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 […]
Tag: Review
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 […]
Peter Knight’s Gigspanner “The Wife of Urban Law” Review
“An album that greets old friends with a warm handshake which has arrived with a zest for life and a sense of adventure” Picking up Peter Knight’s Gigspanner’s “The Wife of Urban Law” you might think that the soul of this disc is wrapped up warm in a coat of high reputation. Like a […]
Steamchicken Tour Begins at the Guildhall Theatre 23rd February 2018
“Strong of purpose, unbridled in energy… Steamchicken’s sound is a surprise to many, but a disappointment to none” There are plenty of good reasons to hide away. It could be the dark, a moment of reflection, or even (at the time of the his writing) to get away from scary snow beasts clawing at your […]
Bella Gaffney- Heaven Knows – Album Review
Album: Heaven Knows With: Bella Gaffney (Vocals and guitars, concertina, and more) Lauren Deakin Davies (Bass guitar, keys and percussion) Nick Hall (Backing vocals and lead guitar) Tim Spencer (Drums) Chris Elliott (Fiddle) Heather Sirret (Bass Guitar) James Gaffney (Piano) Tracks: 11 Produced by: Lauren Deakin Davies FOLKSTOCK RECORDS […]
The Twisted Twenty (Debut Album) Review
THE TWISTED TWENTY From: Penny Fiddle Records Tracks: 8 With: Holly Harman (baroque violin, vocals), Alexis Bennett (baroque violin, guitar, bodhran, electronics), James O’Toole, David Rabinovici (baroque violin), Ewan Macdonald (Cittern), Lucia Capellaro (baroque cello), Carina Cosgrave (baroque double bass Producer: Sam Proctor Zesty yet focused, the Twisted Twenty’s Debut is a fantastic window […]
Oka Vanga -Dance of the Copper Trail – An Album Review
Hot on the heels of their previous entry “Tales from Eyam” the latest album from the acoustic duo, Oka Vanga, has arrived. In fact it arrived 31 March but let us not dwell on the time that has passed. As Spring has undoubtedly turned to Autumn with the hints of amber leaves blowing in delightful […]
Better Late Than Never: The Dovetail Trio at Village Folk, Chellaston, Derbyshire – May 2017
Ahoy! Circumstances all over the place and a packed schedule of festivals has meant that I am on the folk treadmill to returning to writing about the music I love. I am not very far along it yet, but one event I wanted to talk about prior to the last festival I attended is the […]
Elfin Bow – A Debut Album Review
Elfin Bow – (Elfin Bow) Elfin Bow Music Recorded at: Hound Dog Studios, Liverpool www.elfinbow.co.uk Released 18th March 2017 Elfin Bow is very much the ringmaster in this positively creative and interesting debut that takes the best elements of her musical inspirations and fuses them with the mysteries and wonders of folk music. […]
Roving Crows – “Bury Me Naked” Album Review
It was a few years ago I saw the Roving Crows now. I remember in Bromsgrove. Not far from Ledbury (their home turf) andalso not far from where I spent my youngest years (in Kidderminster); it was an interesting experience when I was relatively new to folk. It was not just an introduction to the […]