Simon Holland

As Canada’s Great Lake Swimmers prepare for their imminent, major European tour Tony Dekker, the band’s singer and songwriter, takes us through a little history and the unusual recording techniques they used in the making of A Forest Of Arms, their superb sixth album.

With the release of his second solo album scheduled for the start of September, Oysterband’s John Jones explains how ‘Never Stop Moving’ capped three years of intense creativity and how the Reluctant Ramblers have given him an outlet for a different facet of his musical personality.

Sisters Vikki Thorn and Donna Simpson met Josh Cunningham when touring Australia’s West coast. Forming an instant bond they became The Waifs. That bond is stronger than ever on ‘Beautiful You’, their best album yet.

Steve Tilston’s profile has been on the up and up with a great couple of recent albums, a Folk Award and now a film inspired by an unusual event in his life, but the real story is that his latest album, Truth To Tell, is yet another wonderful record from one of English folk music’s most accomplished songwriters.

Known the world over as the lead voice of Oysterband, John Jones has combined his love of music and walking and, with the help of The Reluctant Ramblers, crafted his second solo album, the brilliant Never Stop Moving.

With a gig at the prestigious Montreux Jazz Festival Antun Opic releases the excellent Shovel My Coal EP. Both suggest a real step up and the music doesn’t disappoint.

With roots in Aberdeen and the unusual combination of piano and fiddle, Clype have released a stunning debut album of politically engaged songs, with a unique sound drawing from folk and jazz.

The third album by The Rachel Hair Trio finds their sound stripped back to the core players. Trì proves a strong statement of exquisite and passionate music from three highly talented players. The power of three.

Richard Thompson is in London for a couple of days of press interviews and Folk Radio UK caught up with him to talk about his new album ‘Still’, working with Jeff Tweedy and how to stay open all hours when it comes to song writing.

Somewhere between the doomed romanticism of Tennessee Williams and the pithy, blue collar day to day Something More Than Free finds Jason Isbell celebrating the ties that bind us all.

Living up to its title, London Love Songs is a finely etched, beautifully written and recorded series of portraits that detail Sadie Jemmett’s life and loves in the capital city.

Having established a strong sense of identity with his London centric last album, Sean Taylor now turns his gaze inward to the mystical terrain of the heart and soul and proof that The Only Good Addiction Is Love.