October 2010

If there’s a more perfect essence of no-wave geek-rock cool than “The Lives Of Charles Douglas” by the Californian outpatient of the same name then I’ve yet to hear it.

It’s been a while since I sat down and did a mix. This mix was inspired by music that I listen to when I’m either out walking across woods and fields or working outside during the winter.

At Echo Lake is the fifth album from New York based Woods who make no efforts to run the safe gauntlet of twee folk. They head out on an altogether more surreal journey. We like it!

A Movable West is Josiah Byars, an indie folk artist from Stockton, California. I stumbled across him by chance to find he has just released a new EP titled “We Are Clumsy creatures”.

Texan alt country singer-songwriter Micah P Hinson kicks off a European tour tonight and has announced a further run of UK dates for the end of October (+ free download)

Many of you will know and love the Afro Celt Sound System who have been pioneers of African / Celtic fusion. I became hooked back in 1996 when I first heard Sound Magic.

A great new documentary of The Low Anthem from a recent tour along with some great back stage chat about their music and their future. As ever they are down-t-earth and honest.

The Dark Side of the Lens is a fascinationg documentary about a film maker with an incredible passion who goes to extraordinary lengths to capture what he sees with his heart.

Lost in the Trees have re-orchestrated Bon Iver’s Lump Sum, they combine American folk, modern pop and dramatic unconventional symphonic classical elements.

City Slang records is celebrating their 20th anniversary in style this year with a series of special shows, this Autumn, in Berlin. Acts due to play include Lambchop, Calexico and more

Kurt Wagner & Cortney Tidwell are getting ready to unleash Kurt Wagner & Cortney Tidwell present KORT: Invariable Heartache. Watch the videos and get the tour dates.

Blitzen Trapper have released a video for their track, The Tree, which features Alela Diane and is taken from their latest album, Destroyer of the Void. Watch it now.

Adam Haworth Stephens releases We Live on Cliffs. The singer songwriter half of folk-punk duo Two Gallants released this material on Saddle Creek records. Read our review

This a strictly deep Dorset mix from the Lush record label and The Sound Approach bird-recording collective. An exclusive by Simon Emmerson for Folk Radio UK!