Mike Davies

Infused with both sadness and joy, pessimism and hope, it’s a cathartic and emotionally impassioned work that, both creatively and geographically heralds a new chapter in his life and career. It’s golden.

Molly Tuttle’s debut album finds her stepping away from her banjo roots towards Americana with her voice and guitar work soaring to stellar heights.

There’s an intimate, soothing breeze that blows throughout Wild Sight, the debut album from Swimming Bell…An intriguing, experimental and at times hypnotic new voice in the world of alt-folk.

Featuring a long list of special guests, The Great Irish Songbook is a stirring celebration of both Dervish’s own thirty years together and the music of their native Ireland.

Allison de Groot and Tatiana Hargreaves join forces for an exceptional debut album that draws on old-time music from musicians before them, acknowledging the diversity that has always existed in the genre.

Having spent several restless years in search and motion, it would seem Jurado has finally found a shore on which to set anchor and land, the fact that he wrote these songs many years ago fittingly echoing the sense of waiting for time to unfold its plans.

Mile Twelve are part of the new bluegrass generation, taking tradition and shaping it within a contemporary approach as they demonstrate so well on City on a Hill.

Simple, insightful, heartfelt and lyrical, Danny Schmidt’s ninth solo album ‘Standard Deviation’ finds him in a reflective mood and deserves to rank among the year’s finest releases.

The Hermit’s Spyglass evokes a simple life, at one with nature, of timelessness and memories. Bedford was once described as among the 50  most significant folk singer-songwriters of the past 50 years. This album changes that. He’s now among the Top 30.

Steve Earle’s ‘Guy’ stands as both a terrific tip of the hat to Guy Clark (who he first met in ’74), a seminal Americana figure and a damn fine Earle album in its own right.

Patty Griffin’s latest offering is an album of quiet grace, determination, survival and self-identity that serves as a reminder of her status among the Americana greats.

Stepping outside of a well-established comfort zone and challenging fan expectations is a bold but risky move for any artist, on their latest offering Rusty Shackle pull it off with horizons-widening success.