Category Archives: Folk

Julia Mascetti plays harp like you’ve never heard

Julia Mascetti has something really special, a encapsulating voice that makes you’re hanging on every word mixed with soft strings and her incredible harp playing. Her new EP ‘In Distance, Everything is Poetry’ is a delight.

Her new single In Bloom (which is set for video release on 27th Octorber) is a fantastically beautiful peace of stripped back wonder. Like you’re floating through a dream carried by her voice.

Julia’s EP ‘In Distance, Everything is Poetry’ is released on the 10th November. Watch a few of her videos below to build up your excitement!

Mark L. Oakes’ ‘Karmic Road Trip’

What’s a ‘karmic road trip’, you might ask? Well, Mark L. Oakes latest album, Call Me The Moon is one. It’s a collection of beautifully written and recorded folk songs that would provide the ideal soundtrack for a road journey across America, or something like that.

Despite the American-folk feel of Mark’s music, he is actually from Belgium, where he recorded the album in his studio in the Ardennes. Whilst Mark adopts this classic style, much akin to the style of Neil Young or perhaps James Taylor, he has managed to put his own stamp on the genre through his careful and considered use of instrumentation, as well his unique vocals.

While singles ‘Shredded Jeans’ and ‘Friend From Above (Sleepless Spouse)’ are tinged with soft melancholy, tunes like ‘Aloof Again’ and ‘None Of These Roads’ will lead you straight to a risky, bitter ground.

Travelling between Europe and the United States with a bag full of projects, Mark sees ‘Call Me The Moon’ as the silver thread out of the vague existential maze.

Links:

https://soundcloud.com/mark-l-oakes

https://www.facebook.com/oakesmusic

https://twitter.com/markloakesmusic

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8pq-OE8Cknqw4FwMdfhMLA

http://www.oakesmusic.com

 

‘Prisoner To The Past’: Homesick Mick

Homesick Mick has been causing waves in the media recently after his foray into the world of social activism. After hearing of Sir Philip Green’s extortion of the former BHS employees, Mick took it upon himself to speak on behalf of the little guys by launching a social media campaign against the billionaire tycoon, which he labelled #PhilipFreeFriday.

The idea behind the campaign was to prevent people from shopping at Green’s stores during the black friday sales and to raise awareness of his deceitful actions. Nonetheless, having found success through this medium, Mick is now moving full throttle with his music and his latest release, ‘Prisoner To The Past’.

Taken from the EP Black Hole Friday, ‘Prisoner To The Past’ is an alternative festive jingle that uses some insightful lyricism and catchy hooks. It might not be about presents and playing in the snow, but it’s refreshing to hear something a little different from the conveyor belt material we hear every year.

The video for ‘Prisoner To The Past’ even features some very accurate lookalikes of ex-Beatles, Paul and John! Check it out here!

Links:

www.homesickmick.com

https://twitter.com/HomesickMick

https://www.facebook.com/HomesickMick

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJG2MMjSTvCATIAbDt_0VFg

https://play.spotify.com/artist/63LCerWAXVM8MDxjaJp77l?play=true&utm_source=open.spotify.com&utm_medium=open

Turner Brother’s release upbeat single to support England

 

‘Build us a Dream’ has all the ingredients of a classic England football anthem. A truly high energy vocal , a very strong scent of football spirit and a really catchy sing-a-long chorus. The Turner Brothers believe it can inspire the England Team as it was the England Manager that inspired them.

https://soundcloud.com/theturnerbrothers/build-us-a-dream-england-anthem

The Auntie of Anthony and Patrick Turner is Roy Hodgson’s sister. A family gathering at her house is inevitably football orientated with regular discussions on Roy’s team selection and tactics for the forthcoming European Championship. 

 

It was whilst they were at their Auntie’s that Anthony dreamt that he was watching England win the Euros and all the England supporters were singing a song they had written. Anthony told Patrick about the dream and they decided to produce a song as they believed it was a sign.

 

Every supporter wants to be sitting in the stands watching their favourite team play their best and some may then be inspired to write an England anthem but not many can say that the song was conceived on Roy’s sister’s sofa!

 

Anthony explains how the brilliant anthem came to life: When you’re surrounded by pictures of Roy Hodgson and listening to fascinating anecdotes of his career, it’s not surprising I dreamt about England winning the Euro, but they were chanting a song that I had never heard before. The next day all I could remember when I spoke to Patrick was some of the melody and ‘Come on England’ . Patrick suggested that we try and realise the vision, by writing a song called ‘Build us a dream’. 

 

Though this track is undoubtedly a rather amusing piece in terms of its origin, The Turner Brothers are on a very serious musical journey having been voted ‘Crowds Favourite Band’ at Hogsozzle Festival both in 2014 and 2015 they are taking on the stage at this year’s Victorious Festival alongside Annie Mac and Manic Street Preachers. 

 

Yeti Love want to take you down their ‘Lonely Road’ with new single

Single impact date set for June 15th

Named thanks to enduring love/fear of the vaunted mythical creature, Yeti Love is the musical moniker of songwriters Peter Hamilton and Dave Sears – a folk duo who view the genre as this generation’s punk music, able to articulate about issues and press all the right buttons in all the wrong places.

PRimage

Hamilton is also influenced by his own ancestry, being half Spanish and, at a young age, falling in love with the folk traditions of home town Galicia. Having started out as a drummer before moving towards other musical platforms, his love of rhythm was informed by this specific branch of celtic roots music. Married to Sears’ intricate, multi-instrumental approach, the result is a hybrid sound unlike any other act on the circuit today.

New single, ‘Lonely Road’, is set for release on June 15th, and you can hear it here.

The pair have labelled their unique combination as ‘alt-rogue-folk-rock’, which is as fitting a description as any. Based in South London, they have been playing together since 2012 and ‘Lonely Road’ is the latest fruit of their labours.

 In the years since their foundation, Yeti Love have been slowly building in following an momentum thanks to their thoughtful songwriting and amazing live show, which has earned them some great online press for their work up until this point. The buzz is building, and in ‘Lonely Road’ they have the right vehicle to continue on that journey.

The single will be available from June 15th.

Links:

http://yetilovemusic.com/yl/

https://www.facebook.com/Yetilovemusic

Sandy Kilpatrick single ‘Your Love is a Weapon’ to be taken from album ‘The Shaman’s Call’

An acoustic-folk singer-songwriter, Sandy Kilpatrick is now Portugal based having been born and raised in Scotland. His new album, ‘The Shaman’s Call’, is the latest stunning release in a career that has grown organically over time, with his sound echoing great songwriters as wide ranging as David Bowie and Damien Rice, while retaining his own unique take on the genre.

Those developing years have been spent surrounded by talents who have made it to the mainstream, such as close friend and New Order guitarist Phil Cunningham. Now Sandy Kilpatrick aims to follow in their footsteps.

Having lived in various parts of the UK before moving to Portugal to be with his family, Sandy Kilpatrick’s particular brand of accessible folk music has a well-travelled feel to it. Inspired by a wide ranging exploration of all of life’s experience as seen through Sandy Kilpatrick’s eyes as a writer, Sandy’s last album ‘Redemption Road’ was notable enough to gain the support of key BBC tastemakers Guy Garvey and Mark Radcliffe. One track was even used by footballer Cristiano Ronaldo on his ‘Best Bits of 2013’ video.PRimage

‘The Shaman’s Call’ marks further progression for Sandy Kilpatrick as an artist, guided out of the gate by new single ‘Your Love Is a Weapon’, a song which focuses on the intimacy and solitude of the writer at work: https://soundcloud.com/sandykilpatrick/your-love-is-a-weapon

Like this track, the album as a whole is designed to feel raw, and not hidden behind the smoke and mirrors of big production. The lyrics are intimate and thoughtful, hitting many highs, lows and moments of heartfelt poignancy – many of which listeners will immediately relate to.

Links:

https://soundcloud.com/sandykilpatrick

https://facebook.com/SandyKilpatrickMusic

 

Live Event/Video: Derek Ryan – Hold onto your Hat

Video: Derek Ryan performs live at The Late Late Show

Artist: Derek Ryan and Sharon Shannon

Live events:

Open air event Athletic Grounds in Armagh: 31st May

Olympia Theatre, Dublin: 17th July

Buy your tickets at Ticketmaster.ie and Armaghgaa.net.

 

Let us know what you think of this performance and whether you will be helping yourself to some tickets for Dereks next live appearence in the comments.