Folk and family: an interview with Jackie Oates
Jackie Oates reflects on balancing her career and motherhood, sharing insights on her musical journey, collaborations, and the impact of life and loss on her artistry.
Latest articles
In Winter, The Unthanks Find New Musical Landscapes
In their latest studio double album, The Unthanks In Winter, the North East group ventures into a seasonal fantasia that weaves folk, jazz and atmospherics into a comforting wrap against the cold.
Bonfire Radicals – Flywheel, a review
Eclectic and down-right exciting, Gavin McNamara reviews the new EP from Bonfire Radicals
Pictureframers Duo – Grounded, a review
Nelly Brewer
Granny’s Attic – Jack the Sailor
Granny's Attic are celebrating their 15th anniversary with a big tour and a new video
Cohen Braithwaite Kilcoyne – Play Up the Music!, a review
Cohen is back with his third solo album. Gavin McNamara gives it a listen
The Old Songs Podcast
Exploring traditional folk music one song at a time.
The 10th episode of The Old Songs Podcast, Jon Wilks chats to broadside ballad singer and researcher, Jennifer Reid, about 'The New Bury Loom' [Roud V9197].
As he enters the third decade of his professional career, Jim Moray joins Jon to discuss the ballad, 'Lord Douglas' [Roud 23].
Celebrated melodeon player, John Spiers, joins Jon Wilks on the Old Songs Podcast to discuss the Morris tune, The Princess Royal.
In this week's episode of the Old Songs Podcast, Nick Hart interviews Jon Wilks about the traditional song, The Gloucestershire Wassail [Roud 209].
Debbie Armour of Burd Ellen discusses 'When I was on Horseback' or 'The Unfortunate Rake' [Roud 2] with Jon Wilks.
Everything you ever wanted to know about the traditional ballad, 'The Trees They Do Grow High', sometimes known as 'Long A-Growing' [Roud 31].
Customs uncovered
Dig in to our selection of articles covering traditional British customs and the manner in which they survive and thrive today.
Folk vs Tradition: what’s the difference?
Artist Lucy Wright muses on the difference between folk and tradition.
Customs Uncovered: Shit-Sack Day
Happy Shit-Sack Day to one and all! Join us as we dive nose-first into what is perhaps the best-named of all English traditions.
Customs uncovered: the Cooper’s Hill cheese rolling contest
From injuries to history, everything you (and the internet) have ever wanted to know about the Cooper's Hill cheese rolling contest in Gloucestershire.
Customs uncovered: Bampton Morris dancing, Whit Monday
Bampton Morris dancing is known worldwide for its extraordinary lineage. We chat to one of the tradition bearers and dig into the history.
Traditional May events to add to your calendar
Why is the month of May so important to the folk world? Here's our list of what to do, where to go, what to see, and what it all means.
Tales of a Tutti Man: Hocktide Customs Uncovered
To the woefully unaware, the West Berkshire town of Hungerford may seem like a quaint spot on a pretty canal. But beware: Tutti men are known to prowl at Hocktide.
Customs Uncovered: The Tichborne Dole
Discover the enduring tradition of the Tichborne Dole, a charitable act dating back to the 12th century, offering blessed flour (and curses) to Hampshire locals.
Customs uncovered: Leap Year
It’s not every year you get to write about leap years, for rather obvious reasons. So we thought we ought to jump on the chance in 2024.
Folk music reviews
Reviewing the latest releases on the traditional folk music scene. We focus on traditional music, or music that has been directly inspired by it.
In this season of gaudy whizz-bangs and empty explosions in the sky, how good is it to find something that is genuinely exciting, genuinely thrilling? The new Bonfire Radicals EP, Flywheel, may only be five tracks long but these are five tracks made for oohs and aahs, made to conjure a sparkle in the eye, a grin on the face and a warm feeling in the heart. Birmingham’s Bonfire Radicals are Michelle Holloway (also of the dizzying Filkin’s Ensemble) on […]...
Isn’t it lovely when you find a new favourite artist by accident? I stumbled on Pictureframers Duo at the Lassington Oak Morris weekend in July. I was instantly taken in by their vocal harmonies and poignant lyrics, so when their debut album launch tour came around this autumn I quickly snagged a ticket for their very-almost-sold-out gig at the Folk of Gloucester. Having now seen Grounded performed live in its entirety, and then listened to it on repeat for a […]...
The way that Cohen Braithwaite-Kilcoyne, squeezebox player with Granny’s Attic, tells it, his interest in the crossover between English folk music and the musical tradition of the Caribbean was piqued on a holiday to Barbados to visit family. That holiday has led to a fascination with the moment of intersection, the gentle passing back and forth of musical moments. It has led to Braithwaite-Kilcoyne’s third solo album, Play Up the Music! There is no doubt that this record is infused […]...
