Second album from the respected Belgian folkband BRISK.  A few dance pieces and a few tearjerkers makes and ideal mix.

​Very mature folk music with storytelling and emotional polyphonic songs.  A relief in these turbulent days.  Tip: Play it a little bit harder than normal to enjoy the soft instrumental details.

​With songs that explore life’s murky corners and shadowy characters, Ben de la Cour’s music occupies the intersection between gothic Americana and dark, gritty folk. It’s a sound fueled by the stories and struggles of its creator, a lifelong searcher who’s never been afraid to shine a light on his own demons. A dark, soulful middle ground between Nick Cave and Steve Earle, Ben de la Cour pulls no punches and always manages to dig deep into the most battered firmament with a voice that sounds like the American Heartland witnessed through the window of a car going 80 mph.

​In 1938, Gary Williams was born in Spokane, Washington in the Pacific Northwest region. As a child he became fascinated by the music of Jimmie Rodgers, the 'Blue Yodeler'. By the age of 16, he was already playing the guitar quite well and appeared on TV shows on local channel KXOI. At that age, he also attended the second edition of the ‘Jimmie Rodgers Memorial Celebration’ in Meridan, Mississippi. At that memorial he would later perform himself together with the then unknown Elvis Presley. In 1957 Gary Williams made his first recording for Verve with the single ‘Travelin' Blues Boy / I'm Gonna Return’, which included Merle Travis on guitar. Both songs are on this album and you also get the 1960 version of 'Travelin' Blues Boy'. In 1957 the Verve label also released the successful album 'Teen Time', which also featured Ricky Nelson. This gave Gary's career such a boost that he was touring practically constantly until the summer of 1960. He also got his nickname 'Travelin' Blues Boy' from that. During his musical career that spanned more than four decades, Gary wrote more than 600 songs in genres such as country, folk and rockabilly. He recorded with no less than 14 record labels and his songs were covered by Webb Pierce, Freddy Hart and Bobby Wayne, among others. In the late 1960s, he left rockabilly, country and folk behind and recorded Christian-inspired music and gospels. On this compilation you get 34 tracks that are among the very best recordings of Williams. Tracks he recorded between 1957 and 1966, his most creative period. These songs ended up on Verve, Panorama, Manito, WA, Connie Sue and Gary's own label Empire. From his LP 'Gary Williams', released in 1960, this compilation contains 7 excellent songs, including 'Walla Walla State Prison', a fantastic rockabilly song. But there is more to enjoy. So we start with 'Travellin' Blues Boy', which immediately puts the qualities of Williams' songwriter talent in the spotlight. After this, you immediately get a taste of his versatility with the folksy 'Manhunt'. And also 'In This Prison Cell', 'Dueling Green' and 'Buckskin' fit in that genre.
Country forms the basis for, among others, 'Heart Break Special', 'The Great Northwest', 'Fields Of Rolling Green', 'Big City Blues', 'Branded An Outlaw', 'You And Your True Love', while 'Such A Good Good Girl' leans towards good pop.
‘Alaska’ has an accompaniment reminiscent of that other great artist, Johnny Cash, after which ‘Step Into My Heart’, ‘Rule Number One’ and ‘Country Jail Blues’ are examples of what an emotional ballad should sound like.
Gary Williams had all the qualities an artist needs to make it. Songwriting talent, a beautiful voice and providing the songs with arrangements that are not only excellent but also timeless, Gary possessed it all. The formidable accompaniment of excellent musicians completes the picture.
Just before Gary Williams passed away on November 23, 2018, well-known country and rockabilly artist Deke Dickerson interviewed him. Deke was also the person to write the very extensive and well-documented liner notes.
It's just a shame Gary Williams couldn't step out of the shadows of the big names of his time. If one thing is certain after listening to this compilation, it is that Gary Williams should have been among the legendary artists of his time.
'The Travelin' Blues Boy' is definitely worth buying!

Great album with sacred and profane songs that not only has the intention to heal like in earlier times, but also to take you into another spiritual world.  Especially the drive and energy in voice and play will convince. So take a look at the video of ‘Maletimbe’;

​Music For Shepherds And Sultans closes the gap between classical and folk music based on the Ottoman Empire, Cyprus included. 

Strangers No More offers an all-encompassing view not only of the places Drew Holcomb & The Neighbors have been, but where they’re headed next, too. From ageless folk music to atmospheric Americana to soulful rock & roll, the album marks an ambitious new chapter in the band’s story and is due out June 7th via Magnolia Music. 

​Tim Grimm has already had a 25-year musical career, in which he profiled himself as a storyteller in the style of John Prine, Woody Guthrie and Bob Dylan. He mainly sought his inspiration in his own circle, such as family and the local community to which he belonged. He partly does that also on 'The Little In-Between'.
Tim wrote the nine songs during three months in the fall / winter of 2021. He then went to the studio and recorded them with only his acoustic guitar as accompaniment. Then he gradually added atmospheric accents by means of cello, electric guitar, steel guitar, drums and bass. Alice Allen, Sergio Webb, Mark Clark and Justin Bransford respectively took care of this, but mainly it remained Tim’s voice and Tim's acoustic guitar. On 'The Little-In Between' singer / songwriter Tim Grimm takes you on an emotional rollercoaster through peace, loss, sadness and love in a folk way.

​Baul Meets Saz combines Turkish and Bengal traditional music in a way that serenity anoints human being. Like the trio says: Love Live and Let Live!

​Las is the name of the new project of piper Ross Ainslie.  Unfortunately their debut is boring from start to end. But, if you love the sound of Scottish bagpipes, don’t hesitate!

​Beautiful folksongs in a mediaevel minimalistic canvas: subtle and refined sung.

Another Brit folk compilation? Well yes, but these three discs sample the famous Folk Heritage label which took great care of recording dozens of folk artists who ‘did’ the folk club circuit in the North East of England in the late sixties and the seventies. With not one hit or a famous name in sight, this is a splendid collection that delivers what it promises: to preserve the heritage of British folk music.  Most records were pressed in limited quantities and, therefore, nigh impossible to find. A good enough reason to release this box!
‘Heritage’ means no game changers, no avant-garde, no re-writing of the manual. Quite some artists here simply copy the age-old tradition, fiddles and all. Others have a go at the new folk movement (The Young Folk), some have listened to pop (Music Box, Saraband), a few are clearly singer-songwriters with potential (Porter Cunningham, Blue Horizon). Why, there is even a protest song again protesters! If you won’t discover anything ground-breaking, it must also be said that there are no fillers here. On the contrary, this compilation features many a good voice, such as Christine Hennesy’s raw chords.
Moreover, the recording quality is just great. I enjoyed listening to this and selected choice tracks for my shows on radio 68, to be heard on Wednesday 31 August.
Cherry Red has done another good job. A nice booklet allows you to discover all these beautiful people!

​Brooklyn based folkband Barry Oreck brings the roots spirit with contemporary songs, softly framed with rhythm guitar, mandolin and weeping violin.

​Great intriguing debut from the Dutch female artist Caspar Milquetoast, experimental psychedelic folk with a story.  Common in the seventies,  exceptional in the 21st century.
Love it!

​Armed with only his voice, an acoustic guitar and a harp is the release ‘Oh Suzana Blues’  a deep and intimate blues experience. And after all this misery, he also continues to glorify his faith in 'No God But God'. Together with his honest acoustic guitar playing, David Owen tells his life story. Respect! 

​Instrumental album with flemish melodies of the eighteenth century, with subtility upgraded to our modern times.

​Modern folk with contemporary influences creates an energetic sound. Not to be missed!

Texas Hall Of Fame musician Stehpen Doster made a fantastic acoustic album with his fingerpicking guitar.  Worth discovering!

Wonderful nine dance songs inspired by tradition.  It really invites you to dance (till you drop dead-don’t!).  Very enjoyable!

Sixteenth album of Texan singer-songwriter George Enslé.  Once more he puts the finger on the wound.  Don’t look away of life and try to improve your social self.

Scandinavian look on celtic folk from Ireland over the Shetlands, cross Wales to England.  The Celtic Duo investigated history and searched for the unknown masterpieces. Great!

Traditional folk tunes beautifully uplifted with jazzy improvisations. Experimental? Yes, in a certain way, but very accessible.

Every song tells another story, beautiful interpreted by the committed Roos Meijer.  Dreamy, psychedelic folk with a clear message.

An interesting mix of new European and American folk tunes, that musically refers to the 60’-70’s.  Confusing in a certain way, but with great skills performed. Very enjoyable debut.

​Instrumental contemporary compositions based on traditional European folk structures.