NEWPORT: folk-on festival finger-picking a way back

The concensus among many writers on-line who attended the event seems to be that the Sunday highlight was an evening of black female artists curated by singer, songwriter, poet and activist Allison Russell

A HAPPY BIRTHDAY PARTY for Richard Thompson

We’d already enjoyed the concert of a lifetime as the final half-hour approached and still, this event had more aces up its sleeve.

when RICHARD THOMPSON planned his party

It was totally revolutionary at the time. Rock music with an element of British traditional music in it was pretty much our innovation, and I’m very proud of that.

A NUBIYAN TWIST IN THE TALE + news of a Clare Teal gig

´By bringing those rich stories together, we hope that Freedom Fables serves as a metaphor for the life we’re all living.´

LORDY, LORDY, LORDE

the album is not “my big climate change record”. “I’m not a climate activist, I’m a pop star. I stoke the fire of a giant machine, spitting out emissions as I go. There is a lot I don’t know.”

GORDON LIGHTFOOT a career to celebrate

There are still recording stars dipping into his song-catalogue and there are still devoted folkies like Pete Benbow in this world performing in UK folk clubs and perpetuating Lightfoot´s legacy for him.

SNARKY PUPPY: its all right, its only music.

The calls for an encore were irresistible and the lads loped out in laid back fashion, demonstrated some incredibly complex hand clap rhythms to us and asked for our backing.

ISREALI JAZZ MAN ON BEING HUMAN

I always try to remember to embrace history while not trying to be anything or anyone else – to let the music come out of me..

EDIE BRICKELL: the talk on a cereal box

I don't actually feel stir crazy because as long as I can go outside and walk outside, then I just feel, as you say, really blessed to be in that moment. So, obviously, I'd love to see things return to a sense of normalcy. But I'm okay.

SPECIAL ISSUE. JAZZ AND BLUES IN THE RIBBLE VALLEY:

In a series of village events between now and the end of the years Ribble Valley Jazz & Blues are taking jazz on tour through some of the prettiest villages in The Ribble Valley.