This week’s folk show highlights some of the frontiers currently being pushed by artists on the folk music scene in the UK, Ireland and beyond. Taking the harp into new ground are Bróna McVittie whose latest release, The Man in the Mountain, is a Featured Album of the Month which we reviewed here. In his review of the album Thomas Blake summed it up perfectly when he said:
The Man In The Mountain’s predecessor was one of the best releases of 2018, but somehow Brona McVittie has surpassed herself. There is an added maturity, a new breadth of influence, and a creative control that sets this album apart. But she never loses the wide-eyed sense of wonder at the poetry of the natural world. If she set out to reflect that beauty and that wonder in music, she has succeeded admirably.
Sitting comfortably alongside her in the mix is Rachel Newton with one of her latest singles from her new album To The Awe which is out on 6 November. The Scottish singer and harpist has continued to push and shape the boundaries of her music, helped here by a team of talented collaborators in the form of drummer/co-producer Mattie Foulds, violinist/violist Lauren MacColl, horn player Mikey Owers and Sarah Hayes on backing vocals.
Ewan MacPherson opens the show with All the Kings (Scotland’s Winter), a track from his Norther album which although originally released in 2008 never got the attention it should have done for various reasons. Musically, Ewan’s pathway to folk has been very interesting which no doubt enriches what he has to offer and that can be clearly heard on this album. It is now getting a well-deserved second push and I strongly recommend you go and buy a copy and give it a spin. It has a plethora of well-respected musicians including Hannah Read, Alasdair White, Fraser Fifield, Iain Copeland and more. Check it out on Bandcamp here.
Ewan returns again as a member of Shooglenifty as we give their latest single ‘Caravan Up North’ a spin, the video for which we recently premiered. It’s taken from their forthcoming 9th studio album Acid Croft Vol 9 which is out later this month on 18th September 2020 – pre-order it here.
Our Artist of the Month for September is Joshua Burnell whose new album Flowers Where The Horses Sleep is out now. Danny Neill’s review (interview to follow next week) is a joy to read as he explores Burnell’s creativity and motivations, concluding:
In essence, I think what I admire the most about Joshua Burnell is that he’s fighting the good fight for all us folk lovers, taking risks and boldly reaching out to grab the attention and imagination of more than just our, already won, community. The method in his ambition is creating brilliant accessible music, bursting at the seams with ideas, imagery and an assured ability with melody and song structure, I sincerely hope that he catches the ears of many more people going forward. Outstanding.
Turning to the accordion (accompanied by viola) is a track from Spectres, the forthcoming release from Tom Moore and Archie Moss which really is an exhilarating listen, not least for their exploratory approach in instrumental folk whose electro-acoustic approach sits well alongside the aforementioned artists as well as the one that follows. While not a folk musician, Edinburgh-based Callum Easter‘s retro-futuristic Here Or Nowhere album is on another level to anything else I’ve heard and when I think one of his songs fits in well to one of my mixes I jump at the chance – this accordion track was perfect.
The Ciderhouse Rebellion are incredibly hard-working but never short of inspiring new ideas and their latest sees them joined by Adam Summerhayes daughter and poet Jessie Summerhayes. The results are truly enriching, their music has always had a sensory feeling of escape and that is deepened still further by Jessie whose readings are perfectly pitched for their music. It’s a sensory delight from start to finish – I know this will be an album I will be reaching for when the nights begin to draw in as once heard it will draw you back time and again. The album, titled rúnian (Anglo-Saxon for ’whisper’), is out on September 25th, 2020, pre-order now from https://theciderhouserebellion.com/discs/.
Paul Armfield made a welcome return recently with a beautifully presented album called Domestic (reviewed here by Mike Davies). We had the pleasure of premiering the spectacular video for You – as I said then…it’s one of the loveliest songs I’ve heard in a very long time as he presents what he calls, “a long-overdue love-song to his wife of 25 years”.
Taken from The Trembling Earth, the second E.P from Sairie featuring Emma Morton (vocals, autoharp), Jon Griffin (vocals, guitar) and Andy Thomas (bass), is Flowers of the Spring. Folk Radio UK were due to curate a stage at this year’s Sidmouth Folk Festival which was sadly cancelled and Sairie were one the bands booked for that event so it’s an added pleasure to be able to include new music from them here – go and explore more of their music on Bandcamp.
The other two new releases featured in the mix are Sam Amidon‘s Maggie – taken from his forthcoming self-titled album which he considers the ‘fullest realization to date of his artistic vision’. The album, which comprises of his radical reworkings of nine mostly traditional folk songs, is performed with his band of longtime friends and collaborators.
And finally, leading out the show is the wonderfully inspiring Jenny Sturgeon with Being, a track from her new album The Living Mountain which was inspired by trailblazing nature writer Nan Shepherd’s book of the same name and Jenny’s experience growing up near, and walking in, the Cairngorms. We are going to be featuring more on the album soon but this track formed the perfect ending as we drift out on a field recording which was made within the Cairngorms National Park.
Also included is a track from Joshua Burnside‘s EP Far O’er the Sounding Main which Matt McGinn reviewed for us here and a track from Skipper’s Alley’s latest offering The Oul Fip, reviewed here by Richard Hollingham.
Enjoy.
Folk Show Playlist
00:00 Ewan MacPherson – All the Kings (Scotland’s Winter)
04:32 Shooglenifty – Caravan Up North
09:50 The Ciderhouse Rebellion with Jessie Summerhayes – The Fire of Venegeance
13:09 Joshua Burnell – Labels
16:27 Paul Armfield – You
19:14 Tom Moore & Archie Moss – giga
23:39 Callum Easter – Promises
26:15 Bróna McVittie – Falling for Icarus
29:48 Rachel Newton – The Early Morning
34:21 Sairie – For the Morning
35:38 Sam Amidon – Maggie
40:25 Joshua Burnside – Kitty May
41:56 Skipper’s Alley – Madam, I’m a Darling!
45:07 Jenny Sturgeon – Being