Neil McFadyen

Solomon, the fifth album from Welsh group Calan, is an amazing album, it sounds wonderful, fresh and exciting from the very first listen and continues to enthral on every subsequent visit. Don’t hesitate in buying a copy.

Ross Couper and Tom Oakes offer an honest, accomplished, and, above all, thoroughly enjoyable 46 minutes of music on Fiddle & Guitar. The duo’s close empathy is in evidence throughout as they deliver the very best of live, contemporary trad music, perfectly adapted for the studio.

With its beautiful Clyde coast setting, a community at its heart, the very best Scottish music and the added attraction of the finest Scottish food, drink and art; Argyll Gathering 2017 is set to become one of Scotland’s most memorable annual festivals.

We talk to Twelfth Day about their new bold album Cracks in the Room, their writing process, working with Chris Wood and gender discrimination in the music industry. They are on tour now in Germany and return to the UK in June.

A Little Bit of Everything sees Lowri Evans and Lee Mason forge ahead as a duo with seemingly renewed confidence as evidenced by their exceptional live performances which also sheds new light on some highly accomplished songwriting.

The Medlars’ eponymous album is as intricate as it is diverse; as entertaining as it is thought-provoking. They have produced a triumphant debut that time and again rewards repeated listening with delightful voyages of discovery. An album to treasure and a band to watch out for.

In addition to proving herself a versatile and accomplished songwriter; in Siren Serenade Emily Mae Winters also confirms her ability, and willingness, to revisit traditional sources. Enthralling evidence of the breadth of talent she has to offer.

After a tantalising introduction to Curse of Lono last year, their debut album ‘Severed’ is finally here. It plays like an album from a band who have been developing their performance for many years and it’s one they can be immensely proud of.

Cracks in the Room makes the most impressive use yet of Twelfth Day’s winning way with a lyrical hook and their quite exceptional instrumental skills. It is one of the most rewarding listening experiences to be placed before an audience this year.

Éilís Kennedy, our Artist of the Month, discusses her new album ‘Westward,’ a collection of traditional and contemporary songs that display the kind of elegance and grace that can only come from Ireland, especially when the songs feature a voice as pure and soothing as hers.

With ‘Making Waves,’ Luke Daniels bridges the gap between traditional music and its contemporary descendants (ft. John Doyle, Mike McGoldrick and Aidan O’Rourke) and emerges with his reputation as an instrumentalist, a composer and an innovator considerably enhanced. An outstanding album.

Copenhagen fulfils the promise of Benjamin Folke Thomas’s live shows and his two earlier albums. It also represents a bold step forward as a song writer and an important progression as a studio artist. It is, without a doubt, his best album yet.