Andrew Raw

Damien Dempsey “Holywell”

August 28, 2026 Andrew Raw 0

Excellent new versions of Irish folk songs that keep the flame of Irish history and pride alive. Damien Dempsey is a well-known Irish folk musician who has supported, for example, Sinead O’Connor, Bob Dylan and The […]

Picture of Jenny Don't And The Spurs at The Trades Club Hebden Bridge . 12/08/2026

Live Review: Jenny Don’t And The Spurs, The Trades Club, Hebden Bridge – 12th August 2026

August 19, 2026 Andrew Raw 2

It was a balmy night for the eclipse, and the roads were packed with sun-watchers as I drove over the hills to Hebden Bridge in the beautiful Calder Valley, through the premature dusk. Stepping inside the […]

Dan Pye “Room 7, on the 7th”

August 18, 2026 Andrew Raw 0

An impressive modern folk debut where creativity shines through. London-based Dan Pye is a creative individual. Alongside Room 7, on the 7th, his debut album, he has produced films, zines, handmade copper etchings, a diptych and […]

Phil Hooley “Everything We’ll Never Need”

August 4, 2026 Andrew Raw 0

An appealing laid-back brew of blues, soul and country with gentle swing and groove. Scarborough-based Phil Hooley is the founder of the alt-country band The Woolgatherers. Everything We’ll Never Need is his third solo album after […]

Flying Burrito Brothers, Amsterdam 1970, L-R: Sneaky Pete Kleinow, Rick Roberts, Chris Hillman, Michael Clarke, Bernie Leadon

Essentials: The Top 10 country-soul songs

July 30, 2026 Andrew Raw 2

As a teenager, I would have been very sniffy about both country and soul music. However, years have made me wiser, and I now fully appreciate them both. Country-soul is a great hybrid, with soul lending […]

Stamping on the passion: Why AI written PR is a bad thing for music

September 21, 2026 1

If a music writer opens ten press releases this month, they’ll spot something odd. They all sound like the same person wrote them. Not because the artists share a publicist, or because there’s a house style […]

Carla Gover and Friends “Williams Branch is Hard to Find”

September 21, 2026 0

A cycle of Appalachian folk songs from writer and activist Si Kahn, subtitled Songs for Strong Kentucky Women The subtitle for this album is “Si Kahn’s Songs for Strong Kentucky Women”. Si Kahn is one of […]

Ad for American Beauty album 5th December 1970

For the Sake of the Song: Grateful Dead “High Time”