You and everyone you know should have been eagerly awaiting the release of The Staves’ debut album Dead, Born, and Grown, not only because it features inspired harmonies and enough warmth to carry us through the winter months, but because…
Author: For Folk's Sake
Album | The Staves – Dead & Born & Grown
There’s been a lot of hype surrounding The Staves since they debuted their talents behind Tom Jones on his gravelly gospel album Praise and Blame. They made a name for themselves on the back of that performance with the Welsh…
Live | The Civil Wars at The Roundhouse, London
The Civil Wars: never was a band name more apt. Reviewing the duo, who have just cancelled the rest of their tour and gone on hiatus citing ‘differences in ambition’, is a tricky one. Leaving The Roundhouse last Tuesday I was…
Artist blog | Emily Barker on Cory Branan
Our favourite Australian songstress Emily Barker is on the road as part of the revival tour. It’s a five week European jaunt with a slew of other artists, full of collaboration, covers and singalongs. Emily’s blogging about the tour for…
Album | Beth Orton – Sugaring Season
Having spent the turn of the century in the company of Beth Orton’s 1999 Brit Award-winning album Central Reservation – and it’s chronological neighbours Trailer Park and Daybreaker – Orton’s music is part of the maturing folk fan’s genetic make-up. Now…
News | Catherine Feeny brings Occupy Wall Street album tour to UK
American folk singer Catherine Feeny is currently touring the UK promoting her 4th Studio album America. The record draws inspiration from her participation in and consequent arrest at the Occupy Wall Street demonstration protests, giving her latest album a political…
Album | Neil Halstead – Palindrome Hunches
The sometime Slowdive and Mojave 3 frontman’s prolific career continues with a simply beautiful third solo album. Recorded over one weekend in a primary school, after Halstead bribed the caretaker to let him and his band into the music room,…
Album | Martha Tilston – Machines of Love and Grace
Political music cannot, as Billy Bragg says, change the world, “but it can change the way you think about the world.” Martha Tilston’s new record Machines of Love and Grace finds its raison d’être – and severe limitations – in…
Live | Karine Polwart @ The Union Chapel
THE breathtaking Union Chapel is the perfect setting for this rare gathering of Karine Polwart’s full band. Adding piano and percussion to her regular backing of brother Steven (guitar, good looks, bad jokes) and Inge Thompson (accordion, backing vocals, headscarves),…
Album | Bhi Bhiman – Bhiman
Bhi Bhiman’s voice is distinct and powerful. In fact, his delivery is as textured and girthy as the mighty redwood trees near his home in San Francisco. Apologies for the hyperbole, but both the above sentences offer insight into Bhiman’s…