November 2020

A terrific listen for a lockdown winter night, dreaming of a return to outside summer music, hopefully, next year. Make sure Merry Hell are playing where you go; I will be.

The nominations for the 2020 RTÉ Radio 1 Folk Awards have been announced including a Lifetime Achievement Award for Steve Cooney.

Arbutus Yarns reveal new film project celebrating the life of Irish folk singer and songwriter Liam Weldon. Watch a clip in which Irish Traveller singer and song collector Thomas McCarthy pays tribute to Weldon.

An album to savour and immerse in rather than seeking out immediate pleasures, at one point she sings “I’ll never be in season, I’m forever ripinin’”; a heady fruit indeed.

…regardless of the fact that as an atheist I cannot emotionally plug into much of the album’s lyrical content, speaking simply as a human being William Prince’s “Gospel First Nation” is probably the most relatable record I’ve heard all year.

Our Song of the Day is from Arborea with ‘When I Was On Horseback’, filmed in Lewiston Maine in 2013 in the old clock tower of the Lewiston City Hall.

Thrill Jockey have announced a new collaboration between Portland guitarist Marisa Anderson and Los Angeles-via-Nashville guitarist William Tyler.

The award-winning SEALL Festival of Small Halls goes online this month featuring Hamish Napier, Angus MacKenzie, Inge Thomson, Su-a Lee, Rachel Newton, Lauren MacColl, Megan Henderson, Seàn Gray and Ewan Robertson & more.

Ovans has never failed to impress with his ability to either fire up the heart or cut to the emotional quick. Albums like this are the reason why some of us get out of bed in the morning.

Taken from their latest EP, watch A Different Thread’s latest video for the folk ballad ‘Cruel Mother’, their version which is influenced by Piedmont blues and Appalachian music is all the richer for it.

Watch Ralph McTell’s new single “The Unknown Soldier”, released for Armistice Day and featuring Sir Billy Connolly, Sir Anthony Hopkins & Liam Neeson. All proceeds go to the Royal British Legion.

Bonfrost leaps out of the speakers and demands attention, keeping the energetic and creative levels up throughout its twelve tracks. One to win your ears and heart once you surrender to its many charms.

Watch the latest video from young folk troubadour Josh O’Keefe for ‘Build a Wall’, a thought-provoking tune at a pivotal time in history.

It would take a stone to remain unmoved by its magic. The Wavy Bow Collection is a vital display of top-class Irish Traditional music played with skill and passion