LATEST HEADLINES
Levellers Announced to Headline Folk by the Oak!
Folk by the Oak, the ever-popular family friendly music festival set in the leafy surrounds of Hatfield Park have made their first 2024 line-up announcement – and it’s a big one! On announcing Levellers as their Main Stage headliners, Festival Director Adam Slough...
Belinda O’Hooley Announces Solo 2024 Tour Dates
Belinda O’Hooley is an exceptionally gifted pianist, singer, songwriter, and composer who has become renowned for her highly individual, emotional, yet sensitive musicality. She is also one half of the much-loved Yorkshire folk duo O’Hooley & Tidow alongside her...
The Dodge Brothers bring the Christmas Rhythm
'Tis the season of the Christmas single and the Dodge Brothers are showering us with gifts in the form of not one, but four Christmas singles. The titles are; I Can’t Wait For Christmas, Christmas in Heaven, It’s Christmas! Don’t Shoot Santa, Trim Your (Christmas)...
NEWS
Levellers Announced to Headline Folk by the Oak!
Folk by the Oak, the ever-popular family friendly music festival set in the leafy surrounds of Hatfield Park have made their first 2024 line-up announcement – and it’s a big one! On announcing Levellers as their Main Stage headliners, Festival Director Adam Slough said: “Since their mighty performance at Folk by the Oak 2017 our wonderful...
Belinda O’Hooley Announces Solo 2024 Tour Dates
Belinda O’Hooley is an exceptionally gifted pianist, singer, songwriter, and composer who has become renowned for her highly individual, emotional, yet sensitive musicality. She is also one half of the much-loved Yorkshire folk duo O’Hooley & Tidow alongside her...
The Dodge Brothers bring the Christmas Rhythm
'Tis the season of the Christmas single and the Dodge Brothers are showering us with gifts in the form of not one, but four Christmas singles. The titles are; I Can’t Wait For Christmas, Christmas in Heaven, It’s Christmas! Don’t Shoot Santa, Trim Your (Christmas)...
Richard Thompson ‘Historic Classic Concert Live In Nottingham 1986’ on CD for First Time
'Historic Classic Concert Live In Nottingham 1986' from Richard Thompson is issued for the first time ever on 2CD through Store For Music next January. This is a concert (originally recorded for radio) that has been hidden in the archives for all these years; an...
All News
A Clown Around Town, Now A Man Of Renown.
It is with a great sadness that Spiral Earth marks the passing of Shane MacGowan. The former front man and founder of The Pogues had been very ill for quite some time but died after a bout of encephalitis. A spokesman said "he died peacefully at 3.30am this morning...
West Coast Folk Festival comes to Blackpool this January
Coming to Blackpool's Winter Gardens this January, The UK West Coast Folk Festival 2024 is set to bring 33 acts across 3 stages to the iconic seaside resort, topped off by a rare headline set from the legendary guitarist Richard Thompson. From January 12th - January...
CAMBRIDGE FOLK FESTIVAL 2024 TICKETS ON SALE NOW!
One of the most celebrated events in the UK summer calendar, Cambridge Folk Festival is delighted to announce that tickets are now on sale for 2024. The Festival will take place from Thursday 25 July to Sunday 28 July in the picturesque grounds of Cherry Hinton Hall....
REVIEWS
Overcome : Glenn Hughes and Robin George
When Robin George burst on the scene in the mid 80’s great things were predicted. With a vocal style reminiscent of Marc Bolan, his rockstar cheekbones and pop-metal sensibilities saw him lauded as the next big thing. The single ‘Heartline’ was all...
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The Green Man Collection – Steeleye Span.
Compilation? Not altogether. New material? Certainly. Archive tracks? Bonuses. Steeleye's latest offering is a bridge between recent history and what's to come. There's more here than you'd expect from a stop gap release. Present matters underpin the tracks which...
The Colour of Amber – Nick Hart & Tom Moore.
After years of collaboration this is the first duo album from Nick Hart and Tom Moore. 'The Colour of Amber' is a collection of traditional material, brought to new life by these two irresistible musicians through viola, viola da gamba and voice. Nick’s singing is of...
Roots 2 – Show Of Hands.
Currently in the midst of what might be termed a triumphal progress rather than a farewell tour, Phil Beer and Steve Knightley have a track record that's more than impressive. Achievement was first celebrated on 'Roots' back in 2007, now they've served notice they're...
On The Run 1984-2013, 4CD Box Set – Mick Ralphs
In the pantheon of rock guitarists Mick Ralphs is rarely mentioned, yet for twenty odd years was an integral figure within the British rock scene. To be part of one iconic band is an achievement (Mott The Hoople) but to be a founding member of classic rock giants Bad...
Native Sons, Expanded 3CD Edition – The Long Ryders
Debut album from the darlings of the Americana crew gets the expanded 3cd treatment – is it really nearly 40 years! With their influences firmly on their sleeves – The Byrds, Flying Burrito Bros, Buck Owens etc - these students of California country-rock gave the...
FEATURES
Video: Ward Knútur Townes ‘Seasons’
In Ward Knútur Townes, popular Derbyshire-based performer Lucy Ward returns with this, her first major album in five years, joining forces with Iceland’s mesmerising modern-day troubadour Svavar Knútur and Canada’s Adyn Townes, purveyor of pin-sharp, heartfelt songs. Here is the video that accompanies the track Seasons from their album...
All Features
A Man’s A Man For A’ That.
The voice of Runrig's later years, Bruce Guthro, left us early in September. Simon Jones remembers and pays due homage. It's 1997 and Scotland's endemic rockers Runrig are without a singer. The man whose voice was described "as big as a Highland mountain,"...
And Now For Something Completely Different.
August Bank Holiday weekend, where to head to? The beach? The hills? A city break? Not on your life. Those in the know head to Shropshire for the ever changing but constantly attractive Shrewsbury Folk Festival. Despatches from the front line, Simon Jones. Variety is...
Tales From The River Bank.
What we did on our Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Expecting much from this year’s Cropredy capers,Simon Jones ventures forth to the Oxfordshire countryside. You don’t really notice the River Cherwell when you’re caught up in the joyous, sheer hullabaloo of Fairport’s...
The Last Waltz.
ROBBIE ROBERTSON of THE BAND passed away this week at the age of 80. Lyndon Noon pays tribute to a roots rock icon. Succumbing to a long period of illness the peerless guitarist and songwriter Robbie was surrounded by his family at the time of his death. Often...
Folk on Foot’s Matthew Bannister strides out on Festival-to-Festival ‘BIG WALK’ to Help Musicians
The host of the multi-award-winning Folk on Foot podcast, Matthew Bannister, is to set off on a 180-mile sponsored walk this summer to raise money for the charity Help Musicians. The former controller of BBC Radio 1 and presenter of Radio 4's weekly Last...
FESTIVALS
Levellers Announced to Headline Folk by the Oak!
Folk by the Oak, the ever-popular family friendly music festival set in the leafy surrounds of Hatfield Park have made their first 2024 line-up announcement – and it’s a big one! On announcing Levellers as their Main Stage headliners, Festival Director Adam Slough said: “Since their mighty performance at Folk by the Oak 2017 our wonderful...
Festival News
West Coast Folk Festival comes to Blackpool this January
Coming to Blackpool's Winter Gardens this January, The UK West Coast Folk Festival 2024 is set to bring 33 acts across 3 stages to the iconic seaside resort, topped off by a rare headline set from the legendary guitarist Richard Thompson. From January 12th - January...
Celtic Connections 2024 set for Programme of Unmissable Music
World-renowned Glasgow festival Celtic Connections* will once again light up stages, venues and dark winter nights from Thursday 18 January to Sunday 4 February 2024, for what will be one of its biggest-ever capacity festivals. Proudly known as Europe’s premier folk,...
Boss Morris at Manchester Folk Festival 2023
Who can forget the moment at this year’s Brit Awards at London’s O2 was unexpectedly transformed by morris and animal-headed dancers during the performance of ‘Chaise Longue’ by multiple Brit Award-winners Wet Leg? The morris dancers responsible were members of the...
FolkEast 2023 – So much more than ‘A Very English Fete’
I have been a loyal attendee of FolkEast since its move to Glemham in 2013 having had its early start in Somerleyton Hall in Suffolk the previous year. Its an annual pilgrimage for many like me, looking forward to the Guardian's early description that quoted ...
Cambridge Folk Festival Confirms Day-Splits for Festival Weekend
Cambridge Folk Festival is one of the longest running and most prestigious folk festivals in the world. Established by Cambridge City Council and held each year since 1965, the Festival is renowned for its unique atmosphere and eclectic mix of music. It attracts...
The Added Extras.
The latest from the eager beavers at Shrewsbury..... “Besides the INCREDIBLE line up of music at this year's festival August 25th -28th, there's so much else going on at Shrewsbury, you'll wish there were more hours in the day! There'll be lots of opportunities to...
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