To be honest none of us at Spiral Earth can recall the last time that Rochdale was the focus of the British Isles folk/roots scene. Probably about the time Mike Harding discovered a cowboy there. (1975 then. Ed.) However on March 17th the town played host to the Folk Album Of the Year Awards organised by those excellent types at Sound Roots – the organisation behind the Official Folk Chart, Folk Expo and other rootsy type ventures. Having drawn up a short list of nine back in the autumn last year they revealed the nominees, who covered a wide sweep of music which falls within the folk bracket.

All Smiles Tonight – Poor Creature

Auchies Spikkin’ Auchie – Grace Stewart Skinner

Curlew’s Cry – Barry Kerr

Shimli – Cynefin

Teeth of Time – Joshua Burnside

Teleology – Peggy Seeger

Tomorrow Held – Spafford Campbell

Turnstone – Gigspanner Big Band

Varipasi – Edith WeUtonga

At a party to find out who won, held in Rochdale Town Hall eight of them played, whilst Poor Creature ‘attended’ via a video link from Ireland. Gigspanner’s Big Band played some smile inducing rockist folk and Peggy Seeger, who is soon retiring, gave a graceful and appropriate rendition of ‘First Time Ever I Saw Your Face.’ Edith WeUtonga’s African jive was utterly delightful and Spafford Campbell proved why there is such a buzz going round about them.

Somebody’s got to win however and the person taking the award for 2025 Barry Kerr (see photo above) for his album ‘Curlew’s Cry,’ made a speech, straight to the point, clearly pleased as punch he said it was ” a real honour, thank you so much.”  Congratulations to him as well as all those chosen, it gives the music and those producing it a real shot in the arm both in terms of morale and hopefully in terms of sales too.

Next year’s event is no doubt being planned as you read this and that could include a live stream, check out the Sound Roots website where you can sign up for a newsletter about their activities.

https://www.soundroots.uk