Brighton’s sprawling Great Escape Festival and Convention kicked off today. Although many industry experts and fans write tip-sheets of favourite artists across the weekend, I haven’t seen a list specifically for folk – not even the broad church we call ‘folk-ish’ on the Midnight Campfire. So here’s my Top 10 Folk(-ish) Artists at The Great Escape 2016, plus some more, plus some picks from The Alternative Escape…

Here’s the playlist for Midnight Campfire #87, first broadcast on Juice 107.2 on Wed 18 May 2016. Loved this one; although it’s a simple show – no theme – it felt a ton better than last week. Gill Sandell is still Album of the Month and one of our favourite listeners Andy Waller suggested this week’s Campfire Songbook entry. Listen online at TotallyRadio and here’s what I played…

Here’s the playlist for Midnight Campfire #86, first broadcast on Juice 107.2, Wed 11 May 2016. It was a bit boring to be honest. Not the individual music but I picked too many samey things and we’ve had so much excitement in recent weeks, this one’s a tiny bit fallow. Never mind, music’s still lovely. Here’s the TotallyRadio archive and here’s what I played… 

Here’s the playlist for Midnight Campfire #85, first broadcast 4th May 2016 on Juice 107.2. I loved this one, the first half has some gorgeous tracks, including Roy Harper’s visionary ‘I Hate The White Man played in full, our new album of the month for May is Gill Sandell’s Songs Of Our Years, then the second hour is all songs about cats, mostly chosen by listeners. This theme got a great response, so thank you! Listen online at Juice and I’ll throw up the TotallyRadio archive link when it’s ready – and here’s what I played…

Hello gang, I hope you’re feeling sexy. Thank you SO much for supporting my shiz and especially getting excited with me for 9 GREEN SONGS. I’ve not felt this hyped for a record in a long time and it’s not out ’til June. If you haven’t yet seen ‘Worst Government Ever’, it’s on YouTube and Facebook.

Here’s the track listing for Midnight Campfire #84, first broadcast Wed 27 April on Juice 107.2. It has an hour themed on the EU, plus a couple of folkie Prince covers and Ewan MacColl sings this week’s Campfire Songbook entry. I enjoyed making this one but listening back, it seems a bit dry (or I’m not in the mood right now). Anyway, I’ll throw up the TotallyRadio link as soon as it’s ready – and here’s what I played:

I had a messy but very enjoyable show this week. Here’s the playlist for Midnight Campfire #83, first broadcast Wed 20 April 2016 on Brighton’s Juice 107.2. Album of the month is The Nordic Fiddlers Bloc and Springsteen’s ‘Thunder Road’ goes into the Campfire Songbook. Listen online at TotallyRadio and here’s what I played –

I’m very pleased to tell you about a major arts and social history project I’m involved in this year.

I am the inaugural Creative Fellow at stunning National Trust property The Workhouse, Southwell, which you may have seen recently on telly; featured in Ian Hislop’s fascinating BBC film Workers or Shirkers? about Victorian poverty (as I write, still on the BBC iPlayer). So, what on earth am I doing here?

Here’s what I played on Midnight Campfire episode #82, first broadcast Wed 13 April 2016 on Juice 107.2. It’s a quietly chaotic episode; I rambled on much more than usual but I liked it. You can listen online and here’s the playlist:

I’m bona fide excited to tell you that my new solo album 9 Green Songs will be released 3rd June 2016 on Xtra Mile Recordings – and you can pre-order it now from Xtra Mile, iTunes or Amazon (on download / CD digi-pack with full lyric booklet).