The Balky Mule is Bristol based Sam Jones, he recently performed to great tracks for the Brixton Sessions site covering summery versions of ‘Dust Bird Baths’ and ‘Wireless’, both taken from his 2009 album The Length of the Rail.

Quadron is a child that’s been made by Coco and Robin. Both were part of the soul collective “Boom Clap Bachelors” who in early 2008 secured much respect and success with their debut “Kort Før Dine Læber”. Here they began their collaboration, and Robin fell for Coco’s beautiful voice and ability to improvise with playful ease.

Futurebirds released their debut album, Hampton’s Lullaby, on Autumn Tone Records on 27th July. The label sum them up nicely: Covered in kudzu and swathed in a blanket of humidity, Spanish moss, feedback and reverb exists Futurebirds.

Less addled than Tobacco and less amoebic than Seven Fields Of Aphelion, Dreamend is the most overtly normal branch of the knotty weirdo giving tree that is Black Moth Super Rainbow. It’s a project of honeycomb banjo lullabies like “Magnesium Light,” which we are going to save for when we have kids and need to alleviate their (our) tiring brains. So I Ate Myself, Bite By Bite (SIAMByB), the first …

I introduced you to Stornoway back in March when some (PR folk no doubt) were referring to them as the next Mumford and Son. Whilst I don’t hold any comparison, as I basically can’t see one, I can see them growing in similar pop status. They admit to enjoying musical experimentation, this is apparently due to their scientific backgrounds.

Jamaica’s legendary Jolly Boys are rapidly becoming a festival favourite this year. You only need to check the latest videos doing the rounds to see why.

Tired Pony began life as a doodle in Gary Lightbody’s (Snow Patrol frontman) jotter. During idle moments on Snow Patrol’s year-long tour cycle for their last album, A Hundred Million Suns, Gary began writing songs for this imaginary band. Forward to January 4th 2010, a cast of characters assembled at Portland’s Type Foundry studio;

Secretly Candian previously announced the release of Antony and the Johnsons’ album and 144-page hardcover book, Swanlights in May. Since then, the date has been changed to October 12th in North America and the 11th in Europe. To the devotees-they assure you its worth the week-long wait!

Grubby Little Hands hail from Philidelphia and released Imaginary Friends back in October last year. Despite having had an album out there for nearly a year they still seem to maintain a low profile. We were pleasantly surprised when we heard them and I’m sure Fukie fans out there will agree they have something special!

From her current home base in a 200-year-old farmhouse in rural Vermont, Anaïs Mitchell writes songs that are as intimate as conversations and as rich in detail as short stories. The daughter of “hippie back-to-the-landers” whose father was a novelist and English professor, she remembers her family’s home (another farmhouse in the same state) containing “a library full of novels, and lots of old folk and psychedelic rock albums.

The folktronica heroes, The Books, are back with another album after five years. Their new album titled The Way Out is released on Temporary Residence Limited. Over the course of three albums in nearly a decade’s time, the Books have grown to become one of modern music’s most genuine innovators.

Matthew & The Atlas have announced details of a very special London show on Thursday, 12th August. Taking place at the beautiful upstairs room at Paradise in North London,