Born in Pittsburgh and raised in Texas by Yorkshire parents and now resident in Sheffield, Ash Gray trades in Texan alt-country. The catchy hooks, Gray’s soft-toned cosmic cowboy vocals and the infectious tunes are a treat for the ears.

We talk to American singer songwriter Mary Gauthier, our featured Artist of the Month, about her latest album, Rifles And Rosary Beads. A work that brings new songs to her audience, from a quite remarkable source.

On Wolf of the Cosmos, Bonnie “Prince” Billy pays tribute to a fellow minimalist – Norweigan vocalist Susanna Wallumrød. This is a touching homage and another worthy addition to Bonny “Prince” Billy’s already vast body of work.

Legendary singer, songwriter and performer John Prine is to release his highly anticipated new album, The Tree of Forgiveness, on April 13, his first featuring new material in over 13 years. Watch the lyric video for Summer’s End, the first single.

Celtic Connections features some 2,100 musicians and more than 300 events in 18 days. Dave McNally talks to Donald Shaw about the latest 25th festival, drawing on the challenges and rewards of being the Artistic Director and more.

Our Song of the Day comes from River Matthews, an artist for whom the stars seem to have aligned since the days of playing cover songs in local pubs. ‘Fool For You’ is the final single prior to the release of Imogen, his debut album. This young man is going places.

John Oates began his career as a folk/blues musician in Philadelphia in the 1960’s, before turning to the “blue-eyed soul” sound that defined Hall and Oates. Arkansas finds him returning to his roots with a special focus on his hero, Mississippi John Hurt.

Rachel catches up with folk supergroup ‘I’m With Her’ in London and chats to Aoife O’Donovan about their upcoming album See You Around. Aoife reveals how it was working alongside Sara Watkins and Sarah Jarosz and what they all learned from the experience.

Newly discovered and unpublished poems and lyrics written by Johnny Cash are transformed into ‘Johnny Cash: Forever Words’, a collaborative album featuring new music by Rosanne Cash, Alison Krauss & Union Station, Kris Kristofferson & Willie Nelson, Brad Paisley, John Mellencamp, Elvis Costello, The Jayhawks and more.

Our Song of the Day comes via a video premiere for ‘I Guess I Won’t Be Going Home’, the new single from Ryan Driver, taken from his forthcoming album Careless Thoughts, due for release through Tin Angel on 23 February 2018.

The nominees for the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards 2018 have been announced by Mark Radcliffe on the Radio 2 Folk Show. This year’s Awards ceremony, presented by Mark Radcliffe and Julie Fowlis, will take place at the Belfast Waterfront on Wednesday 4 April.

German violinist, composer and producer, Alex Stolze, is pleased to announce the release of his new album ‘Outermost Edge’, released 16th March 2018 on Nonostar Records. He is a truly groundbreaking instrumentalist and producer. Watch his latest video for ‘New’, directed by Andrea Huyoff.