Cover story

Cover Story: Tom Paine’s Bones

Andrew Curry writes: The song Tom Paine’s Bones is only 30 years old, but it has been covered widely enough since Roy Bailey and Dick Gaughan recorded their versions to have become an established part of the folk repertoire. There... 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 →


Cover Story: Let’s Get Together, revived by Paul Brady, echoes of Chet Powers, Kingston Trio and Youngbloods

When Bill Taylor made Paul Brady the Salut! Live Artist of the Week at our Facebook group last August, he recalled him as 'amiable, easy to talk to, rather self-effacing' over post-session pints at our folk club in Bishop Auckland,... Read more →


Dirty Old Town: enduring fascination with - and debate on - Ewan MacColl's song, now 75 years old

When Bill Taylor compared very different versions of Dirty Old Town - the song about Salford that Ewan MacColl wrote for a play in 1949 - in our Cover Story series, there was lively if modest interest. Bill's piece first... Read more →


Christmas Cover Story: (50) Arthur McBride. Paul Brady, Planxty or Thile and Jarosz - but where's Dylan?

August 2024 update: not Christmas but over at the Facebook group, Bill Taylor has made Paul Brady his Artist of the Week, a minor honour thoroughly deserved .... Join the Salut! Live Facebook group. Visit this link now CLICK ANYWHERE... Read more →