Album review: RUTH NOTMAN & SAM KELLY – Changeable Heart

Pure Records [Release date 15.03.19]

In young folk terms this is a bit of a star studded collaboration, with former BBC Radio 2 Young Folk Award finalist Ruth Notman making a return to making music (she took time out to complete a medical sciences degree and is now a Physician Associate), joining Sam Kelly, who fronts the Lost Boys and guested on other folk artists’ albums. Damien O’Kane produced the album, as well as providing various guitars and banjo.

They give a fresh musical to ‘The Cunning Cobbler’, a song with plenty of innuendo and a plot that comes straight from a bedroom farce, that staple of theatres in the 1960’s and 1970’s. Their versions of Ewan MacColl’s ‘School Days Over’ and Paul Brady’s ‘The Island’ are simply stunning, as their voices complement each other so well.

Their self-penned title track packs a bit of punch, being a fine piece of pop folk (traditionalists look away now at that matching of two musical genres!), driven along by piano and lively guitar playing. Notman’s ‘As You Find Your Way Home’ is a gentler tune, highlight both her singing and piano accordion playing.

The world of folk music really is experiencing a musical boom, with plenty of talented younger performers keeping both the interpretation of traditional songs alive and well, along with adding their own songs. Ruth Notman and Sam Kelly fall into this category and ‘Changeable Heart’ will delight their existing fans and doubtless win them many new ones. ****

Review by Jason Ritchie

Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK

Since early 2020 Josh has been entertaining us with exclusive monthly live sessions, streamed via Facebook.
In 2023 he signed a recording deal with Sony in Canada and released a new single on 15 September.

Next session: Sunday 1 December

Check out videos here: https://www.facebook.com/getreadytorockradio

David Randall presents a weekly show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Sundays at 22:00 GMT, repeated on Mondays and Fridays), when he invites listeners to ‘Assume The Position’. The show signposts forthcoming gigs and tours and latest additions at getreadytorock.com. First broadcast on 3 November 2024.

UK Blues Broadcaster of the Year (2020 and 2021 Finalist) Pete Feenstra presents his weekly Rock & Blues Show on Tuesday at 19:00 GMT as part of a five hour blues rock marathon “Tuesday is Bluesday at GRTR!”. The show is repeated on Wednesdays at 22:00, Fridays at 20:00). This show was first broadcast 29 October 2024.

How to Listen Live?

Click the programming image at the top of the page (top right of page if using desktop)

Listen via Windows Media Player. Click or tap here and “open file”
Listen via other media player (eg. VLC) Click or tap here and “open file”

Get Ready to ROCK! Radio is also in iTunes under Internet Radio/Classic Rock
Listen in via the Tunein app and search for “Get Ready to ROCK!” and save as favourite.

More information and links at our radio website where you can listen again to shows via the presenter pages: getreadytorockradio.com

Power Plays w/c 11 November 2024

ARCANE MOON Hello Sun (indie)
S8NT ELEKTRIC XTC (Long Branch Records)
ARCANA KINGS Here We Go (Curtain Call Records)
KLOGR face The Unknown (Zeta Factory)
BEYOND UNBROKEN Dance With The Dead (FiXT)
REVENGIN Decadent Feeling (Wormholedeath)

Featured Albums w/c 11 November 2024

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Singer Songwriter)