David Kidman

A welcome return from folk singer Richard Grainger with ‘Hard Road to Prospect Hill’, an album which embraces a generous helping of new original songs. Well worth the wait!

Another fully recommendable Veteran product featuring Northumberland traditional musicians Willie Taylor, Will Atkinson & Joe Hutton with performances of such rugged beauty and life-affirming, invigorating yet intimate spontaneity.

With Ulaid, John McSherry, Dónal O’Connor & Seán Óg Graham have made a distinguished release. One that, from the start, offers a freshness, an open-air quality about the scheme of things, with playing that seems to deliberately take a step back. It’s a joy to listen to.

Scaoil Amach an Pocaide is a live album by two masters of their craft, recorded all of eight years ago. Genuinely exciting and tremendously exhilarating playing – par excellence. One of those live gigs that you just want to go on for ever.

Joy of Living pays tribute to iconic folk singer, songwriter and activist Ewan MacColl with a host of performers from the world of folk music and beyond including Karine Polwart, members of the Waterson: Carthy clan, Christy Moore, Steve Earle & more!

We pay a visit to April Verch’s latest album ‘The Newpart’, an album that rewards constant replay, as she heads for the UK shores for a set of November tour dates.

Esteesee conforms to the exceptionally high standard of presentation of Ange’s previous albums; having already, long ago and from the start, set herself such a benchmark, she simply cannot depart from it. Esteesee will doubtless also prove every bit as addictive as the opium and laudanum on which Coleridge himself dosed.

The latest offering from The Men They Couldn’t Hang’s powerhouse songwriting partnership of Paul Simmonds and Phil ‘Swill’ Odgers is certainly a persuasive collection and a salutary reminder of their collective talents.

Welsh band Ffynnon’s latest offering ‘Llongau’, while eminently listenable and accessible, is unique enough to single-handedly and significantly raise the profile of Welsh folk music.

The sheer ebullient inventiveness of the duo’s musical settings, their committed sense of fun, their consummate, enviable musicality, their serious ability to grab your attention and carry you through the experience – all these qualities are faithfully conveyed in this lovingly crafted exceptional recording.

Between them The Dovetail Trio, an invigorating new grouping of three proven talents: Matt Quinn, Rosie Hood and Jamie Roberts, have managed to work miracles in terms of creating a highly distinctive style and sound on their debut album Wing of Evening.

Light Up the Dark is the latest offering from The Outside Track. Using musics of their native lands of Scotland, Ireland and Cape Breton as cornerstones there really is no dull moment amongst this generously-stocked offering. Another glorious and strong release from this world-class pan-Celtic band.