David Morrison

Peterborough, Ontario artist Jos. (Joseph) Fortin’s sumptuous second album of ‘Cinematic Folk Music,’ Fairweather Walker provides the listener with a luxuriant, calming aural experience.

Shadow Songs is an intimate collection of bewitching songs from Southern Ontario artist Creature Speak whose oft-otherworldly vocals are at the fore, providing comfort within the framework of some quite dreamy contemporary folk songs.

Strange Country is an achingly beautiful album from the young duo Kacy & Clayton on which they pay homage to their inspirations from bygone days, in an authentic and timeless manner recalling the spirit of all the great British male-female folk duos of the golden late 60s-early 70s era.

James Hoffman, originally from Portland, Oregon, now based on Ontario, releases ‘Fault Lines’, an elegant album dealing with themes of loss from which can come positive personal growth. An elegant album that will suck you in.

With the reissue of Ryan Boldt’s ‘Broadside Ballads’ due out this month on Canadian indie label Big White Cloud Records we took the opportunity to chat to Ryan about his music, influences and future plans.

Ryan Boldt’s ‘Broadside Ballads’ is a love letter to his record collection. Now reissued, this understated and haunting album is – no more, no less – a collection of Boldt’s renditions of some of the traditional North American and British folk songs he holds so dear.

Go to Hell, Chris Thompson is a beautifully realised concept album, one that could well be the breakthrough those who have followed this fine songwriter’s fortunes for a decade have long predicted.

Two years in the making, this impeccable new Heirloom offering sees the band further fine tune a sound that pretty much arrived fully formed with the debut EP. Subtle sonic evolution since its release has brought Heirloom to a special place, from where their star should surely rise from hereon in.

Three years on from Snow into Fire, the stunning six-track EP that introduced Dirty Grace to the world, the Vancouver-based trio has delivered a wondrous full-length debut further consolidating the two principal aspects of their sonic identity.