Tag Archives: folk

Album review: NINEBARROW – The Waters & The Wild

Posted on April 14, 2018 by jason

[Release date 20.04.18] Ninebarrow hail from Dorset (the duo’s name comes from Nine Barrow Down in the Purbeck hills) comprised of Jon Whitley and Jay LaBouchardiere. On this, their third album, they use an outside producer for the first time … Continue reading →

Quick plays: TRACK DOGS, ULTAN CONLON, FUNNY COW

Posted on April 12, 2018 by GRTR! HQ

TRACK DOGS Kansas City Out Groove Mondegreen Records [Release date 01.06.18] Made up of two Irishmen, an Englishman and an American (no, it’s not the opening line of a joke), Track Dogs came together in 2011 when the four folk … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged album, Americana, Corrine Bailey Rae, folk, Funny Cow, Kansas City Out Groove, Last Days Of The Night Owl, review, Richard Hawley, roots, soundtrack, Track Dogs, Ultan Conlon | Leave a comment

Quick plays: THE DARK LIGHT, MOOD GROOVE, GREG RUSSELL & CIARAN ALGAR

Posted on April 10, 2018 by jason

THE DARK LIGHT Keep Off The Grass [Release date 06.04.18] The Dark Light formed in 2015 and this is their debut album with a line-up consisting of Gerrard Edwards (vocals), Henning Brand (drums), Roberto Cicorella (guitars), Sonny Moylan (guitars) and … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged album, alternative, Benjamin Lazar Davis, folk, funk, Greg Russell & Ciaran Algar, In Transit, JK Northrup, Keep Off The Grass, melodic, Mood Groove, review, rock, the Amazing, the Dark Light, Utopia and Wasteland | Leave a comment

Quick plays: BIRDS OF CHICAGO, IAN SHERWOOD

Posted on March 15, 2018 by GRTR! HQ

BIRDS OF CHICAGO Love In Wartime JT Nero (JT & The Clouds frontman Jeremy Lindsay) and Allison Russell (Po’ Girl) first combined their talents on the 2011 JT Nero-branded Mountains/Forests album – an album of Americana that lacked a commercial … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged acoustic, album, Allison Russell, Americana, Birds Of Chicago, Bring The Light, folk, Ian Sherwood, Jeremy Lindsay, JT & The Clouds, Love In Wartime, Po' Girl, review, roots, singer, soft rock, songwriter | Leave a comment

Quick plays: VARVARA, I’M WITH HER, CHIARA BERARDELLI

Posted on February 23, 2018 by jason

VARVARA Go [Release date 23.02.18] Hailing from Finland (the most exciting thing to come out of Finland since fromer Liverpool player Jari Litmanen according to one previous review), are based around guitarist/vocalist Mikko Kari. This is the band’s fourth album and is one for … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged album, Chiara Beradelli, Crooked Still, folk, I'm With Her, indie, melodic, Mikko Kiri, Nickel Cfeek, reviews, rock, Varvara | Leave a comment

Album review: KATHRYN ROBERTS & SEAN LAKEMAN – Personae

Posted on February 13, 2018 by jason

IScream Records [Release date 09.03.18] Husband and wife duo Kathryn Roberts and Sean Lakeman have been recording and performing for over two decades, during which time they have won twice Best Duo at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards. Their … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, folk, Kathryn Roberts, Personae, review, Sam Kelly, Sandy Denny, Sean Lakeman, Seth Lakeman, singer songwriter | Leave a comment

Album review: THE DEAD SOUTH – Illusion & Doubt

Posted on February 9, 2018 by GRTR! HQ

DevilDuck Records [Release date 23.03.18] Outlaws, modern hillbillies? The opening strains of ‘Boots’ does, indeed, bring Jed Clampett and his clan to mind. And regrettably, not Elly May. No, more her half-witted half-brother Jethro, having a banjo/mandolin fuelled bluegrass hoedown … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, bluegrass, folk, Illusion & Doubt, review, rock, The Dead South | Leave a comment

Quick plays: LUKE JACKSON, TOM TOWNSEND

Posted on January 25, 2018 by jason

LUKE JACKSON Solo, Duo, Trio First Take Records [Release date 09.02.18] Luke Jackson has been steadily building a name for himself since his debut album ‘More Than The Boys’ was released in 2013. Indeed, he has been nominated for the BBC … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged albums, blues, folk, funk, jazz, Leave It Up To Me, live, Luke Jackson, pop, Quick Plays, review, singer songwriter, Solo, Tom Townsend | Leave a comment

Book review: JACKIE MCAULEY – I, SIDEMAN: The Story Of Me In The 60′s & 70′s

Posted on January 22, 2018 by petefeenstra

www.jackiemcauley.com – 253 pages paperback [Publication date: December 2017] Jackie McAuley’s ‘I Sideman: The Story Of Me In The 60′s and 70′s’ is an eloquently written, partial biography by a multi instrumentalist and vocalist who takes three quarters of the … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, BOOK REVIEWS | Tagged acoustic, Bonzo Dog Band, book, Brendan Bonass, Celtic rock, Charlie Watts, folk, Frank McCourt, Gene Vincent, Henry McCullough, I Sideman, Irish, Jackie McAuley, Jimi Hendrix, JOE COCKER, John Peel, Judy Dyble, Kim Fowley, Lonnie Donegan, Marvin Rainwater, Miami Show band, Paul Brady, Paul McCartney, Pete Brown, review, Royal Showband, The Kult, Them, Trader Horne, Van Morrison, Vangelis, Viv Stanshall | Leave a comment

Quick plays: BETH NIELSEN CHAPMAN, ALL THE LUCK IN THE WORLD, RAINTIMES

Posted on January 16, 2018 by jason

BETH NIELSEN CHAPMAN Hearts Of Glass Proper Music [Release date 09.02.18] www.bethnielsenchapman.com Beth Nielsen Chapman’s latest album is nearly all her own songs, with many of them being re-recorded versions where the piano on the originals is replaced by guitar. … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged A Blind Arcade, albums, All The Luck In The World, alternative, Beth Nielsen Chapman, country, folk, Frontiers, Hearts Of Glass, inide, melodic, melodic rock, Raintimes, reviews, the Storm, Von Groove | Leave a comment

Album review: JOAN BAEZ – Whistle Down The Wind

Posted on January 4, 2018 by jason

Proper Records [Release date 02.03.18] Joan Baez made her live debut back in 1959 at the Newport Folk Festival and now she is starting to wind down her career, touring wise at least as 2018 marks her last year of … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged acoustic, album, folk, Joan Baez, Joe Henry, Josh Ritter, protest, review, singer songwriter, Tom Waits, Whistle Down The Wind | Leave a comment

Album review: GORDON GILTRAP – Peace Will Fall

Posted on January 2, 2018 by GRTR! HQ

Angel Air Records [Release date 12.01.18] A bit like the proverbial bus, Gordon Giltrap’s recent albums are few and far between and then two arrive within a relatively short space of time. Last year’s ‘The Last of England’ was a … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged acoustic, album, Carol Lee Sampson, Christian, folk, Gordon Giltrap, instrumental, Martin Green, Peace Will Fall, religious, review | Leave a comment

Album review: THE TRANSPORTS – A Tale of Exile and Migration

Posted on December 24, 2017 by jason

Hudson Records [Release date 12.01.18] The Transports tells the tale of a family destroyed by poverty and crime, but resurrected by exile to Australia in the 1780s. The songs were originally penned by Peter Bellamy and have now been given … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged A Tale of Exile and Migration, album, Bellowhead, Faustus, folk, migration, Peter Bellamy, review, the Transports, the Young'Uns, theatre | Leave a comment

Album review: DAMIEN O’KANE – Avenging & Bright

Posted on December 19, 2017 by jason

Pure Records [Release date 08.12.17] Damien O’Kane’s album ‘Areas Of High Traffic’, released last year, was nominated for ‘Album Of The Year’ at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards. Based on this new album that is hardly surprising as in the main he takes … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Avenging & Bright, banjo, Damien O'Kane, folk, Kate Rusby, melodic, Proper Records, review | Leave a comment

Album review: JON BODEN – Afterglow

Posted on December 11, 2017 by jason

Hudson Records [Release date 06.10.17] ‘Afterglow’ follows on from Jon Boden’s 2009 post-apocalyptic concept album ‘Songs From The Floodplain’. Whereas that album was largely rural in its setting, ‘Afterglow’ takes the listener into the chaos of a ruined city’s street carnival, as two star-crossed lovers try to … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged Afterglow, album, Bellowhead, concept, folk, Hudson Records, indie, Jon Boden, melodic, review, singer songwriter | Leave a comment

Album review: BUFFY SAINTE-MARIE – Medicine Songs

Posted on December 7, 2017 by GRTR! HQ

True North Records [Release date 07.11.17] A new album from the now 76 year old Buffy, and guess what? Yes, lurking there amidst a collection of old, new, and borrowed, (and Blue) material are career defining numbers like ‘Soldier Blue’ … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged acoustic, album, Buffy Sainte-Marie, folk, Medicine Songs, protest, review, singer, songwriter | Leave a comment

EP review: DANDELION CHARM – Riding The Flood

Posted on November 16, 2017 by jason

www.dandelioncharm.com/ Riding The Flood is a new five-track EP from Newhaven-based duo Dandelion Charm, who comprise of John and Clare Fowler. Clare Flowler says that ‘the themes we deal with in our songs are not frivolous ones. They are all … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, Single and EP reviews | Tagged Clare Fowler, Dandelion Charm, EP, folk, John Fowler, melodic, review, Riding The Flood | Leave a comment

Album review: BARENAKED LADIES – Fake Nudes

Posted on November 14, 2017 by jason

UMC [Release date 17.11.17] Barenaked Ladies, a band you have to be careful when Googling particularly with this latest album title… Barenaked Ladies have deservedly won many awards in their native Canada – 8 Juno awards to date – for their harmony filled pop songs, … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Barenaked Ladies, Fake Nudes, folk, indie, pop, pop rock, power pop, review, rock | Leave a comment

Gig review: JON BODEN – Cornerstones, Didcot, 9 November 2017

Posted on November 10, 2017 by jason

A first for me a gig in walking distance of my home! Cornerstones is a cosy, modern theatre. It was a sold out show to see former Bellowhead frontman Jon Boden play a solo gig in support of his recently … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS, The Best of 2017 | Tagged 9 November 2017, Afterglow, Bellowhead, Cornerstones, Didcot, folk, gig, Jon Boden, review, singer songwriter, Solo | Leave a comment

EP review: INDIA ELECTRIC CO. – Seven Sisters

Posted on November 7, 2017 by jason

www.indiaelectricco.com [Release date 17.11.17] The talented duo that is the India Electric Co. are back with their second EP in a trilogy loosely based on contrasting town and country. Cole Stacey provides his haunting vocals, along with percussion, whilst Joseph O’Keefe adds … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, Single and EP reviews | Tagged Cole Stacey, EP, folk, India Electric Co., Joseph O'Keefe, review, Seven Sisters, traditional | Leave a comment

Quick plays: DANTE FOX, CHEAP TRICK, KATE RUSBY, LOTS HOLLOWAY

Posted on November 1, 2017 by jason

DANTE FOX Six String Revolver AOR Heaven [Release date 24.11.17] This album sees Dante Fox re-record ten songs from their first two albums ‘Under Suspicion’ (1996) and ‘The Fire Within’ (1999) – five songs from each album. Joining the band … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged album, Angels & Men, AOR, carols, Cheap Trick, Christmas Christmas, Dante Fox, folk, Kate Rusby, Lots Holloway, melodic, review, rock, Roy Wood, Six String Revolver | Leave a comment

Gig review: THE STRAWBS – Under The Bridge, London, 29 October 2017

Posted on October 30, 2017 by jason

As a kid in the 70s I do recall frequent radio plays of the Strawbs novelty hit ‘Part Of The Union’ in what was that fractious decade for industrial relations. And as an adult and Sandy Denny fanatic, the latter’s … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged classic rock, Dave Cousins, folk, gig, London, October 29 2017, progressive, review, rock, The Ferryman's Curse, The Strawbs, Under the Bridge | Leave a comment

Album review: STRAWBS – The Ferryman’s Curse

Posted on October 28, 2017 by GRTR! HQ

Esoteric Antenna [Release date 03.11.17] What do we know about Strawbs? Well, their origins go back to the mid-1960s, they’ve covered folk, prog and pop stylings and are perhaps best remembered for the song ‘Part Of The Union’ which was … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged acoustic, album, Dave Bainbridge, Dave Cousins, Dave Lambert, folk, Iona, prog, progressive, review, rock, Strawbs, The Ferryman's Curse | Leave a comment

Quick plays: GREGORY PORTER, DYED IN BLUE, KIRSTY MERRYN, JOE HENRY

Posted on October 25, 2017 by jason

GREGORY PORTER Nat King Cole & Me Decca/Blue Note [Release date 27.10.17] Gregory Porter has shot to fame from his jazz background to become a major name in the jazz and soul world. On his latest release he pays homage … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged album, Dyed In Blue, folk, Gregory Porter, Harem Scarem, Harry Hess, jazz, Joe Henry, Kirsty Merryn, melodic, Moment Of Leaving, Nat King Cole, Patrick Grehan, review, rock, Show Of Hands, soul, Thrum, You & I | Leave a comment

Quick plays: PILGRIMS’ WAY, RICHARD THOMPSON

Posted on October 17, 2017 by jason

PILGRIMS’ WAY Stand & Deliver [Release date 20.10.1] Pilgrims’ Way are a four piece folk band, although they take folk as their starting point and add in pop, West End showmanship and more into their musical pot. This album as … Continue reading →