Hampstead theatre, LondonThe songs that unite two grieving sisters are collected and ‘tidied up’ by Cecil Sharp in this historical dramaThis beautifully brooding slice of English pastoral places Cecil Sharp, the godfather of folk music who collected th…
‘She went her own way’: the tragic and unusual life of folk singer Karen Dalton
In a new documentary, the underrated singer’s life of depression, addiction and poverty is told while her incredible talents are celebratedThe outlines of the life led by singer Karen Dalton tell a heartbreaking tale. It was one scarred by consistent p…
The Tape review – Cornish-set folk musical bobs along like a floating flip-flop
A disillusioned musician stumbles upon inspiration in a charming film debut from folk singer Martha TilstonEnglish folk singer Martha Tilston pulls off an impressive hat-trick of debuts as writer, director and star of this sweet-natured and gently char…
Quantic and Nidia Góngora: Almas Conectadas review – Colombian gold-panners go orchestral
(Tru Thoughts)Pacific coast cantora Góngora’s nature-rooted compositions are given larger dimensions by British electronica producer QuanticHailing from Timbiquí, a small gold-panning community on the Pacific coast of Colombia, folk singer Nidia Góngor…
Michael Chapman: British folk musician dies aged 80
Esteemed guitarist, whose playing influenced Elton John and David Bowie, died at home, his family saidThe British guitarist Michael Chapman has died at the age of 80. In a post to Instagram announcing the news, no cause of death was given, but it was s…
Jailhouse rock: how history’s crimes live on in music
From Maggie May to Ronnie Kray, crooks have long inspired songs, as a new book provesIn the 1960s when Sir Stephen Sedley, the former appeal court judge, was a young barrister, he successfully defended a number of Travellers in Kent who had been charge…
‘A summer of love!’ Musicians on the awesome, tearful return of gigs
From Sleaford Mods in London to Mogwai in France, bands and performers talk about the strange and wonderful experience of returning to the stage after 16 months of deprivationThere were those few weeks of strange, haunted gigs in autumn 2020, but for m…
Big Red Machine: How Long Do You Think It’s Gonna Last? review | Alexis Petridis’s album of the week
(Jagjaguwar)Aaron Dessner and Justin ‘Bon Iver’ Vernon recruit Taylor Swift, Fleet Foxes and more for this album full of misty autumnal beauty – and a quiet punchAaron Dessner cuts a very low-profile figure, even by the standards of both bookish US alt…
From Ghetts to Genesis, Nick Cave to Arlo Parks: autumn 2021’s essential music
From Fontaines DC to the Valkyrie, a techno Halloween to Little Simz, this is the unmissable music of the next few months Continue reading…
Nanci Griffith: a folk singer committed to the genre as much as activism
The late singer-songwriter was dedicated to the fundamentals of folk music and her Grammy-winning music also found space for politicsIn 1993, when the world was enthralled with the new sound of grunge rock emanating from the Pacific north-west, Nanci G…