Mike Davies

On Sharing the Covers, Chatham County Line have some self-indulgent fun covering songs by some of their influences from Wilco to bluegrass legend Carter Stanley, even John Lennon gets a  bluegrass makeover.

Rolling Stone once declared Tom Russell to be “the greatest living folk-country songwriter”.  October in the Railroad Earth offers no reason to disagree.

Amour is the first collaboration between Colin Linden and Luther Dickinson. A bittersweet Americana covers album featuring guest vocalists Rachael Davis, Ruby Amanfu, Billy Swan and Sam Palladio & Jonathan Jackson

Everly Brothers-style harmonies and vintage country influenced rock’n’roll balladry, twanged guitar, what’s not to love on the new offering from The Cactus Blossoms.

Mark Mandeville and Raianne Richards’ latest offering gets a UK release. Recorded at a series of Manitoba house concerts organised through Home Routes, our reviewer declares they can play his house anytime.

Husband and wife Devon duo Harbottle and Jonas have taken a maritime theme for their fourth album that is awash with strong songs and excellent musicianship and fully deserves to carry the duo aloft on a wave of acclaim and success.

It may have taken some two decades to find his clear focus, but North Country firmly places Irish-American troubadour Danny Burns on the map. Featuring Cara Dillon, Tift Merritt, Tim O’Brien, Holly Williams & more.

Traveling Mercies is the powerful new album from Emily Scott Robinson. Produced by Neilson Hubbard her songs are filled with compassion, empathy and truth.

Buffalo Blood is as potent as anything written by Buffy Sainte-Marie and deserves to be acclaimed for exposing the injustices inflicted on the First Nation.

Like last year’s Folk Fever album, Variations is a reminder of just how flexible music can be in the hands of an artist who sees genre boundaries as a challenge rather than confinement.

Exeter duo Sounds of the Sirens return to seal their reputation with an ambitious, musically diverse third album of which Mike Davies declares “We may still be in January, but this is unquestionably an album of the year.”

Katie Doherty makes a welcome return on her second album ‘And Then’, accompanied by The Navigators: Shona Mooney, Dave Gray and Ian Stephenson. “Hers is an ascent well worth following”.