE DONEGAN BAND – Ashcroft Theatre, Croydon (30.09.10)
I didn’t know quite what to expect when I entered the Ashcroft Theatre for this evening’s performance by Lonnie Donegan’s son Peter although perhaps the ...
SECRET GARDEN – Inside I’m Singing (Universal Records 602517552746)
Secret Garden produce music that I suppose in any other circumstance could be termed on the fringes of ‘folk’. I first came across Fionnuala Sherry ...
STEVE MILLER BAND’S CLASSIC ALBUM, ‘FLY LIKE AN EAGLE’ RE-ISSUE
The Demon Music Group reissued the Steve Miller Band’s classic 1976 album “Fly Like An Eagle” as a special collector’s edition CD/DVD set on 4th October ...
VARIOUS ARTISTS – All Along The Wall (Fellside Recordings FECD236)
Hadrian’s Wall for many conjures images of the Romans in Britain and to celebrate this iconic image, the Brampton Live festival commissioned this recording utilising ...
MABON – Live At The Grand Pavilion (Easy On The Records EOTR01)
No messing here as Welsh band Mabon take the stage for an opening set of driving reels “Hello Poppet/The Hustler” led by Jamie Smith’s accordion ...
ACOUSTIC EARTH – Travelling Man (Own Label AE01)
Andy Findon is one of those musicians who artists turn to whenever anything wind driven is required to complement their studio productions. Joined by Pete Walton ...
RALPH McTELL – Somewhere Down The Road (Leola Music TPGCD31)
Ralph is obviously as proud of London as any man can be (with the possible exception of Peter Ackroyd) and in his opening track sums ...
SHOW OF HANDS – Arrogance Ignorance And Greed (HMCD 29)
No resting on their laurels for that dynamic duo of ‘folk’, multi-instrumentalists Steve Knightley and Phil Beer bring home the bacon once again with a ...
JEZ LOWE & THE BAD PENNIES – WOTCHEOR! (Tantobie Records TTRCD111)
Whatever I’m doing…everything grinds to a halt whenever I receive a disk featuring Jez Lowe. The reason for this is that I know, even before ...
SECRETS, STORIES and SONGS – Dave Cousins (Witchwood Media Limited)
For those of us lucky enough to have experienced the late 60’s and early 70’s music circuit, we probably enjoyed the most fruitful period of ...
Katzenjammer – A Bar In Amsterdam
Those crazy Norwegian girls Katzenjammer have made the 6 Music playlist with their single A Bar In Amsterdam. A Bar In Amsterdam will be released digitally ...
Catherine MacLellan – Water in the Ground
Matching pure and ethereal vocals with poetic lyrics and her uncompromising song writing craft, there is no doubt as to why Catherine MacLellan has become ...
Doghouse Roses – THIS BROKEN KEY
Artist – Doghouse Roses... Title – THIS BROKEN KEY... Label – Yellowroom Records... Distribution- Proper Distribution... Release Date – October 18th 2010 Paul Tasker and Iona ...
Rory Ellis – Perfectly Damaged
It’s been multiple years now since hearing Australian troubadour Rory Ellis for the first time. I was in a car listening to the latest batch ...
CHRIS RICKETTS & MARK WILLSHIRE – Simple Folk (Hobgoblin HOBCD1012)
The combination of guitar, bass guitar and vocal should be recognisable to anyone old enough to remember the glory days of Bob Fox and Stu ...
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