Gretchen Peters has reacted to the adoring reception of Blackbirds by writing an even better album in Dancing with the Beast. This is assured, highly impressive work from all involved.

The range of musical genres covered, along with the technical prowess of the playing results in an album that is constantly riveting and fits a lot of beautiful music from six years’ of recording sessions, into thirty-nine minutes, without the suggestion of a seam. Highly recommended.

While certainly being the most challenging of Ryley Walker’s albums so far, with music this heady and contemporary blending to make something so cohesive and exciting, Ryley’s ‘Southside Chicago’ album is also arguably his best yet.

‘A Romantic Destination’ see’s Jamie Lockhart of Mi Mye, reimagining music from a book of songs that has been passed down by his family in the Highlands for 166 years and then performing them at a special event in Wakefield with just his voice and a fiddle.

Will Pound’s enormous enthusiasm for traditional dance has enticed the very best into this project. Through The Seasons will open many people’s eyes to the power of traditional English dance music.

The legendary American folk singer Michael Hurley is in the UK and Ireland on tour during June including two nights at London’s Cafe Oto as well as gigs in Bristol, Manchester, Edinburgh, Cork, Dublin and more.

Freedom Girl was shot in the Haizhu District of Guangzhou, China, during the Chinese New Year Flower Festival and brings to life the cover and protagonist of Liv Lombardi’s Freedom Girl EP. The ‘singer’ is actually Liv’s identical twin sister, Ariana, who lives and works in China.

We have a ticket giveaway for Folk by the Oak festival on Sunday 15 July featuring Amy Macdonald, Billy Bragg, Eliza Carthy & The Wayward Band, Julie Fowlis, Sam Kelly & The Lost Boys, Catrin Finch and Seckou Keita, The Young’uns and more

Enjoy our latest Folk Show featuring John Renbourn (from a new live album), Michael Hurley, Ryley Walker, Steeleye Span, Oysterband, Calexico, Bob Dylan, Erland & The Carnival, Lal & Mike Waterson, Elle Osborne, Alasdair Roberts, Nancy Elizabeth and more.

Listen to the late John Renbourn performing The Cuckoo and Banks of the Sweet Primroses on a hot night in a Kyoto coffee house from 1978. From Live in Kyoto 1978, out on June 22 via Drag City.

Folk Radio has been selected as an official finalist in the 2018 Mixcloud Online Radio Awards. This year there is a Listeners’ Choice Award, which will be chosen by the public. If you’ve enjoyed our shows then please vote for us.

Arcadia is a new film from Scottish director Paul Wright. Using over 100 archive film clips from the last 100 years and a score by Adrian Utley (Portishead) and Will Gregory (Goldfrapp) it explores the beauty and brutality, magic and madness of our changing relationship with the land and each other.