Mike Davies

Kim Edgar’s ‘Consequences’ features collaborations with the likes of Louis Abbott, Rachel Sermanni, James Grant, Boo Hewerdine, and Horse McDonald. It was initially released as a song a month but is now gathered together in this superbly ambitious album to be launched at Celtic Connections.

With ‘How Can I Say This?’, an all-woman-supported project with contributions from over 40 artists, Annie Capps finds a way to speak about the hard things in her life in the most eloquent and moving way. 

Musically and lyrically, Every Acre is H.C. McEntire’s most complex work yet, at times impressionistic, at others painfully direct, it’s an album you need to immerse yourself in over repeated listens, but the rewards are immense.

The Old Man and the C Chord is a terrific collection from Chris Coole, a Canadian clawhammer banjo player and member of The Lonesome Ace Stringband.

Kelly Bayfield’s ‘Wave Machine’ is a profoundly personal album on which she shares her heart, hopes and grief. It features a number of special guests including Phil Beer, Beth Porter, and the late Paul Sartin.

An unintended concept album, Ben Bedford’s ‘Valley of Stars’ is a magical musical folk tale – an ambitious, intricate and hypnotic conjuring of a psyche seeking to self-repair, one that needs to be heard in one sitting from start to end to gather the full effect and the final catharsis it brings.

Dear Friend is one of The Bombadils’ more laid-back and wistful albums, a tender and quietly beguiling affirmation of love, friendship and human contact across the years and the miles.

Fifteen albums in, while gaining new admirers with each release, those who have discovered him along the journey can be assured that this is further proof that Tom Ovans continues to be one of the finest troubadours of his generation.

Mike Davies shares his Top 10 Albums of 2022 featuring Alison O’Donnell, Mary Gauthier, Janis Ian, Julian Taylor, Emma Guzman, Angeline Morrison, Garrett Heath, Luke James Williams, Michael Weston King and Memorial.

Steeped in Scottish history and folklore, Scottish Folk Ballads of Freedom is further evidence of Sam Shackleton’s singular approach and his growing eminence beyond folk circles.

A rising star in today’s Americana folk constellation, Jack Schneider’s Best Be On My Way is an engaging, musically understated, but highly accomplished debut that touches on universal emotions, often downcast but glimmering with shafts of light.

Produced by Jeff Tweedy, Alpenglow is Trampled by Turtles’ tenth album and is, without doubt, the band’s most contemplative album to date; one in which to immerse yourself.