There is something captivating about The Shackleton Trio‘s epic tale of Bobby the Collie who lost his way and goes on a ‘two hundred‘ day adventure. The Shackleton’s beautiful, faithful and classic songwriting story style, is the perfect match for their pleasing harmonies and East Anglian roots.

The classic folk style continues with Matthew Byrne and his great love letter to England, “Merry England” includes some fantastic lyrical ideas with some amazing images, like “feeling like a what a child felt like when the carnival was gone”. There is a heartfelt honesty in the lyricism here that is hard to find.

There is a treat next for any folk purists, the liquid gold voice of Jesse Ferguson as he laments the war, and offers to take us to the heart of the action in ‘High Germany‘. The emotion and pain driven through the heart of this throbbing enigmatic adventure is quite hard to resit and I find Ferguson’s haunting lyrics catching me quite unawares.

Malia Rogers, blows in from Canada next with her latest release ‘Vulnerable‘. This emotionally exposed, naturally accessible single is brilliantly produced and has a crystal bright melody and a truth at its heart. Malia is my one to watch this week, and she has a great back catalogue worth your attention.

Following a brilliantly inspiring evening in Norwich, with Christina Arden and Alex Paterson, I couldn’t resist including this beautiful old track from their band Kitewing. This stunning track was presented with live drawing by Chris Riddell. The Greenland Shark can apparently live for hundreds of years, and this song, is inspired by the idea of a shark living for hundreds of years under the Sea and the world changing above them.

Swedish Folk Superhero Fia, Raised in Stockholm but now hailing from the banks of Sweden’s Lake Silgan, often challenges the metaphysical, taking a deep dive in to the stars, where we came from or what lies beneath the surface of our humanity. In her latest single ‘The One to leave‘ she takes a more country story style ballad, with a classic honestly and challenging story of betrayal.

Billy Simons Jr. delivers another visceral and brilliantly witty, truthful assessment of current events with his brutal observations in ‘We Are Great Again‘, I hope this reaches the right ears because somehow Simons manages to capture the pointlessness of it all, which considering his chosen subject is quite a feat of lyricism.

In a sharp contrast “the young un’s” lead us through the streets of hartlepool to learn the story of the great partnership of Marks and Spencer’s. With their origins selling pins and soap not he markets to the international super brand, all told effortlessly in high harmony and in classic young un’s style.

I was so torn with what to choose from Amy Hopwood as almost anything from her refreshing and unique song book would have worked for me here. Amy’s style seems to reimagine the genre with her own special blend of compassion and irreverence, in a captivating style of deeply accessible lyrics with a tinge of nostalgia and one eye on the moral high-ground. I lover her intoxicating sound and if you have walk through a woodland on a summers day with three or four strong ciders in your belly you will know what I mean. It is blissful and beautiful.

Folk royalty Katerine Priddy in this inspired latest release, created in partnership with Simon Armitage is anthemic and powerful in a new and bright way. “Daybreaker” delivers a new level of sophistication which I find enlightened and enigmatic. I starts off in a moody, sultry almost vagrant sound, and slowly builds to such an epic and wholesome crescendo. I have become a bit obsessed with this sound recently and this is a great example of the style.

“I need to go” is the long award new release courtesy of ‘Echo’s and Rhymes‘ and it is a brilliant new piece of work. I can wait to see them on the live circuit again and this is certainly something to put on your watch list. I would recommend a whizz through the back catalogue too. Some great tunes here.

To the true folkies among us, there is a sweet treat in the ‘Folk club song‘ by the amazing duo of Vicky Swan and Johnny Dyer. The nostalgia and love in this song runs deep, and there is a tender longing that runs through the violin that really appeals to me.

Solidly Scotlands finest folk export “Breabach” feature on this weeks list, with a true blast from the past. I found myself taking a sneaky solace in the 2007 album “the Big Spree”. This gorgeous album serves as a bit of reset switch for me, I will find myself drifting of, coffee now cold from standing, and I realise this album has transported me somewhere pure and free. I really wanted to share their textbook version of ‘the rolling hills‘ with you, in the hope you find the same sanctuary I do.

The heartbreaking honesty built, layer on layer, into Irish singer songwriter “Anna Cassidy’s“ latest release ‘I must Go‘ is a hard listen. Wrapped up so beautifully in this delicate, complex tune, is a powerful message, the torn edges of a powerful break up and the frayed stitches of a broken heart, it is deceptively accessible and elegantly crafted, one of my favourites this week. .

‘The Wren‘ in his silks not even a king could match, is honestly like a folk cordial, distilled to the essence of a beautiful story elegantly told. This syrupy, rolling delight, is whimsical and bright, isn’t long enough, or deep enough to get your heart around, it is like a fondant fancy, one bite and it’s gone in a cloud of beautiful sugary goodness.,

The ‘Old Salt‘ show us literally what Ezra might sound like if he owned a banjo. This is such a brilliant, modern, ‘stomp and holler’ instant classic. if you get a chance to see the ‘old salts’ on the festival circuit you will not regret it, there is energy and musicality in abundance here. with one foot in the roots and their head in the canopy – don’t miss these folks.

Elliot Porter, and his amazing catalogue of complex and challenging music, a fusion of the classic British folk pop and Americana, blending the modern with the classical sound of the troubadour spirit is a delightful mix. I had a hard job choosing what to include this week, but I have settled on “constellations” as I brought the epic lift I was looking for to finish this week’s list. It sort of falls into the abyss between Ryan Adams and Neil Young, if McCartney was steering the ship.

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This is the Week 16 list published on 14th April 2025 and running until 21st April, 2025.

The List. #16.2025