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).
OKA VANGA – Oka Vanga (Crazy Bird Records)
Oka Vanga’s third (and self-titled) album is a “wild, rich & unique” joyous hybrid of Americana and wind-blown memories of British folk music. Angela Meyer ...
LAWRENCE ILLSLEY – Trees (Tiny Tree Records TTRLICD001)
A Cornish poet now based in the Welsh valleys, Illsley makes his singer-songwriter debut with a thematic companion piece to last year’s award-winning collection of ...
LOVERIDGE – As The Crow Flies (Loveridge Records)
Sea shanties dropped out of my own repertoire quite a few years ago, so I'm probably the only folkie in Cornwall who hasn't heard Fisherman's ...
BEULAH’S BONEYARD – Songs For A Watchful World (own label)
Songs For A Watchful World is a collaboration between Oxford-based lyricist Martin Beck and Jon Avison, frontman of The Moonbeams, joined by, among others, the ...
Rare Howlin’ Wolf tracks to be released
Unquestionably one of the most influential singer / songwriter / performers of the post-war Chicago Blues explosion, Howlin’ Wolf – AKA Chester Burnett – bestrode ...
BREWERS DAUGHTER – Jara (own label)
About five years ago I was bowled over by Make Believe, the debut album by Brewers Daughter. It was a fairly homespun affair – the ...
STRAWBS – Settlement (Esoteric EANTCD1087)
Fifty-seven years since their formation (and fifty-four since they shortened their name to Strawbs), the core of today’s line up dates back to 1973 when ...
JANET SIMPSON – Safe Distance (Cornelius Chapel Records CCR49CD)
Janet Simpson’s Safe Distance is an album for those of us who love country music but didn’t bother to watch the CMA show yet have ...
IAN DAVID GREEN – Songs Of The Sea (own label)
A reedy-voiced singer-songwriter from Liverpool, armed with an acoustic guitar and harmonica and variously accompanied by accordion, brass, keys, drums, mandolin and strings from members ...
TV SMITH – Lockdown Holiday (Easy Action EARS149)
TV Smith, or Tim as nobody calls him, was one of the first wave of punks forming The Adverts in 1976 – remember ‘Gary Gilmore’s ...
BOO SUTCLIFFE – Blink (own label)
Boo Sutcliffe is a Yorkshire singer-songwriter and Blink is his debut album – a remarkably sophisticated one, at that. Boo does nearly everything: writing, singing, ...
EDWARD II – Dancing Tunes (E2JAM 1905)
Welcome to the party! Full on into the swaying of Jamaican dance music! Jamaican music is rooted in the West Indian Mento and Calypso, and ...
CATHERINE BRITT – Home Truths (Beverley Hillbilly Records Bevhillrec001)
Unless you knew, you‘d readily believe Britt was born and bred in the Tennessee foothills, but, while she spent six years in Nashville, she does, ...
Folk Alliance International announces details of a mammoth online event
To our knowledge, Folk Unlocked (presented by Folk Alliance International aka FAI) is the largest ever virtual music festival ever, with over 1,000 acts playing all ...
DAVIE FUREY – Haunted Streets (own label)
Davie Furey is originally from Navan and now lives in County Laois but there isn’t a lot about his background to be found. On his ...
SINGLES BAR 62 – A round-up of recent EPs and singles
Based in the Western isles of Scotland, FELIX SAUNDERS has a throaty, world-weary vocal rasp and earthy accent (think a centuries-old Proclaimers), heard to persuasive ...
JON WILKS – Up The Cut (Grizzly Folk)
Once again, following Midlife, the redoubtable Birmingham folkie has delved into the archives to emerge with Up The Cut, another selection of largely unknown and ...
JORDMÅN – Jazz På Nysvenska (Dos)
Peter Bryngelsson’s (more about whom later!) new project Jordmån is an adventurous folk concept piece that fuses traditional tunes, original compositions, and instruments all under ...
Copperplate Podcast 257 presented by Alan O’Leary
folking.com brings you the latest podcast from that aficionado of Irish music, yes you guessed it, the one and only Mr. Alan O’Leary with his ...
BROON – Cosmic Ceilidh (SBECD20)
Cosmic Ceilidh is the debut album from multi-instrumentalist Steve Brown of Arisaig in the Scottish Highlands. A busy professional live musician since the 1993, the ...
RICK SHEA – Love & Desperation (Tres Pecadores TPCD12)
A multi-instrumentalist Southern California singer-songwriter who’s played sideman for Katy Moffat, Wanda Jackson and Dave Alvin, with a penchant for Hank Williams influences and old ...
Helen Gentile & Lewis Wood release debut duo album
Helen Gentile & Lewis Wood are an exciting duo who perform original and dynamic arrangements of European folk dance tunes on clarinet and violin. In ...
Copperplate Podcast 255 presented by Alan O’Leary
Here is Alan O'Leary's first podcast of 2021. 1. Danu: The Garsun Who Beat His Father/Sean Maguire’s/Jimmy Kelly’s. All Things Considered 2. Le Cheile: ...
DOWALLY – early bird // night owl (own label)
early bird // night owl is the third album from Dowally and it is made up of original contemporary folk interspersed with some traditional folk ...
Gillian Welch & David Rawlings announce release of acoustic covers album
Gillian Welch & David Rawlings confirm that their Grammy nominated All The Good Times, a new collection of ten acoustic covers recorded at home on a reel-to-reel, ...
Copperplate Podcast 254
We've got a bit behind with Alan O'Leary's Copperplate podcasts recently what with Darren being hors de combat and me not knowing the proper way ...
PATTERSON DIPPER – Unearthing (own label PD001)
John Dipper’s virtuosity on violin is well known as is his skill as a maker of concertinas. Of late he has turned his attention to ...
TRADArrr – Strange News (Hedge of Sound Records HOS26 2020)
Strange News, TRADArrr’s third album, once again finds the septet’s assembled members taking traditional folk songs by the scruff of the neck and giving them ...
DAVID A HARLEY – Tears Of Morning (Wheal Alice Music)
David A Harley’s Tears Of Morning is a wonderful WABAC Machine that, in true Rocky and Bullwinkle Mr. Peabody (and Sherman!) fame, travels back in ...
The Railway Inn, Winchester off the danger list
Music Venue Trust (MVT), which represents hundreds of UK grassroots music venues (GMVs), has announced that 13 out of the 30 GMVs on their Save ...
The Top 40 folk albums chart for January
Today, the Official Charts Company in partnership with English Folk Expo reveal the Top 40 best-selling and most streamed folk albums released in the January ...
LUKE CONCANNON – Ecstatic Bird In The Burning (The Movement TMCD001)
With Leamington’s Nizlopi now on an indefinite hiatus, frontman Concannon, who’s relocated to Vermont, returns to his solo career with Ecstatic Bird In The Burning, ...
KEEPING IT LIVE IN LOCKDOWN – Winter Wilson Live From The Lounge
I was thinking of writing this review in seven weeks’ time – which is both unusually precise and about five weeks ahead of any planning ...
The Brewers Daughter announces her long-awaited second album
Rhiannon Crutchley is an independent, alternative, acoustic musician who performs under the stage name Brewers Daughter. She was born and bred in Northampton and resides ...
VARIOUS ARTISTS – Roy Bailey Remembered (Towersey Festival TF202001)
Roy Bailey was always a favourite of Towersey Festival. He was the festival’s patron and, in fact, his last album was a live set recorded ...
Caro Emerald livestreams tomorrow
Tomorrow, January 30th 2021 at 8PM CET, Caro Emerald will perform a livestream concert, available for free via her YouTube and official website. Caro will ...
Steve Brown, aka Broon, announces his debut solo album
Cosmic Ceilidh is the debut album written and (mostly) performed by multi-instrumentalist Steve Brown of Arisaig in the Scottish Highlands under his nom de plume, ...
THE MECHANICALS BAND – The Righteous Jazz (Rushmoor Records)
Having tackled Shakespeare and assorted poets on their last two releases, the Leamington Spa quintet comprising Wes Finch on guitars and vocals, drummer Ben Haines, ...
KAREN MATHESON – Still Time (Compass Records)
Capercaillie vocalist Karen Matheson’s new album, Still Time, is a wondrous album that blends folk, slight jazz, and everything else “that’s sweetly play’d in tune” ...
Patterson Dipper announce new album
Put together one of the English folk scene’s most lyrical singers, let them mature together for a decade or two, and their stunning new album ...
LUCERO – When You Found Me (Liberty & Lament)
Twelve albums in and several line-up changes along the way, but still fronted by Ben Nichols, the Memphis-based quintet (with added sax) build on the ...
IAIN MATTHEWS & THE SALMON SMOKERS – Fake Tan (Talking Elephant TECD465)
As his contribution to making us all feel better in these difficult times Iain Matthews has turned his attention to some old favourite songs plus ...
SINGLES BAR 61 – A round-up of recent EPs and singles
LUKE JACKSON issues a seven-track digital EP, Of The Time, this month. The opening track, ‘I Am Not OK With This’, looks our present situation ...
JIMMY LEE MORRIS – Truth Is The Talisman (AutomixRecords)
Both a retrospective of previously unrecorded songs and new material, this double album from the Devon-based singer-songwriter, formerly half of The Hat Band, totals a ...
ISOBEL CAMPBELL – Milkwhite Sheets (Cooking Vinyl)
One question: Where have you gone Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel? More about them later, but Isobel Campbell’s Milkwhite Sheets has been re-issued by Cooking ...
SEAN TAYLOR – Lockdown (own label STCD115)
Recorded, as the title suggests, during lockdown in London with overdubs by Mark Hallman done remotely in Austin, this is, for seven of the ten ...
JIM GHEDI- In the Furrows Of Common Place (Basin Rock)
A starker sound and more personal focus characterise In the Furrows Of Common Place, the riveting third album from the Sheffield-born folk musician, one that ...
JON BICKLEY AND THE INVISIBLE FOLK CLUB BAND – Under The Same Sky (Invisible Folk CD001)
Most of the music on Under The Same Sky has been written for a film project for The Higgins Museum. Jon Bickley is known as ...
PETE McCLELLAND – The Way Back To You (Hobgoblin Records HOBCD1019)
Up to now, I was more aware of Pete McClelland as co-founder of Hobgoblin Music – a company that has provided me with several very ...
Dowally announce new album
Contemporary Edinburgh folk duo Dowally will release their exciting, eclectic new album early bird // night owl on Friday, 19 February 2021. Dowally is Dan ...
FRANKIE ARMSTRONG AND FRIENDS – Cats Of Coven Lawn (own label)
It may be just a coincidence that Frankie Armstrong celebrates her 80th birthday with this new album but I don’t believe in coincidences. The friends ...
Davie Furey announces new album – Haunted Streets
Release Date: 19th February 2021 Pre Order: 1st February 2021 Lead Single: ‘Who Am I’ Davie Furey’s new album, Haunted Streets, features some of Ireland’s ...
Kerri Watt releases debut album
Today, Glaswegian singer-songwriter Kerri Watt releases her long awaited debut studio album Neptune’s Daughter. The album is available on CD, cassette (available exclusively from Kerri’s ...
Michael Chapman – Ancient & Modern – Streamed Concert
To mark his 80th birthday on the 24th of January, veteran troubadour Michael Chapman, has announced this special concert, recorded during the November lockdown in ...
GIULIA MILLANTA – Tomorrow Is A Bird (Ugly Cat Music)
Giulia Millanta’s new album, Tomorrow Is A Bird, blows with a deep fresh breeze of a folk-rock record that just happens to have really nice ...
SCOTT McKAY – Stupid Cupid (own label)
Backed by his regular rhythm section of Josh and Sam Langille, alongside guitarist Grant Siemens and Burke Carroll on pedal steel, the Charlottetown singer’s third ...
JIM CAUSLEY – Devonshire Roses (Hrõc Music HROC05)
Jim Causley returns to his roots for his Lockdown-2 album. Devonshire Roses follows Dumnonia – recorded ten years ago – by collecting together twenty songs ...
Celtic Connections – everything you need to know
The Celtic Connections online festival will begin one week today. Across 19 days, the festival will present over 30 online performances between Friday 15th January ...
December’s top 40 folk albums revealed by Official Charts Company
Today, the Official Charts Company in partnership with English Folk Expo reveal the Top 40 best-selling and most streamed folk albums released in the December ...
Sean Taylor releases hard-hitting new album
2020 is a year that we will all never forget. Fear and isolation has painted the background for Lockdown, the new album from Sean Taylor, ...
THE QUESTIONNAIRES – Atlantic Ridge (Boom Chang Records BCCD018)
The Questionnaires are a ten-piece duo from Newcastle-upon-Tyne. What I mean to say is that at their core is the songwriting duo of Jane Wade ...
RICHARD HASWELL – With The Changing Light (Rhubarb Music)
Richard Haswell’s With The Changing Light is a great rock record (with electronica and jazzy subtitles) that holds a winning poker hand of classic sounds, ...
Fairport Convention compile their Alan Simon recordings
Fairport Convention Collect Together the Recordings on Alan Simon’s Rock Operas, Including Excalibur: The Celtic Rock Opera, on the album Fame and Glory – Out Now! ...
TERRY CLARKE – Walk Like A King (Terrapin Records TRP 1920)
Many years ago Andy Roberts released an album called Urban Cowboy and although the two albums are very dissimilar it sprang to mind the first ...
ELLES BAILEY – Ain’t Nothing But (Outlaw Music)
Speaking as a fellow artist, I have so much admiration for those who have managed to produce new music during this pandemic. A year in ...
SINGLES BAR 60 – A round-up of recent EPs and singles
Following closely on the version by Larkin Poe comes another cover of ‘Nights In White Satin’, this from RED SKY JULY, the trio comprising Ally ...
DOLLY PARTON – A Holly Dolly Christmas (Butterfly Records190296823435)
Dolly saves Christmas. That’s what this album SHOULD be called. Instead it’s a cheeky re-work of the familiar Christmas song ‘Holly Jolly Christmas’, and indeed ...
CONSTANTINE – In Memory Of A Summer Day (Guerssen Records)
Chicago’s Constantine’s new acid-psych folk album In Memory Of A Summer Day flows with both “cadence and cascade”. Yeah, they were apparently “ladies of the ...
HANZ ARAKI & KATHRYN CLAIRE – The Emigrant’s Song/The Laborer’s Lament (The Celtic Conspiracy CELCON003)
And so we come to the end of my reviews of the four CDs that comprise a seasonal set by the American duo Hanz Araki ...
Fèisean nan Gàidheal announce three charity download singles
A Gaelic arts organisation hopes to spread some festive cheer with the release of three new Gaelic songs, with proceeds of the songs going to ...
Tim Edey releases charity single, ‘Fields Of Gold’
Jaw-dropping Anglo-Irish multi-instrumentalist Tim Edey, newly crowned Musician of the Year at the 2020 MG Alba Scots Trad Music Awards, has released the first single ...
RON JAPPY – Vincular (Bow Fiddle Records BWFDR001)
We often receive emails asking if we’d like to review such-and-such a CD and it seems churlish to refuse, even though it’s impossible to promise ...
DARIA KULESH & TRISTAN SEUME – online concert
2020 hasn't brought many positives for lovers of live music, still less for the many fine musicians who are no longer able to rely on ...
Ninebarrow address their carbon footprint
Award-winning Dorset duo Ninebarrow will celebrate the launch of their fourth studio album A Pocket Full of Acorns next spring by fulfilling a long-held wish ...
MATTIAS LIES – Highs & Lows (Valley Music/Dalapop)
Swedish folky Mattias Lies’ album Highs & Lows shines a tintype dark lacquered light to Neil Young’s song ‘Don’t Let It Bring You Down’ with ...
TOBIAS BEN JACOB – Refuge (own label)
One half of Jacob and Drinkwater, produced by John Elliot Refuge is very much a solo affair and a departure from their sound as a ...
JOHNNY COPPIN – Midwinter – Live In Concert (Red Sky Records RSKCD 123)
Due to this unprecedented year of few live gigs, well known and well-respected singer/songwriter Johnny Coppin has brought out this delightful live album of his ...
FIREFALL – Comet (Sunset Blvd. Records)
Firefall’s Comet, their first record in twenty plus years, spins with the same pop-country sound that graced the radio so many years ago. And quite ...
Kate Rusby to stream full length concert
This year, Kate Rusby is determined to bring the joy of her usual Christmas tour to the comfort of everyone’s homes with the special delivery ...
Skerryvore will be virtually first-footing around the world on New Year’s Day
Multi award-winning band Skerryvore have announced that they are going first footing around the world this 1st January as they take to people’s living rooms internationally ...
HANZ ARAKI & KATHRYN CLAIRE – As I Roved Out: Songs Of Spring (The Celtic Conspiracy CELCON002)
While my reviewing of this series of four CDs has been unavoidably eccentric so far, starting with the last in the series and moving on ...
MOSSY CHRISTIAN – Come Nobles And Heroes (One Row Records ORRCD002)
Sometimes only some old-fashioned traditional music will do and Come Nobles And Heroes serves that up in great style. It is the debut album by ...
CATFISH KEITH – Blues At Midnight (Fish Tail Records FTRCD018)
Catfish Keith releases his new album Blues At Midnight on December 15th. If you’ve even a passing interest in the Blues, you’ve probably come across ...
LONG TALL JEFFERSON – Cloud Folk (Red Brick Chapel Records)
Swiss-born Long Tall Jefferson (aka Simon Borer) says of his Cloud Folk record: it’s “an album for the now with elements of trap, cloud rap, ...
HANZ ARAKI & KATHRYN CLAIRE – A Winter Solstice Celebration (The Celtic Conspiracy CELCON001)
Having recently reviewed (and very much enjoyed) the last in a series of CDs of largely traditional music from Hanz Araki and Kathryn Claire, I'm ...
GRYPHON – Get Out Of My Father’s Car! (own label GRIFCD02)
There have been a couple of changes in the Gryphon line-up since their last outing. First there is a new bass-player in the shape of ...
Phil Cunningham’s online Christmas Songbook
To bring on the Christmas cheer after what has been a tough year for everyone, the Phil Cunningham Christmas Songbook team have come together to ...
DeBarra’s goes online
DeBarra’s Clonakilty announce new online series featuring over 20 eclectic acts including: Mary Coughlan, Niamh Regan, John Spillane, Craic Boi Mental, Elaine Malone & more… ...
CHILLY GONZALES – A Very Chilly Christmas (GENTLE022CD)
A Very Chilly Christmas is just lovely! I want to put on a cocktail dress and sip on something seasonal while I let this gorgeous ...
Celtic Connections announces its first list of artists
Celtic Connections has announced the first list of artists who will perform as part of their digital-first festival this January. Across 19 days, the festival ...
KIRIKI CLUB – Kiriki Club (own label Kiriki 001)
Drawing on backgrounds as various as clowning, dance, theatre and live art, the Birmingham-based sextet, Kiriki Club (the name inspired by Les Kiriki, a film ...
VARIOUS ARTISTS – A Gulf Coast Christmas (Gulf Coast GCRX9028)
I was delighted to review this album, A Gulf Coast Christmas for you. I love a Christmas album. I’m putting that out there right now ...
Judy Collins set to headline Shrewsbury Folk Festival
Shrewsbury Folk Festival has made its first major line-up announcement for 2021 after managing to secure the majority of its performers from this year's festival that ...
THE LOST NOTES – Lowlifes & High Times (own label)
Lowlifes & High Times, the much anticipated second album from Birmingham’s acoustic quintet, finds them dispensing with the debut’s playful socio-political numbers such as ‘Bankers ...
Hewerdine and Napier announce songwriting courses
Songwriting vituosos Boo Hewerdine and Findlay Napier have announced the launch of a series of songwriting workshops aimed at creative people in Scotland whose livelihoods ...
FOLK ON FOOT podcast wins another award – and announces a special episode with guitarist Richard Thompson!
The Folk on Foot podcast has won the Gold Award for Best Arts and Entertainment podcast at the LOVIE AWARDS – which celebrate the best ...
KACY & CLAYTON AND MARLON WILLIAMS – Plastic Bouquet (New West Records)
Canadians Kacy & Clayton join forces with New Zealand singer-songwriter Marlon Williams for their wonderful new folk album Plastic Bouquet. They play sublime music that ...
EDGELARKS – Henry Martin (Dragonfly Roots DRCD008)
It was only a matter of time before Phillip and Hannah called an album Henry Martin. If ever there was a title crying out for ...
THE BILLS – ‘Til The Blues Have Gone (Wheeling RecordsWRCS 2O2OO1)
Norway-based American bluesmen, Bill Booth and Bill Troiani have played together in various permutations over the years, but ‘Til The Blues Have Gone marks their ...
Ninebarrow stream live concert from Poole Lighthouse
Back in March, BBC award nominees Ninebarrow, widely recognised as one of the finest duos in UK folk music, were about to set out on ...
BEANS ON TOAST – The Unforeseeable Future (Botmusic)
The second album released to celebrate Jay’s 40th birthday is a reversion to his familiar DIY style. The Unforeseeable Future provides a commentary on what ...
BEANS ON TOAST – Knee Deep In Nostalgia (Botmusic)
The first of the two simultaneously released albums to mark his 40th birthday produced by Frank Turner and also featuring keyboardist Tensheds, Matt Hensley from ...
Yvonne Lyon announces her new album
Yvonne Lyon's new album Growing Wild is a stunning collection of timeless songs, arguably her finest to date. Featuring twelve original tracks, including co-writes with ...
MERRY HELL – EMERGENCY LULLABIES & INTERVIEW
Our very own singer songwriter Paul Johnson gets some 'Emergency Lullabies' when he talks to the band Merry Hell about the release of their fantastic ...
Michael Chapman streams live concert
Veteran troubadour Michael Chapman, has announced a special concert, recorded during lockdown in York’s stunning Merchant Adventurers’ Hall, to be broadcast online next Sunday 29th ...
B.J. COLE WITH DAVE EASTOE – Daydream Smile (Cow Pie COWFOURcd)
Invented in Hawaii by Joseph Kekuku around 1889 (although the first electric lap steel, invented by George Beaucham, preceded it in 1931), the steel guitar ...
THIS IS THE KIT – Off Off On (Rough Trade Records)
This Is The Kit’ s Off Off On is a dense tapestry of banjo fueled folk music that is enveloped in gossamer jazz tones and ...
THE NORDIC FIDDLERS BLOC – Bonfrost (own label NFB004CD)
Bonfrost is the third album of music spanning the North Sea from power fiddle trio, The Nordic Fiddlers Bloc. Anders Hall is from Sweden and ...
STEPHEN CLARK – The Lady Aurora (LAR01)
The Lady Aurora is the first solo album by Stephen Clark. The album is predominantly acoustic guitar instrumentals. Hmmm, how to give, in words, a ...
LARKIN POE – Kindred Spirits (Tricki-Woo Records)
Their second album of the year sees Rebecca and Megan Lovell turn to their record collection for an album of covers, recorded raw and live ...
ZOË WREN – RECKLESS RIVER (own label)
“Only Joni knows how blue I’m feeling now”, sings Zoë Wren on ‘Smoky Sunrise’, the opening track of Reckless River, giving a pretty good indication ...
Video Wall 17
The year rolls on and there doesn't seem to be much sign of optimism - apart from Trump and Cummings getting the boot, of course ...
HANZ ARAKI & KATHRYN CLAIRE – Songs Of Love & Murder (The Celtic Conspiracy CELCON004)
It's a long time since I reviewed an album consisting entirely of more-or-less traditional songs and tunes, but given the recent barrage of releases from ...
Show Of Hands announce live album and on-line concert
One of the most anticipated live tours is coming to living rooms this month as folk supergroup Phil Beer, Steve Knightley, Miranda Sykes and Cormac ...
MICHAEL CHAPMAN – Pleasures Of The Street (Mooncrest CRESTCD106)
Michael Chapman fans are having a field day at the moment as Secret Records continue with their program of album reissues. Pleasures Of The Street ...
SINGLES BAR 59 – A round-up of recent EPs and singles
JOHN NAPIER follows up his Give Us Some Money EP with the self-released Bandcamp download Things Are Much Worse Than We Had Thought, opening with ...
THE OUTSIDE TRACK – Christmas Star (own label)
For their sixth studio album The Outside Track turn their attention to Christmas. But Christmas Star isn’t a jolly carol singalong nor a roll-up-the-carpet-and-party-till-dawn sort ...
NORRIE MACIVER AND THE GLASGOW BARONS – Songs Of Govan Old (Glasgow Barons GLASGOWBARONS01)
Norrie MacIver and the Glasgow Barons, with their brilliant folk album, Songs Of Govan Old, manage to disprove (the great) Thomas Wolfe’s novel title comment, ...
Katie Melua announces her first global livestream
Live from London’s historic Rivoli Ballroom on Friday 4th December 2020 Multi-platinum musician Katie Melua is delighted to announce a worldwide, ticketed global livestream concert ...
HARRIET RILEY & ALEX GARDEN – Sonder (own label HRAG01)
I am always amused by a line just before Hector’s funeral in The History Boys when Frances de la Tour says “I hope he doesn’t ...
TANYA BRITTAIN – Hireth (TCR Music TCRM75903)
Tanya Brittain is best known as half of The Changing Room with Sam Kelly and a supporter of all things Cornish. Hireth is her first ...
THE QUIGGS – Wings Of Gold (Lowland LOWLAND021)
The third album from the Scottish/Danish husband and wife partnership of Pernille and former McCalmans member Stephen Quigg, Wings Of Gold combines a heady mix ...
GREGORY PAGE – One Hell Of A Memory (Interrabang Records)
Seasoned songwriter Gregory Page releases One Hell Of A Memory on November 13th. He describes its genesis and creation as, "This album came out of ...
Karen Matheson announces new album
The opening acoustic cinematic sway of lead single ‘Cassiopeia Coming Through’ heralds the arrival of much anticipated new music from revered Scottish folk songstress Karen ...
DAN SUMNER – Ebb And Flow (Naranjo Records)
Dan Sumner’s Ebb And Flow, like the best music of (the very great) John Martyn, touches sublime thoughts and then makes them intensely human. There’s ...
MARIO POLETTI – One Man One Mandolin (own label)
I’ve reviewed two albums by the Teres Aoutes String Band – Italian mountain music with a strong sense of fun and some high-class musicianship, led ...
Ewan Macintyre announces new album
Since his emigration to Canada in 2014, Ex-lead singer/ songwriter of award winning Edinburgh Bluegrass band The Southern Tenant Folk Union, and Scottish soul man ...
TOM MASON – Under A Mistletoe Sky (Gas Station Music)
Yes, it’s the first Christmas album review, Under A Mistletoe Sky taking a sleigh ride out of Nashville with ten brand new country yuletide tunes ...
JIM WHITE – Misfit’s Jubilee (own label)
Misfit’s Jubilee was released on October 30th, White’s eighth solo album. The picture of the album cover gives a feel for the album, a bit ...
B.J. Cole announces new album
Award winning multi-instrumentalist B.J. Cole, began his career gigging with Irish Country bands on the US Airforce bases around the UK in the ’60’s. He ...
JUDY FAIRBAIRNS – Edge Of The Wild (Wild Biscuit WBM008)
A published writer and artist, Fairbairns now adds singer-songwriter to the CV with this collection of songs exploring her life on the Isle of Mull ...
BARBARA DICKSON – Time Is Going Faster (Chariot Records CTVPCD022)
Barbara Dickson’s twenty-fifth solo album sees her reaching back as if to defy the idea that time is going faster. We find her returning to ...
DARRELL SCOTT – Jaroso (Full Light Records 539588)
A member of Robert Plant’s Band of Joy, Scott recorded this no PA live album with two mics, one for vocals and one for the ...
MERRY HELL – Emergency Lullabies (Merry Hell Music mhm00120)
Following on from the release of its three eco-based singles, the fossil-fuel themed ‘Leave It In The Ground’, Greta Thunberg tribute ‘Sister Atlas’ and climate ...
RACHEL NEWTON – To The Awe (Shadowside SHADOW04)
When this album first arrived I took one look at the cover and wondered what strange beast had come my way. I’ve seen Rachel Newton ...
Norrie MacIver joins The Glasgow Barons in a new celebration of Glasgow’s history
The Glasgow Barons, Govan’s orchestra, have teamed up with singer songwriter Norrie MacIver to release their debut album, Songs Of Govan Old – a collection ...
Smoke Fairies announce live streaming event
Smoke Fairies have announced details of an exclusive global live streaming event to be broadcast online on the evening of Sunday 8th November. The duo headed to the iconic De La ...
JEZ LOWE – Crazy Pagan (Tantobie TTRCD 120)
If anyone is equipped to record a solo album at home in these strange times it’s probably Jez Lowe. Crazy Pagan contains new and recent ...
MARC BLOCK – Faerie Fire Dances (Glasspool Music Glasspool003)
Block says that his new album largely consists of songs inspired by his connections with the Radical Faeries, which, if you’re wondering, is a worldwide ...
MY DARLING CLEMENTINE – Country Darkness (Fretsore Records)
My Darling Clementine’s Country Darkness collects together three EPs in which band members Michael Weston King and Lou Dalgleish pay a detailed and loving tribute ...
MEDICINE HEAD – New Bottles, Old Medicine (Cherry Red)
I can’t remember the venue, but I won’t forget the first time I saw John Fiddler and Peter Hope-Evans play live, blowing me away with ...
WEST OF EDEN – Cabin Songs (West of Music)
Earlier this year, Sweden’s outstanding folk-rock combo, decamped to a summer house to lay down some more intimate-styled one-take recordings, including singer Jenny Schaub in ...
MARTIN SIMPSON – Home Recordings (Topic TSCD609)
Many artists have produced lockdown albums this year utilising whatever resources they could muster. Martin Simpson, it seems, took a more leisurely approach, at one ...
THE RHEINGANS SISTERS – Receiver (Bendigedig BEND 15)
Receiver, their first release since Bright Field finds Rowan and Anna Rheingans joining forces with visual artist Pierre-Olivier Boulant, whose solarographs (pin-hole camera images) part ...
BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN – Letter To You (Columbia Records)
Springsteen seems to be a roll at the moment with no sign of slowing down. His previous album Western Stars which was released last year has ...
SINGLES BAR 58 – A round-up of recent EPs and singles
UK duo FERRIS & SYLVESTER are Issy Ferris and Archie Sylvester and I Should Be On A Train (LAB Records) is their new lockdown recorded ...
BEN HEMMING – Broken Road (own label)
Ben Hemming released Broken Road in the summer and it’s just come across my desk. Hemmings is described in various terms – mostly some distance ...
KATY ROSE BENNETT – Where Does It Hurt? (own label)
Part of Oxford’s illustrious Bennett family of musicians (her brothers being Joe and Robin of variously The Dreaming Spires, Co-Pilgrim and Bennett, Wilson & Poole), ...
Rachel Newton announces new album
To The Awe is the bold new album from acclaimed Scottish singer, harpist and BBC Radio 2 Folk Award Musician of the Year, Rachel Newton ...
My Darling Clementine announce Country Darkness album
As the nights draw in this winter, My Darling Clementine will present… Country Darkness, a new album that throws a spotlight on twelve hidden gems ...
Ashley Hutchings announces festive album
Talking Elephant Records is delighted to announce a very special release with a seasonal flavour. Titled A Midwinter Miscellany the album is a collection of ...
Copperplate Podcast 253 – Presented by Alan O’Leary
folking.com brings you the latest podcast from that aficionado of Irish music, yes you guessed it, the one and only Mr. Alan O'Leary with his ...
First Official Folk Albums Chart announced
Last night, in an exciting live-streamed ceremony, 26-year-old Liverpudlian Jamie Webster took the coveted Number 1 spot with his debut studio album We Get By ...
KRIS DREVER – Where The World Is Thin (Reveal Records)
Kris Drever’s Where The World Is Thin is a musical glance at the beautiful horizon of very current Scottish folk music. A necessary metaphor: Although ...
FELIX HATFIELD – False God (FB:02)
“Songwriting is one of the most mysterious and magical forms of art. It’s like having a blank piece of paper and some crayons. You don’t ...
MARTIN STEPHENSON – Pink Tank (Barbaraville Records BVPTCD)
Having revisited, reworked and rerecorded Salutation Road (a wonderful piece of work), Martin Stephenson turns his attention to another bunch of old songs – let’s ...
CARA DILLON – Live at Cooper Hall/2
This is the modern world. In August, Cara Dillon performed live at the Cooper Hall near to where she and Sam Lakeman live in Somerset ...
BRENT COBB – Keep ‘Em On They Toes (Ol’ Buddy Records)
Cousin of producer Dave Cobb, Keep ‘Em On They Toes is Brent’s fourth album, one on which he says is more about thoughts and feelings ...
Bellowhead reunite for one-off streamed concert
After twelve amazing years, the UK’s most successful folk band Bellowhead called it a day in 2016 going out in characteristic style with a sell-out ...
Shrewsbury Folk Festival receives lifeline grant from Government’s £1.57bn Culture Recovery Fund
Shrewsbury Folk Festival has been awarded £93,000 as part of the Government’s £1.57 billion Culture Recovery Fund (CRF) to help face the challenges of the ...
Andy White releases double vinyl edition of Time Is A Buffalo In The Art Of War
Andy White is still in lockdown in Melbourne and preparing to release his latest album Time Is A Buffalo An The Art Of War on ...
Fairport’s Cropredy Convention to receive lifeline grant
Fairport’s Cropredy Convention music festival has been awarded £200,000 as part of the Government’s £1.57 billion Culture Recovery Fund (CRF) to help face the challenges ...
JENNY STURGEON – The Living Mountain (Hudson Records HUD021CD)
I’ve long been an admirer of Jenny Sturgeon’s work, both as a soloist and lately with Salt House, and I suspect that The Living Mountain ...
BEULAH – Hollow (own label)
From Manchester and based in the High Peak, encouraged in songwriting by family friend Gary Barlow, Beulah Garside (as was) released her debut album, Mabel ...
KRISTOF ROBERT – Nice Place (own label KRISRCD001)
Nice Place is Kristof Robert’s debut album, released in September this year. Robert is based in Carrick-on-Suir towards the south of Ireland but grew up ...
Ondervinden invites you to The Folk Effect
One Week. Five Bands. Six New Songs The Folk Effect is a free, online, high-speed music-writing event programmed over six days. Five folk bands from ...
JACK HENDERSON – Where’s The Revolution (Fretsore Records FR0014)
Jack Henderson is a veteran Scottish singer-songwriter with a voice that seems capable of anything. At first he put me in mind of Frankie Miller ...
PETER MULVEY & SISTASTRINGS – Live At The Cafe Carpe (Righteous Babe Records)
A digital download, Live At The Cafe Carpe brings the veteran Milwaukee songwriter and activist together with sibling violin and cello duo Monique and Chauntee ...
JEFF AND TERESA DAVIDSMEYER – Songs From The Cabin (own label)
Neil Young once sang, ‘Like A Hurricane’. Fair enough! But Jeff and Teresa Davidsmeyer sing from the calm eye of the hurricane. Songs From The ...
Kris Drever talks about his new album
Where The World Is Thin is an exceptional album from a writer and guitarist who’s songwriting consistently sets high standards in modern folk music. Insightful ...
Apple Original Films to premiere ‘Bruce Springsteen’s Letter To You’ documentary On Friday 23rd Oct
Bruce Springsteen fans around the world will get a behind-the-scenes look at his creative process in the documentary feature film, 'Bruce Springsteen’s Letter to You, from Apple ...
Skinny Lister celebrate five years of Down On Deptford Broadway
Longstanding folk/punk favourites Skinny Lister will be celebrating the 5th Anniversary of their breakthrough album: Down On Deptford Broadway this Autumn. On 23 October 2020, ...
Drive-By Truckers announce their second album of 2020
Drive-By Truckers’ 13th studio album, The New OK, arrives mere months after the release of the band’s highly acclaimed The Unraveling. Originally conceived as a quarantine EP collecting ...
Beans On Toast announces two brand new albums for release in Winter 2020
Revealed during his ‘Back At Home With Beans On Toast’ livestream last night, the albums will be titled: Knee Deep In Nostalgia and The Unforeseeable ...
THE TEA CUPS – In Which… (Haystack HAYCD014)
In Which... is The Teacups third and as it transpires final album, the Newcastle on Tyne a capella quartet deciding to call it a day ...
Jack Henderson announces new album
‘Nobody Gets Hurt’ directly follows lead single ‘Hey Batman’, with each offering our first glimpses into Henderson’s upcoming album: Where’s The Revolution (out 2nd October ...
TOM HOUSTON – Gap In The Fence (IPP333)
Gap In The Fence, the fourth album by Scottish Highlands singer-songwriter Houston, produced by and featuring Neill MacColl, son of Ewan and erstwhile member of ...
JOSIE BELLO – Have Purpose Live Long (own label)
Josie Bello released Have Purpose Live Long over the summer, a collection of eight songs and her second album, following the well-played Can’t Go Home ...
RYAN HAMILTON & THE HARLEQUIN GHOSTS – Nowhere To Go But Everywhere (Wicked Cool)
Among the many videos we received this summer was one to accompany ‘Jesus & John Lennon’, the third song from Nowhere To Go But Everywhere ...
PADRAIG JACK –Making Sand (Good Deeds)
Born and raised on the Aran islands off the west coast of Ireland, son of Irish songwriter Barry Ronan and nephew of poet Mary O’Malley, ...
DARLINGSIDE – Fish Pond Fish (More Doug Records)
Darlingside’s new Fish Pond Fish is a wondrous tapestry of baroque pop music knitted with the purity of folk needles. Now, just a confession: Too ...
SCREAMING ORPHANS – Sunshine And Moss (own label)
Sunshine And Moss, the second album by the Co. Donegal Diver sisters opens with ‘Every Woman Gardens’, a steady-paced strumalong written by Padraig Stevens from ...
KAT RIGGINS – Cry Out (Gulf Coast Records)
Kat Riggins released Cry Out in August but I’ve only just come across it. I don’t know who first said. “You don’t play the blues, ...
DIANA JONES – Song To A Refugee (Proper PRPCD157)
Born in rural Tennessee, Jones has a natural affinity for the dispossessed, her latest work, Song To A Refugee, inspired by both the distressing scenes ...
Judy Dyble – David Longdon album out today
“I had a discussion with my good friend, Jackie Morris, a writer of enchanting words and an illustrative artist of exquisite paintings, about where magic ...
WORDS OF A FIDDLER’S DAUGHTER – Rúnian (own label TCR02)
Should poetry be read or listened to? As a modern person, I tend to the former – I like to pause and reflect on what ...
MARK MANDEVILLE & RAIANNE RICHARDS – Road May Rise (Nobody’s Favorite Records)
Unforgivably, Road May Rise, the latest studio outing by the Massachusetts’ duo disappeared into a black hole in my reviews pile, but has now been ...
BELLA WHITE – Just Like Leaving (own label)
Born in Alberta but with Blue Ridge roots, White was reared on a bluegrass diet of Bill Monroe and Doc Watson before heading off to ...
The Tale Of Two Runrigs – limited box set released next month
Never-before-seen footage and audio recordings of the legendary Scottish group Runrig playing two Rockpalast concerts in Germany are set to be released in a limited ...
MICHAEL CHAPMAN – Sweet Powder & Wrytree Drift (Mooncrest CRESTCD107)
Some explanation may be helpful here. Michael Chapman was between record companies when these two albums were recorded: Sweet Powder in 2008 and Wrytree Drift ...
Official Charts Company launches the first official folk albums chart
Launch event hosted by Mark Radcliffe 17 October 2020 Live-streamed from HOME, Manchester In recognition of the popularity of the folk music genre, the Official ...
KENNETH J NASH – For Sarah (Oh! OHRKJN01020)
Written for his wife, three years in the making, For Sarah is a simple, low key, introspective collection of musical vignettes, recalling the good times ...
OH SUSANNA – Sleepy Little Sailor (MVKA Records)
Oh Susanna’s 2001 Sleepy Little Sailor gets a deluxe re-issue with four acoustic re-visits and one newly covered tune. But first, for the initiate, Oh ...
O’HOOLEY & TIDOW – Live At St George’s (No Masters NMCD55)
With immaculate timing Belinda O’Hooley and Heidi Tidow recorded this live concert in front of an enthusiastic audience in the former church of St George’s ...
The Teacups announce their final album
Celebrating their 10th anniversary as a band The Teacups, comprising the talented Alex Cumming, Kate Locksley, Rosie Calvert and Will Finn, release their third and ...
Video Wall 16
"Are things getting any better?" we ask ourselves and there are signs. It seems that more albums are being released and some gigs are beginning ...
LOUDON WAINWRIGHT III – I’d Rather Lead A Band (Thirty Tigers)
I admit that it's been quite a few years – decades, perhaps – since I listened to Loudon Wainwright III, but I suspect that even ...
Ross Ainslie announces new solo album
Vana is the fourth solo album from multi-instrumentalist Ross Ainslie. Out on Friday 30th October 2020, Vana is named after a wellness retreat in India ...
LUCIA COMNES – Uncaged (own label)
Recorded by Comnes in Liguria, Italy, and Gawain Matthews adding keyboards in San Pablo, California, Uncaged comes at the end of what has clearly been ...
SAM BROOKES – Black Feathers (Go Slowly Records)
Now, it’s a given that Joseph had “The Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat”; but truly, Bristol-based Sam Brookes, with his album Black Feathers, has produced an “amazing ...
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