Thank Folk It’s Friday – 6th February

TFIF

This Week in Folk

All the News From The Week That Was

– The original nu-folk band Calexico have announced plans to release a new album Edge of the Sun. Details here

– Adelaide’s Sam Brittain has headed out on an east coast tour with Amistat. Details here

– Brisbane duo Hollow Coves released their new single “The Woods”. Details here

The Heartstring Quartet are definitely a band to watch when they make their way to Australia this month. Details here

– NSW based singer-songwriter Alex Hallahan released his new single “Tangle For Two”. Details here

– Old-time troubadour Archer released his new video “Garden”. Details here

Hozier announced two headline dates when he’s here for Bluesfest in, you guessed it, Sydney and Melbourne. Details here

– Brisbane band Elbury are streaming their new EP Demasquerade. Details here

– American folk acts Shakey Graves and Shovels & Rope will be touring Australia in March. Details here

The Timbers will be performing at The Jade Monkey in Adelaide tonight supported by … themselves? Details here

– New York based singer-songwriter MacKenzie Shivers released her new single “Orphan Song”. Details here

– Iconic Sydney folk venue The Shack turns 50 this weekend with a celebratory concert. Details here

– The Festival of Small Halls Australia is back again this Autumn taking Gordie MacKeeman and His Rhythm Boys and Siskin River from the Port Fairy Folk Festival to the National Folk Festival via regional towns and centres. Details here

– Regular Sydney jam night Bluegrass @ Yulli’s returns for 2015 with performances from Stillhouse Union and The Plough. Details here

– American singer-songwriter Pokey LaFarge has announced an Australian tour in April. Details here

Iron & Wine and Rhiannon Giddens released a cover of Bob Dylan’s “Forever Young”. Details here

– The very buzz worthy Rowena Wise has released a new single, “Words”, and added a bunch of tour dates. Details here

– Brisbane singer-songwriter Clea released her single “Polyester”. Details here

– UK chamber-folk band The Leisure Society have announced a new album The Fine Art of Hanging On. Details here

– Sydney duo Elwood Myre released their new video “California”. Details here

– Regular Sydney night Fairlight Folk has announced its February lineup including Shane Howard (Goanna) and Joe Flower & Harmony Breeze. Details here

José González released his new video “Leaf Off / The Cave”. Details here

Reviews

Recordings

“Not to say this isn’t a great album – it certainly is. There are a lot of highlights throughout. But it’s not the kind of album I can enjoy from start to finish, not the way I can with Down from the Mountain or even the Inside Llewyn Davis soundtrack (the intentionally terrible “Please Mr. Kennedy” aside). And I think it’s for a number of reasons”Gareth Hugh Evans reviews the live album Another Day, Another Time: Celebrating the Music of Inside Llewyn Davis. Review here

“Deep in the heart of the EP’s four tracks I can still hear the same singer-songwriter strumming away on her guitar that I fell in love with five years ago”Gareth Hugh Evans reviews the new EP from Emmy The Great, S. Review here

Releases This Week

The April Maze
Sleeping StormThe April Maze
iTunes

Elwood Myre
Elwood MyreElwood Myre
Bandcamp

Father John Misty
I Love You, HoneybearFather John Misty
iTunes

The Pigs
The Pigs’ Home Brew: 13 Aussie ClassicsThe Pigs
iTunes

Ryan Bingham
Fear and Saturday NightRyan Bingham
iTunes

Timber and Steel Recommends – Go To This Gig

The Timbers

The Timbers

Tonight Adelaide folk stalwarts The Timbers will be putting on a very special gig supported by themselves. That’s right – each member of The Timbers – Joe Man Murphy, Simon Basey and Benjamin Roberts – will be performing a solo set before the band get on stage. Has to be seen to be believed.

Friday 6th February – The Jade Monkey, Adelaide, SA

Gigs Next Week

Alanna Eileen
Friday 13th February – The Newsagency, Sydney, NSW

Angus and Julia Stone
Friday 6th February – Entertainment Centre, Darwin, NT
Saturday 7th Fenruary – Entertainment Centre, Darwin, NT
Tuesday 10th February – Convention Centre, Cairns, QLD
Wednesday 11th February – Entertainment Centre, Townsville, QLD
Friday 13th February – Riverstage, Brisbane, QLD

Ann Vriend
Friday 6th February – Mother’s Milk, Sawtell, NSW
Saturday 7th February – Sunset Studio, Newcastle, NSW
Sunday 8th February – Ellington Jazz Club, Perth, WA
Tuesday 10th February – House Concert, Fremantle, WA
Thursday 12th February – Paris Cat Jazz Club, Melbourne, Vic
Friday 13th February – Dodges Ferry, Tas

April Maze
Wednesday 11th February – Smiths Alternative, Canberra, ACT

CW Stoneking
Friday 6th February – Milton Theatre, Milton, NSW
Saturday 7th February – Anita’s Theatre, Thirroul, NSW
Sunday 8th February – Lizotte’s, Dee Why, NSW
Tuesday 10th February – Clarendon Guest House, Katoomba, NSW
Wednesday 11th February – Clarendon Guest House, Katoomba, NSW
Friday 13th February – Sol Bar, Maroochydore, QLD

Joel Barker
Saturday 7th February – The Bird, Northbridge, WA

John Flanagan
Friday 6th February – The Bluebee room, Adelaide, SA
Saturday 7th February – The Exeter, Adelaide, SA
Wednesday 11th February – The Yarra Hotel, Abbottsford, VIC
Thursday 12th February – Homestead Hotel, Hobart, TAS
Friday 13th February – Live At The Wharf, Gnomon Pavilion, Ulverstone, TAS

Kim Churchill
Friday 6th February – Amplifier Bar, Perth, WA
Saturday 7th February – City of Stirling Summerset Arts Festival, Scarborough WA
Friday 13th February – The Corner, Melbourne, VIC

Little Bastard
Friday 13th February – Dues Ex Machina, Sydney, NSW

Mandy Connell with Tom Ciccone
Wednesday 11th February – Bar Oussou, Melbourne, VIC

Passenger
Saturday 7th February – Red Hill Auditorium, Perth, WA

Sam Brittain and Amistat
Sunday 8th February – Black Bear Lodge, Brisbane, QLD
Tuesday 10th February – Wood St House Concert, Newcastle, NSW
Thursday 12th February – The Newsagency, Sydney, NSW
Friday 13th February – Beavs Bar, Geelong, VIC

The Melbourne Folk Club feat. The Mae Trio, The Once
Wednesday 11th February – Bella Union, Melbourne, VIC

The Shack 50th Anniversary feat. Dave Calandra, New York Public Library, Grimick, Jim Jarvis, The Original Myd Lyfe Crysys
Saturday 7th February – The Shack, Sydney, NSW

The Timbers
Friday 6th February – The Jade Monkey, Adelaide, SA

Friday Folk Flashback

“The Butterfly” and “Ships Are Sailing” – Nick Metcalf

“The Butterfly” is a standard in so many sessions and I’m trying to learn it. Which means watching a lot of videos on Youtube like this one.

Full Australian Dates for the Heartstring Quartet

Heartstring Quartet
Image Courtesy of Heartstring Quartet

Everyone I talk to at the moment seems exceptionally excited about the upcoming Australian tour from the Heartstring Quartet. And with good reason – The Heartstring Quartet are made up of legendary Irish musicians Arty McGlynn (guitar), Nollaig Casey (fiddle) and Máire Ní Chathasaigh (harp) along with British flat-picking guitarist Chris Newman.

The Heartstring Quartet have a bunch of festival and headline dates coming up – check them out below:

Saturday 21st February – Albany Town Hall, Albany, WA
Thursday 26th February – Mandurah PAC, Mandurah, WA
Friday 27th February – Petersham Bowling Club, Sydney, NSW
Saturday 28th February – Milton Theatre, Milton, NSW
Sunday 1st March – Cobargo Folk Festival, Cobargo, NSW
Friday 6th to Monday 9th March – Port Fairy Folk Festival, VIC
Thursday 12th March – Capital Arts Theatre, Bendigo, VIC
Saturday 14th to Sunday 15th March – Blue Mountains Music Festival, Katoomba, NSW
Tuesday 17th March – Frankston Arts Centre, Melbourne, VIC
Thursday 19th March – Warragul PAC, Warragul, VIC
Saturday 21st March – Deloraine String Festival, Deloraine, TAS
Wednesday 25th March – Nicholas Hotel, Beechworth, VIC
Friday 27th March – Southern Folk Club, Adelaide, SA
Saturday 28th March – Fowlers Live, Adelaide, SA
Wednesday 1st to Monday 6th April – National Folk Festival, Canberra, ACT
Sunday 5th April – Narooma, NSW

Port Fairy Announces Even More Artists for 2015

Oh Pep
Image Courtesy of Oh Pep!

This week we were treated to yet another bunch of artists added to the Port Fairy Folk Festival lineup and its seriously shaping up to be one of the best festivals of the season.

This time around the festival has added Heartstring Quartet (Ireland/UK), Jarlath Henderson & Ross Ainslie (Scotland), The Melbourne Scottish Fiddle Club, Aniar, Edwina Hayes, Enda Kenny Band, Jenny Biddle, Justin Bernasconi, Karavana Flamenca, La Mauvaise Reputation, Oh Pep! (above), Siskin River, Stray Hens and ZeoN.

The Port Fairy Folk Festival takes place in Port Fairy, Victoria from the 6th to 9th March. For more information and tickets check out the official site here.

The National Folk Festival Announce First Major Round of Artists for 2015

Chris While and Julie Matthews
Image Courtesy of Chris While & Julie Matthews

The National Folk Festival today announced their first official round of artists for 2015. The lineup is pretty impressive with the likes of Canadian folk singer David Francey, Anglo-Irish trad supergroup Heartstring Quartet, legendary UK duo Chris While & Julie Matthews (above), afro-celt fusion band of Baka Beyond, Mongolian traditionalists Equus, Brisbane klezmer ensemble Greshka, flamenco dance and music ensemble Bandaluzia, Australian folk royalty The Flying Emus, Timber and Steel favourites All Our Exes Live in Texas, the lovely Lucy Wise Trio and celebrated duo Alanna & Alicia.

The festival will also play host to the exciting new theatre show Dead Men Talking based on the life and times of Banjo Patterson and Henry Lawson staring Max Cullen alongside Australian folk legend Warren Fahey.

All of these artists are joined by the likes of Alasdair Fraser and Natalie Haas, Mark Moldre, Gordie MacKeeman and his Rhythm Boys, Fred Smith, Chloë and Jason Roweth, Dark Horses and Sparrow-Folk who all snuck onto the lineup prior to today’s announcement.

The National Folk Festival takes place over the Easter Long Weekend from the 2nd to the 6th April 2015. For more information check out the official site here.