A mix of new folk releases (some yet to be released) and a sprinkling of classics from the past, mainly from the 1970’s.
Folk Show Playlist
Adam Holmes And The Embers – Strange Weather
Another track this week from the Midnight Milk, the forthcoming new album from Adam Holmes & The Embers. The album will be officially released by Gogar Records this month on Friday 29th September. More on this beauty soon.
Bruce Cockburn – 3 Al Purdys’
Taken from Bruce Cockburn’s latest album, Bone on Bone, one of our Featured Albums of the Month (read the review). It is the highlight of the album, in his review of the album Paul referred to it as “one of the finest songs one is likely to hear all year.”
Tom Russell – Up in the Old Hotel
Another Featured Album of the Month. This one is from Tom’s Folk Hotel, read our review here. In his review, Paul says “Up In The Old Hotel opens the album and is clearly inspired by The Chelsea Hotel with Russell singing of one-time resident Dylan Thomas and meeting the ghost of New Yorker writer Joseph Mitchell in its corridors. Mitchell, who wrote of people on the fringes of society, published a book called Up In The Old Hotel before suffering three decades of writer’s block.”
Megan Henwood – Apples
From Megan’s forthcoming new album River, out on 27th October via Dharma Records. River depicts Henwood’s lifelong relationship with the rivers and seas that flow into her creativity. Its alt-folk essence is illuminated with shades of sophisticated jazz and low-key electronica, on a record of dark hues and discreet optimism.
Gwyneth Glyn – Far Ago
Another album we can’t get enough of so we’ve shared another track this week from Gwyneth’s new album Tro which is due for release on the 29 September 2017. We’ll be featuring more on the album soon. The album features, amongst others, Dylan Fowler who also produced the album. More here: http://gwynethglyn.com
David Ramirez – I’m Not Going Anywhere
From yet another Featured Album of the Month – We’re Not Going Anywhere, read our review here. Out now on Thirty Tigers.
Edgelarks: Phillip Henry and Hannah Martin – Yarls’s Wood
Yarl’s Wood takes its name from the Bedfordshire immigration centre which came under the spotlight following news of their treatment of female detainees. Theresa May, who was Home Secretary at the time denied the UN Special Envoy investigating violence against women access to the centre. Phil and Hannah wrote the song in solidarity with the #SetHerFree campaign – www.refugesswomen.co.uk/campaign. Edgelarks is released on 6th October – Keep an eye on our website for more on this album soon.
Willie Watson – Walking Boss
Taken from Folk Singer Vol. 2 which Glenn recently reviewed for Folk Radio UK here on which he said refers to this track as the album highlight. “Willie had no intention of putting Clarence Ashley’s work song ‘Walking Boss’ onto this set when he was warming up the mic, but here it is, and it’s the highlight of the album. Much like ‘Gallows Pole’, the vocal is weary, but it stops you in your tracks, with its resolute ‘Walking boss, no I don’t belong to you / I belong to that steal-driving crew’. The guitar picking is simple, and the harmonica is again effective in conjuring the hard done by: ‘Work one day, just a day, just a day, and go lay in the shanty too’. It could be the intimate analogue recording that adds to the atmosphere, but this less than three-minute track is just magic and really articulates Watson’s strengths as a singer and player.”
The Jeremiahs – Plough And Stars
From The Femme Fatale Of Maine, the new album from Irish band The Jeremiahs. They combine traditional and contemporary sounds to create their own brand of Urban Folk music. Since founding in 2013 the trio have trailblazed across Ireland and Europe playing some of the top venues and Festivals.
Paul Brady – Lord Thomas and Fair Ellender
From Paul’s latest offering, Unfinished Business. As Neil McFadyen said in his Featured Album Review which you can read here – Unfinished Business isn’t a title that hints at unfulfilled musical ambitions. Rather, it confirms that, on turning 70, Paul Brady still has plenty more to offer. Everything about Unfinished Business tells us that he is likely to remain, for some time yet, at the very peak of his powers.
Daoirí Farrell – The Creggan White Hare
This is from Daoirí Farrell‘s new single The Creggan White Hare/Bogie’s Bonnie Belle which is released on 27th October (Daoirí Recordings). Be sure to check his website for his forthcoming Autumn tour dates here: http://daoiri.com
Calum Stewart – Am Fear Liath Mòr
From leading Uilleann piper Calum Stewart’s new album Tales of the North (out 17th October) – Inspired by his upbringing in Garmouth in the North of Scotland, the new album celebrates the legends, landscapes, adventures and people that all played an integral part in his childhood.
Calum’s lyrical playing style has long been rooted in the traditional music of the North of Scotland, he talks about the inspiration behind Tales from the North: “My native North of Scotland is a land rich in history and legend; antiquity deeply rooted within the bold landscape. This album really focuses on the stories, legends and places of home that ring clear in my identity and my compositional style. It is really special to be able to epitomise this inspiration in an album and give a musical voice to the previously silent legends, tales and places that have formed my identity, both musically and personally.”
Bush Gothic – Swag on My Shoulder
Rattled by the bones of convicts and steeped in campfire smoke, Bush Gothic perform darker, stranger Australian folk. Defiantly modern, achingly old, this most daring of Australian bush bands perform songs of criminal women and desperate men from an era of transportation, adventure and gold. This track is from their new album ‘The Natural Selection Australian Songbook’ (out now). Check their website for their current UK and Ireland tour dates http://bushgothic.com
Bill Jones – The Story Of Our Darling Grace
From Bill Jones‘ 2003 album Two Year Winter. Bill has been busy raising a family and teaching since 2004 but she has returned to the recording studio and, according to her website, those new recordings will form part of a new album that she’s planning to out out the end of this year.
Frigg – Chris Stout’s Compliments To The Bon Accord Ale House
From Frigg’s new album Frost on Fiddles, due for release on October 5th and their first album in five years. The release will be supported by a short UK tour in November. The Bon Accord Ale House is a pub in Glasgow where they say “they still talk hard about good subjects, always worth a visit!
Dando Shaft – Coming Home to Me
The opening track of their self-titled second album (1971) on which they added singer Polly Bolton to their ranks.
Pentangle – Waltz
From their debut album – The Pentangle (1968) featuring Terry Cox, Bert Jansch, Jacqui McShee, John Renbourn and Danny Thompson. I love the energy of this track on which they just let it go. I never tire of hearing it.
The Humblebums – Oh No
Another early classic featuring Billy Connolly and the late Gerry Rafferty. As a duo, they recorded two albums – The New Humblebums and Open Up the Door (1970) from which this track is taken.
Birlinn Jiarg – Flitter Daunsey
Birlinn Jiarg were brought together by multi-instrumentalist Beccy Hurst to perform the traditional Manx music she grew up with as well as her own compositions. Having performed with various Manx bands and dance teams over the years, Beccy moved to England to study on the Folk Degree at Newcastle University. This is from their debut album Seamount. You can read more about them here https://www.birlinnjiargmusic.com/music
Archie Fisher – Looly, Looly
And finally, another classic, this time from 1976. Looly, Looly featured on Fisher’s Will Ye Gang, Love, released on Topic Records.