News

Our Tune of the Day comes from Fara, a band made up of some the finest talents from Scotland’s folk music scene: Jennifer Austin, Louise Bichan, Kristan Harvey, Jeana Leslie and Catriona Price. Jeremy and Regina’s/Bright Grey features on their self-titled debut release which you can also hear in full here.

The annual Fleadh Nua returns to Ennis, County Clare, Ireland from this coming Sunday 17th through to 25th May for those of you looking for some great Irish Traditional music and cultural celebrations. This year’s event will feature almost 60 separate events and a Pub Music Trail boasting over 70 sessions in 23 venues.

Underneath the Stars Festival which is co-run by Kate Rusby and situated near Barnsley have put together a great line up. The festival is running for three full days this year and artists include Mary Chapin Carpenter, Eddi Reader, Martin Simpson, Bruce Molsky, Bob Fox, The Young’uns, Damien O’Kane, Keston Cobblers Club, Siobhan Miller, Miranda Sykes and Rex Preston, Luke Daniels and Jim Causley. Watch our video preview.

We have a lovely live video session from Winter who are brothers Matt and Joe Winter. Watch them performing two songs from their debut album ‘In The Dark’ in a nice spot outdoors . They are also performing tomorrow night at The Portland Arms, Cambridge, so try and catch them if you can.

For our latest ‘FRUK Presents’ Under the Apple Tree Session with Bob Harris we sent Tobias Ben Jacob & Lukas Drinkwater feat. Kelly Oliver to the studio. Together they performed a beautiful version of Bob Dylan’s ‘Boots of Spanish Leather’. Watch it here.

Our Song of the Day is from FRUK favourite Lorcán Mac Mathúna as he performs Filleadh thar claddach live with Raphael De Cock and Rémi Decker, a song which featured on the Northern Lights album Dubh agus Geal. The video includes some lovely footage of Galway hookers, a traditional fishing boat used in Galway Bay off the west coast of Ireland.

The gifted Donegal traditional folk singer, musician and storyteller Packie Manus Byrne has sadly died at the age of 98. A highly respected man who will be sadly missed but his stories and songs will of course live on.

We have an exclusive live video premiere from Martin Simpson, Andy Cutting and Nancy Kerr performing ‘Seven Years’ from their forthcoming new album, plus an exclusive giveaway of 10 signed deluxe sets of Murmurs. Don’t miss out.

This summer sees the exciting new Tweed Project taking to the festival road featuring Greg Russell and Ciaran Algar alongside Scotland’s Mischa MacPherson, Innes White and Ali Levack. The combined skills and passion of this new project make them a highlight of any festival.

Fancy a festival that involves a complete escape? Ireby Festival is of the outskirts on the Lake District situated in a small farming village. A cosy setting for 600 festival goers and a top line-up including Cara Dillon, Police Dog Hogan, CoCo and the Butterfields, Kathryn Roberts and Sean Lakeman, Jordie Lane, Phillip Henry & Hannah Martin, Greg Russell and Ciaran Algar and many more.

On Your Own is the new single from Aria & Mia which we’re very honoured to be premiering today on Folk Radio UK. It’s an exquisite and beautiful song that really makes their musical and vocal attributes shine through from the delicate combination of cello and banjo to their delicate harmonies. Taken from forthcoming new album.

Our Tune of the Day is from an exciting new Irish duo based in Glasgow – Gráinne & Ryan. Together they combine fiddle with uilleann pipes and flute to perform Irish traditional tunes, contemporary tunes as well as their own compositions which together with their regional styles, produces some really great Irish sets, as you can hear.