Jess Vincent Ghosts from Lions Den (2018 Kostenurka Records)

www.jessvincentsings.com 

Reg Meuross Good with his hands from Reg Meuross (2018 Stockfisch Records)

www.regmeuross.com

Trampled by Turtles The middle from Life is good on the open road (2018 Banjodad Records)

www.trampledbyturtles.com

Jess Morgan Leytonstone digital download single (2018 Drabant Music)

www.jessmorgan.co.uk 

Kenneth J Nash and Fran Taylor And around again (live)

Kenneth J Nash and Fran Taylor Gitane (live)

Kenneth J Nash and Fran Taylor Explorer (live)

Fran Taylor Like you did back then (live)

Kenneth J Nash and Fran Taylor Slow burn (live)

www.kennethjnash.com 

www.frantaylor.bandcamp.com 

Dawn Landes Travelling digital download single (2018 Yep Roc Records)

www.dawnlandes.com 

Jeremy Tuplin Long Hot Summer digital download single (2018)

www.jeremytuplin.com 

Letitia VanSant The field from Gut it to the studs (2018 Letitia VanSant)

www.letitiavansant.com

Elephant Micah Fire A from Genericana (2018 Western Vinyl Records)

www.elephantmicah.com

Lori McKenna The lot behind St Mary’s from The Tree (2018 CN Records)

www.lorimckenna.com 

Kerry Devine Holme Fen from Away from the mountains (2018 Trapped Animal)

www.kerrydevine.org

Jess Morgan Gold and blind digital download single (2018 Drabant Music)

www.jessmorgan.co.uk

Amanda Shires Parking lot pirouette from To the sunset (2018 Silver Knife Records)

www.amandashiresmusic.com 

Iron & Wine What hurst worse digital download single (2018 Sub Pop Records)

www.ironandwine.com

Eliza Gilkyson Solitary singer from Seculare (2018 Red House Records)

www.elizagilkyson.com

Alden Patterson and Dashwood The time song from By the night (2018 Alden Patterson and Dashwood)

www.aldenpattersonanddashwood.com

The Shackleton Trio The fashionable farmer from Fen farm and deadly water (2018 The Shackleton Trio)

www.theshackletontrio.co.uk 

The Innocence Mission Buildings in flower from Sun on the square (2018 Bella Union Records)

www.theinnocencemission.com 

Luluc Spring from Sculptor (2018 Sub Pop Records)

www.lulucmusic.com 

Cowboy Junkies When we arrive from All That Reckoning (2018 Proper Records)

www.cowboyjunkies.com 

Alden Patterson and Dashwood By the night from By the night (2018 Alden Patterson and Dashwood)

www.aldenpattersonanddashwood.com

Hatful of Rain Oh the night from Songs of the lost and found (2018 Long Way Home Music)

www.hatfulofrain.co.uk

The Innocence Mission Records from your room from Sun on the square (2018 Bella Union Records)

www.theinnocencemission.com 

Olivia Chaney A tree grows in Brooklyn from Shelter (2018 Nonesuch Records)

www.oliviachaney.com

Lachlan Bryan & the Wilde’s In New York from Some girls quite like country music (2018 Lachlan Bryan and the Wildes)

www.lachlanbryanandthewildes.com

River Whyless Born in the right country from Kindness, a rebel (2018 Roll Call Records)

www.riverwhyless.com 

Gilmore & Roberts Poison digital download single with Dr James (2013 Navigator Records)

www.gilmoreandroberts.co.uk

Luluc Sculptor from Sculptor (2018 Sub Pop Records)

www.lulucmusic.com

Jason McNiff Amanda from Joy and Independence (2018 At The Helm Records)

www.jasonmcniff.com

Toby Hay Leaving Chicago from The Longest Day (2018 State51 Conspiracy)

www.tobyhay.com 

The Milk Carton Kids Younger years from All the things that I did and all the things that I didn’t do (2018 Anti Records)

www.themilkcartonkids.com

Rab Noakes Gently does it from Welcome to Anniversaryville (2018 Neon Records)

www.rabnoakes.com 

Megan Henwood Brexit blues digital download single (2017 Dharma Records)

www.meganhenwood.com

Josienne Clarke and Ben Walker Bathed in light from Seedlings All (2018 Rough Trade Records)

www.josienneandben.com

Juliana Daugherty Light from Light (2018 Western Vinyl Records)

www.julianadaugherty.bandcamp.com 

Bennett Wilson Poole Hide behind a smile from Bennett Wilson Poole (2018 Aurora Records)

www.bennettwilsonpoole.com

The Self Help Group Smile club from Dead Stars (2015 Union Music Store)

www.theselfhelpgroup.com

Serious Child You wear the smile from Empty Nest (2018 TCR Music)

www.seriouschild.com 

Faeland Strings from At My Swim (2018 Green Sage Records)

www.faeland.co.uk

Gretchen Peters The boy from Rye from Dancing with the beast (2018 Scarlet Letter Records)

www.gretchenpeters.com

Hadley McCall Thackston Butterfly from Hadley McCall Thackston (2018 Wolfe Island Records)

 www.wolfeislandrecords.com 

Anna Egge Last Ride from White Tiger (2018 Story Sound Records)

www.anaegge.com 

This is the third and final instalment of my favourite releases from January to June. Keep an eye out on my blog for the rest of the year in December.

Mishaped Pearls – Shivelight 

Ry Cooder – Prodigal Son

Modern Studies – Welcome Strangers

Ana Egge – White Tiger

The Jellyman’s Daughter – Dead reckoning

Hadley McCall Thackson – Hadley McCall Thackston

Suburban Dirts – I want blood

Jennifer Castle – Angels of death

Lucy Ward – Pretty warnings

Erin Rae – Putting on airs

Juliana Daugherty – Light

Here’s the second part of my blog charting favourite releases from January to June 2018.

Laura Veirs – The Lookout

Hannah Sanders and Ben Savage – Awake

Oliva Chaney – Shelter

Blair Dunlop – Notes from an island

Jill Jackson – Are we there yet?

Hatful of Rain – Songs of the lost and found

The Fugitives – The promise of strangers

Gretchen Peters – Dancing with the beast

Ray Cooper – Between the golden age and the promised land

Israel Nash – Lifted

Hayley Henderickx – I need to start a garden

Simone Felice – The Projector

Duotone – A life re-appearing

Courtney Marie Andrews – May your kindness remain

Mary Chapin Carpenter – Sometimes just the sky

Cath and Phil Tyler – The Ax and the Ox

Darlingside – Extra life

Birds of Chicago – Love in wartime

The first 6 months of this year has seen the release of many great albums, EP’s and singles. Here I highlight some of my favourites this far in.

Sarah McQuaid – If we dig any deeper it could get dangerous

Jess Morgan – Aston Expressway, kiss me quick digital download single

Dean Owens – Southern Wind 

Gem Andrews – North 

Faeland – All my swim

Jim Ghedi – A Hymn for Ancient Land

Bennett Wilson Poole – Bennett Wilson Poole

Don Gallardo – Still Here

Kings of the South Seas – Franklin 

Alela Diane – Cusp

Zoe Mulford – Small brown birds

Josienne Clark and Ben Walker – Seedlings All

H.C McEntire – Lionheart

Winter Wilson – Far off on the horizon 

Jerry Leger – Nonsense and heartache 

Orphan Colours – All on red

Stick in the Wheel – Follow them true

Brandi Carlile – By the way, I forgive you

Fran Wyburn – Wood for the trees

Hannah Read – Way out I’ll wander

I’m Kingfisher – Transit

Dan Hartland – Great Novels

The Rheingans Sisters – Bright Field

Greg Russell and Ciaran Algar – Utopia and Wasteland

Chris Smither – Call me lucky

Michael McDermott – Out from under it

Glymjack – Light the evening fire

Eamon O’Leary – All Souls

The Little Unsaid – Selected Works 

Ma Polaine’s Great Decline – The Outsider

The Mammals – Sunshiner 

The Equatorial Group – Apricity

Rab Noakes Let the show begin from Welcome to Anniversaryville (2018 Neon Records)

www.rabnoakes.com 

Jill Jackson 1954 from Are We There Yet? (2018 Jill Jackson)

www.jilljackson.co.uk

Toby Hay The Longest Day from The Longest Day (2018 The States51 Conspiracy)

www.tobyhay.com

The Little Unsaid Day is golden from Selected Works (2018 Reveal Records)

www.thelittleunsaid.com 

I’m Kingfisher The oaks rule from Transit (2018 Fading Trails Recordings)

www.imkingfisher.com

Jennifer Castle Grim reaper from Angels of death (2018 Paradise of Bachelors)

www.jnfrcastle.com

Wilder Maker Drunk driver from Zion (2018 Northern Spy)

www.wildermaker.com 

The Milk Carton kids All the things that I did and all the things that I didn’t do from All the things that I did and all the things that I didn’t do (2018 Anti Records)

www.themilkcartonkids.com

Steve Tilston The road when I was young from Distant days (2018 Riverboat Records)

www.stevetilston.com 

Olivia Chaney Colin and Clem from Shelter (2018 Nonesuch Records)

www.oliviachaney.com 

Lucy Ward Cold Caller from Pretty Warning (2018 Betty Beetroot Records)

www.lucywardsings.com 

Robby Hecht and Caroline Spence Holding On from Two People (2018 Old Man Henry Records/Tone Tree Music)

www.carolineandrobby.com  

Jason McNiff Joy and Independence from Joy and Independence (2018 At The Helm Records)

www.jasonmcniff.com 

Mishaped Pearls Jonny’s war from Shivelight (2018 Mishaped Pearls)

www.mishapedpearls.org

Minnie Birch John Barleycorn digital download double AA single (2018 Minnie Birch)

www.minniebirch.co.uk 

Ben Glover Kindness from Shorebound (2018 Proper Records)

www.benglover.co.uk

Courtney Marie Andrews May your kindness remain from May your kindness remain (2018 Loose Music)

www.courtneymarieandrews.com

The Serious Child kind mans bluff (featuring Tanya Brittain) from Empty Nest (2018 TCR Music)

www.seriouschild.com 

Erin Rae Bad mind from Putting on airs (2018 Single Lock Records)

www.erinraemusic.com 

Lera Lynn featuring Dylan LeBlanc What is love from Plays well with others: a duets album (2018 Single Lock Records)

www.leralynn.com

Lachlan Bryan and the Wilde’s Hope that I’m wrong from Some girls quite like country music (2018 Lachlan Bryan)

www.lachlanbryanandthewildes.com 

Eamon O’Leary Our old dominion from All Souls (2018 Reveal Records)

www.eamonoleary.bandcamp.com 

Sarah McQuaid Time to love from If we dig any deeper it might get dangerous (2018 A Shovel and a Spade Records)

www.sarahmcquaid.com 

Laura Veirs The Lookout from The Lookout (2018 Bella Union Records)

www.lauraveirs.com 

Erin Rae Putting on airs from Putting on airs (2018 Single Lock Records)

www.erinraemusic.com

Glymjack Bright sparks from Light the evening fire (2018 Storm Lantern)

www.glymjack.com

Hatful of Rain Start again from Songs of the lost and found (2018 Long Way Home Music)

www.hatfulofrain.co.uk 

Olivia Chaney House on a hill from Shelter (2018 Nonesuch Records)

www.oliviachaney.com

Whiskeytown Houses on the Hill from Stranger’s Almanac (1997 Outpost Recordings)

Megan Henwood House on the Hill from River (2017 Dharma Records)

www.meganhenwood.com 

Dan Whitehouse The left handed way from That’s where I belong (2016 Reveal Records)

www.dan-whitehouse.com

Jess Morgan Blue Jay digital download single Blue Jay/Valentina (2018 Drabant Records)

www.jessmorgan.co.uk

Eamon O’Leary Marina Blue from Bywater/Marina Blue single (2018 Reveal Records)

www.eamonoleary.bandcamp.com 

The Black Feathers The ghosts have eaten well (full version) single (2018 Bird in the hand Records)

www.theblackfeathers.com 

Jennifer Castle Tomorrow’s mourning from Angels of death (2018 Paradise of Bachelors)

www.jnfrcastle.com 

Juliana Daugherty Wave from Light (2018 Western Vinyl)

www.julianadaugherty.bandcamp.com 

Jelly mans daughter The worst of it all from Dead Reckoning (2018 Boat Duck Records)

www.thejellymansdaughter.com

Paul McClure The good and bad of it from Paul McClure and the Local Heroes EP (2017 Clubhouse Records)

www.paulmcluremusic.com 

Randy Newman Lost without you from Dark Matter (2017 Nonesuch Records)

www.randynewman.com

Jones Battersea Boy from Happy Blue (2015 Meme Records)

www.miraclemile.co.uk

Obi Sleep well dear friend from Diceman Lopez (2004 Cooking Vinyl Records)

The Fugitives Northern Lights from The Promise of Strangers (2018 West Park Music)

www.fugitives.ca

Israel Nash Lucky ones from Lifted (2018 Loose Music)

www.israelnash.com

Carter Sampson Lucky from Lucky (2018 Continental Song City)

 www.cartersampson.net 

Misshaped pearls Jesus’ crooked shadow from Shivelight (2018 Mishaped Pearls)

www.mishapedpearls.org

Ry Cooder Jesus and Woody from The Prodigal Son (2018 Perro Verde Records)

www.rycooder.com

Blind Boys of Alabama Jesus hits like) An atom bomb from Atom Bomb (2005 Real World Records)

www.blindboys.com  

Ma Polaine’s Great Decline The poison sits from The Outsider (2018 MPGD) 

www.mapolainesgreatdecline.com 

Ana Egge Let the light in rom White Tiger (2018 Story Sound Records)

www.anaegge.com