Alex Gallacher

In his new album Só Ouço, German-Spanish artist Wolfgang Pérez chronicles a two-year journey through Rio de Janeiro that profoundly reshaped his musical perspective. The project, which started as a formal study, evolved into a full immersion in the city’s rhythms and culture. The result is a vibrant musical dialogue between his European roots and the complex soul of Brazil, born from unexpected collaborations.

Newcastle legend Nev Clay shares “I flew a flag” – “I’m mindful that it’s a topic that’s been in the news, but the song’s about something else entirely. I’ve been thinking a lot too about my friend and local musical hero George Welch, who passed away last week.” Nev also has a Newcastle show on September 4th with The Burning Hell and Jon McKiel…this will be a bit special.

American musician and intermedia artist M. Sage has released a new single and video, “Wading the Plain,” from his upcoming album Tender / Wading. He directed the accompanying video, which he calls a form of “excavation.” Through arranging objects and light, he seeks a “congress” between things that creates a logic “beyond human.” He has several US tour dates planned with and without Patrick Shiroshi.

Thirty years ago this month, Will Oldham released his third full-length album, Viva Last Blues, under the moniker Palace Music. Oldham proved that a DIY aesthetic could be married with American folk traditions to create something new and profound. The album’s lasting impact is not about its specific sound but about its radical artistic ethos: a record doesn’t need to be pristine to be a timeless masterpiece.

New Orleans-based artist Thomas Dollbaum returns with his latest EP, Drive All Night, a six-song collection, out on September 26th via Dear Life Records. Inspired by a personal journey, Dollbaum excavates and reconstructs a sense of place from his past. The EP marks a poignant reintroduction to a stirring and singular voice on the southern landscape; watch the music video for his lead single “Angus Valley”.

This week’s Monday Morning Brew playlist features music from Mama’s Broke, Joseph Decosimo, DUG, Ian Humberstone, Lewis McLaughlin & Beth Malcolm, Dean Johnson, The Deep Dark Woods, James Yorkton & Nina Persson, Madi Diaz, Brad Klolodner, Sally Anne Morgan, Cameron Knowler, Paper Wings, Early James, Lucy Dacus, Jeff Tweedy, Cut Worms, Chantal Acda, P.S. Lucas & Florent Manevoh, The Desoto Caucus, Heron, Pharis & Jason Romero, and New Dangerfield.

Our Regular Folk playlist has just had a big update and can now be found on more Streaming Services. It features over 8 hours of music, with a heavy bias toward British and Irish Folk, especially that which sits on the fringes of the experimental.

Ustad Noor Bakhsh plays End of the Road this month; his debut album, ‘Jingul,’ was a breathtaking journey through sound and history. This Benju maestro’s music, from Pakistan’s Makran Coast, masterfully blends influences from Africa, Persia, and Arabia. Joined by Jamadar Goharam and Rahmdil on the traditional Damburag, watch them performing ‘Sanj’, a tune composed by the legendary Bilawal Belgium.

Weirs’ new album, Diamond Grove, captures a moment in time by embracing the unique sonic imperfections of its recording site. The lead single, “I Want to Die Easy,” features vocals recorded with the natural two-second reverb of a farm silo, creating a hauntingly timeless sound that merges traditional hymns with contemporary experimentalism.

Merlyn Driver’s new single ‘Cururu’ is a captivating sonic journey, built around the unedited soundscape of South American frogs. Taken from his debut solo album, It Was Also Sometimes Daylight, due October 10th, 2025, Driver continues to blend acoustic folk with the rhythms of the natural world. This raw, intimate meditation on life and nature is a must-listen for fans of ambient and folk music.

Master percussionist Jim White is set to release his second solo album, Inner Day, on October 24th. This time, he’s exploring new territory as a lyricist and vocalist for the very first time. The album finds White creating a hypnotic relationship between keyboards and drums, a process he began on his 2024 solo debut, All Hits: Memories. The title track, featuring the first lyrics he’s ever written, is out now.

Experimental composer Claire Rousay announces her new album, a little death, set for an October 31st release. The record marks a return to her solo work and completes a trilogy. The new single, “just (feat. m. sage),” provides a first glimpse into the album’s intimate and expansive sound, which masterfully blends field recordings with live instrumentation.