andy cutting

Listen to the final tour diary instalment from the fabulous Blowzabella as they prepare to head back home from southern Austria after a very successful tour. They will back on the road in the Autumn!

We catch up with Blowzabella for their third tour diary instalment which finds them in Austria where they have two performances as well as a well-earned rest. They reflect on some of the highlights and talk Hurdy Gurdys!

We join Blowzabella again in part two of their tour blog. They perform in a stone cellar, Paul talks bagpipes at the bar, Jon takes us on a tour of the Bach museum and Jo tells us of other tour shenanigans.

We have an exclusive live tour diary from the fabulous Blowzabella, who, now in their 35th year, are touring through Belgium, Germany and Austria performing and trying out new material for their new album!

Blowzabella are a free-wheeling institution of today. They’ve maintained their independence and self-sufficency since 1978, an inspiration to many including us! They head off to France this week…find out more!

‘Orfeo’, the new release from Fay Hield & The Hurricane Party embodies a substance and breadth that is likely to garner much acclaim, and must surely confirm Hield as the Maddy Prior or June Tabor for a new generation of folk connoisseurs.

Watch the brand new video from O’Hooley & Tidow for ‘Gentleman Jack’. The dapper gentlewomen and purveyors of chamber folk, Belinda and Heidi, have no need for any fancy props as they perform this video backstage.

Ocean Colour Scene front man Simon Fowler has been working with Pledge Music and is set to release his Merrymouth album featuring the award winning folk musicians John McCusker and Andy Cutting. Whist Ocean Colour Scene take most of the 2012 off to concentrate on writing material for a new album Simon has taken the opportunity to release his long awaited folk album. Simon and his band Dan Sealey, Mike …

Essentially Invisible to the Eye is possibly Karen’s most emotive work to date and will be toured in its entirety in 2012.

Martin Simpson curates a week of concerts and workshops at Kings Place alongside some of the biggest folk names out there!

★★★★★ Martin Simpson’s latest album, Purpose and Grace, is in many ways the epiphany of his career. It features a stunning array of artists including Richard Thompson, June Tabor and Dick Gaughan. A classic! You can preview the whole album for one week on Folk Radio UK!

The latest release from Spiers & Boden titled ‘The Works’ is a worthy & timely celebration of this great English Folk duo. Followers will know the songs and tunes from their signature Rochdale Coconut Dance to the anthemic Prickle-Eye Bush. With the inclusion of some of best musicians out there you can only expect a great album, they deliver in style!

The BBC Radio 2 Folk Award Winners for 2011 were announced tonight following during an award ceremony which went out live. There were many highlights of the evening as well as double wins for Chris Wood as well as Eliza Carthy and norma Waterson. Ewan McLennan also managed to pick up the Horizon Award! Find out the winners here.

Andy Cutting is much in demand and has been for some time, even more so since he won the BBC Radio 2 Folk Musician of the Year award in 2008. At last, though, he’s found time to put together a CD in his own name. This first release on Lane Records from Derby is available to order online and goes on general release in August. Melodeon player and self-confessed former …