Alex Gallacher

Cerys Hafana is best known for exploring the creative possibilities of the triple harp. As demonstrated on Tragwyddoldeb, she’s an adept shapeshifter, entwining tradition with direct and personal interpretations to create music that’s both progressive, profound and inspiring.

Broadside Hacks and Shovel Dance Collective are among those who will come under the spotlight in a new documentary that tells the story of the young vanguard of UK artists sharing radical interpretations, proto-feminist narratives and queer histories through the lens of British traditional folk song. Watch an excerpt here.

Jake Blount has shared another stunning single and video from his new album ‘The New Faith’. The video for “Once There Was No Sun”, a song he learned from a Bessie Jones recording, features Blount alongside Veeva Banga, a South Sudanese dancer and choreographer.

Tomorrow marks the release of ‘What Holds The World Together’, the new album from The Wilderness Yet, featuring folksinger Rosie Hodgson, traditional fiddler Rowan Piggott, and guitarist-flautist Philippe Barnes. Watch their video for standout track Charlie Fox.

Next month, John Francis Flynn is on tour in the UK supported by Iona Zajac. Following the release of his 2021 debut album ‘I Would Not Live Always’ he went on to win Best Folk Singer and Best Emerging Artist at the RTÉ Folk Awards.

Ahead of Sidmouth, we look at the history of Blowzabella who began life in 1978 as an energetic stilt walking dance band in bizarre costumes – they’ve played everywhere, including Glastonbury’s Pyramid Stage and have influenced bands who experiment with the boundaries of folk music.

Taken from her forthcoming new album ‘Long Time To Be Gone’, and recorded in the historic St. Ann’s Church in Brooklyn Heights, watch Nora Brown performing ‘Cumberland Gap’, on a fretless tackhead banjo built by her dad.

Some of our favourites from Sidmouth Folk Festival 2022 Ham Concerts include Eddi Reader plus Ryan Young & David Foley, Show of Hands plus Hannah Sanders & Ben Savage, Spiers & Boden plus Bryony Griffith & Alice Jones, and Kate Rusby plus Jack Rutter.

On 2nd September, English traditional folk singer Jackie Oates will release her 8th solo album, Gracious Wings. Listen to her lead single, La Llorona, featuring Megan Henwood and John Parker.

In 1971, Granada TV decided to make a special 30-minute concert on Ainsdale beach featuring Fairport Convention and Steeleye Span. Watch the entire set – 30 minutes of excellent classic folk-rock.

Folk Radio UK is a media sponsor for Sidmouth Folk Festival 2022 and will be presenting a number of artists through the Cellarful of Folkadelia concert series that continues to open the door to a new world of possibilities inspired by tradition.

This week’s Folk Show features The Bonny Men, Talisk, Tarren, Tau & the Drones of Praise, Polly Barrett, Fritillaries, Josh Geffin, Son Of John, Bush Gothic, George Sansome, Kim Carnie, Ruth Keggin & Rachel Hair and more.