This Week in Folk

All the News From The Week That Was

– It looks like Bon Iver will return for their third cycle with Justin Vernon confirming their headline spot at the first annual Eaux Claires Music Festival. Details here

– Sydney indie-folk night Little Features celebrate their 3rd Birthday tomorrow with appearances from Justin Robinson, Charlie Gradon, The Button Collective and Ed Wells. Details here

– Canadian alt-country singer Lindi Ortega announced her new album Faded Gloryville. Details here

– Jed Rowe and Alison Ferrier have announced a joint tour this July. Details here

– Singer-songwriters Jack Carty and Jordan Millar have announced a joint tour this August. Details here

– The Top Half Folk Festival announced their full lineup including Fanny Lumsden & The Thrillseekers, Ted Egan, Colin Lillie, Barry Skipsey, Sally Balfour, Margaret Walters, Bob Sharp, Scott Balfour, Dave Oakes, Don Bruce, Neil & Mel Phillips, Rusty & The Infidels, Malarkey, Watershed Players, Edan Baxter, Chris Pemberton & Tony Suttor, Peter Bate, Paul Stewart, South Of The Berrimah Line, Phil Beck, Phil Gray, Kirsty Evans, Ted & Carolynne Burns and the-band-that-became-a-blog Timber & Steel. Details here

– Melbourne band Husky released their new video “Drunk”. Details here

– The Milk Carton Kids released their new video “Poison Tree”. Details here

– London folk-rock five-piece Feldspar released their new single “Five Years”. Details here

– Xavier Rudd & The United Nations released their new video “Flag” and announced a national tour. Details here

– Packwood released his stunning new video for “Obstinate”. Details here

– Melbourne’s Sal Kimber and the Rollin’ Wheel have released their new video “Stumble in the Dark”. Details here

Releases This Week

Cold Moon – James Thomson
iTunes

The Last Day of Winter – Jed Rowe
iTunes

Timber and Steel Recommends – Go To This Gig

Little Features feat. Justin Robinson, Charlie Gradon, The Button Collective, Ed Wells

This Sunday Sydney indie-folk night Little Features celebrates it’s third birthday with a lineup that includes American singer-songwriter Justin Robinson, Little Features mainstay Charlie Gradon, local folk heroes The Button Collective (above) and the buzzworthy Ed Wells.

Saturday 30th May – Hibernian House, Sydney, NSW

Gigs Next Week

Ben Howard
Friday 29th May – Tivoli Theatre, Brisbane, QLD
Saturday 30th May – Hordern Pavilion, Sydney, NSW
Monday 1st June – Margaret Court Arena, Melbourne, VIC
Wednesday 3rd June – Fremantle Arts Centre, Fremantle, WA

Davey Craddock & The Spectacles
Friday 29th May – Petersham Bowls Club, Sydney, NSW

Direwolf and Willowy
Friday 5th June – Rad, Wollongong, NSW

Iris DeMent with Pieta Brown
Friday 29th May – Factory Theatre, Sydney, NSW

James Kenyon and Tobias Hengeveld
Friday 29th May – The Spotted Mallard, Melbourne, VIC

Little Features feat. Justin Robinson, Charlie Gradon, The Button Collective, Ed Wells
Saturday 30th May – Hibernian House, Sydney, NSW

Planet Dungog Music Festival
Friday 29th to Sunday 31st May – Dungog, NSW

Ruby Boots
Friday 29th May – Black Bear Lodge, Brisbane, QLD

The Pigs
Friday 29th May – The Spirit, Traralgon, VIC
Saturday 30th May – The Flying Saucer Club, Melbourne, VIC

Timberwolf
Saturday 30th May – Big Pineapple Festival, Sunshine Coast, QLD

Top Half Folk Festival
Friday 5th to Monday 8th June – Glen Helen via Alice Springs, NT

Friday Folk Flashback

“Sister” – Sufjan Stevens

“What the water wants is hurricanes, and sailboats to ride on its back”. Could those hushed opening lines, over 4 minutes into the track, be some of the best in modern times? I saw Sufjan perform this in Sydney this week and it was magic.