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Best Folk Music Blog & Promotion

Outpost Drive sang a bitter-sweet folk lullaby with their debut single, Go Back to Sleep

Posted on 13 December 2023

If you can relate to the melancholy of your dreams being more serene than your waking reality, prepare to be bruised by the emotional weight that will bear down on you when you hit play on the bitter-sweet folky acoustic pop lullaby, Go Back to Sleep, by the harmonically synergetic duo, Outpost Drive.

Between the aching of yearning and the gratitude of revisiting memories, Go Back to Sleep immediately cuts to the core of emotional juxtapositions when you are brought to tears recollecting the person who always knew how to make you turn a smile but only exists in dream. The lyric, “I’m lonely as I am free”, alluding to how life is just a dichotomy of Pepsi and Coke suffering, is especially potent as it cuts through the euphonically timeless orchestration, which proves how arcane instrumental minimalism can be when it is executed with superlative melodic command.

Willow Robinson and Mary Bragg Robinson, hailing from the English countryside and the American South, respectively marry the styles of British folk with Americana to deliver a sound that is as inventive as it is authentically all-consuming. The debut is a testament to the ability of love to transcend borders after the couple endured a year-long hiatus due to immigration hurdles. We can’t wait to hear what the ultimate folk power couple have in store for their sophomore release.

Go Back to Sleep was officially released on November 10th; stream it on Spotify or purchase the track on Apple Music.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Blake Baker is captivating in his wistfully listless single, Mind the Gap

Posted on 11 December 2023

The up-and-coming genre-fluid singer-songwriter Blake Baker became the ultimate raconteur of relatable melancholy while simultaneously delivering sonic sanctuary with his latest acoustic single, Mind the Gap.

The profound and beautifully crafted introspective piece resonates with the soulful narrative strength of classic folk songwriting; Baker’s skill in blending this traditional foundation with an Americana blues essence results in a song that is both timeless and refreshingly original.

Lyrically, Mind the Gap paints a vivid, cinematic portrait of a protagonist who feels overlooked and invisible amidst the bustling society around him. This theme of alienation and longing for connection speaks directly to anyone who has struggled to find their place in the world. Baker’s ability to capture this sentiment in his eloquently compassionate lyricism is beyond compare as the track anchors around his rich, sonorous voice which can carry the low timbres as well as the highs he maintains resonant depth.

Mind the Gap is now available to stream on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Beggars Canyon serenaded the reaper with their Americana Folk musing on the human condition, Silver Lining

Posted on 7 December 2023

With the macabre murder folk proclivities of Amigo the Devil and the soul-affirming warmth of Tejon Street Corner Thieves, the Portland, Oregon-hailing band of Americana raconteurs, Beggars Canyon, breathed life into the existential reality of the human condition with their latest single, Silver Lining.

By staring mortality in the face and serenading the reaper with their arcanely uplifting vocal harmonies and authentic Americana Folk arrangement of folky strings, banjos, and guitars that insinuate that the devil made a pitstop in Portland before he went down to Georgia, Beggars Canyon extracted the pensive sting from the human experience with their endearing approach to song crafting which has allowed them to build a cult-like following and amass 13,000 monthly Spotify listeners.

Silver Lining was an all-too promising precursor to Beggars Canyon’s sophomore LP, Vol. II, which was released via Flail Records and is now available to stream and purchase.

Stream Silver Lining on Spotify and become part of the Beggars Canyon community via Facebook or Instagram.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

River Knight extended empathy for politically derived malady in their orchestral folk-rock score, Green and Gold

Posted on 7 December 2023

River Knight’s latest single, Green and Gold, is a socialist orchestral folk-rock masterpiece; with a reprise of “the system is broken and there’s no way back” as a lyrical opening, there’s no deliberation before immersing you into the infectiously empowering assault on late-stage capitalism.

The modern iteration of everyman’s blues keeps an upbeat tempo as the everyday atrocities unravel over the zeal in the instrumental arrangement to create an emotionally well-rounded score that unifies the disenfranchised while vindicating the anger that is breeding within the social tapestry.

With an ear for a compelling melody, an empathy for politically derived malady, and the technical prowess to construct a soul-sating earworm you’ll be humming for days, the UK duo who banded together in 2017 after Darren Knight’s wife passed away have become as essential as the Manic Street Preachers were in the 90s.

Green and Gold was officially released on November 24; stream it on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Laura Mustard extended a folk-pop invitation into the wild with ‘Will You Go Walking?’

Posted on 6 December 2023

As the days get darker and the chill in the air compels us to stay indoors, the folk singer-songwriter, Laura Mustard, provided an opportunity to rekindle your affection for the outdoors with her latest single, Will You Go Walking?

The captivating arrangement beautifully intertwines Irish musical roots with a contemporary folk-pop sensibility as the track blossoms under Musgrave’s artful composition, where sun-soaked progressions and warm melodies create an inviting and heart-warming atmosphere.

Musgrave’s Nashville-based background, combined with her rich and diverse musical influences, shines through in this enchanting piece. Her love for rhythm and syncopation, rooted in her classical piano and percussion training, adds a unique depth to the song’s structure.

Will You Go Walking? is more than just a melody; it’s a reflection of Musgrave’s personal journey and her deep relationship with introspection. Her experiences with learning how to embody body positivity and live with a chronic illness imbue her songs with a profound authenticity and emotional resonance.

Musgrave’s storytelling prowess, influenced by the poetry of Walt Whitman and Mary Oliver, is evident in the song’s lyrical depth. The lyrics take the listener on a journey, evoking images of nature and emotional landscapes that are both vivid and poignant. Take the invitation into the wild; you won’t regret it.

Will You Go Walking was officially released on November 10; stream it on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Explore the world on Iago Banet’s fretboard in his seminal composition, Iago’s Guitar

Posted on 4 December 2023

Iago Banet orchestrated the antithesis of While My Guitar Gently Weeps with the vivacious vibrance in ‘Iago’s Guitar’, taken from his critically acclaimed album, TRES. The musical piece is a journey through Banet’s extraordinary skill, creativity, and mind-bending rhythmic command which remains captivatingly authentic as a constant. Each strum and pluck of the acoustic guitar strings resonates with intention and artistry.

There’s a cheeky, spirited nature to Banet’s acoustic composition skills that subvert all expectations. Rather than solely melody-making, he’s weaving stories which allow you to travel around the world on his fretboard which explores a smorgasbord of cultural styles. Iago’s Guitar is just one of the testaments to Banet’s ability to blend gypsy jazz, blues, Americana, country, Dixieland, swing, pop, and folk into a harmonious and exhilarating experience.

Described by BBC Radio 3’s Sean Rafferty as “a master of the guitar” and as ‘nothing short of phenomenal’ by R’n’R Magazine, Banet’s talent is undeniable. His third album, TRES, has been a sensation, with multiple sell-out shows and sensational receptions across the UK. Iago Banet’s journey, from discovering a classical guitar as a teenager to becoming ‘The Galician King of Acoustic Guitar’, is not just a story of musical proficiency but also of passion and dedication. We can’t wait to see what accolades await him in his destined to be illustrious career.

Stream TRES in full via Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Ross Flora grappled with the melancholy of unfulfilled potential in ‘As the Crow Flies’

Posted on 25 November 2023
Ross Flora

Ross Flora’s EP, As the Crow Flies, is a poignant and reflective journey through the heart of country folk. Hailing from the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia, Flora’s upbringing in a milieu rich with R&B and Bluegrass influences is palpably reflected in the acoustically adorned, stripped-back title single. His gruff, resonant timbres weave through the wistful yearning harmonies, creating a tapestry of sound that resonates deeply with anyone who has ever grappled with the melancholy of unfulfilled potential.

The lyrical tempo of As the Crow Flies is akin to a melodied spoken word sermon, imbued with regretful poetry. Flora’s background as an English major shines through in his lyrical craftsmanship, as he skilfully interweaves themes reminiscent of literary greats like Dickinson, Thoreau, and Whitman. The result is a narrative that is both deeply personal and universally relatable; Someone hand him a Grammy for the line “I’d be half the man I’d ought to be less than half the time”.

Ross Flora’s journey from the family farm to Nashville, performing over 4,000 shows and collaborating with acts like “Johnny T” Band and “Smoke n’ Guns,” has clearly honed his ability to capture the essence of southern rock and outlaw country. If you want to hear a heart poured out in melody, hit play on As the Crow Flies.

Stream the As the Crow Flies EP, which debuted on October 27 on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

The soulfully-funked hues in Jeremy Hilliard’s single Lay Down Like Lovers captured the haze of utopic affection.

Posted on 23 November 2023

Taken from his LP, which is rooted in swathes of nostalgic funk and soul, Trouble for Another Day, singer-songwriter, Jeremy Hilliard’s standout folky neo-jazz pop single, Lay Down Like Lovers, is a fitting ode to the serenity of passion. The dreamy hues capture the haze of unconditionally all-consuming love as the groove pockets deliver oceanic depth, ensuring Lay Down Like Lovers is a release you can fully immerse yourself in.

If you can’t get enough of the lyrically driven song-crafting finesse of Paul Simon, Kurt Vile, Neil Young and Bob Dylan, you will be instantly enamoured with the poetically mellifluous beguile within Lay Down Like Lovers, which is hopefully the first of many hits from the Brooklyn-based singer-songwriter, who is coming into his own away from his successful band, PEAK, which has made America’s Northeast their touring circuit.

Stream Lay Down Like Lovers on Spotify and Bandcamp.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Susan Ritchie lit a beacon of tranquillity and wisdom in ‘It’s High Time’

Posted on 22 November 2023

Susan Ritchie, whose name has become synonymous with authentic artistry on the Central CA Coast, lit a beacon of tranquillity and wisdom in the standout single, It’s High Time, taken from her debut album, Life is for the Living. So much more than solely a musical score, it’s a journey into the heart of what it means to find peace and meaning amidst the chaos of modernity.

Ritchie gave the adage ‘live and let live’ brand-new potency within It’s High Time by speaking chapter and verse on how it takes nothing to accept trans men and women who are just looking to align their minds with their appearance. Her ability to weave everyday experiences into her songwriting, while giving a nod to the universal experiences we all share, is on full display here. The song is a reminder to pause, reflect, and embrace the moment, a message that resonates now more than ever when it is too easy to be consumed by the insanity which breeds on every corner of the internet.

The influence of her early inspirations, from James Taylor’s finger-picking to the sweet yet sassy blues of Bonnie Raitt, is evident in the song’s composition. Yet, It’s High Time is unmistakably a Susan Ritchie creation. It’s a song that showcases her evolution as an artist, blending soul, blues, rock, and folk into a seamless and captivating experience.

Regardless of how many people find comfort in Susan Ritchie’s soulfully sonorous sound, she speaks directly to you through the intimacy of her lyrics and the magnetically powerful delivery of her gilded-in-introspective-gold lines.

Stream It’s High Time on Spotify now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Jeff Jepson has released his haunting hymnal gem, The Good-Night Song

Posted on 18 November 2023

The critically acclaimed singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and producer Jeff Jepson is set to garner a fresh wave of impassioned reverence with his Christmas-tinged EP, Sparkle. If this is your first acquaintance with the artist who rose to fame in Liverpool and has recently replanted his musical roots in the Isle of Man, the standout single, The Good-Night Song, is the perfect introduction to the master of poignant melody.

Whether it was the finiteness in the lyricism or the way the acoustic guitar’s euphonic rings intensified the affecting sting within the captivating vocal delivery in the arrangement which visualises the sparseness of winter branches, I couldn’t help but shed a tear as Jepson’s evocatively honeyed timbres quivered in the frost of the hymnal gem which will haunt you long past the outro.

The Sparkle EP illuminated the airwaves on November 10th; kindle your affinity with the 4-track release via Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast