(Hermine) The cult Japanese singer-songwriter’s new album, inspired by the Ryukyu islands, is like a powerfully soothing sound bath In a recent interview with the Guardian , Kyoto-raised Ichiko Aoba stated that she saw herself less as a...
(Krets) Anders Hana, Olva Christer Rossebø and Åshild Vetrhus take inspiration from Norway’s rugged Rogaland in these tracks sourced from early-to-mid 20th century recordings A new Norwegian folk label, Krets, arrives with an arresting...
Songs by the reluctant live performer have been covered by the War on Drugs, Wilco, Pavement and Marc Almond The folk singer Bill Fay, known for songs such as The Healing Day and Thank You Lord, has died aged 81, his record label has...
Despite being freewheelin’ with the facts, this Bob Dylan biopic has delighted fans old and new, with Timothée Chalamet proving more than just a Zimmerman mimic So how did it feel? Bob Dylan’s early years in New York have been chronicled...
(Domino) From allotment highs to Holly and Phil, the Newcastle singer-songwriter mines life’s daily stresses and joys as only he can No stranger to big concepts – his last album, The Ruby Cord , was built around a 41-minute opener, and...
She sells out large venues, is feted by legends – and adored for her euphoric songs. The remarkable Japanese musician talks about magical islands, sonic sorcery and playing gigs with her eyes shut When Ichiko Aoba stood up to perform at...
Recorded in Nashville, the American outlier’s latest is concerned with the state of the nation and more, though there’s mischief in there too It’s tempting for fans to preserve their favourite artists in aspic. Although Bonnie “Prince”...
(Recordiadau Smotyn Du) Singer Owen Shiers combines traditional ballads, musical settings of poems, and originals built on stories collected from rural west Walians, all sung in Welsh In the tiny kiln rooms of west Walian mills over a...
I went into the cinema without expectation, I left feeling like a besotted teenager and have listened to little other music since The bookshop in the town where I used to live had a world-beating second-hand selection. The music section...
(River Lea) The US musician leads an accomplished yet slightly bland living room session spanning traditional numbers and songs by Lou Reed, Yoko Ono and more Raised in a Vermont folk family, and a fiddle prodigy at age three, Sam Amidon...
(Music for Nations/Sony) Traditional instruments, drones and repetitive lyrics make for some epic listening, possibly more suitable for a medieval TV romp Inspired by the heartbeat of a hibernating bear – a mere 9bpm – Wardruna use...
Bon Iver asked him to cover his new material and he’s teaching Mescal and Josh O’Connor to sing. But the interpreter is more interested in songs than stardom Sam Amidon grew up in the 1980s, but his Vermont childhood was “almost like a...
Innovative organist with the Band, the rock group who changed the way their contemporaries thought about music His high forehead and long, bushy beard, suggestive of a country preacher or a backwoods boffin, offered an early sign that...
Are the guitars right? Is Joan Baez sidelined? Who is this Sylvie Russo? And why is it an American shouting ‘Judas’? A Dylan tribute singer, two biographers, a superfan and more weigh in Richard Williams, biographer Continue reading...
Pavilion, Glasgow The Los Angeles musician is developing a heavier, rockier sound than before, but her astonishing voice and intuitive melodies are as strong as ever Sat with her back to the audience, Madison Cunningham is performing an...
Revered American musician Will Oldham on recording his new album with some of Nashville’s finest, helping Johnny Cash sing I See a Darkness, and his dismay at US politics One afternoon in Los Angeles in 2000, only seven years after he...
James Mangold’s handsome portrait of the enigmatic singer’s stratospheric early career boasts a barnstorming lead performance yet often slips into heavy-handedness It’s a remarkable performance. Star of the moment Timothée Chalamet...
The Scandi stars were building separate careers in the US when a friend got them to team up. Now the pair have become an unlikely folk-pop powerhouse Baba Stiltz and Okay Kaya’s collaboration was like a long-shot blind date, set up by a...
Rare drafts of one of Dylan’s best known songs found in journalist’s archive could fetch up to $1 million as part of wider legacy sale In March 1964, the rock journalist Al Aronowitz awoke to find Bob Dylan asleep on his sofa and...
(Full Time Hobby) The inventive English six-piece deliver another slice of whimsy, wit and gentle musical experimentation The arrival of Tunng 20 years back was a gamechanger for British folk, allying its pastoral themes with gentle...
Australian guitar whizz D.C Cross has shared a video for 'A Harebrained Adventure of An Amateur Shaman', directed by Steve Hanft. The results speak for themselves, an experimental and adventurous collaboration...a total gem. Source
We met Jenny Sturgeon and Boo Hewerdine to talk about their new Outliers album, a beautiful celebration of spontaneity and space, blending strong songwriting with acoustic arrangements and subtle electronics. Source
Martin Simpson announces his new album Skydancers (Topic Records) and shares a stunning video for the title track, made in collaboration with Ballet Folk and Studio Bokego. Source
Natascha Rogers' 'Onaida' is a laid-back and immensely satisfying album. She has created a personalised aural space reflecting motifs such as her Native American ancestry, spirituality, compassion, humanity, the natural world, and...
Jo Bartlett shares her new music video for 'Drawing A Line' - a Kodachrome dream of analogue moments - taken from her new album ‘Ghost Tapes 1 to 9’, out on 26 April 2024. Source
Filmed in CoisCéim, Dublin and directed by Myles O'Reilly, watch Niamh Bury performing 'Budapest', from her debut album on Claddagh Records 'Yellow Roses', which was produced by Brian Brían Mac Gloinn of Ye Vagabonds. Source
Sive talks us through her album 'In Cloak & Womb'. Taking inspiration from the legacy of Brigid in her goddess and saint forms, she explores how her echo might resonate in the world today, particularly concerning themes of climate...
Owen Spafford & Louis Campbell celebrate the end of their incredible debut album cycle with a short run of tour dates and a new EP, 102 Metres East, to be released on Real World X, an imprint label of Peter Gabriel’s Real World...
We've put together a light-hearted Anti-Valentine playlist featuring 16 Horsepower, Jonathan Richman, Rosali, Cate Le Bon, Laura Veirs, Nina Simone, Herman Düne, Tom Waits, Sibylle Baier and more. Source
French-Moroccan power quartet Bab L' Bluz share their new single/video 'Imazighen', taken from their second album 'Swaken', out on 10 May 2024 on Real World Records. Source
Jess Silber invites audiences to embrace the celebration of self-love on Valentine's Day with her award-winning music video for It Hurts to Love a Woman, which follows the queer story of two almost-lovers on a quest for self-love,...
Abigail Lapell turns to the romantic ideal of growing old together on her forthcoming album Anniversary. Watch the video for her lead single Anniversary Song, recorded live with her band in a 200-year-old church. Source
Serious Sam Barrett drops his new album, A Drop of The Morning Dew on March 1st which was recorded live at Bacca Pipes folk club. Watch his new video for the beautiful title track...ancient advice on how to stay looking young. Source
In a tale that unfolds with almost Murakmi dream-like absurdity, Jake Sheppard's 'Bird Clock' manages to balance sorrow and comedy perfectly, a highwire act that leaves you wanting more. Source
Album release date: Friday 29th November 2019 on Pure Records. National tour – 1-21st December 2019, including Royal Festival Hall, London (10 December). There’s nothing [...] The post Kate Rusby announces new Christmas album...
Broomdasher begin their busiest ever Festival Season with a performance at the country’s biggest free Folk Festival at Leigh on Sea in June – followed [...] The post Crop of Festivals for Broomdasher appeared first on Folk...
A celebration of music without borders Whitby Pavilion, West Cliff, Whitby Y21 3EN October 18th-20th https://www.musicportfestival.comhttps://www.facebook.com/musicportevents/ Marking its 20th anniversary Musicport...
Tenterden Folk Festival is pleased to announce that, thanks to grant funding from Kent Community Foundation and The Overstone Trust, Tenterden Folk Festival will be organising and [...] The post Folk song, music and dance workshops for...
Gwanwyn is the first CD from Tŷhai, an exciting collaboration between three musicians from Wales, Dylan Fowler (guitar), Pete Stacey (saxophone/ flute) and Rajesh David [...] The post Tŷhai – Debut album “Gwanwyn”...
by Linda Fahey New releases featured this week on Folk Alley include music from Kelly Willis, The Fretless, Moira Smiley, Anna & Elizabeth, Birds of Chicago, Caitlin Canty, Cahalen Morrison's new project - Western Centuries; Kim Richey's...
by Linda Fahey This week on Folk Alley, Elena See features new releases with music from Phoebe Hunt & The Gatherers, Courtney Marie Andrews, The Mammals, the supergroup of Cory Chisel, Robert Ellis, and Jonny Fritz AKA Traveller, Rosanne...
by Linda Fahey, Folk Alley You're feeling tired, maybe a little defeated and heavy. Seriously, who doesn't want a "reset button" in those situations. For The Dustbowl Revival's Zach Lupetin, a spontaneous swim in the Pacific Ocean was...
by Linda Fahey This week on Folk Alley, in hour one, an exclusive Folk Alley Session from the 2018 30A Songwriters Festival featuring Kim Richey performing songs from her new album, 'Edgeland'; new music from Birds of Chicago, The...
by Kim Ruehl, Folk Alley An artist like Mary Chapin Carpenter will perform their best songs probably hundreds of times in their life, but most fans will remember those songs for the one time they were recorded on an album. This is a...
by Linda Fahey This week on Folk Alley, in hour one, an exclusive in-studio performance with Paul Thorn, recorded at this year's 30A Songwriters Festival; new music from Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats, Altan, Kim Richey, Vivian...
by Linda Fahey This week on Folk Alley, Elena See spotlights new music by folk icon, Joan Baez, from her latest release, 'Whistle Down the Wind;' and more new tunes from the Massachusetts-based indie-folk quintet Parsonsfield, Tommy...
Using the Folk Alley Skill for Amazon Echo Smart Speakers is easy and allows you quick access to Folk Alley content. To use the Folk Alley Skill for Echo, follow these simple steps: 1. Open your Alexa app and go to the menu. 2. Scroll...
by Linda Fahey This week on Folk Alley, we'll celebrate to coming of St. Patrick's Day with music by The Chieftains featuring Bonnie Raitt, We Banjo 3, and Doolin'; new music from John Prine, Chris Smither, Parsonsfield, Darlingside,...
Folk Alley presents two screenings of the documentary THE KING at the 42nd Cleveland International Film Festival. Director Eugene Jarecki travels America in Elvis' 1963 Rolls Royce talking to people along the way about the...
by Elena See, Folk Alley I read something on Twitter the other day - and I can't remember who wrote it, so apologies if it was you. It went something like this: "Sometimes it's ok to acknowledge that you're tired. Sometimes it's ok to...