Mike Davies

GRAMMY Award-winning singer, songwriter and musician Lori McKenna’s latest album, 1988, is both deeply personal and universally resonant; it’s up there with her very best.

While Bella Gaffney’s latest solo album, Reflections, may have had a longer gestation period than she envisaged, it would be one of the best folk albums in whatever year it was released.

It’s de rigueur for artists to say their latest work is their best yet, but that’s certainly true of The Lilac Time. Dance Till All The Stars Come Down is magnificent.

Over many albums, Eliza Gilkyson has consistently proven herself one of the finest voices and writers in contemporary American folk music; Home is the icing on the cake.

Whether Joana Serrat & Riders of the Canyon continues as a collaborative project or simply serves as a launch pad for the band remains to be seen, but either way this is well worth the listen.

On his fourth album Siempre, Ags Connolly fully embraces the border country Tex-Mex sound. His last release was named Album Of The Year at the UK Country Music Awards; they should maybe start engraving the plaque with his name now.

Hannah Aldridge’s ‘Dream of America’ calls on you to listen with both ears, heart and mind, downplaying the vocal power of past releases in favour of an understated honeyed smokiness, it’s her most ambitious and assured work to date.

It’s been nine years since Laura Cantrell released an album and ‘Just Like a Rose’, on which she is joined by a number of special guests, is a glorious affirmation that she’s not lost her magical touch.

Kicking any second album syndrome fears into touch; Lawside seems certain to figure in year-end best-of lists and launch Roseanne Reid into the wider consciousness of fans on both sides of the Atlantic.

A thoughtful and reflective album, Ben Harper’s ‘Wide Open Light’ has a quiet strength and emotional depth in its minimalism. His past albums have accrued eight Grammy nominations and three wins. This should add to both tallies.

For their third album, the Astoria, Oregon duo The Hackles are joined by Halli Anderson of River Whyless and Horse Feathers for an album that lives up to its title “What a Beautiful Thing I Have Made”.

On her ninth full-length album, ‘Hard Frost’, Annie Keating once again proves herself a true enduring perennial in her chosen field.