He declares The Brudenell his favourite room to play in, and the crowd roar as the feeling is mutual: we are being treated ourselves, by the presence of one of the Great American Writers of his generation….. John Darnielle: David Sedaris with a guitar.

The Long-Awaited Album is nothing short of a polished tribute to the bluegrass form. Upheld by the rhythmic and melodic prowess of the Steep Canyon Rangers and the virtuosic flair of Steve Martin, bluegrass could not have hoped for a better pairing. But if it had, Martin would surely have already written a song about it.

John Thumb has written veritable earworms that are difficult to dislodge on this debut offering. This young man is evidently a talented songsmith, in fact, regarded by Other Songs Music Co. main man Scott Orr as a “classic songwriter…born in the wrong era.” 

We talk to Kathryn Tickell about Magnetic North East, borne out of a love for the region: its music, arts, culture, heritage, places and people. They are also launching a new poetry anthology – ‘Land of Three Rivers’ is a celebration of North-East England in poetry.

Pilgrims’ Way are back this month (but not as you know them) with Stand and Deliver – a concept album which draws on the rich seam of English traditional highwayman songs (and the not so traditional). Watch their new video: Shoot them All! (Box On Her Head).

The Foxglove Trio’s latest offering, Distant Havens, is both highly accomplished and musically complex for such limited instrumentation. This could deservedly well find itself among next year’s BBC Radio 2’s Folk Award nominations.

The fiery Highland five-piece powerhouse Elephant Sessions announce a November UK Tour from Inverness to Bath, from Bury to Skye, and including an appearance at London’s Folk and Roots Festival.

Ahead of their highly anticipated self-titled debut album due out Friday 13th October, brothers Brían and Diarmuid Mac Gloinn, who form Ye Vagabonds, have released the second single “Half Blind” with an accompanying video made by filmmaker Myles O’Reilly.

Trio Dhoore, a young and talented band of musical brothers from Flanders in Belgium, embark on their UK tour this month. Their intuitive interplay and great stage presence have made them a leading Flemish music export. Don’t miss them.

Incredibly, Wounded Healer is Immigrant’s fourteenth album. If there is any justice then this set of delicate, beautiful songs will see Immigrant finally reach the audience he deserves.

Mountain Fires is a swift follow-up to The Mining Co.’s  2016  debut, recorded in the same Spanish studio. It finds the woozily deep dusty-voiced Michael Gallagher in a nostalgic and reflective mood for his Americana-stained songs.

Songs My Ruiner Gave To Me sees Naomi Bedford & Paul Simmonds draw on the influences and inspirations of their first two remarkable albums to create something entirely new, and simply superb.