Richard Hollingum

On True North, Johnny Campbell considers the influence of place upon songs as he sings about plain folk and hard lives. Field recording in the 21st century and at its best.

The Bert Jansch Foundation release ’80 Plays for Bert, Volume 1′, in which his music and legacy are celebrated through a new generation of artists who have taken inspiration from his work. It will resonate with Jansch fans and beyond.

There is no denying that the core strength of the songs on Timbuktu lies in Oumou Sangaré’s powerful voice, both as a writer, singer and proponent of women’s rights.

Shifting away from his previous unique stripped-back style, Nick Hart Sings Ten English Folk Songs features a surprisingly wide variety of instruments and some impressively alluring multi-layered arrangements. He carries these folk songs on into the current time, giving them new life and extending their long history.

Richard catches up with Martin Harley, Daniel Kimbro and Sam Lewis during the UK tour of their latest album ‘Harley Kimbro Lewis’.

Dublin-based singer, multi-instrumentalist and songwriter Inni-K turns her attention to the rich heritage of Irish traditional sean-nós singing on Iníon, an album of tremendous understatement, power and beauty.

Martin Harley, Daniel Kimbro and Sam Lewis deliver a laid back album of country-blues tunes, twelve self-penned songs filled with great wit and humour. This is acoustic Americana at its very best.

On ‘Age of Apathy’, Aoife O’Donovan’s songs are delivered in a way that makes you want to give them time and attention. While it’s a personal record, it echoes all our own straits of the past two years and a positive look to the future.

Aistear, the debut album from Irish harpist and concertina player Aisling Lyons, is full of music that has a joy and peace about it, and its great strength lies in that it is gentle on the soul.

Richard Hollingham shares his Top 10 Albums of 2021 including Brídín, Lorcan Mac Mathuna, Brigid Mae Power, Nora Brown, Samba Touré, Ballaké Sissoko, Robb Johnson, Henry Parker, The Memory Band and Las lloronas.

Featuring Lisa O’Neill, Brigid Mae Power, Katie Kim, Caoimhín Ó Raghallaigh and many more, In The Echo, is a great snapshot of contemporary musicianship and imagination in Ireland. Ross Turner’s concept album is a rich and rewarding exploratory delight.

On his latest album, Minimum Wages, Robb Johnson adds more chapters to his contemporary history of the UK that emphasise the tragic, the desperate and the inequality. Crisp, clear and excellent.

Nora Brown returns with ‘Sidetack My Engine’ featuring special guests Jerron ‘Blindboy’ Paxton and Jackson Lynch, an excellent album that marks the next chapter for this accomplished performer.

Burning Your Light finds Brigid Mae Power addressing the work of other songwriters from Bob Dylan to Aretha Franklin. While no easy task, her light shines all the brighter for it. An excellent EP.

Throughout ‘Home No More’, the Folkatron Sessions make clever use of subtle experimentation to enhance and celebrate traditional song. This is experimental folk at its best. Excellent.

From its attention-grabbing opener, Dag Tenere’s “Iswat” is an entrancing EP. Despite the hypnotic raw guitars and steady rhythms coming to the fore, it also feels deeply layered and sophisticated. Short but excellent.

Thanks to the musicians and poets of the Khasi Hills and Gareth Bonello, we learn of the little-known history between Wales and this area of India. While ‘Sai-thaiñ ki Sur is diverse and broad, it is also a remarkably cohesive and excellent album.

In Mental Health Awareness Week, Richard Hollingham considers the role music plays in his own mental health and how it can help others.