Johnny Whalley

Ignite is an album that will lift spirits and give you a smile, even on the dullest of days, and leave you marvelling at the virtuosity of two astoundingly talented musicians.

An evening such as this, filled with great songs, excellently performed and linked with chat that’s every bit as entertaining is just what folk club guest nights should be about.

It’s been a long wait for a second full album from Pilgrims’ Way but with Red Diesel they have come up with a CD that puts them firmly back into the leading pack of young traditional musicians.

The Square Tower in Portsmouth have some great shows coming up including a special charity evening on June 5th featuring TradArr, Gregg Cave, Porchlight Smoker and The Jigantics.

Astar is an album that truly reflects the journey that Breabach have been making over the last few years, incorporating the influences brought home from their travels it demonstrates their ambition, maturity and broadened horizons.

Multi-award winning folk musician Nancy Kerr and her Sweet Visitor Band provide an evening of top entertainment at Ashcroft Arts Centre which included new material that will feature on her next album.

For his latest album Jez Hellard managed to herd some of his favourite collaborators back into the pen he calls the Djukella Orchestra. A superb album – you won’t be able to keep your feet still!

For The Final Waltz Ciaran has assembled a band that includes some of the most talented new arrivals on the folk scene. As well as showcasing some fine musicianship we also get a glimpse of his less well known songwriting skills. The Ciaran Algar Band are on tour from March 2016.

Show of Hands’ outstanding reputation has built up over more than two decades, an album of this quality will ensure that it continues to grow…music to please the ear and engage the brain.

The latest offering from the Battlefield Band features 12 Scottish and Irish guest musicians, packed with great music and enough background information to satisfy your needs. A wonderful album that explores some of the roots and expressions of the shared tradition of Scotland and Ireland.

Even though Dàimh have described the material chosen for this album as tunes they’ve been playing for years, that’s belied by the freshness and vitality of the way they’ve approached them. It’s one you don’t want to miss!

Johnny shares some of his highlights from this year’s Cropredy including TRADarrr, Skerryvore, Skinny Lister, Talisk, ahab and not forgetting Fairport Convention!