Albums

Laced with sadness and joy, melancholy and anger,  Glasgow is a magnificent piece of work that both celebrates the city and underscores Findlay Napier as one of the finest songwriters and storytellers of the contemporary Scottish folk scene.

On Tales From The North Calum Stewart joins the ranks of thoroughly modern Uilleann pipers, who are steeped in their own tradition but cross borders to bring in other influences. He can also write a damned fine tune.

In the Storm is a satisfying first album – a beautiful, positive record, composed and exquisitely performed by Citizen Jane. I hope that, as an inexplicably rare female duo operating in this arena, it may inspire others to follow suit.

Irish husband-wife roots duo Aileen Mythen and KJ McEvoy, better known as The Remedy Club, pays homage to Tom Waits, Hank Williams and Django Reinhardt on Lovers, Legends & Lost Causes which also features KJ’s sister – Eleanor McEvoy.

He declares The Brudenell his favourite room to play in, and the crowd roar as the feeling is mutual: we are being treated ourselves, by the presence of one of the Great American Writers of his generation….. John Darnielle: David Sedaris with a guitar.

The Long-Awaited Album is nothing short of a polished tribute to the bluegrass form. Upheld by the rhythmic and melodic prowess of the Steep Canyon Rangers and the virtuosic flair of Steve Martin, bluegrass could not have hoped for a better pairing. But if it had, Martin would surely have already written a song about it.

John Thumb has written veritable earworms that are difficult to dislodge on this debut offering. This young man is evidently a talented songsmith, in fact, regarded by Other Songs Music Co. main man Scott Orr as a “classic songwriter…born in the wrong era.” 

The Foxglove Trio’s latest offering, Distant Havens, is both highly accomplished and musically complex for such limited instrumentation. This could deservedly well find itself among next year’s BBC Radio 2’s Folk Award nominations.

Incredibly, Wounded Healer is Immigrant’s fourteenth album. If there is any justice then this set of delicate, beautiful songs will see Immigrant finally reach the audience he deserves.

Mountain Fires is a swift follow-up to The Mining Co.’s  2016  debut, recorded in the same Spanish studio. It finds the woozily deep dusty-voiced Michael Gallagher in a nostalgic and reflective mood for his Americana-stained songs.

Songs My Ruiner Gave To Me sees Naomi Bedford & Paul Simmonds draw on the influences and inspirations of their first two remarkable albums to create something entirely new, and simply superb.

The Bara Bara Band are a collective who do not fear tradition. Instead, they embrace it with open arms, whimsical humour and touching melodies. You could do worse than joining their congregation.