“Jon Wilks’s Up the Cut explores the fascinating history of Birmingham street balladry, a thriving 19th-century industry, through simple, deeply affecting voice-and-guitar settings. The Lover’s Ghost and…
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Folk music in 2020 may have been battered by the devastating effects of the COVID pandemic, but there were great things to be heard, and…
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“The merry time of Christmas is drawing on a-pace…”, and so I’m delighted to share with you this Birmingham-related recording of “God Rest Ye Merry…
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Here’s a fun little secret thing for you. Shortly after lockdown ended, Jackie Oates asked me to record some traditional nursery rhymes with her for…
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I was expecting to be able to announce the release of my new album, Up The Cut, by this point… but it has not turned…
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The brutal murder of Mary Ashford scandalised the nation in the early 1800s. By the 1840s/50s, the incident had found its way into song –…
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“A superb performer and arranger of traditional songs particularly those from his Birmingham homeland.” Attendance is free, streamed over Zoom. Details below. If you’re unable…
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There’s a tendency among folk fans to talk in hushed tones about the possibility of a revival. Whether such a thing is likely or not,…
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The Old Songs Podcast was launched in January, 2020. Each episode looks at a traditional song (or song deeply related to traditional music) and dissects…
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Back at the beginning of lockdown – which, frankly, feels like a lifetime ago – I was interviewed by fellow guitarist and folk obsessive, Andi…
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