Tag Archives: folk rock

Feature: Box Sets are for life, not just for Christmas…(December 2024)

BLACK SABBATH - Anno Domini 1989-1995

The reissues and recycling still come thick and fast, not least in the unashamed “reissue” of vinyl – another income stream for the record labels designed to extract more wedge from our hard-pressed wallets. Here is our round-up of recommended … Continue reading

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Album review: GRYPHON – Gryphon Live ‘A Sonic Tonic’

GRYPHON - Gryphon Live 'A Sonic Tonic'

Talking Elephant [Release date 06.09.24] It’s some 50 years since Gryphon donned doublet and hose and became something of a media sensation with their blend of medieval folk rock. This is the band’s first ever live album although some of … Continue reading

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Gig review: NORDA MULLEN- The Half Moon, Putney, London, 28 April 2024

NORDA MULLEN- The Half Moon, Putney, London, 28 April 2024

With heritage bands augmenting their touring line-ups with additional musicians, there is a category of highly talented musicians good enough to play with the best, yet virtually unknown to the wider world. One such is Norda Mullen, who for over … Continue reading

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Gig review: FAIRPORT CONVENTION – The Apex, Bury St Edmunds, Tuesday 13 February 2024

Fairport Convention, Cropredy - 9 August 2014

“We became big fish in a very small pond” Simon Nicol says with usual modesty about Fairport Convention’s leap from the nascent folk band to suddenly becoming the poster children of the flourishing folk rock movement, brought about by a … Continue reading

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Album review: STEELEYE SPAN – The Green Man Collection

steeleye span the green man

Park Records [Release date 01.12.23] Steeleye Span went into the studio in September of this year to record four new tracks for inclusion on this collection, which also includes two newly recorded studio tracks from 2019, six songs selected from … Continue reading

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Album review: SHOW OF HANDS – Roots 2

Show Of Hands

Hands On Music [Release date 06.11.23] Show Of Hands, who have been around since 1986, are stopping touring “for an indefinite break”, after a trio tour this year (when Miranda Sykes joins them) and shows as a duo early next … Continue reading

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Gig review: FAIRPORT CONVENTION – The Junction, Cambridge, 31 October 2023

FC

They started off as a band in 1967 but now, more than ever, Fairport Convention are a family, the sense of community between not just the musicians themselves but the fans too something that’s vital and heart-warming. Eternally set squarely … Continue reading

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Album review: DANDELION CHARM – Scream Inside The Tear

DANDELION CHARM - Scream Inside The Tear

Bandcamp [Release date 20.10.23] Dandelion Charm, the husband and wife team consisting of Clare Fowler (vocals) and John Fowler (vocals, acoustic drums, guitars, bass, keys & producer), have seemingly been quiet release wise since releasing their excellent ‘Maybe Dreamers’ back … Continue reading

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EP review: CULANN – Songs of Saints & Reivers

CULANN - Songs of Saints & Reivers

Bandcamp [Release date 15.09.23] Ayrshire based Culann have been around since 2008, releasing their self-titled debut album in 2012, followed by their second album, ‘The Great Ecumene‘, in 2019. Now Cullan – who consist of PJ Kelly (Vocals, Guitar), Sean Kelly (Drums), … Continue reading

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Gig review: GRAHAM NASH – Theatre Royal, London, 11 September 2023

GRAHAM NASH- Theatre Royal, London, 11 September 2023

The sad loss of David Crosby earlier this year was a reminder that the number of stars from the first wave of classic rock still alive, or at least active, diminishes by the year. That in part was my motivation … Continue reading

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Album review: MILTON HIDE – The Holloway

Website [Release date 31.03.23] Milton Hide (AKA husband and wife Jim and Josie Tipler) release their second album, ‘The Holloway’, following on from 2o21′s most enjoyable ‘Temperature’s Rising’. Since then they have played many a show up and down the … Continue reading

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Album review: TRIALS OF CATO – Gog Magog

TRIALS OF CATO - Gog Magog

Website [Release date 25.11.22] Trials Of Cato have been building a healthy following alongside rave reviews from the likes of Mark Radcliffe and John Davis of Metropolois Studios, who has dubbed them ‘”the Sex Pistols of folk”. Will Addison left … Continue reading

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Album review: STEELEYE SPAN – Live At The Rainbow Theatre 1974

STEELEYE SPAN – Live At The Rainbow Theatre 1974

Chrysalis Records  [Release date 07.10.22] A vinyl only (double LP in old money!) of a classic concert from Steeleye Span that has never been released in full before. A handful of tracks from the concert have popped up down the … Continue reading

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Gig review: THE PORTRAITS & DOM PRAG, Harwell Village Hall, Friday 18 March 2022

THE PORTRAITS - For Our Times

Another lovely little venue literally on my doorstep, where Big Ginger Tom Music have been putting on monthly folk themed gigs for a few years now. Of course the pandemic brought a halt to these, but credit to the husband … Continue reading

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Gig review: SLIM CHANCE- Cabbage Patch, Twickenham, 17 February 2022

P1220555 - Copy

When Ronnie Lane quit the Faces, he got away from it all and retreated to the country, as many rock stars did in the seventies. However he took things a stage further when, with his band Slim Chance, he conjured … Continue reading

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Album review: OYSTERBAND – Read The Sky

OYSTERBAND – Read The Sky

Running Man Records [Release date 04.03.22] After an 8-year gap – as the band explain “hey, we were busy” – the Oysterband return with their twelfth studio album, (fourteen including their two collaborative albums with June Tabor). Oysterband have been … Continue reading

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Album review: JAMES WHITE & THE WILD FIRE – Live at Saffron Hall

JAMES WHITE & THE WILD FIRE – Live at Saffron Hall

Facebook [Release date 19.11.21] James White & The Wild Fire formed in 2020 and musically are a blend of country, bluegrass, indie and Americana, hailing from Saffron Walden, Essex. The group consists of James White (vocals and guitar), Brooke Bond … Continue reading

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Gig review: SKERRYVORE – Arlington Arts Centre, Friday November 26 2021

skerryvore2

Possibly the most tartan on display south of the border outside of an Edinburgh Woollen Mill shop, Celtic folk rockers Skerryvore were in town for a Friday night to remember. Skerryvore consist of Alec Dalglish (vocals, guitar & the band’s … Continue reading

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Quick plays: HAMISH HAWK, LANGAN FROST & WANE

Langan, Frost & Wane-Album

HAMISH HAWK Heavy Elevator Assai Recordings [Release date 17.09.21] Hamish Hawk is an Edinburgh-based songwriter who performs solo and as frontman of the New Outfit. Hamish Hawk possess a rich, warm baritone vocal, perfectly suited for the mellower moments like … Continue reading

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Album review: COLIN SCOT – Colin Scot

COLIN SCOT - Colin Scot

Esoteric/Cherry Red [Release date 30.7.21] It’s more than a little unfair that the late singer-songwriter Colin Scot’s 1971 debut seems to be regarded more for the myriad of guest musicians than for Scot’s own undoubted talent. Reissued on CD for … Continue reading

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Album review: GRYPHON – Get Out Of My Father’s Car!

GRYPHON - Get Out Of My Father's Car!

Talking Elephant/Gryphon [Release date 20.11.20] Gryphon will always occupy a small but significant place in my musical heritage.  Coinciding with my interest in (and performance of) early music, in the early 1970s they became a cross-genre novelty act.  And with … Continue reading

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EP review: BLACKMORE’S NIGHT – Here We Come A-Caroling

Blackmore's Night

Edel/EarMUSIC [Release date 04.12.20] Blackmore’s Night have been around since 1997, founded by Ritchie Blackmore and Candice Night to stage their mutual love for traditional medieval and folk-rock music. This seasonal EP is released ahead of the band’s next album … Continue reading

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Album review: SHRED KELLY – Like A Rising Sun

SHRED KELLY - Like A Rising Sun

Devil Duck Records [Release date 03.07.20] Where do these excellent bands keep appearing from? Shred Kelly are another one, a five piece alt folk rock band (and not a speed metal band as their name may suggest) hailing from Canada … Continue reading

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EP review: CADENCE NOIR – A Reckless Endeavour

CANDENCE NOIR - A Reckless Endeavour

Indie [Release date 20.06.20] There’s something so blissfully wild and earthy about Cadence Noir as they join great bands like The Levellers in mixing folk and punk into a heady brew that will make you dance uncontrollably. This new seven … Continue reading

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Book review: FAIRPORT CONVENTION On Track – Every Song, Every Album by Kevan Furbank

Sonicbond Publishing [Publication date 26.03.20] The ‘On Track’ series by publishers Sonic Bond provides an album by album, track by track overview of a number of artists. The latest in the series to get this treatment are British folk-rock legends … Continue reading

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