Mike Davies

Lightning, Show Us Your Stuff, finds veteran singer-songwriter Grant-Lee Phillips addressing the strange fragility of life.

With ‘Into The Depths of Hell’, Belfast-based Joshua Burnside delivers yet another challenging but electrifying album. Potent and thought-provoking, it’s one to cherish.

Wells describes The United State as being about what it means to be human, of the journey from cradle to grave and what connects us along the way

For Western Swing & Waltzes, Colter Wall’s third album, he has immersed himself in America’s cowboy song tradition…saddle up and ride with him on these happy trails.

Jonas reminds us that while dreams may so often be shattered, it’s still better to look for glimpses of the light than resign ourselves to the dark.

Canada has already fallen under folk singer-songwriter Evangeline Gentle’s spell, now it’s time to follow suit as her debut album is released internationally.

The equivalent of being gifted all those Dylan and Springsteen songs hitherto locked away unknown and unheard in the vaults. We’re looking forward to Vol 2 and 3.

The album cover of ‘Total Freedom’ has Kathleen Edwards facing out full-on, an image that embodies the music and the emotions within, a triumphant return to music.

While this project may have arisen out of a period of writer’s block, Swift’s interpretations and musical finesse shine brightly throughout this impressive cover album.

These songs deserve a far wider platform, give them a listen, earn him some money, spread the word and give a little love.

John Prine’s decision to sign Arlo McKinley was fully justified. This is a terrific album of confession, expiation and catharsis that deserves to be up there with the year’s best.

Consistently musically infectious and emotionally weightier than it seems at first hearing, in their name change Golden Shoals have most definitely raised their bar.