Nigel Bull

Kacy & Clayton are operating at a point where youth, experience, inspiration, enthusiasm, energy and talent are all combining to work together in the creation of something new and stimulating.

The Deep Dark Woods have created a kind of dark folk-rock that seems to have materialised organically. There’s a lot to admire on Yarrow, both from the band’s playing and from Ryan Boldt’s song writing. The woods are lovely dark and deep.

For their first full album recording, Laura Smyth and Ted Kemp seem to have successfully ignored any pressure to become the next big thing. ‘The Poachers Fate’ could almost have been made in the early 70’s, we need more music like this.

Steel Sheep describe their music as ‘original 21st-century folk compositions with an egalitarian approach towards melodic and rhythmic roles’. Their latest offering, Trucker’s Tan, is a challenging recording which will reward repeated listening.

In many respects the community choir is the perfect vehicle for social commentary, they are collectivist, everyone working together with a common aim. In this regard, the Commoners Choir are at the top of their game, they excel at entertaining, provoking and engaging.

With Street Cries, Ashley Hutchings revisits his 2001 album and produces some powerful new lyrics and, with the help of his collaborators (including Steve Knightley, June Tabor, Dick Gaughan, Cara Dillon and the late Vin Garbutt), he creates a collection of powerful and unique performances.