NOTE: This is a November 10, 2022, update to this page You are most welcome to my contemporary folk and trad music fan site - so glad you found it! This site was previously called CeltBritFolkMusic but I have changed the title, although not the URL. This is essentially a blog that features album reviews … Continue reading Welcome to a work in constant progress…!
It’s been quiet on FolkNotes…
...because my tinnitus acted up again a few weeks ago. I saw a doctor and an audiologist last year and they concluded I don't have a hearing damage. I kind of guessed that myself since even with headphones my hearing balance is pretty perfect, and the tinnitus comes and goes in irregular periods which would … Continue reading It’s been quiet on FolkNotes…
The countries may be low but the music is up: a quick note on Naragonia and Omnia
During all the decades I lived with various rock music genres, very, very few artists and bands I paid any attention to came from the Netherlands and, even less, Belgium. In the prog front, I knew Focus, of course, and some friends were nuts about the Nits, the Dutch alt-rock band. But that was about … Continue reading The countries may be low but the music is up: a quick note on Naragonia and Omnia
Martin Hayes and the Common Ground Ensemble: Peggy’s Dream
The amazing career of master fiddler Martin Hayes continues to be amazing. His website (martinhayes.com) gives much information on the background of this album and this new ensemble so please check it out. Suffice it to say here that as the website mentioned jazz, contemporay classical and whatnot as inspirations for this project, I was … Continue reading Martin Hayes and the Common Ground Ensemble: Peggy’s Dream
Graham Mackenzie: The Dawning
It's been quite a few years since Highland fiddler Graham Mackenzie's debut album Crossing Borders - that was actually way back in 2016, amazing how time just disappears. It was a very, very good outing by a massively talented young musician and I remember listening to it and wondering where all this new talent in … Continue reading Graham Mackenzie: The Dawning
The Wilderness Yet: What Holds The World Together
This is a review of a fairly recent but not brand new album; this was released in July, 2022 This is my first contact with The Wilderness Yet and I was immediately taken with the band's name and the beautiful album cover that features a fox, my spirit animal (no cultural appropriation here, ancient Finns … Continue reading The Wilderness Yet: What Holds The World Together
Ruth Keggin & Rachel Hair: Lossan
This is a review of a fairly recent but not brand new album. This album was released in 07/2022. I have often noted how there is inner strength and power in the quiter Celtic music. Lossan features, for the most part, just two women: a voice and a Celtic harp and little else - it's … Continue reading Ruth Keggin & Rachel Hair: Lossan
Shine: Sugarcane (2001)
This is one of my "rummaging the vault" pieces where I either discover or return to an older release. Shine was (I presume it's "was" rather than "is" but please correct me if I'm wrong) a trio of three remarkable Scottish musicians: Corrina Hewat, Alyth McCormack and Mary Macmaster. As a band, they were 3 … Continue reading Shine: Sugarcane (2001)
Lissa Schneckenburger: Falling Forward
I have enjoyed the American fiddler-singer-composer's recent albums a lot. Her career arc has been one of steady development, from the fairly uneven first outings to over 20 years ago to the masterful musician she has been for a quite a few years already. Falling Forward is her first full-length album since 2019's Thunder In … Continue reading Lissa Schneckenburger: Falling Forward
Jenny Sturgeon’s “The Living Mountain”: a meditation
The Living Mountain, an album inspired by Nan Shepherd's iconic nature book, was released to rave reviews in October of 2020. At the time, I was mentally trying to adjust to the then raging global covid surge and the insecurity and uncertainty it caused - it's a blessing I could not foresee then that only … Continue reading Jenny Sturgeon’s “The Living Mountain”: a meditation
Emily Portman & Rob Harbron: Time Was Away
I have absolutely adored Emily Portman's previous albums, Hatchling (2012) and Coracle (2015). They presented a very original artist whose outwardly fragile voice contains immense strength and whose music integrates traditional British folk elements into a unique, dreamlike soundscape, with lyrics to match. I totally loved them both and I am very happy to say … Continue reading Emily Portman & Rob Harbron: Time Was Away
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