Swallowtail, Jim White’s and Marisa Anderson’s latest offering, is an album of quiet assurance and power. Shaped through improvisation and musical conversation, it encapsulates everything there is to love about improvised instrumental music.
Arianne Churchman and Benedict Drew’s May is a hypnotically good album. It is a long, involving listen, panoramic in scope but thematically focussed, and it manages to be both celebratory and strange, a nod to our folkloric past and a mesmerising hymn to the present.
While Kevin Coleman’s Imaginary Conversations may contain only three tracks, it is one of the most varied albums of the year so far. It’s a sweeping and stunningly accomplished album, brimming with ideas, and offers a glimpse into multiple potential futures for American folk music.
Worlds Within Worlds turn their focus to the spiritual heartland of Gnawa music for their next release, featuring Abdel Benaddi, the most important hereditary Gnawa musician of his generation. Watch the accompanying video for Bouhala, the first single from ‘A Dream In Essaouira’.
Since it is May Day, we revisit conversations with folk artist and May enthusiast Lisa Knapp to briefly explore customs such as Padstow May Day celebrations, Jack in the Green traditions, rituals, and some of Lisa’s favourite folk songs related to May.
Nick Granata and Dawn Terry are the latest artists to feature on Jacken Elswyth’s The Betwixt & Between series. The series has thrown up a wide array of vital, surprising new folk music, and the latest release is one of its best yet.
Halocline, the debut album from Malin Lewis, our Artist of the Month, is a highly creative and singular forty minutes of music that’s unique in its character and emotion. Clever in its approach and balanced in its execution, in short, it’s quite exceptional.
Come Slack Your Horse! is a true landmark release from Goblin Band. While their music may be rooted in the past, Goblin Band represent a vibrant, exciting, and more accessible future for all who enjoy British folk music.
Listen to our latest Folk Show, featuring Anne Briggs, Martin Simpson, Arianne Chuchman & Benedict Drew, Weyes Blood, Goblin Band, Nick Granata, Carme López, Lunatraktors, Lemoncello, Craven, Luce Mawdsley and more.
Canada’s The Deep Dark Woods return with another fine selection of folk songs – Broadside Ballads Vol III. It’s a quietly intoxicating album featuring the warm-voiced Ryan Boldt, his band, and special guest Erin Rae.
Listen to Nadine Khouri’s stunning new single, a stripped-down recording of ‘Lo-fi Moon (Live at Karma Studios)’, on which she trades grand piano for guitar, delivering an intense and intimate performance – featuring the harmonies of Lizzy O’Connor and Joe Harvey-Whyte on pedal steel.
