Looking Back Before Looking Forward: Derby Folk Festival 2018
It’s been a little while and Derby Folk Festival 2018 has come and gone.. in fact, as of writing it is 2019 and there is a new year ahead! We are pretty certain plans are under way for the next festival in October 2019, but in case you didn’t go last year.. let us give […]
Rachael McShane – “When All is Still” Album Review
Released 10 Aug 2018 Rachael Mcshane has trekked through the valleys of folk music theatre with her star turn as Susannah, a new mother fighting through hardship on a boat to Australia in “The Transports”, dazzled under the lights of big band folk in “Bellowhead”, and made a flourish as a solo artist and teacher […]
Robert Lane – Only a Flight Away – Review
Released 27th April 2018 With “Only a Flight Away” there is a gear change from the “Country Lane” to the “Highway Lane”. Working and skillfully taking influences from all round this is an artist who is more assured, more confident and more accomplished. What comes to mind when you think of refinement? Fine wine, some […]
An Auspicious Beginning in the Sun – Beardy Folk Festival 2018 – 21st-23rd June 2018
An auspicious beginning in the sun, Beardy brings the breadth of bigger festivals to you in a space which is convenient, friendly and relaxed Like when the blacksmith’s hammer is at it’s hottest, June this year was aglow with fire, heat and sparks. Festival season was underway and the musical magic about to happen for […]
Underneath the Stars 2018- Interviews #1 Pitou, Howlin’ Rick & The Rocketeers, Melrose Quartet, John Metcalfe and Maya Youssef
Underneath the Stars 20-22 July 2018 https://underthestarsfest.co.uk/ Hi all. We hope the sun has brought some joy to your weeks and a smile to your face! We are back after spending much time at the Beardy Folk Festival (which we will tell you about very shortly), because after all it is still festival season! Today we […]
Beardy Folk Festival 2018 – Artist Interviews – Part #2
Aloha! The time is very close indeed for the first-of-it’s-name “Beardy Folk Festival” down in Cleobury Mortimer. As I keep bleating about, there is an astonishing array of artists from the folk tradition there, quite a haul really for the first festival. We have spoken to some of the artists going, and very kindly they […]
Hebden Bridge Folk and Roots Festival 2018 – What you missed
Hi I hope everyone’s good and enjoying the sun! So it’s been a few weeks since the Hebden Bridge Folk and Roots Festival, where the sun started to emerge and the musicians came out to entertain. We had quite a few highlights from the festival with (for us) an array of new talent and artists […]
Gem Andrews – North- Album Review 2018
An enticing mix of light and darkness tied together in a package of exploratory, urban Tyneside Country. BAND Gem Andrews: Vocals, Guitar Nicky Rushton: Piano, Accordion, Electric Guitar, Harmony Vocals Sarah Van Jellie: Double Bass, Harmony Vocals Bernard Wright: Violin, Mandolin, Harmony vocals Susanne Lambert: Drums, Percussion, Shells and Harmony vocals Sue McLaren: Harmony vocals […]
Geoff Lakeman at Village Folk – 17th March 2018
There is procrastination and procrastination. I mean I have thought about painting the walls in my office a beautiful forest green for weeks (and haven’t managed yet) but sometimes people put off really big things, things that matter. In the world of music there are bands who take their sweet time between album releases. For example Daft […]
Kathryn Roberts & Sean Lakeman – Personae (2018) Album Review
“Sharp, witty and accomplished there is a class to Roberts & Lakeman’s new album that cannot be measured on any known scientific apparatus” Album: Personae Producer: Sean Lakeman Tracks: 10 Iscream Music Records (2018) Released 9th March 2018 Kathryn Roberts & Sean Lakeman are indeed a famous duo. Maybe the best known in folk circles […]