Mike Davies

In her thematic approach, Kirsty Merryn’s album is following in the path of Tori Amos and Carol Ann Duffy, who have, respectively, written songs or poems about or in the persona of famous women. She deserves to reap similar rewards. Also, watch the video premiere for Forfarshire featuring Steve Knightley.

Featuring members of Jez Lowe’s band, The Mile Roses are Edwina Hayes, Kate Bramley and Simon Haworth. Their self-titled debut album features a fine array of folk and roots numbers which is sure to set them on a good roll.

Forest Fire is Toronto-based artist-turned singer-songwriter Shawna Caspi’s fourth album. Highlights include a Lynn Miles cover written and delivered firmly in the mode of Janis Ian.

Jeff Crosby’s latest alt-country collection ‘Postcards from Magdalena’ is his fourth – born of both experiences and travelling the roads, places and miles in-between. The more reflective tracks stand out – none more so than the ’60s protest folk troubadour strum, Hotel Bibles.

Adrian Nation’s previous albums have all been first rate but this is unquestionably his masterpiece. Anarchy and Love deserves to be championed as such.

Farewell to My Old Days is an undeniably impressive debut from Sam Brothers, a 23-year-old singer-songwriter from Canterbury who was discovered whilst busking in Brighton.

Captured over two consecutive nights at The Sofa Sessions and home base in King’s Cliffe Jez Hellard’s upbeat D’rect from The Shire is sure to please fans and find plenty of new ones along the way.

Laced with sadness and joy, melancholy and anger,  Glasgow is a magnificent piece of work that both celebrates the city and underscores Findlay Napier as one of the finest songwriters and storytellers of the contemporary Scottish folk scene.

Irish husband-wife roots duo Aileen Mythen and KJ McEvoy, better known as The Remedy Club, pays homage to Tom Waits, Hank Williams and Django Reinhardt on Lovers, Legends & Lost Causes which also features KJ’s sister – Eleanor McEvoy.

The Foxglove Trio’s latest offering, Distant Havens, is both highly accomplished and musically complex for such limited instrumentation. This could deservedly well find itself among next year’s BBC Radio 2’s Folk Award nominations.

Mountain Fires is a swift follow-up to The Mining Co.’s  2016  debut, recorded in the same Spanish studio. It finds the woozily deep dusty-voiced Michael Gallagher in a nostalgic and reflective mood for his Americana-stained songs.

Hailing from Chicago, Big Sadie make their debut with Keep Me Waiting. They’re new entrants in a fairly crowded field of old-school American folk revivalism, but on this evidence, they’ll soon be rising to the upper echelons of its ranks.