Tag Archives: folk

Quick plays: JOHN FORRESTER, FYRE!

Posted on October 26, 2014 by jason

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 →

Posted in ALL POSTS | Tagged album review, Alejandra Burgos, Anastacia, folk, Fyre!, John Forrester, pop rock, Robb Johnson, songwriter, the Outcast Band | Leave a comment

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

Posted on October 23, 2014 by GRTR! HQ

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 →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged album, Chris While & Julie Matthews, folk, Michelle Lewis, review, Run Boy Run, singer, Something To Someone, songwriter, Sunjay, The Parts Of Us That Still Remain, Who We Are | Leave a comment

Album review: CLAUDIA BRUCKEN – Where Else

Posted on September 26, 2014 by GRTR! HQ

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 →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Claudia Brucken, electronica, folk, pop, Propaganda, review, Where Else | Leave a comment

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

Posted on September 8, 2014 by GRTR! HQ

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 →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS, Special Events | Tagged 7-9 August 2014, acoustic, Blackbeards Tea Party, Cara Dillon, Chas & Dave, Cropredy, Deborah Rose, Edwina Hayes, Fairport Convention, festival, folk, gig, Marillion, Mischa Macpherson Band, Oxfordsgire, prog, progressive, review, Steve Hackett, The Australian Pink Floyd, The Churchfitters, The Waterboys, THE WONDERSTUFF | Leave a comment

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

Posted on August 28, 2014 by jason

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 →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, folk, folk rock, punk, review, The Defiant, The Men They Couldn't Hang | Leave a comment

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

Posted on August 24, 2014 by GRTR! HQ

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 →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS, Special Events | Tagged 1 August, 2 August, 3 August 2014, 31 July, Afro celt Sound System, Americana, Cambridge Folk Festival, Cara Dillon, folk, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Richard Thompson, rock, roots, Rosanne Cash, Seth Lakeman, Sinead O'Connor | Leave a comment

Interview: Rising Stars – THE YOUNG FOLK

Posted on August 14, 2014 by jason

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 →

Posted in ALL POSTS, INTERVIEWS, Interviews/Rising Stars | Tagged acoustic, folk, interview, Rising Stars, Young Folk | Comments Off

Album review: DAVE McGRAW & MANDY FER – Maritime

Posted on August 8, 2014 by GRTR! HQ

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 →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged acoustic, album, Dave McGraw, folk, Mandy Fer, Maritime, review, singer, songwriter | Leave a comment

Album review: OTIS GIBBS – Souvenirs of A Misspent Youth

Posted on July 30, 2014 by petefeenstra

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 →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Americana, Amy Lashley, blues, folk, Gordon Lightfoot, Johnny Cash, Otis Gibbs, review, singer, songwriter, Souvenirs of A Misspent Youth, Woody Guthry | Leave a comment

Quick plays: POLLY BARRETT, CATHERINE MACLELLAN, JANE KRAMER

Posted on July 28, 2014 by GRTR! HQ

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 →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged album, Americana, Break & Bloom, Catherine MacLellan, folk, Jane Kramer, Polly Barrett, Probably Me, review, roots, singer, songwriter, The Raven's Sun | Leave a comment

Album review: RICHARD THOMPSON – Acoustic Classics

Posted on July 14, 2014 by jason

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 →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged acoustic, Acoustic Classics, album, Fairport Convention, folk, guitar, guitarist, Linda Thompson, review, Richard Thompson | Leave a comment

Album review: ELVENKING – The Pagan Manifesto

Posted on July 8, 2014 by Yiannis

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 →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews | Tagged album, Elvenking, folk, Italian, Italy, power metal, review, The Pagan Manifesto | Comments Off

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

Posted on July 3, 2014 by jason

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 →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged album, Avalaon Steel, Crown Of Glory, Fastball Music, folk, Geordieland, King For A Day, Left In The Dark, melodic metal, Nightwish, Northumberland, power metal, review, Seven Thorns, symphonic metal, Tarja, the Ree-Vahs | Leave a comment

Album review: THE YOUNG FOLK – The Little Battle

Posted on June 25, 2014 by jason

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 →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, folk, pop, review, The Little Battle, The Young Folk | Leave a comment

Gig review: THE YOUNG FOLK – Surya, King’s Cross, London,15 May 2014

Posted on May 16, 2014 by jason

It’s amazing the gig venues you keep discovering in London as I had never heard of the Surya before and it has a whole host of gigs put on by the promoters Glasswerks. A dinky little venue with a bar … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged alt folk, folk, gig review, King's Cross, Surya, the Fureys, The Young Folk, Thursday 15th May 2014 | Comments Off

Singles and EP reviews: THE YOUNG FOLK, AMY SIMPSON, UNISONIC

Posted on May 12, 2014 by jason

THE YOUNG FOLK – Way Home Pixie Pace Records [Released 26.05.14] www.theyoungfolk.com Dublin based alt-folk band The Young Folk release their debut UK single and feature Anthony Furey (son of George from the legendary the Fureys & Davy Arthur). This … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, Single and EP reviews | Tagged Amy Simpson, EP, Fairy Tales, folk, Gamma Ray, Helloween, Kai Hansen, Michael Kiske, pop, power metal, review, singer, single, songwriter, Stories & Myths, The Way Home, The Young Folk, Unisonic | Comments Off

Album review: ELVENKING – The Pagan Manifesto

Posted on May 12, 2014 by jason

AFM Records [Release date 12.05.14] Hmm…folk power metal…well I do like Steeleye Span and I do like power metal so let’s see how Elvenking mix the two shall we! Elvenking were formed back in 1997 in Northern Italy and The … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Elvenking, folk, metal, power metal, review, The Pagan Manifesto | Comments Off

Album review: MATT ANDERSEN – Weightless

Posted on April 24, 2014 by petefeenstra

True North [Release date 14.04.14] Produced by former Blasters sax player and Los Lobos producer Steve Berlin, ‘Weightless’ puts the emphasis squarely on songs, catchy hooks and a subtle sonic landscape that nestles Matt Andersen’s emotive baritone vocal. Released by … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Americana, blues, country, Dave Gunning, David Myles, folk, JOE COCKER, Joel Plaskett, Keith Mullins, Los Lobos, Matt Andersen, Paul Rigby, review, Robert Cray, Ryan Hupman, singer songwriter, Steve Berlin, Suzie Vinnick, The Blasters, Thom Swift, Tom Wilson, Weightless | Leave a comment

Album review: ULTAN CONLON – Songs Of Love So Cruel

Posted on April 23, 2014 by petefeenstra

Darksideout [Release date 09.06.14] The fact that the ‘Songs Of Love So Cruel’ dominates the CD sleeve tells you all you need to know about Ultan Conlon’s mindset, on an album full of enduring relationship and love songs. He treads … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Bob Dylan, country, Eoin McCann, folk, Neil Young, Nick Drake, review, roots, Sabrina Dinan, singer songwriter, Songs Of Love So Cruel, Ultan Conlon | Leave a comment

Quick plays: BLAIR DUNLOP, LITTLE FEAT, PHIL VINCENT, NEIL INNES & FATSO

Posted on April 22, 2014 by jason

BLAIR DUNLOP – House Of Jacks www.blairdunlop.com [Released 26.05.14] Blair Dunlop has had a good start to his musical career winning the Horizon Award at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards in 2013 and earning rave reviews for his debut … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged Alison Fleming, AOR, Blair Dunlop, Eric Idle, folk, House Of Jack, Little Feat, Live In Holland 1976, Lowell George, melodic rock, Monty Python, Neil Innes, Neil Innes & Fatso, Phil Vincent, singer songwriter, Slave To Sin, southern rock, the Rutles, Tony Lowe, Vince O'Regan | Leave a comment

Gig review: BELLOWHEAD – Royal Albert Hall, London, 20 April 2014

Posted on April 21, 2014 by jason

Amazing to think Bellowhead have been going for ten years now as they chose the regal surroundings of the Royal Albert Hall to celebrate their tenth birthday and bless them they invited all of their fans along. It was a … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 20 April 2014, Bellowhead, folk, folk rock, gig, London, Maddy Prior, review, Royal Albert Hall, Steeleye Span, tenth anniversary | Leave a comment

Album review: HAT FITZ & CARA ROBINSON – Do Tell

Posted on April 10, 2014 by petefeenstra

Manhaton [Release date 12.05.14] Formerly just Hat Fitz and Cara, Irish singer Cara Robinson now gets a full name check alongside her Australian partner Hat Fitz on ‘Do Tell’, an album of well crafted songs brought to life by a … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged blues, Cara Robinson, Do Tell, folk, Hat Fitz, Howlin Wolf, Jason Bunn, Jeff Lang, Magie Bell, review, roots | Leave a comment

Gig review: JOHN ILLSLEY – East End Arms, Lymington, East End, 8 April 2014

Posted on April 9, 2014 by petefeenstra

It was back in 1982 after the break up of Steely Dan that Donald Fagen unveiled his signature sound on the ‘The Night Fly’ album and confirmed his creative input into Steely Dan. And while former Dire Straits bass player … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged Americana, blues, Bob Dylan, Dire Straits, Donald Fagen, folk, JJ Cale, John Illsley, Mark Knopfler, review, Robbie McIntosh, rock, Steely Dan, Testing The Water | Leave a comment

Album review: HER NAME IS CALLA – Navigator

Posted on April 6, 2014 by petefeenstra

Function [Release date 05.05.14] ‘Navigator’ by Her Name Is Calla, is a cerebral and emotional work of substance. You may need patience and understanding to get inside Tom Morris’ songs and his vocal enunciations with electronic edges, but you will … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged Adam Weikert, Anathema, Arcade Fire, electronica, folk, Her name Is Calla, John Helps, John Martyn, Navigator, Nicole Green, Radiohead, review, roots, Sophie Green, Tom Morris | Leave a comment

Upcoming: New Releases – Albums/DVDs (2016)

Posted on March 27, 2014 by jason

Compiled by Jason Ritchie Updated 31/10/2016 2016 November 4th GRAHAM BONNET ‘The Book’ Frontiers BON JOVI ‘This House Is Not For Sale’ FM ‘Indiscreet 30′ (re-recorded with 7 bonus songs) Frontiers THE FRAY ‘Through the Years: The Best Of’ Epic … Continue reading →