Help The Overdog - dig deep there’s gold in there. August 14, 2008
Now here’s an album that’s just like Marmite, there’s either love or hate involved – but not ambivalence. It's said new is easy, different is diff... [MORE]

'The Lark’s March' – a future milestone of the folk tradition August 12, 2008
Doubtless ‘The Lark’s March’ the debut solo album from Patricia Clark will become one of the milestones of the folk tradition. Already a m... [MORE]

Barber & Taylor – ‘the reason why’ July 17, 2008
Kevin Barber and Mark Taylor have something that many musicians will envy. Apart from their ability to write superb songs and play ukulele, mand... [MORE]

Gavin Whelan - master of the whistle July 16, 2008
Passion, power and flair combined Traditional music endures while other fashions may come and go – Gavin Whelan proves without a doubt why the... [MORE]

'First Things First' from Ailie Robertson June 28, 2008
‘First Things First’ - an outstanding mix of passion, power and gentle reserve. Ailie Robertson is a fine musician of that there is no doub... [MORE]

An album of power from a songwriter who cares June 18, 2008
It’s my belief you can trace a man’s journey through the lines round his eyes. With Bob Smith you can trace his life’s journey through his voice an... [MORE]

Eleven songs finely crafted by creative songwriters June 11, 2008
‘Clearwater’ from No Fixed Abode is an album that reaches out on many levels. First, it’s a well produced, exceedingly tight performance by two tale... [MORE]

Blackheart - a seamless inventive tapestry May 30, 2008
There are artists who fling their influences and themes together with the finesse of a car crash equally others intertwine them like wires in a cabl... [MORE]

Oxygen 21 from Enda Reilly - different, absorbing songs that demand attention April 29, 2008
New is easy – different is hard. With his debut album 'Oxygen 21' Enda Reilly has managed to achieve new and different. He has created an original ... [MORE]

Telling the Bees – debut album ‘Untie the Wind’ April 21, 2008
'Poetic lyrics, inspired musicianship, sacred elements reflecting through the folklore of England'By tradition, people tell their bees about signific... [MORE]

Taking folk to new places and daring to explore... April 20, 2008
Before you read any further take note – Wheeler Street will become a force in English folk music. They deliver not only comprehensively excellent m... [MORE]

‘The Parish Platform’ from Rattle the Boards. April 18, 2008
‘The Parish Platform’ the latest album from Rattle the Boards is a burst of infectious vitality. With this album the band has produced a... [MORE]

Music to weep by - and you'll love every second March 22, 2008
If you have a chance to hear Red Shoes – take it. You may find you’re quietly weeping during their set but it will be a delicious sadness that you’ll ... [MORE]

Too Many Strings – and more power to their chords March 20, 2008
The other evening a friend introduced me to a young Brighton-based band, Too Many Strings through their CD – Highly Strung. Their list of ... [MORE]

A rich blend of ‘acousticity’ from Acoustica March 04, 2008
Acoustica describes exactly what you get. Their latest album ‘The Oban Sessions’ (a follow up to Welcome to…) is a rich blend of ‘acousticity’ that ... [MORE]

A tapestry of 21st Century folk. March 03, 2008
‘Triality’ from Firedaze is proof (if needed) that new folk and trad folk (and everything in between) should coexist. Firedaze recognise no boundari... [MORE]

Brother Crow - intense songs with feeling and passion February 15, 2008
One for Sorrow - is a selection of yearning, searching songs from Durham-based duo Brother Crow. There’s depth here that makes an exceptional ... [MORE]

Delicate, powerful beauty January 21, 2008
 Mythago from Tinkerscuss is rare, rich treasure of story and myth with delivered with refined atmosphere and edge. Mythago encompasses depth, p... [MORE]

Elowen - a style all their own January 21, 2008
Some fine music comes from Cornwall and the debut album from Elowen kee... [MORE]

Now Then? … Well actually any time for my money. January 11, 2008
I spent the tail-end of 2007 listening to the debut CD from Wendy Arrowsmith called Now Then? And I have to tell you it was worth every minute. Wendy ... [MORE]

Sensitive songs with purposeful power January 10, 2008
I can hear some traditional folk purists speaking now: “Electro-technical stuff in folk music – oh dear me, no!”  Just proves how wrong one can... [MORE]

Infectious folk from Yeovil's rats December 20, 2007
The genus rattus rattus and rattus norvegicus originated in Asia and still suffer much bad press from their association with 14th century plague – p... [MORE]

A ghost worth seeing and hearing December 18, 2007
Forget your busy life, lay down your cares for a moment and take time to enjoy some fine melodic music from Jessica’s Ghost. Their EP ‘Return to the... [MORE]

Workshy or not the result is great work November 26, 2007
There's a force ten gale blowing through the folk world – it's W... [MORE]

The Nocturnal Flowers debut CD – well worth the wait. November 15, 2007
The eponymous first CD from The Nocturnal Flowers has been a while coming but it’s well worth the wait. With this album, Darren Oakshott (vocals, gu... [MORE]

‘All Rogues & Villains’ - a tough leap for others to follow October 30, 2007
‘All Rogues & Villains’ - a tough leap for others to followThe Duncan McFarlane Band (DMcF) has raised the bar on folk rock and in doing so has ma... [MORE]

‘And now for something completely different …’ October 29, 2007
'New is easy - different is hard' as someone once said. Perhaps that's why Elephant Talk decided to take the hard wa... [MORE]

Waiting for the autumn Flowers October 22, 2007
It's autumn, it's England and expectation is in the air - Halloween, Bonfire Night, Christmas on the horizon - but personally I'm waiting for the 1... [MORE]

A raft of magical spells October 16, 2007
Last week a CD arrived with a herald’s caduceus on the front and a seagull in flight on the back cover. Do you know what? That CD from Mag... [MORE]

Original not ordinary October 09, 2007
I've heard Zoox a few times this year (actually I keep listening... [MORE]

Waterhorse – ‘Nature Laughs Last’ September 18, 2007
Waterhorse craft attention-grabbing ‘storytelling’ songs. They are also accomplished musicians who create great tunes. Their story-songs mus... [MORE]

Telling the Bees - hauntingly beautiful music September 17, 2007
Telling the Bees is more than whispering to the hives; this is a band that conjures hauntingly beautiful music - simple as that. The lyrics are pure p... [MORE]

Pure and simple September 11, 2007
The simplest of mixtures are often the best and that’s exactly what Yealand Redmayne has - a simple recipe that performs incredibly well. That ... [MORE]

'Future classics of the English folk tradition' September 10, 2007
Another key is cut to fit the lock of English folk tradition and what it unlocks is a treasure trove worth searching for and listening to. I’m talki... [MORE]

A melange of magic to capture your soul September 06, 2007
'Familiar Shores' - new CD from Dragonsfly   Musical definitions endure - folk, roots, world, rock, ethnic - Dragonsfly transcends boundaries i... [MORE]

Franana (pronounced like banana - but not necessarily yellow) September 03, 2007
Franana (pronounced like banana - but not necessarily yellow) are going places – no doubt about it. Fuelled by Fran’s (vocals, piano) distinctive vo... [MORE]

Silverwheel - tradition with imagination September 01, 2007
Silverwheel – bill themselves as offering ‘traditional folk with a rock attitude and glam look’ – that may be, but for my money they play damn fine ... [MORE]

Little perhaps but worth their weight in gold August 30, 2007
Little Sisters - 'La Rosa' EP I've just finished listening to Little Sisters - don't delay, find out when they're playing a gig near you and go alo... [MORE]

The Demon Barbers Roadshow rolls into Cropredy August 14, 2007
Fairport’s Cropredy Convention 2007 had its first dose of the power and passion that is the Demon Barbers Roadshow and the medicine went down a trea... [MORE]

‘Stories’ – Wolves and Ravens August 02, 2007
'Stories' - a great song from Wolves and Ravens   For the last hour I’ve had the CD player on ‘track repeat’ and it’s still not enough. And w... [MORE]

Going to the dogs in style August 01, 2007
There’s a folk rock band you should take the time to hear. To be sure, Silver Dogs play what has become known as traditional English folk rock but t... [MORE]

Thrash that folk ‘til it screams July 31, 2007
Rough as a badger’s bum, ready to punch you between the eyes with an edge that’s sharp as a razor. That’s Leatherat - probably the finest exponents ... [MORE]

Pillowfish – a starter in anticipation of the main course July 29, 2007
Latest EP from Pillowfish   Too often it’s difficult for a second CD to exceed the calibre of the first, especially when the first was a... [MORE]

The Outside Track - but right on course July 27, 2007
The Outside Track - new CD   Having heard this band perform live and been mightily impressed, I’m pleased to say The Outside Track has produc... [MORE]

‘Waterfall’ from the Nocturnal Flowers July 18, 2007
For the last few weeks I’ve been listening to ‘Waterfall’ the latest offering from The Nocturnal Flowers. These guys have delivered yet another haun... [MORE]

Folk - fused or blended? July 16, 2007
Investigating the various facets of folk I’m increasingly dragged into what I hear is folk-funk or folk-jazz fusion. Not sure about the need for ano... [MORE]

Cruel as folk July 10, 2007
The English acoustic folk tradition is alive and well and this is where you’ll find it - in the sounds of Cruel Folk. If you want to hear original f... [MORE]

Wolves & Ravens July 10, 2007
Wolves & Ravens describe themselves a quartet of grizzled vets from the Twin Cities folk rock scene. There’s a more accurate description to use ... [MORE]

Wistman's Wood July 06, 2007
That’s it, I’m a happy man – I’ve just heard again one of the most beautiful, controlled and incisive voices in English folk music. This time Jackie... [MORE]

Horseplay – something more serious than you might think June 20, 2007
Oh these guys are just wonderful! If you get a chance to hear Horseplay then grab it with both hands. There are few bands that stick with their own re... [MORE]

Go out and get ratted – as long as it’s a Black Rat May 06, 2007
I’ve just been listening to Black Rat from Leicester. This band does for electric folk music what Simon Sharma does for history – give it life. And ... [MORE]

Get waxed with the Demon Barbers! March 22, 2007
'Waxed' - The Demon Barbers   The debate between traditional and contemporary folk is over. The Demon Barbers take the best of both, weld the... [MORE]

Folk on fire with the Demon Barbers March 06, 2007
Folk on fire with the Demon Barbers – 1st March, The Zodiac, Oxford   On St David’s Day The Zodiac in Oxford received a full-force blast of ... [MORE]

Bangers and Mash February 27, 2007
Irish music is an art form designed to reach inside you and either reduce you to tears or drag you forcibly from your chair. Now at this point, hard... [MORE]

‘Common Knowledge’ – unique, inventive CD from Pillowfish February 24, 2007
'Common Knowledge' - Pillowfish   What a treat! Listen to ‘Common Knowledge’ by Pillowfish - but listen to multiple replays before you decide... [MORE]

Glorystrokes February 19, 2007
I can already hear some lovers of traditional folk music screaming in anger as they listen to these guys. But it’s always worth opening the old ment... [MORE]

Storytelling - an ancient foundation of folk music February 17, 2007
'A Land for the Many' - stunning CD from The Simon Hopper Band   Storytelling is an ancient foundation of folk music - The Simon Hopper Band ... [MORE]

Pillowfish February 16, 2007
Quick reach for the Thesaurus! You’ll need it to find some new adjectives to describe Pillowfish adequately. From the first listen you’ll struggle t... [MORE]

‘Words are all’ - but the music makes them live February 16, 2007
Brian Madigan writes pithy, cynical, piercing songs about life – they make you think, they make you laugh – then he hits you with an edgy lyric that... [MORE]

Subtle seduction February 14, 2007
There’s something about ‘Vice Girl’ from The Nocturnal Flowers that edges it’s way under your skin, then just sits there steadily seeping back into ... [MORE]

Passion by the bucket-load February 05, 2007
Occasionally, you’re lucky enough to hear music played with enthusiasm, the Duncan McFarlane Band don’t stop at enthusiasm, they go way past - they ... [MORE]

Which came first the turtle or the soup? February 05, 2007
Band names, band names – where do they come from? Well ‘Turtle Soup’ clearly derives in part from two talented people cooking up their songs. And if... [MORE]