Tom Russell’s epic The Rose Of Roscrae is the crowning achievement of one of America’s most potent songsmiths, a brilliant and dramatic, western folk opera with an all star cast. It could just be the single most important Americana release of all time.

Listen to a track premiere from Americana artist Matthew McNeal with his new single Imaginary Friend. The track is from his forthcoming album, C​ompadre, which is slated for release this June.

For his second album A Day Like Tomorrow Fabian Holland returns with more magical guitar playing, a much bigger sound and another superb set of songs and the notable addition of percussionist Fred Claridge, a young and up coming star himself, while Jacob Stoney’s keyboards add variety and texture to the bigger sound that producer Mark Hutchinson has helped Fabian realise.

You can hear award-winning folk music artist Lisa Knapp this week on BBC Radio 4 as she reflects on her own fondness for the shipping forecast and how it has inspired others. She is joined by poet Sean Street, songwriter Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull and more.

His last album saw him reinterpreting songs by his own favourite writers and singers, but here on his fifth album, Scott returns to his own pen for a collection of ten numbers. Songs that gets deep inside you.

Keston Cobblers’ Club announce new album ‘Wildfire’ and we have a first taste with their forthcoming single. Plus we’ve news of their own festival ‘Camp Wildfire’, a 1950’s-style camp and swing ‘Adventure Questival’ in a secret Kent forest location.

Our Song of the Day is Lord Franklin – a live recording of John Renbourn which was filmed at the Prince Alberts Bar, Victoria Rooms, Bristol on 5th Feb 91. As you will see, he could also tell a great story.

More Record Store Day gems from Fledg’ling Records including Bob and Ron Copper and Shirley Collins – English Songs – the first time this iconic record has been made available as a vinyl EP since its first release.

Topic are really spoiling us on Record Store Day this Saturday 18th April. They have announced a limited vinyl reissue of a seminal folk album, Anne Briggs’ self-titled LP, originally issued by Topic in 1971. This is a gem in the Topic crown, one you don’t want to miss.

We’ve a special guest mix from Sharron Kraus – singer of traditional folk songs, a songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. The mix is loosely themed around Beltane and the month of May. As well as drawing on the folk traditions of England and Appalachia, Sharron’s own music is influenced by gothic literature, surrealism, myth and magick. Enjoy.

Loyalty is an album full of wonderful, enigmatic murkiness, an album that should earn The Weather Station a place at the top table of Canadian songwriters. From the start her songwriting is assured and the musicianship – aided by Afie Jurvanen of Bahamas and Feist collaborator Robbie Lackritz – creates just the right balance of iciness and warmth.

To say Marika Hackman’s album ‘We Slept At Last’ is a warts and all album is an understatement. The flashlight’s glare is upturned and fixed on that frightful grimacing profile we all know only too well. Yet the radiant glow seems to embrace the blemishes and frailties. In fact it goes deeper, to reveal the unpredictable, eccentric and beautiful person hidden behind them.