Artist of the Month

We talk to The Askew Sisters, one of the most refreshing and exciting acts in folk music, about their new album Enclosure which is set to be one of the albums of the year.

The Askew Sisters return with an album that very few other musicians could have made. ‘Enclosure’ is both intimate and universal, steeped in history of place and society yet looking to the future, an album about captivity that revels in its own musical freedom.

Coming in the style of Gillian Welch and Milk Carton Kids, the UK’s Copper Viper are beginning to run, with their debut album now out. We chatted about recording the album, classic duos and condenser microphones.

Cut it Down, Count the Rings does not feel much like a debut album. The songs and performances are strong and confident, the playing, too, is top-draw – it all feels at once new and utterly focused and considered. Hats fully off to Copper Viper.

With their superb fourth album Diversions now out, busy super-folk trio Leveret spoke to us about spontaneity in the band, shifting roles and playing with better musicians.

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.

With the recent release of ‘A Lifetime of Happiness’, we catch up with Dublin’s Daoirí Farrell to talk about his new album and the influences behind it. Don’t miss his upcoming tour in March/April.

Daoirí Farrell, our Artist of the Month, returns this month with his third solo album, A Lifetime of Happiness. The songs are delivered with infinite care and deep affection; it is a wonderful album that delights on every level.

As well as offering an insight into his new album Constant Companion, Cunning Folk talks to us about his influences, traditional music and more…‘Traditional music is living history. I’m joining in.’

It is rare for an album of predominantly traditional material to sound as fresh and inspired as this, and feel both thrillingly contemporary and utterly timeless. Cunning Folk is making some of the finest acoustic music to come out of this country in years.

As she embarked on a trip to New Zealand for the inaugural New Zealand Irish Fest this month, Lisa O’Neill took time to talk to Folk Radio about her new album, the background, the influences behind it, and the artists that joined her on the journey.

Lisa O’Neill’s ‘Heard a Long Gone Song’ is easily one of the greatest surprises I’ve enjoyed for some time; an exceptional album that will make the trad music scene stand up and take notice; if it doesn’t, there’s something far wrong with the trad music scene.

Hummingbird sees John Smith finally releasing his ‘folk’ album, and it’s his sparest and strongest set yet. Glenn Kimpton talks to John about the song choices and putting your own stamp on a traditional song: “I wanted to sing these songs the way that I hear them.”

Hummingbird is Smith’s most impressive album yet. A work of mature and subtle beauty, celebrating songs that are still being sang and ones that will carry on being sang; this album should be heard by everyone.

A surge of creativity has resulted in 13 Rivers (out today), Thompson’s first self-produced record in over a decade and one to live with. He talked to us about recording the album simply, hanging onto analogue warmth and the dreaded ‘F’ word.

Confidence positively oozes from 13 Rivers, powerful, intelligent, multi-faceted, beautifully performed and consistently strong. It’s also a ton of fun and a genuine high point in Thompson’s career; a record that should be chewed on and discussed for many years to come.

Jackie Oates took the time to talk to Folk Radio UK about the creative process behind the recording of The Joy of Living. Her answers provide a rare insight into a method that is both unorthodox and entirely natural.

The Joy of Living is the seventh studio album from Jackie Oates, also our Artist of the Month for August. It is her most personal yet, covering an intensely personal period of her life in which she celebrated the birth of her daughter Rosie and bid an emotional and loving farewell to her beloved father.