Simpson at 70: A new interview with the legendary folk guitarist
As Martin Simpson celebrates his 70th birthday (not to mention 58 years as a guitarist), we asked his admirers to pitch questions on a musical life very well lived.
The Tradfolk music section deals with all things traditional folk music, occasionally dipping into folk music that is influenced by the tradition. We have interviews with traditional folk musicians, reviews of folk music albums that have really charmed us, and occasional explorations of the traditional songs themselves. From Martin Carthy to Angeline Morrison, you'll find folk music aplenty on this page. Make sure you hit the "load more" button beneath each page to explore the full extent of our archive.
We also curate a couple of folk music playlists, so click that link and make sure you follow them to keep up with the latest purveyors of traditional sounds.
Interviews with traditional folk musicians, whether they've just started performing folk music or they're old hands.
As Martin Simpson celebrates his 70th birthday (not to mention 58 years as a guitarist), we asked his admirers to pitch questions on a musical life very well lived.
As Leveret celebrate their 10th anniversary as a trio, Jon Wilks chats to them about the way they make music, and their new album, Forms.
Professor Fay Hield chats about her multifaceted career, the Access Folk project, and the upcoming Folk Singing Symposium in Sheffield.
Jacken Elswyth, Mataio Austin Dean and Nick Granata sit down to discuss a brief history of Shovel Dance Collective, as well as the album looming in their immediate future.
Eliza Carthy discusses her new album, 'Queen of the Whirl', and talks about the relationships that have made her 30 years in the biz so memorable.
Meet Jacken Elswyth - experimental/trad banjo player, label owner, Shove Dance Collective member and denizen of London's new folk clubs.
Jon Wilks chats to folk singer and Morris dancer, Ellie Gowers, about her close encounters with history in the making.
Nora Brown talks us through the making of her latest record, 'Long Time to be Gone', and schools us in all things old-time banjo.
The Sorrow Songs: Folk Songs of Black British Experience arrives on October 7th via the world's oldest independent record label. Angeline tells us about the making of this fascinating album.
Stick in the Wheel discuss the making of their latest album, Perspectives on Tradition, their relationship to the city they are forever connected to, and the journey they've been on since their earliest albums.
Jimmy & Sid, as they're affectionately known to their friends and fans, have turned 10. So, what do they really think of each other?
Move over Sheffield. Leeds is on the up. Tradfolk meets Chris Brain, the man behind the burgeoning folk scene centred around the Hyde Park Folk Club.
In that rare, liminal space between traditional folk and indie music, you'll find Broadside Hacks - a London collective of young musicians taking the old songs to new audiences. Jon Wilks caught up with founder member, Campbell Baum, in their New Cross studio.
Looking at the latest traditional folk music albums, and some that are clearly influenced by the tradition.
Gavin McNamara takes a listen to the new album from Jim Ghedi and Toby Hay and finds a warm-hearted, mid-summer celebration.
With 'Archangel Hill', Shirley Collins has surprised many by producing one of the best albums of her career. Ian A. Anderson has the review.
Locked away in a church in Derbyshire, Sam Sweeney continues to conjure up nourishment for the soul.
George Sansome & Matt Quinn kickstart their new duo with Sheffield Park, an album on which they wear their love of traditional folk songs firmly on their sleeves.
Stolen from God, a new song cycle from Reg Meuross, marks the culmination of four years digging into the hellish history of the Atlantic Slave Trade.
Saving the Good Stuff Vo1 is a beautifully arranged and recorded document of Harbottle & Jonas's lockdown adventures, featuring tradfolk classics and a few surprising twists.
Out of the annals of history and into exciting new territory, folk supergroup, Hack-Poets Guild, create an auspicious sonic universe with Blackletter Garland, their ambitious debut.
Where Are All The Women? by Jennie Higgins is an entirely unaccompanied first-attempt from an emerging folk singer.
In this section, we explore specific traditional folk songs in depth.
Cáit Ní Riain of The Weaving talks us through her relationship with the traditional Irish song, 'P is for Paddy' [Roud 419].
A cohort of Martin Simpson fans pick the songs they think you ought to hear.
As the biggest music competition in the world hits Liverpool this week, we thought we’d take a typically Tradfolk niche look at folk-inspired entries through the years.
Jon Wilks discusses the origins of his new single and video, the traditional song, 'Johnny Sands'.
George Sansome & Matt Quinn debut 'I Live Not Where I Love', a recording and video of a traditional song first collected in Piddletown.
As they release a brand new video, Debbie Armour from Burd Ellen talks us through her relationship with 'The Lovers' [Roud 205].
Phil Tyler & Sarah Hill discuss the traditional song, 'Matt Hyland' [Roud 2880], what they know of its history and what it means to them.
Celebrated melodeon player, John Spiers, joins Jon Wilks on the Old Songs Podcast to discuss the Morris tune, The Princess Royal.
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