Throughout the gig at Whelan’s, Oisín Leech was in his element, deferring to the traditions that taught him so well. He’s that rare thing – a songwriter of the highest order who is also breathtakingly humble.
I cannot recall feeling the Royal Albert Hall more alive with restless anticipation minutes before Bob Dylan’s arrival, nor can I think of a more joyous roar erupting when the main attraction arrives on stage for a night of plentiful highlights and some revelations.
From Michele Ducci’s rich, soft timbre and Letizia Mandolesi’s dreamy lifting accents, ‘It’s Hard to be Easily Loved’ conjures a jazz-hued languid warmth that could melt the edges of an early morning frost. A beautifully crafted song, it’s also our Song of the Day.
Beirut shares the new single and video “Caspian Tiger” from Zach Condon’s collaboration with Swedish contemporary circus company Kompani Giraff and their free-interpretation of ‘A Study of Losses’, a book by Judith Schalansky and announces the first Beirut tour in six years.
Janice Burns and Jon Doran announce ‘Great Joy to the New’, a collaborative winter album. Watch the excellent video for their lead single ‘Derby Ram’, the filming of which “felt like a celebration of the Newcastle folk scene”.
Seeds of Light, the new single from Rose City Band, featuring additional vocals from Sanae Yamada is our Song of the Day. It’s taken from their new album Sol Y Sombra, out January 24th, 2025, on Thrill Jockey.
Animal Collective’s Brian “Geologist” Weitz announces a collaboration with Sleepy Doug Shaw (Gang Gang Dance / White Magic / High Life) and shares their first video and single, “Route 9 Falls” – like some cosmic Appalachian odyssey.
Constant Follower, led by singer-songwriter Stephen McAll, shares a powerfully moving video directed by Martin J Pickering for the song ‘Patient Has Own Supply’, which tells a deeply personal story rooted in McAll’s teenage years.
Oysterband, Levellers, Natalie MacMaster & Donnell Leahy, Jim Moray, Moonlight Benjamin, The Henry Girls, Bryony Griffith & Alice Jones, Melrose Quartet, and 9Bach are just some of the first wave of artists announced for Shrewsbury Folk Festival 2025.
Clara Mann has shared ‘Til I Come Around, a song “about intimacy, in every sense.” The new single, also our Song of the Day, is taken from her forthcoming debut album, ‘Rift’ (7th March 2025—via state51). Watch the accompanying visualiser.
Ahead of her UK tour this month, listen to The Old Bog Road, the new single from Lewis Barfoot and the title track of her forthcoming EP, a collection of a capella folk songs from Ireland and Britain.
To mark the release of his new album A Terrible Beauty, Christy Moore has shared a video (his second only music video) for his new single ‘Boy In The Wild’, directed and produced by Ellius Grace and starring Liam Cunningham and Ollie West.
