Tag Archives: folk

Album review: KESTON COBBLERS CLUB – Almost Home

[Release date 31.03.17] An intriguing band name, as the band are named after a penniless cobbler who by playing the violin in the local tavern got everybody dancing, thereby wearing out the soles of his customers who of course needed their shoes cobbled by him. … Continue reading

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Album review: DREW HOLCOMB AND THE NEIGHBORS – Souvenir

DREW HOLCOMB AND THE NEIGHBORS - Souvenir

Magnolia Music [Release date 21.04.17] With a Masters degree dissertation on ‘Springsteen and American Redemptive Imagination’, and tour support slots for the likes of The Avett Brothers, Ryan Adams and Los Lobo it’s not hard to guess what to expect … Continue reading

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News: ELEANOR McEVOY – UK tour (May 2017)

Eleanor McEvoy - Alexanders, Chester, 12 March 2015

Ireland’s internationally acclaimed singer-songwriter Eleanor McEvoy continues her ‘Naked… Live’ tour with the announcement of a fourteen-date tour across England and Wales throughout May 2017. Best known for her songs ‘Sophie’ and the Irish standard ‘Only A Woman’s Heart’, which … Continue reading

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Album review: LISBEE STAINTON – Then Up

LISBEE STAINTON - Then Up

Marionet Music [Release date 21.04.17] Lisbee Stainton returns with her first new album in three years. Like previous albums she utilises skilled musicians she has worked with either in Seth Lakeman’s band – guitarist Jack Rutter and percussionist Cormac Byrne – or long … Continue reading

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Single reviews: SHARON LAZIBYRD, EMMA CHARLESTON

SHARON LAZIBYRD – Opium Of The Masses https://www.facebook.com/Sharon-Lazibyrd-324663394401783/ [Release date 24.03.17] ‘Opium of the Masses’ is the latest single from Sharon Lazibyrd, released ahead of her album, ‘Half Shame and Half Glory’ due later this year. It features Sharon on vocals and … Continue reading

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News: LISBEE STAINTON to release first album in three years ahead of a UK tour

Highly acclaimed singer-songwriter Lisbee Stainton will release her fifth studio album ‘Then Up’ on 21st April 2017 on Marionet Music, ahead of a nine-date headline UK tour throughout May. The release of ‘Then Up’ will be preceded by the release … Continue reading

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Quick plays: MIKE GROGAN, PELE, THE MOST UGLY CHILD

MIKE GROGAN Too Many Ghosts

MIKE GROGAN Too Many Ghosts Poacher Records [Release date 10.02.17] Having paid his dues in the punk explosion of the 70′s, and a six piece Springsteen-esque band in the 80′s, South of England based multi-instrumentalist Mike Grogan has settled into … Continue reading

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News: GORDON GILTRAP releases new album and radio interview (January 2017)

Gordon Giltrap

Gordon Giltrap may be best known for his 1978 hit single ‘Heartsong’ but his 50 year-plus career has positioned him as one of the most influential and progressive acoustic guitar players. Gordon was influenced by the sixties folk greats Bert … Continue reading

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Album review: BRIGITTE DEMEYER & WILL KIMBROUGH – Mockingbird Soul

BRIGITTE DEMEYER & WILL KIMBOROUGH - Mockingbird Soul

BDM Music [Release date 17.02.17] Brigitte DeMeyer’s last ‘less is more’ Americana release – Savannah Road (2014) – an album that transported you deep into the southern heartlands to a balmy ramshackle porch, a rocking chair and the sound of … Continue reading

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Album review: BIG BIG TRAIN – A Stone’s Throw From The Line

BIG BIG TRAIN - A Stone

English Electric Recordings www.bigbigtrain.com [Release date 02.12.16] Following on from their latest excellent studio album, ‘Folklore’, released earlier this year, Big Big Train deliver a live seasonal treat for their fans. This double CD was recorded from across the three … Continue reading

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EP review: THE JOY FORMIDABLE, EMMET SCANLAN

THE JOY FORMIDABLE Sleep Is Day

THE JOY FORMIDABLE Sleep Is Day EP [Release date 26.09.16] You certainly can’t complain at value for money with an EP that runs to a very generous seven tracks over 32 minutes.  I’ve seen plenty of albums that aren’t much … Continue reading

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Album review: ERIC JOHNSON – EJ: Song Explorations on Acoustic and Piano

Eric Johnson - EJ

Provogue [Release date 07.10.16] ‘EJ’ is a stripped down celebration of simplicity and feel, bolstered by Eric Johnson’s dazzling technical ability on original material and some imaginative arranged covers. Austin guitarist Eric Johnson pushes himself into new musical avenues by … Continue reading

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Album review: THE ANSWER – Solas

THE ANSWER - Solas

Napalm Records [Release date 28.10.16] The Answer celebrated the 10th anniversary of their debut album ‘Rise’, an album they have struggled at times to live up to. However, on this new album ‘Solas’ (the Gaelic word for light) they have … Continue reading

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Album review: WINTER MOUNTAIN – I Swear I Flew

WINTER MOUNTAIN - I Swear I Flew

Astral Fox Records [Release date 18.11.16] The sophomore album by Cornish singer songwriter Joe Francis, who otherwise goes by the name of Winter Mountain (formerly a duo with Donegal’s Marty Smyth), is a mishmash of influences. Featuring contributions from Seth … Continue reading

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Album review: HOME SERVICE – A New Ground

HOME SERVICE - A New Ground

Dotted Line [Release date 01.09.16] If you want a band that takes up where Ashley Hutchings and the Albion Band left off then Home Service is your saviour.  Completely understandable as, in 1980, the band formed with members out of … Continue reading

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Interview: Jeremy Cunningham (LEVELLERS) – August 2016

Jeremy Cunningham - Levellers

On a gloriously sunny Sunday afternoon at Watchet Live Music Festival, bass player for The Levellers, Jeremy Cunningham, was kind enough to interrupt his lunch for a quick chat with me.  Headliners at Watchet Live, this was the second date … Continue reading

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Gig review: WATCHET FESTIVAL – 27-28 August 2016

WATCHET FESTIVAL - 27-28 August 2016

Watchet Festival – The small festival with a huge heart… Saturday 27th August After spending what felt like half my lifetime sitting in the giant car park that is the M5, he beautiful scenery as we drove along the winding … Continue reading

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Album review: STATUS QUO – Aquostic II – That’s A Fact!

STATUS QUO – Aquostic II - That’s A Fact!

Universal Music [Release date 21.10.16] Over the years a myth has grown up around Quo that all songs sound the same and that their songs amount to the ABC of rock, three chords, heads down, see you at the end. … Continue reading

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Album review: JON BODEN – Painted Lady

Navigator Records [Release date 30.9.16] Jon Boden was the frontman and fiddle player for Bellowhead who called it a day in May this year. This album was his debut solo album and was originally released back in 2006. Navigator Records … Continue reading

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Gig review: CAMBRIDGE FOLK FESTIVAL, 28-31 July 2016

Blazing Fiddles - Cambridge Folk Festival, 28-31 July 2016

Yet again CFF has come up with an intriguing and eclectic mix of artists that pulls from many eras and styles of folk and world music, included in this are enough big names to entice people.  This helped to yet … Continue reading

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Quick plays: SAGA, SEVEN, SETH LAKEMAN

Seven - Shattered

SAGA Live In Hamburg  earMUSIC [Release date 02.09.16] Fans may have many of the songs on here as it compiles the live songs that have been dotted over the recent reissues of the band’s studio albums which started last year. … Continue reading

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Album review: SESSION AMERICANA with Jefferson Hamer – Great Shakes

 SESSION AMERICANA with Jefferson Hamer - Great Shakes

[Release date 14.10.16] Session Americana are a Boston area collective formed in 2003 with six previous releases and a significant number of local area nominations and awards.  And while guitarist/ singer Jefferson Hamer has been an integral part of the … Continue reading

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Album review: FAVNI – Windswept

FAVNI - Windswept

[Release date 20.05.16] With a name change from Fauns (primarily because of the clash with the British band The Fauns) marking the introduction of new electric guitarist Thomas Glase and vocalist, flautist and fiddler Kirsten Middeke, this five-piece from Berlin … Continue reading

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Quick plays: ROGER ROGER

Roger Roger - Fairweather

ROGER ROGER  Fairweather Roger Roger?  Two for the price of one?  Well, almost as this Canadian folk/roots release features the Rogers twins Lucas and Madeline Roger. And in many ways it is an album of two parts with the songs … Continue reading

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Album review: CHRIS WHILE & JULIE MATTHEWS – Shoulder To Shoulder

CHRIS WHILE & JULIE MATTHEWS - Shoulder To Shoulder

Fat City Records [Release date 16.09.16] The one thing you’re assured of with a Chris While and Julie Matthews release – Shoulder To Shoulder is their tenth studio album – is some of the finest folk music and female singing … Continue reading

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