Tag Archives: folk

Quick plays: THE WILLOWS, ME AND MY FRIENDS, JEROME MAZZA

Posted on November 12, 2018 by jason

THE WILLOWS Through the Wild [Release date 30.11.18] ‘Through the Wild’ is the third album from the Cambridge folk band the Willows, who have picked up praise from the likes of Bob Harris and Mike Harding. Listening to this album … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged album, ANGELICA, Fairport Convention, folk, folk rock, Jemrome Mazza, Look Up, Me and My Friends, melodic rock, Mike Slamer, Outlaw Son, reggae, review, rock, soul, Steve Overland, Steve Walsh, the Willows, Through the Wild, Tommy Denander | Leave a comment

Album review: GRYPHON – Raindances (The Transatlantic Recordings 1973-1975)

Posted on November 5, 2018 by GRTR! HQ

Esoteric [Release date: 24.08.18] Folk rock sipped at diverse sources in its late 60s evolution; the traditional ale-house song was most prominent, probably because it was relatively simple to repurpose, while the music of the medieval court was less so, … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged compilation, folk, Graeme Taylor, Gryphon, medieval, Raindances (The Transatlantic Recordings 1973-1975), Richard Harvey, rock | Leave a comment

Album review: GALEN AYERS – Monument

Posted on October 25, 2018 by GRTR! HQ

Bombinate [Release date: 27.07.18] A confident debut here from this British US/Greece-based singer-songwriter, ‘Monument’ births short/sharp essays in personal values and beliefs in a swell of acoustic ambience. Cool to the point-of-chilly opener, ‘You Choose’ sets out her stall with … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged acoustic, album, ambient, folk, Galen Ayers, Kevin Ayers, Monument, review, singer, songwriter | Leave a comment

Gig review: STEELEYE SPAN – Hexagon, Reading, 15 October 2018

Posted on October 16, 2018 by jason

First visit to the Hexagon in Reading, a venue I had seen on TV previously when a snooker tournament used to be held here. Tonight though it hosts folk rock legends Steeleye Span, to a sadly half-full auditorium which is even … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged Bellowhead, concert, folk, folk rock, gig, Hexagon, Jacqui McShee, Maddy Prior, Pentangle, reading, review, Steeleye Span, traditonal music | Leave a comment

Album review: ELEANOR McEVOY – Forgotten Dreams

Posted on October 15, 2018 by GRTR! HQ

Chasing The Dragon Audiophile Recordings [Release date: 08.18] available at chasingthedragon.co.uk We’ve had Alone (2011) and its companion release Naked Music (2016) – albums that saw Irish singer songwriter Eleanor McEvoy retire to the sanctuary of a sleepy Norfolk studio … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged acoustic, album, audiophile, Chasing The Dragon, classical, direct cut, Eleanor McEvoy, folk, Forgotten Dreams, hi-fi, review, singer, songwriter | Leave a comment

Album review: BERT JANSCH – Such A Simple Soul

Posted on October 15, 2018 by jason

BMG [Release date 26.10.18] The exquisitely talented Bert Jansch, the former Pentangle guitarist who died in 2011, has been inspiring musicians for decades – from Jimmy Page and Paul Simon to Johnny Marr and Graham Coxon. Indeed, it was another … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Bernard Butler, Bert Jansch, compilation, folk, Jimmy Page, Paul Simon, Pentangle, review, singer songwriter, Such A Simple Soul, Suede | Leave a comment

Album review: AYREON – Into The Electric Castle

Posted on October 11, 2018 by petefeenstra

Music Theories Recordings [Release date 26.10.18] Aside from being the 20th anniversary of its release and a long overdue vinyl release, the most significant thing about the Arjen Lucassen’s remixed and re-mastered 1998 Ayreon project, is the way it successfully … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album review, Anneke van Giersbergen, Arjen Lucassen, Asia, Ayreon, blues, Bob Calvert, Clive Nolan, Ed Warby, electronica, Fish, folk, gothic funk, Into The Electric Castle, Jon Anderson, metal, Peter Gabriel, Pink Floyd, pop, prog, psychedelia, rock, SPARKS, Thijs van Leer, Todd Rudgren, Uriah Heep, Yes | Leave a comment

Album review: ACE OF CUPS

Posted on October 7, 2018 by jason

High Moon Records [Release date 08.11.18] Get ready for an incredible story you just couldn’t make up; the journey of a band and its music spanning over 50 years, from the heady, idealistic-hippy days of 1967’s Summer of Love in … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, INTERVIEWS, Interviews/Rock Stars | Tagged 60's rock, Ace Of Cups, album, Bob Weir, country, Denise Kaufmann, folk, Grateful Dead, interview, melodic, psychadelic, review, rock | Leave a comment

Interview: JULIAN LITTMAN (STEELEYE SPAN)

Posted on September 27, 2018 by jason

Next year iconic folk rockers Steeleye Span celebrate their fiftieth anniversary. 2019 will see a brand new album and associated tours as the ever-evolving band mark their half century. More immediately, however, there is the matter of an autumn tour. … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, INTERVIEWS, Interviews/Rock Stars | Tagged Classic Albums, Dodgy Bastards, folk, folk rock, interview, Julian Littman, Maddy Prior, prog rock, Steeleye Span, Terry Prachett, Tour, Wintersmith | 1 Comment

Album review: JOHN BUTLER TRIO – Home

Posted on September 26, 2018 by jason

Because Music [Release date 28.09.18] ‘Home’ is the John Butler Trio’s first album since 2014′s ‘Flesh & Blood’, which reached number 2 in his native Australian charts, as well as topping the US Billboard chart and those of France and Switzerland. … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, blues, country, electronica, folk, Home, John Butler Trio, pop, review, rock | Leave a comment

EP review: INDIA ELECTRIC CO. – Tablelands

Posted on September 25, 2018 by jason

Shoelay [Release date 19.10.18] The India Electric Co. return with the final part of the EP trilogy which contrasts the city and country. The wonderfully talented duo Cole Stacey (vocals, percussion, gravel) and Joseph O’Keefe (violin, piano, guitar, accordion, harp, … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, Single and EP reviews | Tagged acoustic, blues, EP, folk, India Electric Co., jazz, Midge Ure, pop, review, Tablelands | Leave a comment

Gig review: NORTHERN FLYWAY – Cornerstones, Didcot, 21 September 2018

Posted on September 22, 2018 by jason

Northern Flyway is the brainchild of Jenny Sturgeon (Salt House, Jenny Sturgeon Trio) and Inge Thomson (Karine Polwart Trio, Da Fishing Hands). In 2017 they wrote and created Northern Flyway – an audio-visual production exploring the ecology, folklore, symbolism and mythology … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged birdsong, Cornerstones, Didcot, folk, gig, Inge Thomson, Jenny Sturgeon, Northern Flyway, progressive, review | Leave a comment

Quick plays: JIM SHEPARD, PHILLIP HENRY, SIR REG

Posted on September 20, 2018 by jason

JIM SHEPARD Jaded MelodicRock Records [Release date 10.08.18] This is the third solo album by US musician Jim Shepard who has been on the music scene for some years including a band called Taxi, who had some success in their local … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged album, folk, guitar, Jaded, Jim Shepard, melodic rock, Phillip Henry, punk, review, Sir Reg, slide guitar, The Underdogs, True North | Leave a comment

Album review: RICHARD THOMPSON – 13 Rivers

Posted on September 11, 2018 by jason

Proper Music [Release date 14.09.18] Richard Thompson describes this album as “There are 13 songs on the record, and each one is like a river. Some flow faster than others. Some follow a slow and winding current. They all culminate … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged 13 Rivers, album, blues, Fairport Convention, folk, guitarist, review, Richard Thompson, rock, singer songwriter | Leave a comment

Quick plays: RUSTON KELLY, MARC RIBOT, KITTY MACFARLANE

Posted on September 9, 2018 by jason

RUSTON KELLY Dying Star Rounder Records [Release date 07.09.18] This is the debut album by Nashville based Ruston Kelly who has Jarrad K as collaborator and producer, with a number of guests including his wife Kacey Musgraves. Kelly said he wanted “to … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged acoustic, album, country, Dying Star, folk, Kitty Macfarlane, Marc Robot, Namer Of Clouds, review, Ruston Kelly, Songs Of Resistance 1942-2018, Steve Earle, Tom Waits | Leave a comment

Album review: ANNIE DRESSNER – Broken Into Pieces

Posted on September 2, 2018 by GRTR! HQ

www.anniedressner.com [Release date 26.10.18] A native New Yorker, but an adopted Brit of seven years, folk singer songwriter Annie Dressner has found favour on these shores with BBC Radio 2 and 6 Music, and appeared at the Green Man and … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged acoustic, album, Annie Dressner, Broken Into Pieces, folk, indie, Nigel Stonier, review, singer, songwriter | Leave a comment

Album review: GRYPHON – Reinvention

Posted on August 23, 2018 by GRTR! HQ

David Randall chatted to band co-founder and guitarist Graeme Taylor ahead of their UK dates in August 2016. Graeme also selected some of his favourite tracks, not only Gryphon but those artists who have inspired his musical journey. [Release date … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, INTERVIEWS, Radio interview | Tagged album, Brian Gulland, Dave Oberle, folk, Graeme Taylor, Gryphon, interview, medieval, progressive, Reinvention, review, rock | Leave a comment

Album review: GREENROSE FAIRE – Riders In The Night

Posted on August 22, 2018 by GRTR! HQ

Friendly Folk Records [Release date 01.06.18] The fourth album from the Finnish sextet who marry violin, bouzouki and mandolin with a traditional rock line up of bass, drums and keys (and yes, some guitar!) to produce their own rollicking brand … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, folk, folk rock, Greenrose Faire, review, Riders In The Night | Leave a comment

Gig review: CROPREDY FESTIVAL, 9-11 August 2018

Posted on August 15, 2018 by jason

Day One: Thursday Cropredy 2018 kicks off with Fairport Convention doing a brief twenty-minute acoustic stint. We’ll be hearing a lot more from them later on in the weekend, of course, but a short opening set from the hosts has … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged Brian Wilson, Cropedy, Fairport Convention, festival, Fish, folk, Kate Rusby, Maartin Allcock, pop, progressive, review, rock, Rod Stewart, THE BEACHBOYS, The Levellers | Leave a comment

Gig Review: CAMBRIDGE FOLK FESTIVAL, 2-5 August 2018

Posted on August 13, 2018 by david.wilson

I must begin with a confession; this was my first time attending Cambridge Folk Festival and I only recognised a handful of the acts scheduled to play. I know, I’m a folking heathen. Especially when you consider that the festival … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS, Special Events | Tagged 2-5 August 2018, blues, Cambridge Folk Festival, Eric Bibb, First Aid Kit, folk, folk rock, gig, Janis Ian, John Prine, Peatbog Faeries, review | Leave a comment

Album review: DELTA LADIES – Hillbilly Trance Remastered And Expanded

Posted on August 9, 2018 by petefeenstra

Self release [Release date 01.08.18] The fact that the Delta Ladies have re-mastered and expanded their 2016 ‘Hillbilly Trance’ album suggests they think they are on to a good thing. And they are not wrong. They have expanded their folk … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged Alan Glen, album, ambient, Blind Owl Wilson, Danny Bryan, Dee Stone, Delta Ladies, folk, hillbilly, Nick Newall, Otis Taylor, psychedelia, review, roots, trance, Vicky Martin, world | Leave a comment

Album review: COWBOY JUNKIES – All That Reckoning

Posted on July 21, 2018 by jason

Proper Music [Release date 13.07.18] “All That Reckoning” is the 17th studio album from Cowboy Junkies since they formed back in 1985. The album is easy to listen to with every song telling a story, whether that be deep, personal … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, All That Reckoning, alt rock, Americana, country, Cowboy Junkies, folk, review, rock | Leave a comment

Quick plays: MOB RULES, MIKE VASS

Posted on July 19, 2018 by jason

MOB RULES Beast Reborn SPV/Steamhammer [Release date 24.08.18] Mob Rules have been around for awhile now and although never reaching the heights of popularity of some fellow power metal bands, they have built a large and loyal following. Their latest album … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged albums, Beast Reborn, folk, melodic, metal, Mike Vass, Mob Rules, Notes From The Boat, power metal, review, rock, symphonic metal | Leave a comment

Gig review: CORNBURY FESTIVAL – The Great Tew Estate, Oxfordhire, 14 July, 2018

Posted on July 16, 2018 by jason

After 14 years and appearances by some of the world’s biggest names in music the Cornbury Music Festival held its ‘last ever’ showcase of music and performances in July last year. However, barely three months after many fans asked for it … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 14 July 2018, Alanis Morissette, Cornbury Festival, country, folk, funk, gig, Mavis Staples, Oxfordshire, Pixie Lott, pop, PP Arnold, review, rock, soul, The Great Tew Park | Leave a comment

Album review: THE KATE GEE BAND – Legacy

Posted on July 12, 2018 by petefeenstra

Tigga Records [Release date: 01.11.17] ‘Legacy’ has a profound meaning for vocalist Kate Gee and her band who saw their original producer Mike Dolan die half way through a project that took 5 years. And while Kate Gee’s ethereal phrasing … Continue reading →