Albums

An Evening With Nancy Kerr And James Fagan captures one of folk music’s most enduring and talented acts in their natural habitat and provides the perfect snapshot of the duo at the top of their game.

Closer to the feel and sound of a Staple Singers record than any other solo album Mavis Staples has made, We Get By is one of her very best solo albums to date – it’s a winner.

Western Stars is an album that creeps up on you and leaves your heart hurting. It’s been commented that it seems strange that Springsteen hasn’t responded to Trump’s America, but listen to this album between the lines and you’ll realise that perhaps he has.

On this fourth compelling release in a limited-edition series of half-hour “split-artist” cassette tapes organised by London-based banjo player Jacken Elswyth she is joined by Glasgow-based musician Quinie (aka Josie Vallely)

On 4am And Counting, Curse Of Lono deliver a series of assured and masterful live studio performances, for an outstanding album that can sit proudly alongside its two predecessors.

What a great way to celebrate 80 years as Topic Records take over Barbican Hall for a celebration of its past and a milestone event setting the stage for the current and the new to come on board.

Mary Ann Kennedy’s Glaschu is a jewel of an album that is wonderfully packaged; impeccably performed by all concerned, and replete with inventive arrangements that present fresh insights to be discovered around every corner of the city it so vividly celebrates.

Le Vent Du Nord are not only the leading exponents of traditional Québecois music but also one of the world’s foremost purveyors of folk music. Territoires is an outstanding release, confirming their status as a pre-eminent force in their field.

Ashlar is a solid and satisfying listen and a very good example of quality Cape Breton Celtic that you’ll want to revisit. Yes, they most definitely are “one of Atlantic Canada’s most exciting Celtic traditional groups.”

Ida Mae have finally earned the right to make the music they were meant to. This is the kind of debut collection that goes all out to prove itself; it has done just that and then some. Ida Mae are definitely here to stay.

On House and Land’s “Across the Field” a diverse collection of traditional songs are delicately handled and the excellent musicianship is carefully woven into the fibre of the songs, instilled with their own beauty and creativity.

Featuring the Afro Celts, Teddy Thompson, Eliza Carthy, Green Gartside, Jackie Oates, Marry Waterson, Stealing Sheep, Honeyfeet and lots more, there’s more than enough invention, inspiration and at times outright eccentricity to ensure there’s something that’ll push your instant replay button.