Albums

Applewood Road is a polished yet rootsy record which which manages to cover a comprehensive selection of the benchmarks of the Americana genre, from country to bluegrass, rockabilly to country blues and a number of points in between. This is sure to find plenty of fans!

From the opening track The Owl Service offer a triumph of execution against expectation if ever there was one, and a challenge that sets the bar for the remainder of the disc. Invigorating, bold, uncompromising and honest! If this is their final release then it’s a fitting one.

Gabriel Kahane’s ‘Ambassador’ offers a unique portrait of LA that span Pulp Fiction, architecture and race riots – all visualised through ten street addresses. Don’t miss his UK tour dates in March.

Our Song of the Day comes from Jim Causley with ‘Home’ from his new album Forgotten Kingdom which is launched this Wednesday 17th Feb at Kings Place. Special guests on the night include Steve Knightley & Phil Beer of Show of Hands.

Avocet is an album to get lost in, but not necessarily one you want to find your way out of. There is a strong case for saying it contains Jansch’s finest work. With any luck this reissue – stunningly packaged in Hannah Alice’s original artwork – will find its way to a new and appreciative set of listeners.

Lauren plays traditional music with an unmatched elegance. This skill, in partnership with Mhairi Hall’s ability to provide exquisitely balanced accompaniment or an emotionally charged air, resulted in an evening of the finest possible traditional music.

Brothers James and Sam Gillespie describe themselves as North Tyne troubadours – this debut album is entirely captivating and is surely destined to become one of my albums of 2016.

At Celtic Connections Tim Edey put on one of the finest nights of music you could hope to enjoy anywhere, brought to life by his superb musicianship and his warm, affable character.

It penetrates your conscious on the first listen and unfolds as all its glorious fecundity comes flooding to the surface. A folk-pop-ambient-electronica soup of loveliness.

The Ghosts of Highway 20 re-enforces Williams’ maverick status with 14 powerful songs – meditations on loss, death and mortality and more besides. An exceptional album.

Multi-award winning folk musician Nancy Kerr and her Sweet Visitor Band provide an evening of top entertainment at Ashcroft Arts Centre which included new material that will feature on her next album.

Steeped in the traditions of his beloved Dumnonia, Forgotten Kingdom presents both an ambitiously broad canvas and a tour de force display of Jim Causley’s range and depth. It succeeds as a result of his commitment to his vision and his choice of contributors, confirming his status as one England’s finest folk singers, musicians and composers.