With a poignant reminder that it’s not only the future of humanity that’s at risk, Neil Young delivers fiery, apocalyptic visions, tempered with hope for a better world. Some people want to hear songs of love, some want to hear about “the corporations hijacking all your rights”: either way, Earth has everything you need.

John McCusker shares some of his favourites from this year’s Cambridge Folk Festival with a special spotify playlist and talks about each track. Featuring Christy Moore, Sam Lee, Baaba Maal, Glen Hansard, Heidi Talbot, Mary Chapin Carpenter and more.

Listen to ‘Emboniga’ by Mendrugo, a trio led by the infamous Hermanos Herrero – Víctor & José Luis – along with Josephine Foster. A song about the rural tradition of muck splattering….a goat deterrent used in olive groves.

From the quiet, understated splendour of Carry Your Kin, to the sonic majesty of For You; The Breath have achieved a harmonious alliance between contrasting elements that rolls across the senses like clouds caress low hills – always moving, changing, evolving; and utterly fascinating.

Heidi Talbot’s fifth solo LP plays to the tune of quiet skips and giant leaps. It crosses the ages, jumps into the unknown, traverses oceans and musical styles – from folk, through Americana, to classic pop, and back again.

Our Song of the Day is Cold Old Fire by Dublin-based band Lynched. Watch the powerfully moving Director’s Cut video (by Luke McManus) which opens to the traditional funeral lament Caoineadh na dTrí Mhuire.

It’s back and there’s still time to enter! The Purbeck Valley Folk Festival (25-28 August) is celebrating the UK folk scene with its very own talent contest, Purbeck Rising.

Seamus Cater’s latest record, ‘The Three Things You Can Hear’, introduces a unique and singular sound, a truly original record with a cosmopolitan and at times improvisational feel.

Show of Hands have today released single and video ‘The Gamekeeper’ to mark the centenary of the first day of WW1’s Battle of the Somme. They are also performing in a special concert at Exeter Cathedral tonight.

Fledg’ling Records announce new Anne Briggs EP. Rare, simple, unadorned and intimate performances, aching with poignancy, make their first appearance on record, fifty years after recording and capture Anne Briggs singing at just the right time.

The stories contained here might well refer to a well-known period of history, but the angles at which they come at that familiar narrative, the microcosms they create, are truly individual and at times unprecedented. War Stories is a courageous, often demanding and ultimately satisfying project.

Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros have unveiled their new video for Wake Up The Sun which was shot on Location in Chimishli and Chisinau – Moldova With the Chimishli Village Theatre group.