Helen Gregory

Radial is a fascinating showcase for Griselda Sanderson’s nyckelharpa playing – the ideal pick-me-up for jaded musical palettes and well worth seeking out.

The Lost Boys is an assured and polished debut album which showcases a wide range of Sam’s undoubted talents as a singer/songwriter gifted with a musical maturity beyond his years. It more than justifies his growing reputation as a performer and deserves to bring him and his band to the attention of a much bigger audience.

Black Sheep Bones is an impressive album in many ways, full of engaging songs, inventive arrangements and thoughtful lyrics. It’s a testimony to that fundamental driving force which inspires the unsigned independent musician, namely, doing what he loves best: making music.

For anyone with even a passing interest in the music of John Renbourn, The Attic Tapes is an essential and absorbing collection which offers a remarkable insight into the roots of one of Britain’s greatest guitarists and songwriters.

With The Land of Time, Pete Morton has created a fine collection of contemporary folk songs which aren’t afraid to face up to some of the more pressing issues of our time with wit, intelligence and nuance. These are rare qualities too often missing from much music today.

Morning Way deserves its reputation as one of the unsung musical treasures of the 1970s; a charming and magical album which still sounds fresh, with much to offer a new generation of listeners.

Real World Records release ‘Fatteliku Live’, Youssou N’Dour and his band’s live set supporting Peter Gabriel on the landmark ‘So’ tour, recorded in Athens in 1987 and making its long-awaited debut as an audio release.

The Ballads of Child Migration is an album of brand new songs from some of Britain’s finest folk musicians inspired by these heart breaking true stories and coincides with a new exhibition taking place at London’s Victoria & Albert Museum of Childhood.

Bert Jansch’s eight studio album is re-issued by Earth Recordings, an overlooked gem from 1973 on which he is joined by an all-star cast including Danny Thompson, Tony Visconti, Mary Hopkin, Dave Mattacks, Ali Bain and more.

I Dreamt I Was A Bird is a sterling example of all that is good about contemporary folk music in Britain today and looks set to establish Lucy Ward in her rightful place alongside the scene’s “big names”.

Blow Out The Moon is a well-chosen selection of some of the less well-known traditional folk songs, presented with immaculate arrangements, precision musicianship and flawless harmonies. It makes the ideal companion to their debut album.

Bixiga 70 have come a long way in the two years since their previous album; III finds the band themselves sounding their most confident so far on a solid and highly enjoyable album with engaging compositions and impressive playing. A very accessible album which deserves to be a significant crossover success.