The Latest
We rewind to January 2013 and a special Simple Folk Radio show that was hosted by James Yorkston. The show was recorded in his home on the east coast of Scotland, from where he shared some of his favourite folk tunes. These included tracks from Rita Farrell, Willie Clancy, Mick O’Brien and Caoimhín O’Raghallaigh, HMS Ginafore, Nic Jones, Anne Briggs, Jean Ritchie, Dick Gaughan, Bess Cronin, Elle Osborne and more.
As with past compilations in this celebrated series, Imaginational Anthem vol. XIV : Ireland is a wonderfully diverse, quietly exciting set of songs. Cian Nugent, Caoimhe Hopkinson, NC Lawlor, Aonghus McEvoy, Junior Brother, Sean Carpio, David Murphy, Brenda Jenkinson, Damian O’Neil, Mark McKowski & Jerome McGlynn all make valuable contributions to a set that is a testament to the versatility of the guitar and an absolute pleasure to listen to.
We chat to Junior Brother, whose songs are known for veering between the intensely personal and the hotly political. On his third album, The End, the Dublin-based songwriter’s ragged and uncompromising delivery reaches new heights of unexpected beauty, strangeness and relevance. Throughout the interview, his answers to our questions were considered and wide-ranging.
Big Thief’s Double Infinity was always going to be different. While it’s leaner than their last, its sonic range is wider. It is an album dedicated to corporeal impermanence, and to its flipside: love and its constant presence. It goes without saying that it’s big on ideas. It’s also big on melodic innovation and collaborative spirit. And most importantly, it’s a record with a gigantic heart.
Carson McHone’s third album, Pentimento, is a dense, multi-faceted tapestry, with fragments of poetry, spoken verse, field recordings, pastoral folk, guitar and chamber pop, amply demonstrating the benefits of a more collaborative approach on this audacious gem that also reveals a level of sophistication, demonstrating that there are no real limits to McHone’s ambition.
DUG, featuring Lorkin O’Reilly and Jonny Pickett, have created something that is both ancient and modern with “Have At It!,” a weird and wonderful album that takes traditional music and stands it on its ear. Their playing never falters, remaining decidedly unbeholden to the forms and functions of the past even as it plays its way through them in a blazing trail.
Featuring Nathan Bowles, Jaime Fennelly and Joseph Westerlund, “at Public Records” is the latest live album from Setting, on which all four pieces stand out in very different ways, but together make a whole that is one hell of a listening experience. A worthy conclusion to a trio of live albums that feel as relevant and accomplished as their debut album, Shone a Rainbow Light On.
Chicago boogie-rockers Glyders announce their signing to Drag City and a new album, ‘Forever’, out November 21, 2025. The new power-trio, now featuring drummer Joe Seger, celebrates with the release of their first single and video, “Stone Shadow,” a T-Rex and new wave-influenced track promising a high-energy, good time.
With photography by Sophie Reichert, Danny Neill reports back from End of the Road, a brilliantly curated festival that still gets it right. Some of the shining highlights from a fully packed four days include Bug Club, Emma-Jean Thackray, Lisa O’Neill, Broadside Hacks & Mike Heron, Katy J Pearson, Jerron Paxton, Sharon Van Etten, Rosali, Scott Lavene, Muireann Bradley, Yoshika Cowell, Throwing Muses, Stewart Lee, Father John Misty and more.
New York-based collective toso toso announce their self-titled debut album, and share “lluvia de meteoritos”, a lead single that upholds their album promise of an avant-pop sound that blurs the lines between structured composition and free improvisation, blending moments of furious energy with tender intimacy.