LATEST HEADLINES
REVIEWS
Watchhouse – Watchhouse
Watchhouse is the new name adopted by the act formerly known as Mandolin Orange. There's been something of a spate of acts changing their name because of a concern for unintended political messages in their original name. The Dixie Chicks becoming The Chicks, for example. For Watchhouse, the new name has more to do with a change in their musical...
View All reviews
LA – Katheryn Locke with Chodompa Music
Kathryn Locke describes herself as a “composer and wayward cellist.” How she evolved to fit this description is a story in itself. She is a self-taught musician who allows her style and techniques to be informed by what she observes of the way other musicians move...
Iswat – Dag Tenere.
What do you play on a trip up the M6 for a week’s holiday in Galloway? Why obviously the desert blues. Having been a sucker for the snaking and twisting guitar lines of Tinariwen when their work first appeared on these shores, there was no doubt when the latest box of...
Life & The Land – Ben Walker & Kirsty Merryn.
There seems to be a whole cart full of releases celebrating the bucolic life around just now. This delightful EP was first mooted back in 2019 when Walker and Merryn shared a beer and philosophy about songs of toil. Simple, straightforward it’s chiefly her voice and...
NEWS
Summer of Glamping Festivals Comes to a Spectacular Close in Cannich
A fun-filled summer of glamping festivals in Cannich came to a close in spectacular style this weekend as headliners Mànran and Scooty and the Skyhooks brought the curtain down on the series of ground-breaking events. Capers in Cannich made history earlier this year when it burst onto the Scottish events calendar in May to become the first live...
Cara Dillon’s New Live Album & 20th Anniversary Limited Edition Vinyl
Cara Dillon, one of Ireland’s leading folk artists, has just released her latest Album Live at Cooper Hall. The album is a collection of 16 songs with accompaniment by Sam Lakeman on Steinway grand piano and guitar. The album was recorded without distraction —not...
*Video Exclusive* of Merlin’s Oak by The Meadows
The Meadows are a young and vibrant multi-instrumentalist Celtic-Crossover Folk band, all drawn from one family. The siblings’ second album ‘Dreamless Days’ is due for release on 24 September 2021, and we are thrilled to premier the Video for Merlin's Oak, the 3rd...
The Remarkable Jazz Journey of Katriona Taylor : BLIND PASSION
BLIND PASSION is the journey of an artist who loves to sing and share her positive passion for music. 'Sunny Days', 'Fly Me To The Stars' and 'Things Have Changed' on BLIND PASSION exude a whole lot of jazz soul. But Katriona does not stop here. BLIND PASSION also...
All News
Plain Dealer.
British guitar hero Michael Chapman very sadly passed away on September 10th. His influence and impact on the wider and specialist music scene was immense and mostly unheralded. His music and his appeal crossed generations. To say he will be missed is nowhere near...
Long Awaited Album Launch for Pete Josef
The long awaited album launch for Pete Josef's 2020 LP, 'I Rise With The Birds' is finally going to happen on Wednesday 22nd September at The Jam Jar in Bristol This homecoming gig will be the first performance by the full Pete Josef band for 3 years. Featuring a...
Hannah James and Toby Kuhn 2021 Album Launch and UK Tour
Hannah James first met Toby Kuhn in Summer 2018 at the Floating Castle festival in Slovenia and it was clear that these two musicians shared a common approach to music making and a real artistic chemistry. Award-winning folk musician, dancer and composer Hannah James...
FEATURES
The Show Will Go On.
As the folk world slowly opens to a musical landscape constantly shifting and coming to terms with the limitations of a continuing pandemic, amidst festival cancellations galore, Simon Jones ventures to one of the few, brave survivors, Shrewsbury. “The weather’s been great so far, shame it’s a bit cloudy today, the thing is it’s dry though,” says...
All Features
Greg Hancock – His Sure Fingers
Comparisons with Al Stewart, John Martyn and a whole host of other acoustic troubadours along with a rave review for his latest recording, something's brewing in the far corners of Devon. Phil Thomas was dispatched to locate and question Greg Hancock. I recently had...
Earworms For The Thinking Generation
With current circumstances you’d think that we’d be awash with decent social commentary and bands who’d want us all to think before we act. Merry Hell do great work but they could do with a hand. Enter Headsticks with C.O.W. the first album of 2021 to delve deeper in...
From Wandering Troubador to Scottish Laird
Born in Massechusetts in 1945, Marc Ellington lived an unusual life; to say he was a colourful character would not be an exaggeration. The early 1960s saw him as a fully paid up member of the American folk boom, singing with The Highwaymen in Oregon. By the middle of...
What do the four steps to lockdown lifting mean for gigs and festivals?
On the 22nd February the government announced its roadmap to lifting lockdown, with a potential complete lifting of restrictions for theatres, venues and large outside events by late June - so we seem to be on course to be enjoying gigs and festivals across the summer...
FESTIVALS
Summer of Glamping Festivals Comes to a Spectacular Close in Cannich
A fun-filled summer of glamping festivals in Cannich came to a close in spectacular style this weekend as headliners Mànran and Scooty and the Skyhooks brought the curtain down on the series of ground-breaking events. Capers in Cannich made history earlier this year when it burst onto the Scottish events calendar in May to become the first live...
All Festivals
Triumphant Return for Reimagined FolkEast 2021
Back on track after a two-year wait, England’s most easterly folk festival, FOLKEAST, pulled off a spectacular and emotional reunion last weekend (August 20-22). The delayed ninth FolkEast returned to Suffolk’s glorious Constable-esque grounds of Elizabethan Glemham...
Merry Hell and Lady Nade to join the FolkEast Party!
LAST CHANCE FOR WEEKEND & DAY TICKETS -Free admission for children aged 11 and under- Hugely popular North-West folk rockers Merry Hell have been announced as Sunday headliners at England’s most easterly folk festival, FOLKEAST (August 20-22). The 8-piece...
Full Programme for Piping Live! Unveiled
The full suite of programmed activity for Glasgow’s Piping Live! festival has been unveiled, with a number of exciting in-person shows confirmed to go ahead as part of the nine-day event. The world’s biggest piping festival will take a hybrid approach for 2021,...
An Audience with Dawn French at Underneath the Stars
Underneath the Stars festival is delighted to reveal actor, author and comedian, Dawn French, will be taking part in the family-friendly music and arts festival at Cinderhill Farm, Barnsley (30 July – 1st August). Filling the popular afternoon slot previously held by...
Chris Wood Headlines the first Brighton and Hove Folk Festival
Six time BBC Folk Award winner Chris Wood has been announced as the headliner for Brighton and Hove’s first folk festival. Established local promoters Folkroom have announced their full line-up for the festival, which takes place at The Brunswick in Hove on September...
Extra Tickets Released for Evening Concerts at A Celebration of Sidmouth Folk Festival
First announcements made for 2021 online festival More tickets have just been released for top name concerts at A Celebration of Sidmouth Folk Festival – a whole week of music and merriment that will swing into action from July 30 to August 6 in the East Devon seaside...
EXPLORE
REVIEWS
Latest albums
NEWS
Music – Books – Film
FESTIVAL DIRECTORY
SIGN UP
Get the newsletter