So, it’s all gone a bit traditional. I had the privilege of seeing Martin Simpson and Chris Fox both playing live in Cambridge this week and I have to confess it has infiltrated this playlist a bit… We begin the list with “We Sing Hooray“, which is simply divine. We have posted our gig review for Chris this week if you want to see why I love this so much. I have also included a beautiful live cover of “In the Pines” from Martin Simpson’s latest Live album “Skydancers“, this beautiful song dates back to the 1870’s and, I am afraid to say it has made me come over a bit nostalgic.

This week in Cambridge, Martin also did beautiful covers of “Icarus” by Anne Lister and Joan Baez’s classic version of “Mary Hamilton“. The beautiful Scottish ballad “Mary Hamilton”, which tells the story of four women called named Mary who were ladies-in-waiting to Mary Queen of Scots and allegedly inspired Dylan to write the 1963 song “The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll”. 

Roberta Smith with her delicate and wonderfully imagined “Shade and Shelter” has really got me this week… the line “we are complicated me and you” really appeals to me, reminding us that love is never easy and often complex. Looking forward to hearing more from this great lyricist.

I am afraid to say that the inclusion of the remastered version of “blues run the game” is a bit self indulgent on this list, I use covers of this song as a bellwether for other artists, it has been covered by almost everyone worth listening to, at one time or another and somehow the original JCFrank cannot be beaten. This song fixes me when I loose focus and it reminds me that your can’t control everything. Even when you try.

Next up on this list, the delightful Calum Gilligan, who’s “sunset on the boatyard” is an irreverent and deceptive treat, the line “Shoot myself in the head, just to get out of thinking too long” is often something I can relate to. He says, “shoot myself in the foot to get out of walking” and I have certainly faked illness to avoid a park run or two….

I would like to share the amazing Niamh Corkey with you too… I first saw Niamh supporting Siobhan Miller in London, and I have been awaiting her first official track releases ever since… Her gentle and almost naive stage presence actually was a huge draw and I just hope that she does not lose this dewy newness as she builds her tribe, her innocence is certainly a virtue.

Fionn Regan, with his massive tribe of followers has a new single “Two Sides” which is brilliant, so it sits as an axis in the middle of the list this week. If you dont know the work from Fionn, get him followed and go on a long journey. worth every second you invest.

A new discovery for me this week was Etaoin, how this amazing musical powerhouse passed me by until now I will never know, I am now a fan. The blissed-out sound of Etaoin led me to seek something equally peaceful and with a counterpoint male vocal, and Dave Clancy, with “take your time” really felt like the right choice to follow here.

As is often the way with my lists, I find myself going down an Indie-folk rabbit hole, and that is where June Carousel take us, the German/Irish due formed of Meret Ester and Tricia Collins have been working together since 2022, and I must say that “what could have been” is possibly their best work so far, I a bit hooked on this slightly self-effacing cast of, as it wondered “wouldn’t it be nice to catch some of the time we have wasted”.

Other artists with new albums in my listening queue this week are Bella Hardy, rona Macfarlane and Emily Henry, all with new releases and lots to talk about. All three worthy of a follow.

I really hope you like this week’s list, certainly more traditional than usual, but its ok to wallow every now and then right…

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This is the Week 10 list published on 3rd March 2025 and running until 10th March , 2025.

The List. #010.2025