Peter Shaw

After a four-year music hiatus, BBC Radio 2 Folk Award nominee Jack Cookson returns with his new single Laira, an ode to blissful aimlessness and cycling, in particular through Laira, a district of Plymouth, UK.

With ‘In The Dark We Grow’, Hannah Sanders & Ben Savage have delivered a brilliant and beguiling album; well-crafted and captivating, it’s one to treasure.

Come Slack Your Horse! is a true landmark release from Goblin Band. While their music may be rooted in the past, Goblin Band represent a vibrant, exciting, and more accessible future for all who enjoy British folk music.

Jon Bickley, Angeline Morrison and Cohen Braithwaite-Kilcoyne join forces on Grace Will Lead Me Home, exploring the controversial and complex history surrounding the hymn ‘Amazing Grace’.

Despite its 50+ years vintage, the music featured on the ‘Les Cousins: The Soundtrack Of Soho’s Legendary Folk & Blues Club’ boxset is exciting, vibrant and from some of the best players and performers of any era.

A Winter Union’s first studio album in seven years, ‘Sooner After Solstice’ is a stunning follow-up, featuring brilliant new songs and settings with an eclectic choice of covers. If you’re looking for a classy folk album to accompany the winter months, you’ve found it.

Following Show of Hands’ ‘indefinite break’ announcement, Roots 2, an exemplary best-of collection, looks back at their last 16 years, an incredibly fruitful period shaped by exploration and collaboration.

Jack Rutter is one of the most enthralling folk singers, guitarists & musicians on the British folk scene today – with This Is Something Constant, the final release in a trilogy, he has hit the highest watermark to date.

A Seed Of Gold is a formidable album that builds and broadens on the success of Rosie Hood’s debut release. She’s an incredibly adept storyteller, reflected in both the musical arrangements and her choice of tales. This really is something very special.

Grace Smith Trio’s ‘Overleaf’ takes British folk down exciting and unexpected new paths – a captivating instrumental tour-de-force from three outstanding young musicians.

Ten years and five albums into their career, with ‘The Colour of Night, folk duo Ninebarrow have crafted their finest album to date. With immaculate arrangements of beautiful songs to delight the ears and stir the soul, this is one to treasure.

Seth Lakeman’s ‘The Somerset Sessions’ gets a welcome full release – a showcase for a brilliant set of musicians pouring their all into some of Lakeman’s strongest material to date.

The Owl Service delivered a stunning and unforgettable 45-minute set at Leigh Folk Festival, during which they were joined by special guest vocalist and regular collaborator, Alison O’Donnell.

Just a few months on from the release of her stunning album ‘The Pivot On Which The World Turns’, Polly Paulusma has released a ‘sister’ album – ‘When Violent Hot Pitch Words Hurt’, that may even eclipse the original.

Six Out Of Nine is a limited edition EP release from Julie Murphy in which she re-interprets three American standards…all are gems and peerless performances.

For The Night is the best distillation yet of Elephant Sessions’ unique, vibrant musical mash-up of funk, trad and electronica. A captivating brew.

Celebrating three decades of incredible music that has touched the hearts of so many, ’30: Happy Returns’ can’t be faulted. Take a bow, Kate Rusby, and keep shining your light.

A drizzly day in Walton-on-Thames didn’t dampen the spirits of this little festival featuring Ellie Gower, Angeline Morrison, Polly Paulusma, The Outside Track, Wildwood Kin & more.