KLOF

David Gibb updates us on Day Four of Beyond The Marches / Dros y Ffin which starts off with the word ‘Rum’ and ends on ‘Rum’. Next thing you know they’ll be turning up for breakfast late in their pyjamas…Archie.

We have a video premiere today from Lotte Mullan for her new single ‘Dear Elvis’ which is released on 18th May. A very British blend of Alt Country which skips along on the surface but is, at it’s heart, one of the darkest songs on Mullan’s new record ‘Love’s Bonfire’.

I’ve been looking forward to this new album from Eliza Carthy & Tim Eriksen for what seems like ages, so it’s with great pleasure Folk Radio UK can offer you this premiere of the title track from their new album ‘Bottle’ due for release on 18th May via Navigator Records.

We continue our guest blog series Beyond The Marches / Dros y Ffin. Elan heads to the National Library of Wales, receives a talk from Welsh harpist Robin Huw Bowen including an insightful introduction to the triple harp before looking at some of the difficult to access archives. A perfect example of why a digital archive is needed.

We have a lovely hazy folk song premiere today from Welsh born folk singer/songwriter James McArthur. ‘The Day It Rained Forever’ features on the long awaited new album ‘Strange Readings From The Weather Station’

Our Song of the Day is ‘Beatnik Walking’ a track from Richard Thompson’s forthcoming new album Still, an album of new music produced by Jeff Tweedy. His UK tour kicks off in August at Purbeck Valley Folk Festival.

Sweet Liberties is a new folk music project commissioned by EFDSS and Folk by The Oak featuring four songwriters: Nancy Kerr, Martyn Joseph, Sam Carter, and Maz O’Connor alongside musicians Patsy Reid and Nick Cooke – a musical journey exploring the pursuit of democracy and the events that have made a difference to our liberties.

Da Fishing Hands, the latest release from Inge Thomson, saw its debut performance on Fair Isle in May 2014, this short film documents that performance and provides background to a project which ultimately aims to protect the marine environment around the Island and for it to be sustainably managed as it has been historically by Fair Isle folk.

Our Song of the Day is The Devil’s Nine Questions which is performed by Appalachian ballad-singing duo Anna and Elizabeth, they are on tour in the UK from May. Their Show is a captivating mix of ballads, foot-stomping dance tunes, stories and visual art. They also use what are called crankies to illustrate the song ballads which you can find out about here.

All good things must come to an end and so The Full English collective featuring some of the biggest stars on the English Folk music scene will head out on their final tour in May. But what a great job they’ve done of promoting the digital archive. Watch a new documentary about the project and a TEDx talk by Fay Hield: Why aren’t we all folk singers?

We have a video premiere today from Cove Hithe who hail from the gently wild Suffolk coast. Watch their new animated video for How Wild the Wind Blows, a cover of a song by Molly Drake, the mother of Nick Drake.

As part of our ongoing coverage of Beyond The Marches / Dros y Ffin award winning song writer and story teller David Gibb shares his thoughts on Day Two. A visit to the Museum of Welsh Life in St Fagans, a lecture from Wales’ answer to Cecil Sharp, Roy Saer and you can watch them all performing Lord Randal.