Billy Rough

We chat to Jon Boden about his new album ‘Last Mile Home’, the recent Bellowhead reunion and the much-anticipated return of Spiers and Boden, as well as the challenges of wild swimming. Plus, watch his new video for ‘Old Straight Track’.

Better known for her work with Wilde Roses and the Mediaeval Baebes, Anna Tam’s debut album ‘Anchoress’ is a beautifully produced and arresting listen. Those who love traditional songs and tunes delivered with confidence and expertise won’t go wrong here. A delightful and entirely enchanting album.

Brighton-based The Knights Project has developed into formidable champions of lo-fi folk with a talented ear for lyrics and harmonies. Beautifully produced, their latest offering ‘Animals, Animals, Animals’ is a dreamy, fragile, and poetic way to spend some time with.

‘Creation Never Sleeps, Creation Never Dies’ is a crucially important record of Willie Dunn’s considered, accomplished and thoroughly striking song writing. His deep, rich, strong voice and his message remain eternal. One for every record collection. Seek it out.

The latest album by Jon Boden marks an elegant, profound, and thoroughly rewarding conclusion to a remarkably prescient series of albums. Last Mile Home is a genuinely heartfelt and beautifully structured listen. An exquisitely moving conclusion to Jon’s trilogy. This one will stay with you.

From The Reels 2012-2020 is a delightfully, warm, intimate, and genuinely stunning listen. Effortlessly evocative the album reinforces Ned Roberts as a true rising star. I, for one, will be following his career with much anticipation. Beautiful.

Opening to a flurry of percussion, banjo, mandolin, and echoing harmonies, Brown Mountain Lightning Bugs’ new album Folk(ish) is an exciting, and funky slice of Americana and bluegrass.

Featuring an impressive guest list, Karen Matheson’s ‘Still Time’ is a beautiful album. Mature melodies and heartfelt poetry beautifully sung, it doesn’t get much better than this.

Up The Cut is a beautiful album. A raw, but entirely seductive, performance. One for all lovers of traditional songs delivered with minimal frills. More please Jon!

Alors Quoi is an album that’s soaked in the otherworld as well as the subconscious one. Its themes revel in questions rather than answers. It’s mesmeric sound creeps into your psyche and nestles there; snug with its low-key groove. One that will linger.

Including members of the Scottish Chamber Orchestra it’s a curious, but entirely engaging mix of musicians on Songs of the Sea, a moving, sincere album, and one that promises interesting things to come from Green.

Sweet As Honey is an album filled with themes of metaphorical journeys, the happiness of community and the soul-affirming warmth of the earth, it is a jubilant, inspiring, and genuine feel-good album.

Watch local folk singer Lynne Campbell performing a beautiful version of ‘In the Bleak Midwinter’, albeit one with a Scottish twist, on board HMS Unicorn in Dundee.

‘Variations: Live’ marks a new development for the folk trio Leveret, we catch up with their concertina player Rob Harbron to talk about the album and hopes for 2021.

Come Nobles and Heroes is an utterly beguiling release, with a focus on the songs and tunes, and minimal intrusion of modernity. This is a raw, ageless album, and wholly irresistible for that.

We talk to Tim Edey about winning Musician of the Year at the BBC Alba Scots Trad Music Awards and his new single, proceeds from which go to the Sands UK Stillbirth and neonatal death charity.

Gaol is a gorgeously evocative album. A soothing, timely reminder of the emotional power of the heart and an earnest, delicate, and utterly enchanting release.

Billy Rough shares his Top 10 favourite albums of 2020 including Fay Hield, Ashley Hutchings, Sam Lee, Lauren MacColl, Findlay Napier, Rachel Newton, Shooglenifty, Martin Simpson, Jenny Sturgeon and Sam Sweeney