Tag Archives: folk

Quick plays: TRISTAN MACKAY, THE KENNEDYS, VANESSA PETERS

Tristan Mackay - Wire & Wood

TRISTAN MACKAY Wire & Wood The clue, as they say, is in the title – Wire & Wood is a pared back acoustic follow-up to singer songwriter Tiverton, Devon-born Tristan Mackay’s debut release Out Along The Wire (2012). Originally ‘discovered’ … Continue reading

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News: URIAH HEEP, CAMBRIDGE FOLK FESTIVAL, THE FACES – 12 February 2015

Uriah Heep, Giants Of Rock - 9 February 2014

URIAH HEEP Sat April 25 HOLMFIRTH Picturedrome Sun April 26 LEAMINGTON SPA Assembly Tue April 28 YORK Fibbers Wed April 29 NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE Riverside Tue May 05 BRISTOL Marble Factory Wed May 06 SOUTHAMPTON Engine Rooms Fri May 08 … Continue reading

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Album review: BRIDGET ST. JOHN – Dandelion Albums & BBC Collection

BRIDGET ST. JOHN - Dandelion Albums & BBC Collection

Cherry Red Records [Release date 16.02.15] 4-disc boxed set Bridget St. John no doubt influenced a generation of female folkies and this three-album retrospective will go some way to confirming that legacy.  A handsome box set, collecting her output for … Continue reading

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News: DIO, EDGAR FROESE, JOE LYNN TURNER – Monday 26th January 2015

Edgar Froese, Tangerine Dream

Tangerine Dream founder Edgar Froese has died at the age of 70. A statement reads: “On January 20th, Tuesday afternoon, Edgar Froese suddenly and unexpectedly passed away from the effects of a pulmonary embolism in Vienna. The sadness in our … Continue reading

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Album review: ORDEN OGAN – Ravenhead

Orden Ogan - Ravenhead

AFM Records [Released 12.01.15] This is the band’s fifth album and hopefully after an impressive back catalogue, along with this enjoyable new release, they will start to get a bigger following. They will appeal to fans of power and progressive … Continue reading

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Album review: SKY – Reissues (Sky, Sky 2)

Sky

Esoteric [Release date 01.12.14] CD/DVD These two reissues give us a welcome opportunity to re-evaluate that fusion of classical and prog that the band Sky purveyed back in 1979.  A “supergroup” of sorts bringing together the unlikely presence of classical … Continue reading

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Quick plays: FRASER ANDERSON, PAIN OF SALVATION

Fraser Anderson - Little Glass Box

FRASER ANDERSON – Little Glass Box Membran [Release date 10.11.14] Scottish singer/songwriter Fraser Anderson has been releasing albums since 2004, having toured as part of Dougie MacLean’s backing band. On this album he is joined by guest musicians including Danny … Continue reading

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Gig review: LEVELLERS/The Selecter – William Aston Hall, Wrexham, 18 November 2014

LEVELLERS - William Aston Hall, Wrexham, 18 November 2014

There is something wonderfully timeless about a Levellers gig. Every time I have seen them over the past twenty-odd years they have always been the same, giving a full-on performance for their adoring fans and leaving nothing on the stage … Continue reading

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Album review: DIE APOKALYPTISCHEN REITER – Tief.Tiefer

DIE APOKALYPTISCHEN REITER  – Tief.Tiefer

Nuclear Blast – Out Now. My introduction to the music of the German outfit Die Apokalyptischen Reiter took place when attending a renowned German summer festival many moons ago – a time when I was not quite ready to understand … Continue reading

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Gig review: LEVELLERS, Shepherd’s Bush Empire, London, 13 November 2014

Levellers - Shepherd

Levellers are currently on their Greatest Hits tour and played to a packed crowd at the Shepherd’s Bush Empire. There were two support acts, first up a female singer performing under the name of She Makes War. It was an … Continue reading

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Album review : DODSON AND FOGG – In A Strange Slumber

Dodson And Fogg - In A Strange Slumber

Wisdom Twins [Release date 26.09.14] Despite sounding like a dodgy estate agent Dodson And Fogg is actually the ambient musical brain child of singer-song writer Chris Wade. ‘In A Strange slumber’ is an evocative title as befits an album with … Continue reading

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Quick plays: JOHN FORRESTER, FYRE!

John Forrester

JOHN FORRESTER – Outsider Irregular Records www.forrester.uk.com [Released 27.10.14] This is the third solo album from John Forrester who plays bass in the Outcast band and bass/double-bass with Robb Johnson. On this album John Forrester provides the vocals, bass and … Continue reading

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Quick plays: CHRIS WHILE & JULIE MATTHEWS, RUN BOY RUN, SUNJAY, MICHELLE LEWIS

CHRIS WHILE & JULIE MATTHEWS Who We Are

CHRIS WHILE & JULIE MATTHEWS Who We Are For those unaware of the charms of Chris While & Julie Matthews, their ninth studio album celebrating their 20th anniversary is unlikely to unlock any previously closed doors. Winners of the best … Continue reading

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Album review: CLAUDIA BRUCKEN – Where Else

Claudia Brucken - Where Else

Cherry Red [Release date 06.10.14] For many, Claudia Brücken will be synonymous with 80′s German synth pop band Propaganda – one of the first bands to be signed to Trevor Horn’s ZTT label and their 1985 debut A Secret Wish. … Continue reading

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Gig review: CROPREDY, 7-9 August 2014 featuring STEVE HACKETT, MARILLION & FAIRPORT CONVENTION

Cropredy - 7 August 2014

It’s that time of year again when the time village of Cropredy opens its fields in preparation for the little party that Fairport Convention throws every year. Some 38 years ago they decided to have a shindig with 750 people … Continue reading

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Album review: THE MEN THEY COULDN’T HANG – The Defiant

The Men They Couldn

www.tmtch.net [Released 22.09.14] The Men They Couldn’t Hang (TMTCH) return with their first new album since 2009 and one that marks the band’s 30th anniversary (they were on hiatus between 1991 and 1996 though!). Amazing to think that thirty years have … Continue reading

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Gig review: CAMBRIDGE FOLK FESTIVAL – 31 July-3 August 2014

Cambridge Folk Festival 2014

So I cast my mind back to 1994 and the very first Cambridge Folk Festival that I attended and remember the feeling of walking on-site and just thinking this is going to be very special, that was the 30th and … Continue reading

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Interview: Rising Stars – THE YOUNG FOLK

The Young Folk

The Young Folk consists of Anthony Furey (vocals/guitar), Tony McCaughlin (bass/mandolin/vocals), Paul Butler (keyboards/vocals) and Karl Hand (drums/vocals).  With the current popularity of folk music, particularly that in the more alternative/popular end of things like Mumford & Sons, Fleet Foxes … Continue reading

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Album review: DAVE McGRAW & MANDY FER – Maritime

Dave McGraw & Mandy Fer - Maritime

www.daveandmandymusic.com [Release date 09.14] The gentle folk/Americana debut self-release by songwriters Dave McGraw & Mandy Fer – Seed Of A Pine (2012) – was a rather fine, if somewhat understated example of the genre.  Deploying the ‘less is more principle’ … Continue reading

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Album review: OTIS GIBBS – Souvenirs of A Misspent Youth

OTIS GIBBS – Souvenirs of A Misspent Youth

Wanamaker Recording Company [Release date 17.02.14] Otis Gibbs is a socio-politico story teller who infuses his blue collar characters with enough real urban grit for you to care about their trials and tribulations. He’s also recalls autobiographical stories and his … Continue reading

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Quick plays: POLLY BARRETT, CATHERINE MACLELLAN, JANE KRAMER

Polly Barrett - Probably Me

POLLY BARRETT Probably Me [Release date 22.09.14] We had the release of Irish singer songwriter Polly Barrett’s 2011 debut Mr Bookshop down as the folk/pop album Andrea Corr should have made if she wanted to sustain her popular profile. Barrett … Continue reading

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Album review: RICHARD THOMPSON – Acoustic Classics

Richard Thompson - Acoustic Classics

Beeswing/Proper Records [Release date 21.07.14] Amazingly this is the first acoustic release (excluding live recordings) in over thirty years. This collection of his most famous songs newly recorded in acoustic form provides the perfect accompaniment to his solo acoustic shows. … Continue reading

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Album review: ELVENKING – The Pagan Manifesto

Elvenking - The Pagan Manifesto

AFM Records – Out Now. Even though they have been earning their chops performing Folk infused Power Metal for the last seventeen years, the members of Italian sextet Elvenking do not really perform the style of music that I would … Continue reading

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Quick plays: THE REE-VAHS!, TARJA, CROWN OF GLORY, AVALON STEEL, SEVEN THORNS

The Ree-Vahs! - Geordieland

THE REE-VAHS! – Geordieland www.theree-vahs.co.uk [Released 09.06.14] The Ree-Vahs! Hail from County Durham and carry on the tradition of North Durham singing, although it’s not that heavily accented and you can listen to the lyrics easily enough. Andy Loan has … Continue reading

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Album review: THE YOUNG FOLK – The Little Battle

The Young Folk - The Little Battle

Pixie Pace Records [Released 08.09.14] Having witnessed an excellent gig by the band earlier this year in London I was looking forward to hearing their debut release. The band consists of Anthony Furey (vocals/guitar), Tony McCaughlin (bass/mandolin/vocals), Paul Butler (keyboards/vocals) … Continue reading

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