Green shoots, old roots, what’s around the corner? Wondering, Simon Jones.
It’s that time again. The moment when the whole world seems to pause and reflect as well as look forward. The old year is almost done and a new one calls close at hand. So… let’s ponder some, if not all of the reasons, for folk’n’roots music to be hopeful in the weeks and months to come. This isn’t one of those best of lists where you begin at 40 and countdown, more music that we here at Spiral Earth think you might like to investigate, points to mull over and possible events to attend.
The promise of new music from Jim Moray. Releasing, fairly quietly, his version of ‘Spencer The Rover,’ in the autumn, which had that familar cyclic, melodic guitar figure and Jim (pictured above) relating the tale of a rambler who regrets leaving home and family behind. A brilliant injection of brass and subtle rock backline hints at a move towards the pioneering electro-acoustic rhythmic sound he presented on albums like ‘Sweet England.’ All we can say is, yes more please! He’s also been busy producing tradtronic artist Frankie Archer, a perfect match? Watch his web and social media sources for further developments.
The welcome remergence of The Home Service. Those of us who’d heard rumours that the band would find carrying on difficult following the departure of John Tams had cause to be concerned as Graeme Taylor put it to me, “an eight piece band isn’t the easiest to keep afloat.” Yet he’d dates in the diary but no lead singer. Perseverance is it’s own reward however, at the nifty suggestion of Debs Earl and Simon Nicol – yes he of Fairport- ask Bob Fox to join and with a new manager as well, matters took a decided turn for the better. What’s more the band recorded several gigs from last summer and produced a brilliant album in ‘A Live Transmission.’ Stacked to the gunnells with great music it also hinted at fresh material and a determination to progress. All that was confimred when I spoke to Bob in early November when he related that he and Graeme were actively writing/arranging and there’s a full tour next summer. Get your tickets now.
Hello, we’re Brogeal, pleased to meet you. Yet more evidence that points to the good people over the border in Scotland taking more notice of how to use your roots and heritage in an appealing manner. Brogeal burst out of Falkirk in a glorious melee of Scottishness, think the punkish drive of early Pogues with accents somewhat Proclaimerish, an equal love of traditional music and garage rock technique. Just light the blue touch paper and watch them go. Gigs have thus far been triumphal and when you wrap your ears around songs like ‘Roving Falkirk Bairn,’ or ‘Girl From NYC’ you can see why they’re surely destined for higher things. Get over to their website or YouTube sharpish y’hear?
I have heard the future and it’s name is Valtos. Not sure why they named themselves after a village, yet oddly it does seem to suit their image and their sound, one thing I am sure about is the fact that Valtos – electronic duo, mixers and refitters Daniel Docherty and Martyn McDonald – make sublime Celtic soundscapes which have inspiration in the music and landscape of Skye. To hear their brilliance and relevance all in one go check out their treatment of The Peatbog Faeries ‘Ho Ro,’ ancient and modern, it’s nothing short of breath taking. It’ll have you throwing shapes around the house and the neighbours banging on the door to be let into the party. This is how to twist and remake trad in the 2020s.
Give the people what they want and more of it. Just when some festivals are finding it hard going and yet others have had to close, it seems that the splendid people at Shrewsbury Folk Festival have hit their stride and if anything are growing in myriad directions. Always with an inclusive poicy in mind which stretches umbrella like across all definitions of folk music, at Shrewsbury there truly is something for everybody. You can feel the friendly spirit as you wander the site from stage to stage, venue to venue. There are as many workshops as concerts, there is a full programme of dance as well as music and the mix of ages points to a committed young body of attendence. “We are a folk festival but you don’t have to like folk music to come along,” said one staff member to me in 2024, “we like to cater for all, we don’t mind taking a chance.” And they don’t … they booked Elkie Brooks to close the festival in 2024! She was good too. A first list of guests for 2025 shows adventurous choices, more to follow undoubtedly.
Sometimes gentle is great. Twm Morys & Gwenyth Glynn two giants of music in Wales released a lovingly crafted collection of traditional songs and their own compositions which blended so seamlessly it was hard to tell the two apart. A wash that seeps into your ears and reminds you of the core beauty of Welsh folk, nothing is out of place here, they harmonise divinely and leave an impression so deep you have to instantly hit the replay button to enjoy the whole album over again. Unplugged it maybe but ‘Tocyn Unfford I Lawenydd’ is essential. On Sain records naturally.
Sometimes gentle is good part the second. A risky concept to unearth parlour songs which in lesser hands than those of Jon Boden could have ended up sounding like a knees up either in an East End pub or some skewed version of The Good Old Days. Boden however and his chums in The Remnant Kings crafted what our own Bob Langstaff called “easy warmth of hearth and home,” when reviewing the album. Leaving out much of the heft and gravity of previous efforts, whilst this doesn’t step away from making an impact ‘Parlour Ballads,’ nonetheless leaves a warm, fuzzy glow of satisfaction. Great cover shot as well.
One girl and potential. Drawing on her north east heritage Frankie Archer – as mentioned earlier – is plugging in to electronics’n’trad which whilst still developing rapidly, shows a commitment to doing different as normal. Her latest EP built on an earlier release with a focus on telling tales from folk sources with strong female characters and femenist edge, she’s already been on TV with Jools Holland who called what she was doing “extraordinary,” NME – not your regular folk artist hang out – trumpeted she produced, “new bangers,” and her latest producer one Jim Moray Esq ventured “the most refreshing treatment of traditional music, I’ve heard in ages.” It’ll be fascinating to see where she, her fiddle and box of tricks go next. She’s lively and humourous on the socials, sign up for news at her website.
Losing your heart with Aerialists. Canadian adventurers and cross genre fusionists who just happen to believe that playing age old tunes for harp and fiddle over an indie rock, jazz groove is a worthy thing. They’ve been building towards the splendid article that is their latest CD October’s ‘I Lost My Heart On Friday,’ which might sound careless if you go by the title though is anything but in reality. The core trio have a deep love and experience of Celtic and Norwegian folk whilst they sing in three or four different languages and have experience in wider genres, when joined by a sensitive but powerful rock back line the results are quite hypnotic. You’re never too sure where they’ll start from, it’s where they end up and how they get there which is the kick. A British tour/festival apprearences should be a given. See also the Olllum American Celtic mutant hybrid creators who now have Scots wunderkind piper Ross Ainslie in their ranks – touring the UK in February. Canny music from over the Big Pond.
Essential updates from the Front Line. Keeping himself busy has never seemed to be a thing that Ian A Anderson – erstwhile chief of fRoots and all round decent chap – found difficult, even during the pandemic! He’s a man of experience in most sections of the media, these days keeping the spirit of that brilliant magazine alive in a series of entertaining, witty podcasts with music of ever widening horizons some of it familiar, some of it you’ll hear no where else. Ever ready to zip from past to present and explore deeper by the month, he’s even invented his own genre, “folk, roots and un pop.” Each new monthly episode is compulsory listening and Ian is a man of both wisdom and humour. If you haven’t yet heard his efforts fill your ears with wonder at https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/froots
The More The Merrier Hell. No better news can I deliver than the tidings emerging from the Merry Hell HQ than there’s an album on the way, they’ve already released a single ‘Peace Can Be Louder Than War,’ a hopeful rallying cry for everybody, as usual it’s rammed with melody, drive and sing along chorus and grab your feet hooks. The full, finished item should – fingers crossed – be out in the Spring. meanwhile hither to their web presence and purchase a ticket to a show near you, they play live constantly. Once on board you’ll never want to get off. Merry Hell truly are wonders and decent people with it. ‘Nuff said.
Of course there is more. You’re probably tearing your hair out now and screaming at your PC….. ” But what about….!!” ” I enjoyed…..! ” “He’s not mentioned….!” As I said at the top, this isn’t meant to be anything like a ‘Best Of’ just a hint to look at that or the other and naturally there are many more that’ll come along so keep your attention on our News pages as we go forward. Get active people stay in touch with labels like Talking Elephant, Hudson, Park… fill in your favourite they’ve all got web and social media just waiting for you, find your fave festival and buy tickets early it helps them enormously so no matter the size, Cambridge to Cropredy to Bearded Theory to Beautiful Days, local, regional or national get behind them and your local music venues too. One gig a month will make such a difference not only for the acts playing on your doorstep but to you, live music matters, nothing beats the buzz you get from a great gig. So it follows to stay in touch and communicate with your favourite artists, they’ve alll got newletters you can subscribe to and will drop into your Inbox readily.
As somebody in this article used to say with regularity….”from inspiration to enthusiasm!” Now that’s a phrase to believe in. Go to it.
*Dedicated with respect and regard to Stevie Horton, a unqiue promotions and press officer. Remembered.
