Welcome to the folking.com review section.
The folking review team is a small, dedicated group of people with a passion and a commitment for the folk, acoustic and Americana music scene. They review the latest releases, each in their own inimitable style…
All our reviewers give their spare time to bring you this resource and we always looking for new people to get involved who share a similar passion for the genre to help lighten the load. If that sounds like you, then please email us here for more information about joining the folking review team.
Folking at Cambridge Folk Festival 2013 – Day 3
Those following this blog will know that it would not be complete without an early morning campsite folking shower report - although those on-site would have had a deluge of their own later in the day when KT "rain goddess" Tunstall took to the stage and opened the heavens - ...
Folking at Cambridge Folk Festival 2013 – Day 2
Blimey, its 6.00am and I'm in the shower... what the folking heck is going on. It's not what your thinking... unless you are talking about it being "probably the best festival shower block in the world"... hot water at daybreak - on a campsite - who'd have though it, but ...
Folking at Cambridge Folk Festival 2013 – Day 1
A folking brilliant start to a truly stellar line-up at this year's Cambridge Folk Festival. Now in its 49th Year, it remains a cornerstone event in the folk diary. After finally getting the tent up, losing half my body weight in liquid from my newly erected sauna, I headed from ...
The Comeback Album : Eric Brace and Peter Cooper
The Comeback Album is the third offering from these Nashville musicians/ band leader/ producer/ journalist/ songwriters! The comeback just refers to a revisiting the studios to make an album after a couple of years touring in the US and Europe, and working on exciting projects like recording the children’s songs ...
FAUSTUS – The Guildhall, Leicester 26th April 2013
The historic Guildhall in Leicester, currently next door to the highly prominent Richard III museum, played host to folk trio Faustus on Friday 26th April. A magnificent setting and deserved sell out as Faustus is made up of 3 superbly talented singer/songwriter musicians, 2 of which are well known in ...
FAUSTUS – Broken Down Gentlemen
My mum had a turn of phrase for the opening track of the latest Faustus album and that was ‘rumpy-pumpy’. Although some may see this as disparaging I do know what she meant (she even wondered why I liked ‘folk’ music at all) but ever since I first heard the ...
JERRY DOUGLAS – Traveler
When you’ve got a little black book loaded with contacts you use them don’t you? And in the case of dobro maestro Jerry Douglas that’s quite some book. Paul Simon, Alison Krauss, Eric Clapton etc they’re all in there and only too pleased to lend a hand on this, his ...
Gren Bartley – Winter Fires
Another beautifully crafted album from West Country festival favourite Gren Bartley. Based on the loose theme of Winter fires - physical and emotional landscapes before the Spring thaw, and the flames which keep us going. The style of this album is relaxed bluegrass with a touch of country. Gren's voice ...
As If by Norris-Brown
When you listen to As If, the lush EP by Norris-Brown, think of a shooting star. The beauty of the four songs on the EP is not just spectacular but one-of-a-kind in a very true sense. Sadly, vocalist Ingrid Brown who teamed with guitarist Adrian Norris to create this gorgeous ...
AMY DUNCAN – Cycles Of Life Linn AKD 437
Amy Duncan’s new album opens, and indeed closes, with unshakeable optimism, which is unusual and very welcome these days. The title song is about moving on and putting the past behind but it was the second track, ‘Song To Myself’, that attracted my attention. “I will be there at the ...
Cathryn Craig and Brian Willoughby release Real World
It’s interesting how all of us keep people in certain slots, no matter how we deny it. Consider Brian Willoughby, best known for his work with the legendary folk-rock band the Strawbs. Sure, he’s a guitar master who is much in demand as evidenced by his work with Nanci Griffith, ...
BATTLEFIELD BAND – Room Enough For All Temple Records COMD2106
Battlefield Band never stand still. They’re a forty year old institution but their line-up is fluid – players come, players go and sometimes return. The current twin-bagpipes/twin fiddles set-up of Mike Katz, Ewen Henderson, Alasdair White and Sean O’Donnell has been together for a while - White joined as a ...
Broken Conversations: The Hard Ground
Broken Conversations is the impressive debut album of Cork based band The Hard Ground. Fronted by vocalists Marlene Enright and Pat Carey, who share songwriting credits, the album opens with Pawn, a wonderful attention grabbing musical romp. The songs track the meltdown of a relationship in poetic lyrics that deal ...
LUMIERE – My Dearest Dear (IRL Records IRL075)
The art of successfully bringing ‘folk’ music to a wider audience has been surmounted before by the likes of Steeleye, Fairport and The Corrs and with the duo Lumiere it looks as if we have another artist batting for ‘our’ side. Whether we in the folk world deserve it or ...
CELTICA PIPES ROCK – Rising and Oceans Of Fire (Stringdependent Records)
It’s great to see the mighty Highland pipes take centre stage once again and for those of us that were brought up on bands like Alba, The Tannahill Weavers and Battlefield Band will know just how powerful a tool it is featured in the context of ‘folk’ music. When it is taken ...
BLUES TRAVELER – SUZIE CRACKS the WHIP
Blues Travelers loose bluesy sound can’t always give away their Canadian origins, but I believe they have managed to reflect the themes of a continent in their wide open tunes. The 2012 offering, Suzie Cracks the Whip moves away from the Californian rock of the previous releases like North Hollywood Shootout ...
BROOM BEZZUMS – Wine From A Mug and Winterman (Steeplejack Music SJCD 012 and 015)
Blissful (!) is the first word that comes to mind when reviewing anything by Andrew Cadie (vocals, fiddle, guitar, Northumbrian pipes, percussion and viola) and Mark Bloomer (vocals, guitar, mandola and drums) aka Broom Bezzums. In many ways cast from the same mould as Fox & Luckley it’s their musical ...
ARTO JÄRVELÄ & KAIVAMA
I hadn’t realised that there was a Finnish community in the USA but it should have been obvious. They came to the Great Lakes area a century ago to mine iron ore and like so many became assimilated. Two of their descendants are Sara Pajunen and Jonathan Rundman – Kavaima ...
ALL THINGS CONSIDERED release Dance Through The Storm
Three years in the making, the second full-length studio album by Berkshire five-piece All Things Considered is again a well produced record of singular acoustic music. Dance Through The Storm is “folk flavoured” but that label does not entirely do justice to the multiple musical infusions. Singer Emma Baldwin has ...
JACKIE OATES – Lullabies (ECC Records ECC009)
Covertly perhaps the ‘folk music’ world has taken out shares in Mothercare but then again, maybe it’s just had a case of the ‘January Blues’ as every self-respecting artist appears to have recently kidnapped lullabies and children’s songs with which to regale their listeners. Megson, Pauline Vallance and now Jackie ...
MARTIN HARLEY – Mojo Fix – 60/20 Records 7 21762 97054 6
Martin Harley plays guitar. All sorts of guitar: acoustic, lap slide, Weissenborn, you name it. He also plays harmonica and stylophone but a man’s got to have a hobby, right? Mojo Fix is his fifth album, three of them released as The Martin Harley Band. It’s also something of a ...
BRASS MONKEY – 30th Anniversary Celebration: The Best Of Live (Park Records PRKCD125)
I just knew from the moment the little silver disk(s) arrived on my doormat that here indeed was ‘folk’ celebrity worth celebrating. The glorious noise and band that are Brass Monkey should be heralded as heroes by anyone that feels an affinity with all things ‘British’ and I mean that ...
THE DUBLINERS – 50 Years (Irish Music Licensing IMEXCD0150)
Throughout my learning curve on the ‘folk’ scene one of the constants has been Irish band The Dubliners. Now into their 50th year and no name change…take note Mr Gavin…this superb collection is personally better even than The Ultimate Dubliners CD released in 2003 and is proof positive that longevity can ...
ROBERT VINCENT – Life In Easy Steps – DB Industries DBICD5
Robert Vincent’s debut album comes lavishly packed in a hardback booklet with a bonus disc if you get in quick. The Merseyside-born singer-songwriter has a mighty voice with hints of Iain Matthews and Roy Orbison in his upper range and a tight, powerful band to support him. It opens with ...
CHRIS WHILE AND JULIE MATTHEWS – Infinite Sky Fat Cat FATCD027
Chris While and Julie Matthews have been making music together for twenty years now, first with The Albion Band and currently with St Agnes Fountain as well as solo and as a duo. They make classy records and this, their eighth studio album together, is no exception. The album opens ...
RICHARD TRETHEWEY – DIG WHERE YOU STAND
Richard’s superb debut album is making a noise in the right places! Recently released and already having extremely positive comments. As Richard explains in his cover notes, this album is his exploration of Cornish culture starting from where he stands. He is fiercely proud of his Cornish heritage. His family ...
VARIOUS ARTISTS – Folk Awards 2013 (Proper Music Properfolk14)
Glorious…there’s no other word to describe it. Opening with every folk fans favourite band of ragamuffins Bellowhead and “Roll The Woodpile Down” this 3 CD compilation of the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards positively blasts forth heralding the achievements of all concerned. We in the folk world have a lot ...
IAIN MORRISON – To The Horizon, Sir (Peatfire Records peatfire005)
Not since the first time I heard the distinctive vocal of October Project’s Mary Fahl singing “Return To Me” have I come across a vocalist with such unique character. That’s not to say Iain Morrison sounds like a girl it’s just meant as a pointer to how such a distinctive ...
PAUL CARRACK – Good Feeling (Carrack-UK PCARCD21)
As Foghorn Leghorn might say…”How long, n-n-now I said how long has this been going on?” Well, about forty years according to his illustrious recording career and as Mr Carrack just happens to possess one of the most soulful voices we as a nation have come to embrace over that ...
DAISY CHAPMAN – Shameless Winter – Songs And Whispers SW17/Folkwit Records f0090
Sometimes I really don’t know where to start, other than to advise you to listen to this album as soon as you can. Shameless Winter is Daisy’s second album, on top of two EPs, all original material except for Billy Corgan’s ‘Disarm’, with a small group of musicians in support ...
MIKE SILVER – JACK DANCES –FRCD 0112
You know it is going to be a little gem the minute singer/songwriter Mike Silver releases a new album and his latest - Jack Dances is certainly no exception. All the tracks were written by Mike Silver. 10 glorious tracks are on the album, telling tales of loved ones, wishes ...
MATHEU WATSON – Dunrobin Place (Seer Records SEE002)
I really enjoyed Matheu Watson’s first album and wondered what he’d do to follow it. The answer is: wait three years, travel, play a lot of gigs and come home filled with ideas. He also thanked very kindly the musicians who played on that record and let them go home, ...
BROOM BEZZUMS – Winterman (Steeplejack Music SJCD019)
Mark Bloomer and Andrew Cadie are Broom Bezzums, a duo regularly augmented by Katie Doherty’s vocals. In fact the opening track here, ‘Salt Sea And Coal’, is one of Katie’s songs. Although British, Broom Bezzums are based in Germany where they have released three previous albums, all available from the ...
Review of Martin Carthy, Dave Swarbrick, James Yorkston and The Carrivick Sisters concert in aid of charity for musicians
AN EVENING WITH MARTIN CARTHY AND DAVE SWARBRICK, JAMES YORKSTON AND THE CARRIVICK SISTERS AT THE CECIL SHARPE HOUSE REGENT’S PARK LONDON ON 18th DECEMBER 2012 At the outset let it be known that folk gatherings have never been top of my list in Winter, however, I was very pleased ...
MADDY PRIOR and THE CARNIVAL BAND – A Christmas Caper PARK RECORDS PRKCD124
Nicely in time for Christmas comes this best of set spanning fifteen years and seven albums in the career of Maddy Prior & The Carnival Band. The combination of the band’s early music style and Maddy’s pure vocals was a perfect match from the off with A Tapestry Of Carols ...
Live Review – CC SMUGGLERS – 12 Bar Club, London 29 November 2012
If you think of Mumford & Sons as The Beatles then CC Smugglers are The Rolling Stones. They both inhabit the same folk/ blues/ country/ rock/ Americana landscape but there the similarity ends. The 12 Bar Club on Denmark Street is a very small venue – actually the building is ...
Meet on the Ledge Release Long Shadows
It’s been a 10-year gap between recordings but fans of the folk veterans Meet on the Ledge will rejoice when they listen to the just-released “Long Shadows”. Of course the folk harmonies and masterful instrumentation upon which MOTL built it’s well deserved legacy and following, are beautifully showcased and presented ...
KATHRYN TICKELL – Northumbrian Voices (Park Records PRKCD121)
There can be nobody prouder than a father and raconteur (Mike Tickell) witnessing his daughter entertaining an audience from centre stage and in this case the daughter (Kathryn Tickell) vice-versa. That much is obvious from the camaraderie of everyone involved on this wonderfully crafted 2-disk set from those very fine ...
BELSHAZZAR’S FEAST – STOCKING FILLERS (Unearthed Records EARTHOL003)
You can always guarantee quality from Paul Sartin (oboe/cor angais/violin and voice) and Paul Hutchinson (accordion). Like a paired-back acoustic version of the Albion Country Band (who I first heard doing this sort of stuff) the lads certainly know how to put your laughing gear into action especially if you ...
THE DEMON BARBERS – The Lock-In (Safecracker Pictures DVD SP059)
Having witnessed the ‘Celtic’ hit Riverdance on its opening night in London in 1995 and being absolutely blown-away (as was the sold-out audience) by the effervescent amalgamation of dance techniques I wondered if there might ever be a British ‘folk’ equivalent. Well, for me that long wait has now been ...
GLENCRAIG SCOTTISH DANCE BAND Latest Album Reviewed
Strictly Ah’m Dancin’! (perhaps a cheeky reference to Bruce…and I don’t mean ‘Robert The’) or so it would appear according to the cover of this recording by the Glencraig Scottish Dance Band. For those of us that still remember with fondness the great Jimmy Shand this album will bring back ...
JIMMY LEE and THE EDGE OF CHAOS ORCHESTRA – The Runaway
If you are into a good chorus then I suggest you check out the latest release from Jimmy Lee and his band of musicians. I can imagine the gentle banter, chinking of glasses and smiles all round as everyone in ‘the session’ gets stuck in. On the opening track to ...
Darryl Purpose – Next Time Around
Darryl Purpose is clearly the second coming of James Taylor and Tom Rush. As someone who cut her musical teeth on those and other masters of American folk, I don’t make such statements lightly. Take a listen to Purpose’s just-released “Next Time Around” and get ready to be bowled over ...
Paul Johnson interviews GARRY BLAKELEY’S during THE WHEEL OF THE YEAR’ tour
LIVE SHOW DELIGHTS ON ONE WET AND WINDY NIGHT IN RYE IN SUSSEX! If Garry Blakeley ever had to bullet point and compile a CV it would probably read something like this: Garry Blakeley – Amazingly brilliant fiddle player, Marketing Director, PR Manager, Record Producer, Recording Studio Manager, Singer song ...
FOLKLAW – The Tales That They Tell (Own Label)
After releasing his debut album, Nation’s Pride, under the name Folklaw, Nick Gibbs has now put together a full band to go with that name and progress to a second CD. The line-up comprises guitarists Bryn Williams and Lyndon Webb with Gaz Hunt and, on loan from ColvinQuarmby, Marty Fitzgibbon ...
LINDA BANDELIER and DAVID CAMPBELL – Ae Fond Kiss (No Label)
Now, I really like this album but where to place it categorically I’m not sure. It could be classified under ‘storytelling’ with the main thrust from Linda Bandelier & David Campbell but that would be to dismiss the musical contributions of Hamish Moore (pipes), Mairi Campbell (fiddle) and Katie Harrigan ...
MAEVE MACKINNON – Once Upon An Olive Branch (MM02)
It must be a difficult decision for any performer…in this case by Maeve MacKinnon…to relinquish control of their latest recording to the skills of a producer but in Angus Lyon I think she has made the right choice. In using the additional services of Innes Watson (guitar and fiddle), Signy ...
JOHN WORT HANNAM – Brambles And Thorns (Borealis Records BCD219)
Getting all of the “Great Lakes” to scan lyrically must have taken some doing but John Wort Hannam proves up to the challenge and displays this on the bright and breezy opening track. It’s the kind of number you can imagine driving along on cedar strewn tree lined routes throughout Canada where ...
St. Agnes Fountain The Twelve Years of Christmas Reviewed!
I’ll just admit it; I’m jealous of those that can celebrate the holiday season with St. Agnes Fountain’s live and newly recorded music “The Twelve Years of Christmas.” In a season filled with holiday albums and tours from artists ranging from Olivia Newton-John and John Travolta to Cee Lo Green, the ...
THE UKULELES – The Ukuleles (DMGTV047)
Logan Wilson & Martha Paton are The Ukuleles. Perhaps something in the title will give you a hint (and it isn’t the word ‘The’) as to what instrument they utilise to convey they’re good-time summer of love styled music. It’s nice to see artists who aren’t snobbish when it comes ...
GREEN DIESEL – Now Is The Time (Own Label)
Perhaps it’s the late 60’s, Fairport styled introduction that appeals to me on Green Diesel’s take on Steve Ashley’s “Fire And Wine” complete with obligatory ‘riff’. Whatever it is, the band play to the strengths of the folk-rock genre of that era featuring Ellen Care’s fiddle/vocals, Matt Dear (lead guitar), ...
OCCASIONALS – Birling (Greentrax Recordings CDTRAX371)
For those looking to extend their repertoire of ceilidh dance tunes you could do no better than purchase this ebullient collection by one of Scotland’s leading bands the Occasionals. Within their ranks there’s the formidable tune writing skills and accordion playing of Freeland Barbour (ex Silly Wizard don’t you know), Ian ...
THE YOUNG ’UNS – When Our Grandfathers Said No (Navigator NAVIGATOR075)
The Young ’Uns are probably the most entertaining group I’ve heard in a folk club in a long while. This is not just because of the quality of their music but on-stage banter, in the course of which they’re as unconscionably rude to each other as only the very best ...
RÉALTA – Open The Door For Three (Réalta Music ADC 001)
It’s rare to find an album of traditional Irish music opening with a disturbingly modern sounding guitar figure before sliding into the first tune but quite a few things about Réalta are unusual. Conor Lamb and Aaron O’Hagan both play uilleann pipes and whistles while Deirdre Galway handles the rhythm ...
Live Review – Martyn Joseph supported by Luke Jackson, Rugby Roots 3rd November 2012…
A captivating night all round at Martyns 10th visit to Rugby Roots at the Lawrence Sheriff School on his tour to promote his new album Songs For the Coming Home . This was 3 hours of first class acoustic music from two gifted performers, one sorcerer at the peak of his game (wearing ...
JIM MORAY – folking live concert review…
JIM MORAY, Black Peak: Folking Live at Wilde Theatre, South Hill Park, Bracknell – October 24th 2012. Reviewed by Colin Bailey. It was the first time a Folking Live event had taken place in the august surroundings of the Wilde Theatre at South Hill Park, and expectations were high. We even ...
SKILDA – Skyewalker (Celluloid 006628)
Now Luke here (sorry about that…couldn’t resist it), with the title Skyewalker used for their latest CD release you’d expect something a bit new-age-ish from the band Skilda and indeed, in some respects they are. But the cross-fertilisation of electronica and folk music is a thing of beauty in the ...
HARVEY ANDREWS – Writer Of Songs (HASKA:CD:003)
The nice thing about writing reviews in 2012 is that time is irrelevant. By that I mean I can write a review of an album recorded years ago and it will still appear as fresh today as it was then to a new set of enthusiastic internet savvy readers. Such ...
Tim Carter, presenter of ‘Off the Beaten Track’ reviews Show of Hands live
Show of Hands at Yeovil Octagon Theatre Saturday 27th October, 2012 Amongst the many acts that populate the current and seemingly ever-expanding British folk scene, few are as reliably rewarding in the live context as Show of Hands. It would seem that this is a view shared by many, since ...
Seth Lakeman Band live review plus new EP: live with the BBC Concert Orchestra
Seth Lakeman Band Ipswich Corn Exchange Sunday 21st October 2012. A top-class night at the very nicely refurbished Ipswich Corn Exchange. After watching Seth grow as a musician on and off since his late teens with his brothers and Equation, through his emergence as a solo performer and post Mercury Prize ...
Thanks for stopping by. Please help us continue and support us by tipping/donating to folking.com via
You must be logged in to post a comment.