Front Porch is a wonderfully conceived and unselfconscious piece of work that is heartfelt and honest. Joy Williams has really hit her stride with this one, the album brims with warmth, an unassuming beauty.

Bold Champions is a magnificent release, showcasing traditional, mainly English, folk music at its very best. The Dovetail Trio dare to boldly go where others fear to tread and will surely receive fully-deserved success and plaudits.

Throughout 2019 Amy Duncan will be releasing a series of music videos in collaboration with animator Tracy Foster. Watch the latest for “Labyrinth” which was inspired by a photo of reflections in a shop window – “like doorways into other worlds”, a theme which this beautifully imaginative animation follows.

A simple and homespun album, conjuring earlier, less complicated, more innocent times when folk would work side by side for the common good and come together to play and enjoy music at the end of the day, celebrating the life they had and the memories they cherished. There’s a  glow here.

Our Song of the Day comes from Joshua Burnell, Skylark & The Oak sees a return to Joshua’s original songwriting, influenced by storytelling and folklore. He is joined on vocals by singer Frances Sladen, watch the accompanying video here.

A hugely personal album with universally recognisable feelings that range from despondency to euphoria, it takes a while to seep inside your mind and spirit, but, as with a bruised and broken heart, it’s worth persevering so as to experience the relief of  it beating again.

Throughout ‘Natural Selection’, it’s Dodo Street’s absolute mastery of the instruments that shines through. While the virtuosity on display is breath-taking, it is the way that musical expertise is combined with a streak of anarchic fun that makes the album so entertaining.

Read the final diary entry from John Whalley’s Costa Del Folk experience in Ibiza featuring Belshazzar’s Feast, Richard Shindell, The Mighty Doonans, Track Dogs and more.

Richard Thompson’s The Cold Blue – Original Motion Picture Score is out now via New West Records. The 19-track score was written and arranged by Thompson for the acclaimed filmmaker Erik Nelson’s film of the same name.

With Solo, Amy Thatcher not only puts herself on the map as one of the masters of the accordion but she also further cements her reputation as a fearless experimenter within British folk music. A joy to listen to.

Small World Turning is another splendid collection of songs from one of the UK’s top songwriters, still very much at the top of her game and still refreshingly unafraid to tell unpalatable home truths and speak out in defence of her uncompromising take on today’s world.

Glasgow’s Buchanan Street was today transformed into the Piping Walk of Fame, with Hollywood-style stars revealing the headliners of this year’s Piping Live! which returns to the city 10 – 18 August 2019.