Albums

Stepping outside of a well-established comfort zone and challenging fan expectations is a bold but risky move for any artist, on their latest offering Rusty Shackle pull it off with horizons-widening success.

The massively uplifting impact of the Quilters’ four earthy, uncannily complementary voices is miraculous, and it’s something of a revelation to hear such earnest, dedicated performances. Big voices, big time inspiration.

On Sharing the Covers, Chatham County Line have some self-indulgent fun covering songs by some of their influences from Wilco to bluegrass legend Carter Stanley, even John Lennon gets a  bluegrass makeover.

Diversions is the clearest statement of Leveret’s ability yet, an album packed with beautiful, gentle, energetic and fluid works, and it fully establishes this band as one of the very finest in English instrumental music.

The Route To The Harmonium is another outstanding instalment in Yorkston’s body of work, a finely-wrought and elegiac album shot through with moments of real innovation.

This Old River is built on the strengths of this duo with Tobias’s brilliant songs and his impassioned vocals delivering every nuance. Matching and elevating this is Lukas’s accompaniment – the whole album is beautiful, compassionate and astonishing.

Rolling Stone once declared Tom Russell to be “the greatest living folk-country songwriter”.  October in the Railroad Earth offers no reason to disagree.

The Gloaming 3, sees the band take the step into the unknown with an even wider exploration of the possibilities that music presents… a bold, beguiling, magnificent album.

Amour is the first collaboration between Colin Linden and Luther Dickinson. A bittersweet Americana covers album featuring guest vocalists Rachael Davis, Ruby Amanfu, Billy Swan and Sam Palladio & Jonathan Jackson

Corcra is a modern, fresh and timeless album that showcases Gráinne Holland’s versatility as a singer. Produced by flautist Brian Finnegan (Flook) it features Irish and Scottish guest musicians including Aidan O’Rourke (LAU).

Everly Brothers-style harmonies and vintage country influenced rock’n’roll balladry, twanged guitar, what’s not to love on the new offering from The Cactus Blossoms.

Mark Mandeville and Raianne Richards’ latest offering gets a UK release. Recorded at a series of Manitoba house concerts organised through Home Routes, our reviewer declares they can play his house anytime.