Loft vinyl: More Love Songs, by Loudon Wainwright III

Andrew Curry writes: I’d been listening to the McGarrigle’s luminiscent first LP, and that brought Loudon Wainwright III to mind, Kate McGarrigle’s-by-then ex-husband. He pops up on the record in two guises, as the writer of The Swimming Song and... Read more →


Album of the Month: Van Morrison and the Chieftains’ Irish Heartbeat

Colin Randall writes: I came across my copy of this groundbreaking fusion of superstar rock and top-drawer Irish traditional music while sorting through my substantial collection of old vinyl. Thirty-seven years on it still feels fresh and thoroughly deserving of... Read more →


Roy Harper: the enigmatic wildman, part 1

Steve Peck writes: For over five decades, British folk-rock icon Roy Harper has crafted a vast musical legacy and forged an infamous reputation for his rebellious attitude. This is a two-part feature, penned by a devoted fan from across the... Read more →


Songs political and person: Paul Brady live at Bush Hall

Andrew Curry writes: Paul Brady is on a short tour of London, Dublin, and Donegal to promote his Archive, a collection of songs from his six-decade career that includes “demos, rare acoustic versions of his work, collaborations and live recordings”—as... Read more →


Cover Story: The Waxies’ Dargle – what does it mean, and can anyone out-Pogue the Pogues?

Bill Taylor writes: The first time I heard Shane MacGowan roaring out the words, I thought The Waxies’ Dargle was the name, or maybe nickname, of an Irish pub. Especially given The Pogues’ penchant for boozy songs, and a chorus... Read more →


Peggy Seeger declares at 90. A final album, one last tour

Colin Randall writes: a bit like Cuba, Peggy Seeger has been a thorn in the flesh of the USA for decades. And just as that magnetic island (with all its own imperfections and denial of human rights) stands up defiantly... Read more →