After becoming aware of Charlie O’Brien through a recent song submission we fell under the spell of his version of Eileen Aroon. But he has many strings to his bow…including a documentary film he made filmed over the last three years in Cuba, Ireland and the U.S.
Fairport Convention, Jon Boden and The Conservatoire Folk Ensemble are among the acts headlining folk and roots festival, Imagined Isle, which returns to the Birmingham’s iconic Town Hall from Friday 12 to Sunday 14 May 2017.
We catch up with the formidable folk trio Lady Maisery – Hazel Askew, Hannah James and Rowan Rheingans. We talk folk music, creativity and ‘spirited agitators,’ or ‘spirited alligators’ as Rowan likes to say…
Listen in full to ‘Objects,’ the debut album from the Bristol-based musical ensemble The Nightjar. They use close harmonies, tight-interlocking guitars, deep bass and an intense lead vocal to paint fragile, haunting landscapes for their dream-like, ethereal songs of hope, loss and disaster.
Following his celebrated adventures in drama, translation, travel writing and prose poetry, Simon Armitage’s eleventh collection of poems, The Unaccompanied, heralds a return to his trademark contemporary lyricism. Watch Simon read ‘Thank You for Waiting’, an exclusive new poem.
Watch the video premiere for Mayfair at Rhayader 1927, a track from Toby Hay’s new album The Gathering to be released on 29th March 2017 via Cambrian Records. Both the tune and video, which features archive footage of the Rhayader Mayfair, are ‘wondrous and uncanny.’
In celebration of their tenth anniversary last year, The Shee commissioned six of their most favourite, influential composers to write original songs or tunes for the band. The results were spectacular, if you missed their tour last year then fear not…they are on the road again in April 2017.
Lucas and King are a Brighton-based duo who caught our attention following their video submission for Truly Not Yours.They sound refreshingly original and should be reaching a much wider audience.
Our Song of the Day comes from Manchester’s Ferocious Folk Foursome 4Square. It is a gorgeous cover of Richard Thompson’s ‘Farewell’ and it features on their new EP ‘X,’ released today to celebrate the 10th year as a touring band. On Tour Now.
Watch ‘Lancashire, God’s Country’ the new video from George Nigel Hoyle’s latest project ‘Cunning Folk.’ Taken from his forthcoming album ‘Ritual Land, Uncommon Ground’ the song and animation is about The Pendle Witch Trials of 1612. It’s also our Song of the Day.
Alasdair Roberts and Siobhan Miller were recent guests on Roddy Hart’s ‘The Quay Sessions’. Watch Alasdair performing ‘Farewell to Glasgow City’ and Siobhan ‘The Ramblin’ Rover.
We take a look at this year’s line-up for Underneath the Stars Festival which is run by Kate Rusby and her family-run record company Pure Records. With the likes of Lucy Rose, Marry Waterson & David A Jaycock, Show of Hands, Roddy Woomble and more, it’s shaping up beautifully.
