Tag Archives: folk

Album review: DEVIN TOWNSEND – Empath

Posted on March 21, 2019 by jason

Hevy Devy/Inside Out [Release date 29.03.19] Devin Townsend has rested his Project and with ‘Empath’ we have his first solo album since ‘Ziltoid’. Guests include regular contributor Anneke van Giersbergen, Nickelback’s Chad Kroeger, Frank Zappa alumni Mike Keneally as music … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews | Tagged album, Anneke van Giersbergen, Casualties of Cool, Chad Kroeger, choral, classical, Devin Townsend, Empath, folk, melodic, metal, Nickelback, progressive, review, rock, Solo, Steve Vai, Strapping Young Lad, symphonic | Leave a comment

News: ELEANOR McEVOY – ‘Gimme Some Wine Tour’ In April

Posted on March 19, 2019 by jason

Irish multi-instrumentalist chanteuse and raconteur Eleanor McEvoy will play eleven-dates across England throughout April 2019 as part of her new ‘Gimme Some Wine Tour’. Eleanor’s new tour follows the great success of her 2017 album release ‘The Thomas Moore Project’, … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, Gigs and Tour News, NEWS | Tagged Eleanor McEvoy, folk, gigs, Gimme Some Wine Tour, live music, news, singer songwriter, The Thomas Moore Project, tour dates | Leave a comment

Album review: BECKY MILLS – Tall Tales and Home Truths

Posted on March 14, 2019 by jason

Talking Elephant [Release date 26.04.19] Becky Mills was part of the all girl folk band Waking the Witch, who split-up in 2008. After the band’s break-up Becky Mills released her debut solo album ‘Dandelion’ back in 2013. This new album … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Ashley Hutchings, Becky Mills, folk, melodic, review, singer songwriter, Tall Tales and Home Truths, Waking the Witch | 1 Comment

Album review: ELLES BAILEY – Road I Call Home

Posted on March 5, 2019 by jason

Outlaw Music [Release date 08.03.19] After attracting a slew of favourable reviews with her debut album, 2017′s ‘Wildfire’, the Bristol-based singer-songwriter Elles Bailey is back with a follow-up. Like its predecessor, recorded primarily in Nashville’ Road I Call Home’ is … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, INTERVIEWS, Interviews/Rising Stars | Tagged album, Americana, blues, country, Elles Bailey, folk, guitarist, interview, Nashville, review, Road I Call Home, rock | 2 Comments

Quick plays: KRISTINA STYKOS, DANNI NICHOLLS

Posted on February 25, 2019 by GRTR! HQ

KRISTINA STYKOS River Of Light Thunder Ridge Records [Release date 05.04.19] With many of the songs delivered in an enforced semi-spoken style (in 2017, she was diagnosed with spasmodic dysphonia, a disorder that makes speaking and singing difficult or even … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged acoustic, album, Americana, country, Danni Nicholls, folk, Kristina Stykos, Nashville, review, River Of Light, singer, songwriter, The Melted Morning | Leave a comment

Album review: RUTH NOTMAN & SAM KELLY – Changeable Heart

Posted on February 25, 2019 by jason

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 … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Damien O'Kane, Ewan MacColl, folk, melodic, Paul Brady, pop folk, review, Ruth Notman, Sam Kelly | Leave a comment

Album review: SIMON TODD – Half Empty/Half Full

Posted on February 11, 2019 by petefeenstra

Ginger Tom Music [Release date 21.09.18] Produced by the esteemed songwriter Boo Hewerdine, Northumberland singer/songwriter Simon Todd’s ‘Half Empty/Half Full’ is an aptly titled album that keeps the listener guessing until very end. The title might be interpreted as a … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged a cappella, album, Americana, Boo Hewerdine, Boy George, Clive James, folk, Half Empty/Half Full, Nick Cave, Northumberland, Pete Atkin, review, rock, Simon Todd, singer, songwriter, Tony Hadley | Leave a comment

Quick plays: DEAD MAN’S WHISKEY, HIGH TREASON, HARBOTTLE & JONAS

Posted on February 1, 2019 by jason

DEAD MAN’S WHISKEY – Under The Gun Reloaded McCall Records [Release date 01.02.19] I was surprised to find out that Dead Man’s Whiskey are a British band as their sound is more aligned with the likes of Black Stone Cherry … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged album, Dead Man's Whiskey, folk, Harbottle & Jonas, hard rock, High Treason, NWOBHM, review, rock, Silver Bullets, southern rock, The Sea Is My Brother, Under The Gun Reloaded | Leave a comment

Album review: KATIE DOHERTY & THE NAVIGATORS – And Then

Posted on January 14, 2019 by jason

Steeplejack Music [Release date 25.01.19] Katie Doherty released her debut album ‘Bridges’ in 2007, which picked up glowing reviews and airplay on BBC Radio 2. Since then Katie Doherty has been involved as a composer for Northern Stage productions, along … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, And Then, folk, Katie Doherty & the Navigators, review, singer songwriter, traditional | Leave a comment

EP review: STEVE BALSAMO – Circle The Wagons

Posted on January 6, 2019 by jason

www.stevebalsamomusic.com Steve Balsamo came to my musical attention via the country rockers the Storys, who are well worth checking out and sadly another of those bands that had heaps of talent, yet never got the musical success they deserved. He … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Single and EP reviews | Tagged Americana, Circle the Wagons, country, EP, folk, melodic, review, singer songwriter, soul, Steve Balsamo, the Storys | Leave a comment

Album review: THE STEEL WOODS – Old News

Posted on December 31, 2018 by jason

Thirty Tigers [Release date 18.01.19] The Steel Woods released their debut album ‘Straw In The Wind’ in 2017. ‘Old News’ (for that retro feel it is also released as a double vinyl) sees the band’s main songwriters Wes Bayliss (vocals, … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Allman Brothers, bluegrass, country, folk, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Old News, review, rock, southern rock, Steel Woods, Tom Petty | Leave a comment

Album review: SLIM CHANCE – New Cross Road

Posted on December 1, 2018 by jason

Fishpool Records [Release date 18.01.19] Slim Chance were the backing band to former Small Faces and Faces member Ronnie Lane (who died aged only 51 in 1997), with three members in the current line-up of Slim Chance featured on those … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, boogie, cajun, folk, New Cross Road, Pete Townshend, review, rock, rock 'n' roll, Ronnie Lane, Slim Chance, THE WHO | Leave a comment

Album review: LETHBRIDGE OWEN – Mind Over Matter

Posted on November 18, 2018 by petefeenstra

Pete Feenstra chatted to Kelly Lethbridge and Jimmy Owen for his Feature show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio with tracks from the album ‘Mind Over Matter’ Self Release [Release date: digital 23.11.18 and CD 07.12.18] Lethbridge Owen are about … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Eric Johnson, Fleetwood Mac, folk, guitar, harmonies, interview, Jimmy Owen, Kelly Lethbridge, Lethbridge Owen, Lindsey Buckingham, Mind Over Matter, radio, review, rock, Sonny Landreth, Stevie Nicks, Tom Petty, West Coast | Leave a comment

Quick plays: THE WILLOWS, ME AND MY FRIENDS, JEROME MAZZA

Posted on November 12, 2018 by jason

THE WILLOWS Through the Wild [Release date 30.11.18] ‘Through the Wild’ is the third album from the Cambridge folk band the Willows, who have picked up praise from the likes of Bob Harris and Mike Harding. Listening to this album … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged album, ANGELICA, Fairport Convention, folk, folk rock, Jemrome Mazza, Look Up, Me and My Friends, melodic rock, Mike Slamer, Outlaw Son, reggae, review, rock, soul, Steve Overland, Steve Walsh, the Willows, Through the Wild, Tommy Denander | Leave a comment

Album review: GRYPHON – Raindances (The Transatlantic Recordings 1973-1975)

Posted on November 5, 2018 by GRTR! HQ

Esoteric [Release date: 24.08.18] Folk rock sipped at diverse sources in its late 60s evolution; the traditional ale-house song was most prominent, probably because it was relatively simple to repurpose, while the music of the medieval court was less so, … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged compilation, folk, Graeme Taylor, Gryphon, medieval, Raindances (The Transatlantic Recordings 1973-1975), Richard Harvey, rock | Leave a comment

Album review: GALEN AYERS – Monument

Posted on October 25, 2018 by GRTR! HQ

Bombinate [Release date: 27.07.18] A confident debut here from this British US/Greece-based singer-songwriter, ‘Monument’ births short/sharp essays in personal values and beliefs in a swell of acoustic ambience. Cool to the point-of-chilly opener, ‘You Choose’ sets out her stall with … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged acoustic, album, ambient, folk, Galen Ayers, Kevin Ayers, Monument, review, singer, songwriter | Leave a comment

Gig review: STEELEYE SPAN – Hexagon, Reading, 15 October 2018

Posted on October 16, 2018 by jason

First visit to the Hexagon in Reading, a venue I had seen on TV previously when a snooker tournament used to be held here. Tonight though it hosts folk rock legends Steeleye Span, to a sadly half-full auditorium which is even … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged Bellowhead, concert, folk, folk rock, gig, Hexagon, Jacqui McShee, Maddy Prior, Pentangle, reading, review, Steeleye Span, traditonal music | Leave a comment

Album review: ELEANOR McEVOY – Forgotten Dreams

Posted on October 15, 2018 by GRTR! HQ

Chasing The Dragon Audiophile Recordings [Release date: 08.18] available at chasingthedragon.co.uk We’ve had Alone (2011) and its companion release Naked Music (2016) – albums that saw Irish singer songwriter Eleanor McEvoy retire to the sanctuary of a sleepy Norfolk studio … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged acoustic, album, audiophile, Chasing The Dragon, classical, direct cut, Eleanor McEvoy, folk, Forgotten Dreams, hi-fi, review, singer, songwriter | Leave a comment

Album review: BERT JANSCH – Such A Simple Soul

Posted on October 15, 2018 by jason

BMG [Release date 26.10.18] The exquisitely talented Bert Jansch, the former Pentangle guitarist who died in 2011, has been inspiring musicians for decades – from Jimmy Page and Paul Simon to Johnny Marr and Graham Coxon. Indeed, it was another … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Bernard Butler, Bert Jansch, compilation, folk, Jimmy Page, Paul Simon, Pentangle, review, singer songwriter, Such A Simple Soul, Suede | Leave a comment

Album review: AYREON – Into The Electric Castle

Posted on October 11, 2018 by petefeenstra

Music Theories Recordings [Release date 26.10.18] Aside from being the 20th anniversary of its release and a long overdue vinyl release, the most significant thing about the Arjen Lucassen’s remixed and re-mastered 1998 Ayreon project, is the way it successfully … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album review, Anneke van Giersbergen, Arjen Lucassen, Asia, Ayreon, blues, Bob Calvert, Clive Nolan, Ed Warby, electronica, Fish, folk, gothic funk, Into The Electric Castle, Jon Anderson, metal, Peter Gabriel, Pink Floyd, pop, prog, psychedelia, rock, SPARKS, Thijs van Leer, Todd Rudgren, Uriah Heep, Yes | Leave a comment

Album review: ACE OF CUPS

Posted on October 7, 2018 by jason

High Moon Records [Release date 08.11.18] Get ready for an incredible story you just couldn’t make up; the journey of a band and its music spanning over 50 years, from the heady, idealistic-hippy days of 1967’s Summer of Love in … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, INTERVIEWS, Interviews/Rock Stars | Tagged 60's rock, Ace Of Cups, album, Bob Weir, country, Denise Kaufmann, folk, Grateful Dead, interview, melodic, psychadelic, review, rock | Leave a comment

Interview: JULIAN LITTMAN (STEELEYE SPAN)

Posted on September 27, 2018 by jason

Next year iconic folk rockers Steeleye Span celebrate their fiftieth anniversary. 2019 will see a brand new album and associated tours as the ever-evolving band mark their half century. More immediately, however, there is the matter of an autumn tour. … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, INTERVIEWS, Interviews/Rock Stars | Tagged Classic Albums, Dodgy Bastards, folk, folk rock, interview, Julian Littman, Maddy Prior, prog rock, Steeleye Span, Terry Prachett, Tour, Wintersmith | 1 Comment

Album review: JOHN BUTLER TRIO – Home

Posted on September 26, 2018 by jason

Because Music [Release date 28.09.18] ‘Home’ is the John Butler Trio’s first album since 2014′s ‘Flesh & Blood’, which reached number 2 in his native Australian charts, as well as topping the US Billboard chart and those of France and Switzerland. … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, blues, country, electronica, folk, Home, John Butler Trio, pop, review, rock | Leave a comment

EP review: INDIA ELECTRIC CO. – Tablelands

Posted on September 25, 2018 by jason

Shoelay [Release date 19.10.18] The India Electric Co. return with the final part of the EP trilogy which contrasts the city and country. The wonderfully talented duo Cole Stacey (vocals, percussion, gravel) and Joseph O’Keefe (violin, piano, guitar, accordion, harp, … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, Single and EP reviews | Tagged acoustic, blues, EP, folk, India Electric Co., jazz, Midge Ure, pop, review, Tablelands | Leave a comment

Gig review: NORTHERN FLYWAY – Cornerstones, Didcot, 21 September 2018

Posted on September 22, 2018 by jason

Northern Flyway is the brainchild of Jenny Sturgeon (Salt House, Jenny Sturgeon Trio) and Inge Thomson (Karine Polwart Trio, Da Fishing Hands). In 2017 they wrote and created Northern Flyway – an audio-visual production exploring the ecology, folklore, symbolism and mythology … Continue reading →