Category Archives: Commentary

A Kinrowan Estate story: Minding the Stockpot

Posted on 7th October 2017 by Diverse Voices

Even visitors to Kinrowan Hall get put to useful work if someone such as the Kitchen staff needs a hand as Elizabeth Bear, author of such works as the White Space novels of Ancestral Nights and Machine discovered one autumnal evening… Oh, hey there. Come … Continue reading →

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On Reviewing

Posted on 18th May 2017 by Robert

I periodically find myself confronting the question of exactly what it is I’m doing here as a reviewer. I don’t want to call myself a critic because that means, to me at least, that there is some theory involved, and … Continue reading →

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Transatlantic Sessions to perform at 2017 MerleFest

Posted on 10th March 2017 by Gary Whitehouse

The Transatlantic Sessions tour will be part of the 30th anniversary MerleFest in April. The Transatlantic Sessions is a series of musical productions that brings together innovative and iconic U.K. artists with the best American roots artists, under the musical … Continue reading →

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What’s New for the 1st of January: music from Sunas, banana French toast, music in fiction and other matters…

Posted on 1st January 2017 by Iain Nicholas Mackenzie

Should auld acquaintance be forgot,and never brought to mind? Should auld acquaintance be forgot, and auld lang syne? Robert Burns Shhh… We need to be more than just a wee bit quieter than usual as a lot of the residents of … Continue reading →

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What’s New for the 4th of December: Ursula Le Guin fiction, Ragnarok and beyond, Jack’s favorite reading place, Nordic traditions, chocolate and other matters

Posted on 4th December 2016 by Iain Nicholas Mackenzie

English autumn mornings are often like mornings nowhere else in the world. The air is cold. The floorboards are cold. It is perhaps this coldness which sharpens the tang of the hot cup of tea. Outside, steps on the gravel … Continue reading →

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A Kinrowan Estate story: Venison Stew (A Letter to Tessa)

Posted on 17th October 2016 by Iain Nicholas Mackenzie

A letter from the journal of Alexandra Margaret Quinn, Head Gardener here in the Reign of Her Majesty Queen Victoria to her friend, who was staying in Constantinople as of this letter. Alex, as she was known, copied her personal … Continue reading →

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On Writing

Posted on 7th October 2016 by Grey Walker

Welcome! This is Grey. Summer has passed today. Autumn has arrived. Along with the trees turning and the cooler nights, autumn brings school days back again. A boy who lives in my neighborhood called me yesterday to interview me. Seems … Continue reading →

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What’s New for the 18th of September: a story from Kage Baker, new music from Bua and Iron Horse, a new novel from Peter Beagle, a new collection from Patricia McKillip, a “cowboy” movie, Welsh sort of trad music, Indonesian sort of trad music, American pop and several other things as well

Posted on 18th September 2016 by Iain Nicholas Mackenzie

At no other time (than autumn) does the earth let itself be inhaled in one smell, the ripe earth; in a smell that is in no way inferior to the smell of the sea, bitter where it borders on taste, … Continue reading →

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What’s New for the 11th of September: Chicago’s Lincoln Park Conservatory, an Oysterband retrospective collection, contemporary Estonian music, a Swedish porridge restaurant, a Tam Lin novel, card catalogues and other matters…

Posted on 11th September 2016 by Iain Nicholas Mackenzie

I can remember the title, author, and location of every book in this library, Matthew. Every book that’s ever been dreamed. Every book that’s ever been imagined. Every book that’s ever been lost. Millions upon millions of them. That’s what … Continue reading →

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And Reels: Johnny Cock/Johnny O’Braidslea  

Posted on 16th August 2016 by Diverse Voices

Chuck Lipsig penned this essay. One of the fascinating things about folk music is the variety that one song or tune can produce. Niggling purism aside, there has never been one folk style. That’s even more true these days with musicians … Continue reading →

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