Three Chords and the Truth UK

2015 was by far the most active this blog has been in covering the UK folk music scene. While country and Americana will remain the core content, more extensive recognition and appreciation has been given to the wider roots scene, especially closer to home. Of course there are far more exclusive sources of comment and review for this type of music available, but well over twenty album and gig reviews were posted this year. Here is a flavour of the artists, in no particular order, who were featured, supported and ultimately enjoyed over the last twelve months:                                                                                                                    ...

During the summer months of 2015 nine days were spent at festivals ranging from Southern Fried in its entirety to the single evening format of Tingestock. As usual a wave of talented artists from around the world shared their wares usually in the forty-five minute set format. This year a host of acts were witnessed for the first time and left a positive imprint on the memory. Here is a brief rundown of sets which had the most impact with an excerpt from the festival review.  1  Dawes - Shrewsbury Folk Festival Friday 28 August 'What the main stage had just witnessed was a sublime exhibition of classic American folk rock, bristling with spellbinding musicianship providing a magnificent backdrop for Goldsmith to wrap his unequivocal vocal style around a deluge of top rate songs. The booking may have been a left field choice and a desire to unleash a dose of West Coast folk rock on festival goers, but the sheer class of Dawes paid off the decision tenfold.' 2...

If 'music is the voice of the soul', then surely 'live performance is the soul of music'. This blog was launched five years ago to house gig reviews and these continue to be the staple of its content. In 2015 ninety gigs were attended, if you count each festival day, and most ended up with a review. However at this time of the year, it is tradition to pay tribute to those folks I come across on the circuit who far exceed this hefty number. As in previous years, and with full vanity intentions, the Top 20 from a pure enjoyment perspective have been chronicled, listed, ranked and posted. Festival sets have been deliberately omitted and grouped elsewhere, leaving a bunch of gigs long to linger in the memory. Enjoy the accompanying review extract and feel free to click on the full piece. 1  The Mavericks - Birmingham Symphony Hall Sunday 1 March 'During the Mavericks hiatus, Raul Malo had developed his own solo career with numerous Birmingham appearances but he ...