Martin Simpson is to release his eagerly awaited new solo album entitled Trails and Tribulations on September 1st, via Topic Records. The album features a host of special guests plus we have an exclusive first listen to his cover of Jackson C. Frank’s ‘Blues Run The Game’.

Next month sees Stratford Arts House, in partnership with Riverside Campsite, celebrate their first Stratford Folk Festival which will be headlined by Folk legends Show of Hands and Cara Dillon.

Bill MacKay is a highly-regarded guitarist-composer-improviser based in Chicago, watch his latest video Powder Mill Park from his latest album Esker which is out now on Drag City Records.

There is no-one quite like Avital Raz in the world of music right now, and she should be applauded for the intelligence and singularity of her artistic vision. The Fallen Angel’s Unravelling Descent is a genuinely original musical statement, full of wise, exotic and gleefully mordant songs that manage to be simultaneously challenging and melodic.

Our Song of the Day is a premiere from Indiana-born-and-bred David Corley with ‘Down with the Universe’ from his new album Zero Moon spawned by a surreal experience of dying, on stage, and coming out of that, somehow alive but not unscathed. He’s on tour now.

As advance tickets are already selling fast for many of Sidmouth Folkweek’s Pre-Festival specials we take a look at some of the other top names performing at the Ham and Bulverton roots dance party nights.

27-time Grammy Award winner Alison Krauss recently performed on Jimmy Kimmel Live, delivering a stellar live version of the title track of her brand new album, ‘Windy City’, which is out now on Decca/Capitol.

On Swimming in Mercury, Boo Hewerdine offers lush arrangements, affectionate homages to different musical styles from the years gone by, and a mix of playfulness and quiet poignancy in the lyrics. An eloquent album.

On his new album, Taking the Long Way Home, Canadian singer/songwriter Richard Laviolette combines roots/country/gospel music with earthy/organic musical accompaniment to deliver a heart-warming, energising album. Food for the soul.

Watch the latest video from Alex Rex (Alex Neilson / Trembling Bells) for Lucy, a song taken from his debut solo album Vermillion which is out now on Tin Angel Records.

With their self-titled album now released into the big wide world, The Harmed Brothers reveal their new video for ‘In the wind’ which was filmed in newly opened Morehouse Barbers, in the North Portland neighbourhood of St. Johns.

Beinn Alba marks a slight change for Scottish folk singer Davy Holt as he shares his self-penned songs for the first time. While he may not come festooned with the reverence accorded to fellow contemporary Scottish folk acts his music is no less worthy of recognition.