We recently caught up with Emily Barker who has just released her new album, Almanac with her all girl band, The Red Clay Halo. They are attracting more attention now then ever before making them a sought after act for festivals this year.

A Rookery hail from Calder Valley, West Yorkshire. Their new EP: Nabby Nook has a breadth of influences ranging from dark folk rock with a gothic twist to more subtle swaying charms reminiscent of early psych-folk.

Folk Rock band, The Butchers and the Builders have released their third album, Dead Reckoning. They used the recording style of the 1950s and 1960s, where the magic of a song was captured by the band playing together live and with minimal overdubbing. A Free download and offical video to Lullaby is included below:

After a string of head-turning, critically acclaimed releases on Hush Records, Portland’s Loch Lomond has brought their unique brand of raw symphonic chamber pop to Tender Loving Empire. The stunning track “Elephants & Little Girls,” the first single, is available to download and listen to below!

Following a series of albums exploring Eastern European folk music influence that have thrilled indie and world audiences alike, Albuquerque, New Mexico’s A Hawk and A Hacksaw present Cervantine, their first release on their own new label.

Back in November last year we told you about LAU collaborating with Adem. The new collaborative EP is titled Ghosts and is due out on 30th April 2011. You can hear a taster below.

Below is the playlist from yesterday to give you a flavour of what is being played on Folk Radio UK. As ususal, there is a growing number of new artists and tracks on the way in, many of whom will probably be new to you.

Tess’s debut album Magpie, has the making of a classic, and it grows on you still further after each listen. A beautiful and lovingly crafted album from a humble soul. Fans of Alexi Murdoch and Ray lamontagne will love it!

We’ll be heading down to the Grain Barge on Friday 4th March for another great night of entertainment featuring Boxcar Aldous Huxley / North Sea Navigator / Cat Green Bike. It promises to be an incredible evening so if you’re in the area, head on down!

This was a lovely surprise. I got a message to say Folk Radio UK was in the Guardian today. Guardian journalist, Elisabeth Mahoney, described Folk Radio as “back-to-back music of the most gentle, serene sort, and a marvellous companion for a few hours.”

Sufjan Stevens has announced his first UK And European tour in 5 years. Full details of all his appearances in April and May 2011 are below, including two dates at the Royal Festival Hall and previously announced headline sets at Primavera and The Great Escape festivals.

Middle Brother are a new super group consisiting of none other than John McCauley III of Deer Tick, Matt Vasquez of Delta Spirit and Taylor Goldsmith of Dawes. They played their first unannounced show at a tiny venue during 2010’s SXSW and are now set to release their debut record on March 1st, 2011!