Alex Gallacher

Our Song of the Day is ‘Paintings on the Wall’ by Manu Delago, on which he teams up with the vocal ensemble Mad About Lemon. The song was written in tribute to his stepfather, who was also a painter.

Our Song of the Day comes from Durham, North Carolina-based singer songwriter Emma Geiger with her new single ‘Empty’, in which she delves deeper and more fearlessly into a constantly shifting internal world.

Cath & Phil Tyler have recorded a version of the folk classic I Come And Stand At Every Door. Proceeds will go to the charity War Child, the only specialist international charity for children affected by conflict.

Featuring music from Esther Rose, Anna Ash, Waxahatchee, Jenny Lewis, Erin Rae & Kevin Morby, White Fence, Big Thief, Cat Clyde, Jana Horn, Bill Callahan, Silver Jews, Aldous Harding, Nadia Reid, This is the Kit, Isobel Campbell, Stereolab, Arthur Russell and more.

Our latest Mixtape is a globetrotting alternative offering featuring Hyperculte, ADG7, Andreas Røysum Ensemble, Umeko Ando, Minami Deutsch, Blood Wine or Honey, Sutari, Laurie Anderson, Tenzin Choegyal, Jesse Paris Smith, Monsieur Doumani and YĪN YĪN.

Senegal’s Dieuf-Dieul ed Thies release their new studio album on 19th January via Buda Musique, to be followed in 2025 by a European Tour. Watch their music video for their new album single Galo.

Enjoy some festive and winter-themed mixes and playlists. Including our latest Folk Show and guest mixes from the likes of Folk Police Recordings.

A seventies psych folk mixtape featuring F.J. McMahon, Shelagh McDonald, Michael Chapman, Bridget St John, Gary Higgins, Spud, Folque, Sandy Bull, Jean Ritchie, Robin Williamson, Pentangle, The Woods Band and more.

An extra-long winter themed Folk Show featuring Martin Carthy with June Tabor, Nadia Cattouse, Sam Shackleton, Kate Rusby, Eliza Carthy & Jon Boden, Villagers & Lisa Hannigan, Jake Blount, Jean Ritchie, Lisa O’Neill, Richard Thompson and lots more.

In ‘Pilgrimage for a Pint’, a new BBC Radio 4 documentary on Christmas Eve, Folk musicians Julie Fowlis and Karine Polwart set out on a journey to the most remote pub in mainland Britain – The Old Forge in Inverie.

Following our other End of Year lists, here are the best Folk and Alternative EPs, Compilations, Live Albums and Reissue selections chosen by Folk Radio’s editor.

The Editor of Folk Radio shares their top 100 Best Folk and Alternative albums of 2023. A year in review capturing a diverse selection of albums and reflecting the breadth of music covered over the past year.