Galley Beggar are a six piece folk rock band obssessed with the old sound from the likes of Fairport Convention, Steeleye Span, Nick Drake, Jethro Tull, Fotheringay, Bert Jansch and Pentangle. Their debut album Reformation House is a step forward from that magical period of folk music history.

The Gentle Good is the moniker of Gareth Bonello who hails from Cardiff. His latest album ‘Tethered for the Storm’ is an exceptional album that harkens back to the 60’s folk revival and is reminiscent of the likes of Nick Drake and Bert Jansch.

Vetiver’s forthcoming album The Errant Charm is due for release next Tuesday June 14th. They have released a new video for their new track Wonder Why which you can watch and download below.

Beirut have announced the release of their first album in four years titled ‘The Rip Tide’. Listen to the new track East Harlem which also features on their new limited edition single. Plus get their UK tour dates.

I Draw Slow’s new album ‘Redhill’ is, without doubt, their best release to date. This original Irish five-piece band have raised the stakes and have come out on top form. Their original musicianship and songs make them stand out from the rest. A very bright future ahead!

Jonathan Day’s ‘Carved in Bone’ is definately in the exceptional league and sets a very high standard that should bring him the much deserved wider recognistion across the folk circuit. This is a great album to get lost within.

While on first appearances an ambitious album, perhaps uncertain of what it wants to be, it succeeds in displaying an expression of sound and an intricacy with detail that shows deft skill in experimentation, something more than making up for moments that don’t quite gel.

The Phoenix Foundation have been purveying their own brand of psychedelic pop which has been catching the interest of the British press. Their album ‘Buffalo’ which is out now on Memphis Industries has been declared by The Guardian as “An album that already seems destined to be among the best of 2011”.

Despite the choice of instrument on Ukulele Songs it is Eddie Vedder’s songs and sonorous voice that dominate your attention as well as some great duets with Glen Hansard and Cat Power.

Jo Bywater hails from Yorkshire, her songs expose her empathy with bluesy folk-tunes and portray the singer as a mature artist who knows her flaws and virtues yet knows how to play to the gallery.

There is a gentle subtlety about Snorri Helgason’s performances, both in his singing and his playing. It also captures some of that classic essence that calls to mind the likes of Neil Young and Harry Nilsson, both of whom he has been compared to. He is currently recording his sophomore solo album with Icelandic indie-pop great Sindri Már Sigfússon (Seabear, Sin Fang) manning the consoles.

It’s been a while since we shared a playlist so here is what played out yesterday on Folk Radio UK. This isn’t all our music but it will give you a taster of the breadth of what we play. We have a whole heap of new music waiting to be included, a large amount of which will be added this week.