Tag Archives: English folk rock

Assembly Players’ A Kynaston Ball, Various artists’ Strange Coincidences in Speciality Tea Trading, Mary Humphreys & Anahata’s Sharp Practice, and Tickled Pink’s Terpsichore Polyhymnia

These four CDs represent things you might hear around the folk clubs, sessions and festivals this summer. There are plenty of people around telling you what you should read this summer, so think of this as your summer listening. The … Continue reading

Posted in Music | Tagged , | Comments Off on Assembly Players’ A Kynaston Ball, Various artists’ Strange Coincidences in Speciality Tea Trading, Mary Humphreys & Anahata’s Sharp Practice, and Tickled Pink’s Terpsichore Polyhymnia

Steeleye Span’s Back in Line, and Lark in the Morning

Recording 101: How To Wreck A Good CD With Bad Production Well, damn it. I’ve just finished a complete listen to Steeleye Span’s 1986 Back In Line, and I’m cranky. Frankly, I want to take the producer out behind Maddy … Continue reading

Posted in Music | Tagged , | Comments Off on Steeleye Span’s Back in Line, and Lark in the Morning

Richard Thompson’s all request show, Montalvo Arts Center, Saratoga, California

Dear Richard, Please Will You Play…? Three shows, three settings, one happy woman Saturday night in Saratoga, California and for the third time in as many months, I’m gearing up to let an evening of music make me very, very … Continue reading

Posted in Music | Tagged , | Comments Off on Richard Thompson’s all request show, Montalvo Arts Center, Saratoga, California

Linda Thompson’s Won’t Be Long Now

Add my voice to the chorus that is hailing Linda Thompson’s third solo album of her revived career as a contemporary folk delight. Won’t Be Long Now is an intimate recording featuring many members of her family that masterfully mixes … Continue reading

Posted in Music | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Linda Thompson’s Won’t Be Long Now

Linda Thompson’s Proxy Music

What do you do when you have a heart (and a notebook) full of songs but can’t sing them yourself? Well, if you’re Linda Thompson and you have connections to (and are beloved by) several generations of musicians on both … Continue reading

Posted in Music | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Linda Thompson’s Proxy Music

The Bushburys’ Trying to Catch the Sun

The Bushburys were formed in 1994 as The New Bushbury Mountain Daredevils. Since then they have been touring extensively and released seven albums, of which this is their sixth. Though they are an English group you can easily detect American … Continue reading

Posted in Music | Tagged | Comments Off on The Bushburys’ Trying to Catch the Sun

Richard & Linda Thompson’s Hokey Pokey

It’s probably going too far to say that Hokey Pokey is an overlooked gem in the Richard Thompson catalog. But this, the second of six studio albums released by Richard and Linda Thompson between 1974 and 1982, generally doesn’t receive … Continue reading

Posted in Music | Tagged , | Comments Off on Richard & Linda Thompson’s Hokey Pokey

The Hush’s Dark to the Sky

After many years on the folk music scene Bob Fox‘s status was boosted by his appearance as special guest on the Fairport Convention 2000 Winter Tour. Later that year he recorded an album with the band accompanying him, almost making … Continue reading

Posted in Music | Tagged | Comments Off on The Hush’s Dark to the Sky

Shono’s Kolkhozoy Traktor

In this globalized world is there anything as common as a band that blends the traditional folk songs of its culture with modern rock? Or as wonderful when it’s done right, which is what Shono does. Shono, which means Wolf, … Continue reading

Posted in Music | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Shono’s Kolkhozoy Traktor

Sharon Shannon’s Out the Gap, and Spellbound: the Best of Sharon Shannon

Ever wonder where the other Waterboys got to after Mike Scott left for New York? Did you suspect that the wonderful arrangements on their Fisherman’s Blues and Room to Roam owed a lot to the contributions of ensemble members – … Continue reading

Posted in Music | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Sharon Shannon’s Out the Gap, and Spellbound: the Best of Sharon Shannon