With Sidmouth Folk Festival just around the corner and The Ham venue grabbing much of the attention, it’s The Bulverton which is Sidmouth’s party central! From Late Night Extra ceilidhs and some of the most thrilling concert performances on the UK festival calendar.

Ben Walker has said that “Making this album has felt a bit like a treasure hunt”.  On the evidence presented here, there is no question that the treasure has well and truly been found. Ben’s reputation for melding tradition with ground-breaking, innovative, indeed passionate, music, is truly enhanced with this exceptional release.

David heads to Black Deer Festival at Kent’s Eridge Park and shares some his personal highlights including Kris Kristofferson and The Strangers, John Butler Trio, The Staves, Band of Horses, Trials of Cato, John Smith, Jerron ‘Blind Boy’ Paxton and more.

Our Song of the Day comes from Brooklyn-based singer/songwriter Adir L.C. with Best Version (of My Short Life), the opening track from his second full-length album “Basket Star”. Watch the accompanying video here…the lyrics remain with you long after the final note fades out.

Will Kemp interviews singer, fiddler, banjo/guitar playing songwriter Hannah Martin – one half of Edgelarks who recently released their fifth studio album Feather. Plus, watch their new video for Oyster.

Whilst some may have stopped listening to words in songs, the strength of ‘The Reckoning’ lies in John Tams’ skill in building a strong connection between the words and music, it’s as good a demonstration as you’re likely to find.

A coffee with the ever-engaging Jim Moray resulted in a chat about his new album The Outlander, a project germinated from a vintage guitar that has resulted in a distilling of ideas.

Resonant Rogues, Sparrow and Keith J. Smith, return with a breathtaking album which clocks up the musical air miles from France to Appalachia. Catch them on their UK tour in July.

Watch the accompanying video for “Happier Now,” the new single from Devin Tuel who resides in rural Pennsylvania, and is better known to the larger world as Native Harrow. Utterly timeless and refreshingly original.

Cara Luft and JD Edward make a welcome return as The Small Glories as they celebrate a sense of place. On the final track ‘Winnipeg,’ they sing “It’s the music and the vibe where our spirits come alive”, something that seems a pretty good description of the album too.

The latest Folk Show features new music from Rhiannon Giddens & Francesco Turrisi, AKA Trio, Beth Porter, Anna Mieke, Ida Mae, Native Harrow, Gnoss, Curse of Lono, Doug Tieli, Emily Mae Winters, Odette Michell, From the Ground (Ali Hutton and Laura-Beth Salter), Fran Foote and Belinda Kempster and more.

Sea Songs: Anatomy of a Drowning Man is the forthcoming new album from Belfast-based M.CAMBRIDGE (Arborist). Featuring sea songs based on old shanties, Ulster weaver-poet poems, traditional ballads and original compositions, it’s one of the most beautiful and remarkable albums I’ve heard this year.