On Tuesday 4 June the Official Charts Company in partnership with English Folk Expo revealed the Top 40 best-selling and most streamed folk albums released in the May reporting period in the UK by UK and Irish artists. The chart is first announced to the public on Tuesday 4 June at 7pm GMT as part of the Official Folk Albums Chart Show presented by Folk on Foot via their YouTube channel.
There are 7 new releases in the May chart, including a new no. 1.
In at No. 1 is Lives Outgrown (Domino Recordings) by Beth Gibbons of Portishead fame. Her much-acclaimed debut solo record is her most personal work to date, the result of a period of sustained reflection and change — “lots of goodbyes” in Beth’s words. These are songs from the mid-course of life, when looking ahead no longer yields what it used to and looking back has a sudden, sharper focus.
Straight in at No.3 is Ferocious Dog’s thought-provoking and politically charged, Kleptocracy (Graphite). A close reflection of their live shows, the album echoes their commitment to shedding light on the issues plaguing our world today, a rallying cry for change, amplifying voices against corruption and injustice.
No. 4 is Emily Barker’s Fragile As Humans (Everyone Sang). After the expansive themes of 2020’s A Dark Murmuration of Words, this record sees Barker turn her lyrical gaze inwards, providing an unflinching self-examination of grief, pain and loneliness, while also sparkling with hope, optimism and connection.
New at No. 6 is Willson Williams (One Little Independent Records), Kathryn Williams & Withered Hand’s collaborative debut. Their modest confessionals, written poetically and over nostalgic melodies, are as relatable as ever and together they find new ways to unpack their feelings.
The summation of over a decade of releasing music and the overcoming of personal struggle, Bright Circumstance (Ronachan Songs) by Blue Rose Code comes in at No. 7. Written between the Isle of Lewis, the Whitstable seafront and his new home of Liverpool, Ross Wilson’s startling vulnerability and honest lyricism give the record an undeniable feeling of redemption.
In at No. 17 is Parenthesis, I (Corduroy Punk) by renowned indie-folk singer, songwriter, and producer Josienne Clarke. Shimmering, warm, intimate and profoundly heart-wrenching, the album signifies a new era for the former Rough Trade-signed artist and BBC Radio 2 Folk Award-winner.
No. 32 is Quarter-Life (self-released) by Good Habits, one of the most exciting new folk duos to come out of England’s North West, composed of Bonnie Schwarz and Pete Shaw. The record is their existentially optimistic look at life in their 20s as they reflect on themselves, their influences, and their future.
The full Top 40 list can be viewed HERE
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