A long time ago I took my folk-fan brother-in-law, visiting from Ireland, to the Hackney Empire to see Bert Jansch. This was not the rather more celebrated affair with Pete Doherty, which came later; it was just Bert and his acoustic guitar.

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Queen Of Glory – film review

Soul music comes in many guises but I think the one I love best is slow-burning deep soul from the Deep South. This is a prime example by Mable John, who died on 25 August at the ripe old age of 91. (more…)

Novelty records. They’re nearly always awful, aren’t they – Grandad, Ernie, Shadap Your Face. Agadoo, Gimme Dat Ding. Jilted John was different. (more…)

The Human League’s debut EP Being Boiled marked the transition of punk’s DIY ethic into new areas like electronic music. (more…)

Here’s a slice of rare soul from Betty Moorer, finally finding some success in the Sixties, a decade after starting her first group. (more…)

One of the less well-known girl groups of the Sixties, The Fascinations are best known – if at all – for the fact that one of their founder members was Martha Reeves.

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I’m not sure where I stumbled across this funky slice of contemporary blues with undertones of the Sopranos theme song. (more…)

My favourite album last year was Greentea Peng’s debut, Man Made. Here’s a tune from her next collection, a mixtape called Greenzone 108, and she hasn’t lost her touch. (more…)

I’ve been a big fan of Caitlin Rose from the start. Although not the very start of her singing career, because that was when she provided the vocals on the demos of the songs her mother wrote that went on to appear on Taylor Swift’s first album.
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