Hazel Davis

Laura Marling might be the queen of the Brit nufolk scene but, on reflection, she’s never really done anything to warrant it. Much as I adore the cheery janglings (oh! the faint praise damning) of Mumford And Sons and Noah And The Whale, Marling is a whole different kettle of (albeit slightly mad) fish. [...]

Last year at Beverley Folk Festival I fell in love.

Sitting in the Saturday afternoon American Party, whisky in hand, buddy by my side I witnessed the force (though force is a far too aggressive word for it) of Jeni Hankins and Billy Kemp (Jeni and Billy).

Jeni and Billy are a too-good-to-be-true duo from [...]

Ian Wylie

Like a sign of spring, Kris Drever’s Mark the Hard Earth sees the Scots guitarist bring more sunshine and warmth to his singing and playing – and is far from the hard slog its title might suggest.

The Orcadian takes a second, well-earned break from edgy improv of his day job as guitarist with Radio [...]

Joy Thomas longs to get out of the stalls

First things first: Cara Dillon has a Proper Lovely voice. Nothing new in that comment, but her voice really is extra-special. It sounds so effortless, so clear and makes you lean into it in order to stuff as much as possible into your ears. This tour has [...]

Joy Thomas

De Montfort Hall and Gardens, Leicester

Gawd, how exciting! De Montfort Hall and Gardens will resonate this June with the sound of folky songstresses as The Big Session welcomes sweetie pie Cara Dillon, folkingcool love bunny Jackie Oates (whose latest album Hyperboreans the press release delightfully mis-spells as Hyperbeans) AND dear Kate Rusby. Oysterband [...]