Mike Davies

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”.

Impressionistic rather than explicit, thoughts and emotions are woven through the musical fabric as much as the lyrics on Kaia Kater’s ‘Grenades’, it marks a huge leap on her musical and personal journey, and sharing it is a privilege.

Leaves That Fly is Kim Richards’ debut album, one informed by her interest in folk tales and Scottish history. Produced by Mike Vass and featuring some top guest musicians we hope this is the first of many.

On ‘Here Come The Young’, Martyn Joseph teams up with producer Gerry Diver. Fire and energy fuel the songs and delivery addressing the uncertainty and the hope for change on both political and personal levels.

Figures and Faces is a hugely promising debut from London-based guitarist and singer songwriter David Gunawardana. Rooted in themes of journey and transition this is one to follow.

Belfast troubadour Joshua Burnside resurrects his 2013 home-recorded EP If You’re Goin’ That Way and repackages it with four new songs and an acoustic version of one of the original tracks. 

Rock Island Grange is a highly energetic and hugely enjoyable album, even if you’re not a devotee of old-time American string band music, this offering from Foghorn Stringband hard to resist.

Jimmy Rankin’s latest offering, Moving East, is infused with a local Cape Breton flavour and is tinged with both joy and sadness, but it most definitely makes you want to put out the welcome mat.

Hallways is just the second EP from the young Ken Pomeroy who has already opened for Wanda Jackson. She has a bright future ahead of her.

Holler, the sixth solo album from Amy Holler of Indigo Girls is a love letter to her home, written with affection, but the ink sometimes run with tears. 

Modern Man is by far Benjamin Folke Thomas’s best album yet on which he balances honest confessional and sardonic wit like an expert tightrope walker.