FOLK  ARE  TALKING-UP  FOLK  MUSIC

FOLK  ARE  TALKING-UP  FOLK  MUSIC

a report by Norman Warwick

October is here, and so are English Folk Expo (EFEx) to remind us that Manchester Folk Festival is just around the corner! EFE are thrilled to offer another unforgettable celebration of folk music, and can’t wait to see you there.

With only two weeks left until the festival kicks off, now is the perfect time to secure your tickets and wristbands. the line up is bursting with talent, promising three days of incredible music.

EFEx will be sending a dedicated email before the festival with the final line´-up, and a comprehensive guide to everything on offer this year. In the meantime you can browse all our events the EFEx web site.

There is now also a radio service you can find that offers comprensive coverage of EFEx and the festival and its artists.

EFEx 2023 is now *** SOLD OUT ***

This year English Folk Expo have increased delegate pass availability by 10%, nevertheless the buzz about our move to Manchester’s Northern Quarter, our four international partners this year and our collaboration with the artists development conference Un-Convention and the European Folk Network conference, both taking place in parallel with EFEx, means passes are now sold out.

We will run a waiting list to fill any last minute cancellations. If you would like to be added to the waiting list please contact Terry O’Brien at terry@englishfolkexpo.com.

Please note the Thursday speed meeting places are also now sold out.

EFEx team at Womex ’23

The EFEx team will be at Womex 2023 in force and would love to meet you. If you’re attending Womex in A Coruna this October and would like to arrange a short meeting to find out more about English Folk Expo, find out about attending and opportunities to hold a showcase of your artists at our next event, please email Terry at terry@englishfolkexpo.com. 

The Official Folk Albums Chart for August 2023, produced by English Folk Expo in partnership with The Official Chart Company, is brimming with new releases and activity, with a new number 1 and eight new releases.

It’s rare for a non-new release to hit the top spot but that’s the case with Lankum’s ‘False Lankum’ (Rough Trade) powered from last month’s number 2 position into the number 1 spot by the buzz and profile around Lankum’s Mercury Music nomination and performance. The Guardian says of this, the band’s fourth album, ‘Lankum (right) could have become a hardcore drone band very easily, but they’ve done something braver by allowing their gentler sides a bold voice in the mix, while managing not to dilute their power or compromise their ambition.’

Rachel Sermanni arrives in at number 2 with ‘Dreamer Awake’ (Navigator) (left) of which The Arts Desk says, ‘a quietly dark, intense and probing set evoking the experience of motherhood, the end of a relationship, and the process of self discovery – life, death and rebirth, in other words’.

In at 3 are County Fermanagh six-piece boy band Tumbling Paddies (right) with ‘The Journey So Far – Live’ (Sharpe Music). The album features Irish staples including The Irish Rover, Whiskey In The Jar and The Auld Triangle plus previous original single release ‘The Way I Am’.

Hot on their heels at 4 is Northumbrian piper Kathryn Tickell & The Darkening with ‘Cloud Horizons’ (Resilient). At The Barrier says this 16th album by Kathryn is, ‘a full on embracing of studio trickery, electronic beats and swathes of synth, all surrounding the core of wood, reed and bellows that remain the heart of the band.’ 

Other new entries in this August 2023 chart are at 11 ‘Make The World Anew’ by Melrose Quartet, ‘Consciousology’ (Sonic Cathedral) by Scotland’s Dot Allison at 19, ‘Love Is A Weapon Of Choice’ (Fatcat) by long-time female folk collaboration Daphne’s Flight which lands at 26, Wales’s Gentle Good’s ‘Galargan’ (Bubblewrap) new in at number 27, at number 33 is Dorset duo Ninebarrow’s ‘The Colour of Night’ (Winding Tracks), with the final new entry coming in at number 39 is Carla Fuchs’ ‘Songbird’ (Talking Elephant).

***Charting artists, to receive chart graphics to celebrate your success please contact info@englishfolkexpo.com.

To view the full Official Folk Albums Chart chart click here.  To watch to Official Folk Chart Show again, click here or the image below.
The Official Folk Albums Chart is compiled by The Official Chart Company and produced by English Folk Expo. The Official Folk Albums Chart Show is presented by Folk On Foot with the support of English Folk Expo.

please note the cover photograph at the top of our page shows Man The Lifeboat at an EFEx event