Lau’s travelling festival is back again from Fri 29 – Sun 31 May 2015 as they curate one of their broadest musical events to date at Bristol’s Colston Hall. Expect exhilarating collaborations and a freewheeling mood as artists like Omar Souleyman, Tinariwen, Sun Kil Moon and Plaid create an intoxicating atmosphere at this inimitable festival.

Old England Grown New has a quiet confidence and a strong sense of self-worth which, at a time when political and moral bankruptcy are the order of the day for our kleptocratic rulers, sets it apart from the herd. Gregg Cave provides his vision of 21st century Britain viewed through the lens of our collective history – a striking and memorable debut album.

Watch the latest documentary from Myles O’Reilly in which he accompanies Martin Hayes & Dennis Cahill​ on their tour of India. A tour that Martin has been particularly looking forward to as he confesses his 25 year love affair with Indian classical music. They are joined by Irish musician and composer Matthew Noone and the fusion of music that takes place is spectacular.

Our Song of the Day is a track premiere from Cameron Blake and is taken from his forthcoming album ‘Alone On The World Stage’. As a solo singer with just guitar he harnesses a very striking and emotive power, both through his prose-like lyrics and his delivery which carry the weight of those words. He has an immediacy that’s impossible to ignore.

Recording in Nashville with Band Of Horses Lotte Mullan tells finely etched tales of heartbreak and hope on Love’s Bonfire, one of our Featured Albums of the Month, an album ablaze with superb songcraft throughout. Read our in-depth review and interview.

VIP: Very Interesting Persons takes the trawler’s approach with Findlay Napier & Boo Hewerdine dragging their net across the globe in search of characters worthy of a song. As an album it marries musicality with individuality, hits the sweet spot early and keeps giving ‘til the end.

Pokey LaFarge will release his new album ‘Something in the Water’ via Rounder Records on April 7th. Watch his new video for the title track and lead single. He told NPR that inspiration for the song came from a “band member’s girlfriend, who at one point literally had an El Camino in her front yard up on blocks.”

Our Song of the Day is Little Deaths, the opening track from Emily Barker’s new album The Toerag Sessions which is available to pre-order from Bandcamp today. The album was recorded live direct to tape at the legendary Toe Rag Studios in London. It’s a totally analogue using authentic 50s and 60s gear – the real deal.

Southdowns Folk Festival looks set to be another great year with headliners including Show of Hands, Breabach, O’Hooley & Tidow, The Young’Uns, the Broonzies, Craobh Rua, Pilgrims’ Way and many more. Check our video preview.

Rightly celebrated as one of the best banjo players in the UK as well as being a superb singer, songwriter and guitarist, Dan Walsh releases his new album Incidents & Accidents this month supported by an extensive UK tour. Watch his new video for Time To Stay.

A new name on the folk circuit, David Roberts makes his debut with the obliquely beautiful and poetic St Clears, an album inspired by a stay in the Carmarthenshire town of the same name. The album is full of references to nature, but cast in impressionistic lines that conjure a dreamy haze to wander through. A dappled musical dream that you won’t want to wake up from.

Since the current Fairport Convention line-up (Leslie, Pegg, Sanders, Nicol, Conway) came together in 1998 they’ve not put a foot wrong. Indeed, each successive album has, arguably, been better than the last. Myths And Heroes proves no exception as they set yet another high bar to be surpassed as they contemplate a follow up to coincide with their 50th anniversary.