Saskia – Are You Listening?” (Album Review)
“An album that refreshes and surveys the ground covered up to now. Saskia continues to sculpt her clay of gentle-folk into a pleasing and healing treasure.” Released July 31st 2020. Our Pick: “Write me a Song” (Track 5) From the brightest, warmest and sunniest part of folk music’s acoustic heart comes musician, Saskia Griffith Moore […]
Kirsty Merryn – Our Bright Night (review)
Released 24/04/20 Singularly beautiful, contemplative and dark. Merryn’s second album is a creeping jaguar in the rainforest of folk. When you think of 90’s films with pianos.. What comes to mind? Is it “King Ralph” (1991) with John Goodman playing “Good Golly Miss Molly” in formal attire and bragging about his Rolling Stone Collection, or […]
The Idumea Quartet- “More Than One” Review
Classical musicians take on the Appalachians and win while still dressed in their tuxedos and ballgowns. Release Date – 9th April 2020, relisted to 1st November 2020 Label – Penny Fiddle Records Like an inhale of peppermint-laced breath, The Idumea Quartet’s debut album offering is a spicy yet cooling work whose self-description of “tradition, innovation […]
Soonchild: A Theatre Review at the Montgomery Theatre 27.10.19
INTRODUCTION Bursting on to the Sheffield theatre scene comes “Soonchild”, a play from the Red Earth Theatre Company which is adapted from a book by Russell Hoban. It is a story of the environment and the value within it, as a whole it is based on Inuit mythology. Red Earth is an organisation based in […]
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 […]
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 […]