Albums

Dublin based band I Draw Slow come up winners on their latest release ‘White Wave Chapel’ which shows a maturity and class suggesting this band is really going places.

Our Song of the Day is from Lotte Mullan’s new four track EP, Claw Marks. We have an exclusive video premiere for “I Hope It Breaks Your Heart” and the added bonus of a live review.

The Sickle Swing EP offers a vivid snapshot of one of the UK’s finest contemporary folk groups in top form and is an essential and very welcome addition to Gill Sandell’s impressive back catalogue.

Disappointed at missing The Bevvy Sisters London debut, your FRUK correspondent arranged for a recording of the sold out show to be sent over and it all but made up for my absence.

Edd Donovan and his Wandering Moles have meandered into Camden for the London launch of Something To Take The Edge Off. It’s a cracking show too, with plenty of surprises in the set.

FRUK Première: The Lancastrian trio Harp and a Monkey are among those leading from the front in commemorating Gallipoli Day (April 25) with their new video for The Gallipoli Oak.

Bastard Mountain is proof that a confluence of musical minds with a collaborative and improvisational approach can create something that transcends the sum of its parts.

Friday April 11 to Sunday April 13 marked the inaugural Headland Folk Festival set on Hartlepool’s beautiful Headland. David Eagle of The Young’uns shares some highlights of the weekend.

A brief promo trip gave FRUK a chance for an exclusive face to face with Robert Francis to talk about the superb Heaven and his journey from hell, taking in the Ry Cooder and RHCP connections.

For their eponymous new album the Smoke Fairies reinvent their sound in a goblinesque fusion of English folk and deep ellum blues embracing electronics and pop-influenced atmospherics.

Bellowhead play a capacity crowd at London’s Royal Albert Hall and announce signing to Island Records, with the new album Revival due for June 23rd release.

Cara Dillon live at The Islington London (14th April 2014), performing an intimate showcase for the launch of A Thousand Hearts that will live long in the memory.