Alex Gallacher

Joan Shelley will release The Spur, her first new album in 3 years, featuring contributions from Nathan Salsburg, James Elkington, Bill Callahan and Meg Baird. Watch the accompanying video for the title track, directed by The Forman Brothers.

Leigh Folk Festival (23-26 June 2022) have made their first lineup announcement. We preview some of our favourites from the list so far, including: Alasdair Roberts, Alex Rex, Eliza Carthy, Simon Finn, Burd Ellen, Gwenifer Raymond, MG Boulter, Serious Sam Barrett and more.

Ahead of their May tour, watch Karine Polwart & Dave Milligan performing ‘Come Away In’ live. The edit is taken from their ‘Live to Your Living Room’ live stream that was recorded at Castlesound Studio.

Dana Gavanski returns this month with her new album ‘When It Comes’. Watch the accompanying video for ‘I Kiss The Night’, “…an ode to the night, learning to lean in to its magic, and the spookiness of solitude in a winter storm.”

An atmospheric and eclectic mix featuring Ceara Conway, Justin Hopper & Sharron Kraus, Benedicte Maurseth, Jon Natchez, Patrick Watson, O Deer, Nils Økland, Arthur Russell, Sutari, Kinbrae & Clare Archibald, Sourdure, Xylouris White, Bill Callahan, Gil Scott-Heron, Reiko and Tori Kudo and Joseph Allred.

In May, master guitarist Martin Simpson will be playing eight shows with melodeon maestro and close friend Andy Cutting. The tour will include new material that will form the core of Martin’s new solo album, due for release next March.

Our tune of the day comes from Australian finger-style guitarist D.C Cross. Watch him performing ‘Lithgow Pink’ from his new album ‘Hot-wire the Lay-low’. A player with plenty to say and all the skills to say it.

Derek Piotr is back with a new solo single, an excellent take on “How Can I Keep from Crying?” taken from his forthcoming album “The Devil Knows How”. I can’t wait to hear the rest of the album.

Our Song of the Day comes from Nick Mulvey with ‘A Prayer of My Own’, taken from his forthcoming album ‘New Mythology’, an album he hopes “…inspires and stimulates new ideas, insights and ambitions” and “…generates a sense of the sacred within its audience”.

Taken from their forthcoming new album ‘Lady Mondegreen’, watch Fellow Pynins performing their lead single ‘Pretty Polly’. Their timing and arrangements ebb and flow beautifully and they instantly sound at one with the song.

Scottish trio Salt House (Jenny Sturgeon, Ewan MacPherson and Lauren MacColl) have shared their new single and video ‘Headwater’, the first to be taken from their forthcoming new album ‘Riverwoods’, inspired by and featured in the conservation film ‘Riverwoods: An Untold Story’.

Featuring new music from Mama’s Broke, Iona Lane, Brook Williams & Aaron Catlow, Awkward Family Portraits, Allison de Groot & Tatiana Hargreaves, Nick Hart, Rokia Koné, Kevin Morby, Tone of Voice Orchestra, India Blue, Anaïs Mitchell, Tony Reidy and more.