Following on from their equally thematic album (Take Yourself A Wife) Megson’s Longshot takes another topic as its key – this time it’s working life that is played out in the polished narratives and well-crafted arrangements.

The eponymous debut album from young folk trio Tyde is an exciting and dynamic breakthrough piece of work. Finalists in the BBC Radio 2 Young Folk Awards in 2009 Tyde comprise of Heather Gessey on fiddle and vocals, Seth Tinsley on guitar and Andrew Waite on accordion.

Legendary singer-songwriter Graham Nash’s emotionally charged solo debut ‘Songs For Beginners’ was first released in 1971 and came on the heels of a temporary split with his CSN band mates, David Crosby and Stephen Stills, and a permanent break with his then-love, Joni Mitchell. The album was a hit, climbing to #15 on the Billboard chart and introducing the now-classic songs “Military Madness”, “Simple Man”, “Used To Be A King”, …

Frukie listeners will be familiar with the 2007 Grinderman side project of Nick Cave, Warren Ellis, Martyn Casey and Jim Sclavunos which has graced our playlist in the past. A follow-up (Grinderman 2) has been announced with a single release titled Heathen Child on 30th August and an album release on 13th September titled Grinderman 2: Here Come the Wolfman.

London based singer songwriter David Thomas Broughton is a rare breed of artist whose flaws are charmingly kept intact thanks to healthy doses of spontaneity whether in the recording studio where he often lays down a track in one take, or on the stage which he too treats as a playground of sound, looping what noises he can from his throat, guitar and an amalgamation of objects stuffed into a …

Whilst Open House Festival is being celebrated for its breadth of Americana and Indie Folk acts which will give most festivals a run for their money, it also has a great traditional Irish music line-up. To kick things off this year the award-winning fiddle trio Fidil will be performing. Fidil are Cíarán Ó Maonaigh, Aidan O’Donnell and Damien McGeehan who have been making quite a name for themselves recently with …

The mighty Saltfishforty, comprising of Orcadians Douglas Montgomery on fiddle/viola and Brian Cromarty on guitar, mandola and vocals have steadily been wowing audiences with their infectious and feisty rhythms since the release of their debut album Goose Music way back in 2003.

Devendra Banhart may have cut his luscious locks but he is still the same, folky, psychedelic, Jim Morrison channelling, animal loving hippy he ever was. One member of a modern incarnation of the Laurel Canyon set, which today includes Vashti Bunyan, Vetiver and Joanna Newsom to name but a few, Banhart’s distinguishable hirsute 1970’s throwback look was the only thing lacking at a jam-packed Koko on Sunday night. Everything else: …

Seattle’s churning out some pretty decent musicians of late and delightful Bella Union are adding artist after great artist to their roster by the bucket load so Pearly Gate Music proves a perfect union between the label and the city of the moment. The moniker of Zach Tillman, younger brother of Josh; the Fleet Foxes drummer and acclaimed solo artist, released his impressive self titled debut earlier this year on …

It was a slightly subdued East Neuk audience that welcomed Spiers & Boden and Saltfishforty to the stage at the Byre Theatre, St Andrews on Friday, perhaps that was due to the heat of the warm July night. The boys, however, didn’t take long to rouse the audience and by the end of the night the quartet had the normally reserved St Andrew’s audience taping and clapping away they way …

Troubadour Rose are Bryony Afferson, Lizzy O Connor, Eddie Edwards, Gary Bridgewood and Magnus Alanko. Sometimes when you come across a newly discovered band you get a feeling in your gut that you’ve found something special. I get this feeling about this bunch. In their own words:

UK record label Bella Union, now in their 13th year are one of the most recognised independent labels going, not least for their discovery of Fleet Foxes which earned the label its first Platinum record, but also for their impeccable roster of artists ranging from the highly acclaimed Andrew Bird and Explosions in the Sky, to the lesser known likes of their new recruits exposed at their Evening at Union …