KLOF

This year’s BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards was one of the best there’s been. We were there on the night taking in the celebrations, one which was fun, emotional and entertaining. Proof that the folk scene is very much in good health.

In a new project titled Beyond The Marches / Dros y Ffin, some of our finest contemporary folk musicians will be exploring and celebrating in the shared history and culture of two nations, England and Wales. Feat: Lucy Ward, David Gibb, Elan Rhys, Patrick Rimes, Georgia Ruth and Archie Churchill-Moss. Over the coming week FRUK will be bringing you a unique insight.

Our Song of the Day is a special video premiere from Brooklyn duo Mark Rogers & Mary Byrne for ‘A Racing Heart’ from their debut album. They have a lovely chemistry together, a duo you should definitely make every effort to see. They make their England debut at the Gate to Southwell Folk Festival (June 4-7).

We have a special video premiere and Song of the Day for you from Thea Gilmore with ‘Coming Back To You’ from her 15th album ‘Ghosts & Graffiti’, an album which is part new, part retrospective. Watch it here.

We have a special feature interview with the ingenious Thomas Traux, currently on tour in the UK. Plus a premiere of his new video ‘ I’ve Got To Know’ taken from his new album ‘Jetstream Sunset’. Try and see him live if you can, he’s quite unlike anyone else.

Upcoming Irish band The Young Folk whose last release was a Featured Albums of the Month on FRUK have a new album coming. Here’s a sneak peek with this special acoustic video for ‘A Song About Wolves’, a song from their as yet unnamed new album.

The Unthanks are to play Glastonbury’s Pyramid stage with an extended ‘orchestra’, conducted by Charles Hazlewood. This really is the icing on the cake for ‘Mount the Air’, for what has been one of the most highly praised albums of 2015 so far.

We have a double treat for you today from Urban Folk Quartet with a Song and a Tune of the Day. The very first on Folk Radio UK which maybe says more about how excited we are about their new album ‘The Escape’ which is out May 1st. Catch them on Tour from May.

We have a real treat for you all today with a video premiere from Canadian folk trio, Good Lovelies. In The Morning features on their eagerly anticipated new album, ‘Burn The Plan’ due for release on June 15, 2015, followed by a UK tour. There’s no doubt that there is a new spirit of adventure afoot.

Don’t miss the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards this Wednesday, we’ll be there meeting and enjoying performances from many of the artists we’ve featured over the past year including Loudon Wainwright III, Kate Rusby, Josienne Clarke and Ben Walker and many more. Find out more about what’s in store for the evening here.

Our Song of the Day is rather a tune, from the mother and daughter Welsh duo Delyth & Angharad Jenkins who play under the title of DnA. Watch their video for Brandy Cove.

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.