I saw them at the Port Fairy Folk Festival in Victoria in 2017 and 2025 and they were terrific both times. 2 different bands, but each with a keyboard player so I’m surprised they don’t have one now. I’d be happy […]

I haven’t posted for a while, being happy and busy in my retirement, now in its 10th year. I can’t imagine how I ever found time to work. Anyway, not sure if anyone has mentioned these 2 albums but my favourite […]

For about the last year I’ve had an earworm visit every 3 weeks or so by “A thing called love”. I have no idea why! I have some Johnny Cash songs in my collection but not that one. “6 foot 6 he stood on the ground….”

That’s fantastic, especially the vocal take done with them all singing at the same time. I had imagined that would have required a load of individual multitracking.

False Lights, put together by Jim Moray & Sam Carter made 2 decent albums Salvor (2015) and Harmonograph (2018). I remember when they formeed Moray said something like “Why does everyone assume a new folk-rock […]

There a link in that Country life article to this mansion sold recently by Alan Wilder of Depeche Mode I find this extraordinary. He bought it in 1990, left the band in 1995 and doesn’t seem to have done a fat […]

I’d hazard a guess that the process goes something like this. “Are there anymore skeletons in the closet we need to know about Peter?” “Absolutely not” “Splendid”

I saw him 3 months ago at Costa Festival in Portugal in October. He was the headliner and I thought he sang and played very well. I mentioned this to a few people in the bar afterwards who agreed but said they’d […]

The Power of Love by Jennifer Rush. Make it stop!!

Good call re Red Hot Burritos. The bluegrass segment was probably my first exposure to that genre other than the Beverly Hillbillies TV theme. I haven’t heard We’ve Got a Live One Here, but their Deep in the H […]

It’s interesting reading his Guardian obituary and its related posts that after being dropped by his record label he managed to sustain a long career on his own terms. Whilst reading it I was reminded of TV show […]

I’ve only got one; Misty in Roots Live at the Counter Eurovision 79 which has just had a deluxe edition produced via Bandcamp. I had this on vinyl when it first came out but never bought it on CD. I downloaded it […]

In the Summer of 1971 I got a summer job at the Electricity Board of Northern Ireland HQ which was on the Malone Road at its Junction with Stranmillis Rd in Belfast. I think the office workforce was about 600 and […]

A gag told by excellent swing guitarist White Smith from the Hot Club of Cowtown to Mark Radcliffe on the Beeb, not sure what radio show. “What’s the difference between a Rock guitarist and a Jazz guitarist? A […]

I bought 21 released this year. I liked them all except 1 and my top 20, based mostly on how often I listened to them is as follows:- 1 I’m With Her – Wild And Clear And Blue 2 Gigspanner Big Band – […]

I started the month in Albufeira at the Costa Festival. Even though they dropped “del Folk” a while back this was a largely folky affair and helped by fabulous weather, cloudless blue skies, 25C or more each day. […]

Or “oh, he’s the murderer. He always is”

That’s lovely. I’m a fan of Katie and have seen her many times, mostly at Costa Festivals but also earlier this year at Port Fairy Folk Festival way down under. I was not aware that she had been adopted.

1. First Concert – that I paid for myself, Pentangle at The Ulster Hall, Belfast in Dec 1968 2. Last Concert – The Hunch at my local Folk Club. They were great! 3. Worst Concert – The recently departed […]

Tom Russell – West Texas Montage Culture – Citizen As A Peaceful Dub Jennifer & Hazel Wrigley – Shannandah Falls Laura Veirs – Jailhouse Fire Ray Charles – I Don’t Need No Doctor The problem with having too […]