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When ‘world music’ emerged onto the radio airwaves in the 1980s courtesy of DJs like Andy Kershaw and Charlie Gillett, its fresh sound tickled many ears as something exotic. Even though it might have been music rooted in a nation’s tradition for many years, it was dramatic and new to Western ears. As time has… Read more »
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Nathan Bell doesn’t follow convention. Let’s start with the title of this studio album, ‘Loves Bones and Stars, Love’s Bones and Stars’ – the marketing department would have a fit. He’s also released a new live album at exactly the same time – the management would claim that this is crazy. That live album was… Read more »
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Phillip Henry is best known for his more recent duo work with Hannah Martin in Edgelarks. However, he’s been busy honing his skills as an instrumentalist for several years. Yet, ‘True North’ is his first solo album and it acts as a celebration of his various musical travels since leaving his origins in Chorley, Lancashire…. Read more »
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Though its title, ‘Secularia’, might hint at something different, there is only one word needed to describe Eliza Gilkyson’s new record. That word is spiritual. But let’s not leave it there as it’s a collection of songs that deserves more than a one word review. It’s a record that owes lots to family and friends… Read more »
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The summer festival scene is often claimed to be a saturated market and, for sure, festivals come and go. However, having moved from its beginnings in Bridgnorth, Shrewsbury Folk Festival has staked its claim to being one of the biggest and best folk festivals around. Wandering onto the site, it’s easy to see why so… Read more »
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Music in the Glen is the new album from Realta members Brendan Mulholland, Conor Lamb and Deirdre Galway, who take this opportunity to fully showcase their virtuosity with a selection of excellently performed airs, jigs, reels, hornpipe and waltzes. An enormous fan of Realta since I reviewed their second album ‘Clear Skies’, I was prepared… Read more »
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Summer is a coming, across the bridge and up the lane, to join the twenty thousand, come the sun or come the rain. Weather proofed for all occasions, Simon Jones ventures to Cropredy 2018. Summer eh? Who’d have it? Weeks of hot weather, a glorious run of sunny days and the very occasional… Read more »
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Like many folk musicians, Eamon O’Leary has spent a life in-transit including a move that took him from Dublin and his homeland to New York where he’s lived for over twenty years. It’s been much the same in his musical life where collaborations have involved Glen Hansard, Bonnie Prince Billy, Anais Mitchell, Anna and Elizabeth,… Read more »
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How time flies, it is nearly ten years since Rachael released her last solo album No Man’s Fool in 2009. It was an album on which Rachael explored and revelled in her influences, through which she interpreted trad material. Most people know McShane as part of the behemoth that was Bellowhead. She was integral from… Read more »
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What’s this, a review for an album that came out months ago? Doesn’t that stand as a glaring omission from your aim of featuring the best in folk and roots? Yes and yes, I’m holding my hands up, guilty as charged. What makes it all the more horrific is that 3 Daft Monkeys are one… Read more »
