News

I have just heard that Mike Waterson passed away in the early hours of this morning at 3.00 a.m. Our love and thoughts go out to his family. Mike’s singing voice is well known to anyone who has followed The Watersons through their history which began during the 1960’s English folk song revival.

Martin Simpson is to release a new album on September 5th through Topic Records titled purpose + grace. Jon Boden, B J Cole, Dick Gaughan, Fay Hield, Will Pound, June Tabor and Richard Thompson will be joining Martin along with his regular band of Andy Cutting, Andy Seward and Keith Angel.

We’ve been adding a lot of new music to Folk Radio UK recently so here is yesterday’s playlist to give you a flavour of the sounds we’ve been playing.

Gerry Diver’s fascinating ‘The Speech Project’ has received Arts Council England funding for Gerry to take his work on a tour of England in March 2012. The project features exclusive spoken word contributions from Christy Moore, Paddy Moloney, Martin Hayes and Danny Meehan.

Pokey LaFarge & The South City Three return to the UK this month with an established fan base and a new album titled ‘Middle of Everywhere’ which has soared to the Number 3 position on the Euro Americana Chart for June, the boys look set to make a big impact!

Shieldshaped present a night of “The New Old Time” in Bristol on 28th June. Headlining on the night will be Brooklyn, New York’s old-time string band ‘The Dust Busters’ who will be joined by the tin pan alley melodramatic Boxcar Alduous Huxley and those vintage 78 spinners the Shellac Sounds gramophone DJs!

Martha Tilston’s performance at Thekla, Bristol was exceptional and a rare treat for fans as she threw away her setlist and took fans on a musical journey which left everyone with a warm and satisfying glow.

The Big Mix music festival which is organised by Macmillan Cancer Support returns to Shoreditch, London this Saturday 18th June with an even bigger line-up of artists as well as comedy, fashion, cabaret and art.

Directed by Aaron Schock, the documentary film ‘Circo’ opens in the UK this month. Set within a century-old traveling circus, ‘Circo’ is an intimate portrait of a Mexican family struggling to keep their tradition alive.

As part of BRASS 2011 a lively genre busting annual festival held in Durham The Unthanks will unveil their latest collaboration with Brighouse and Rastrick Brass Band. The project focuses on the folk songbook of the coal-mining industry.

Our latest FRUK Session is from You Are Wolf, the pseudonym of London based composer and performer Kerry Andrew, who has just released her debut EP Hunting Little Songs. You Are Wolf is taking traditional folk and twisting it on its head to create a unique and new sound, stripped back to its bare bones.

Kyla La Grange put on a fine performance at this years philosophy and music festival HowTheLightGetsIn. Watch her performance and savour her new video for her new single Been Better.