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Website: http://www.myspace.com/katflint

This album has been out a little while, but with Kat Flint having recently been on the road with Nell Brydon, Lana and Lizzyspit, it's given Kat's debut album, "Dirty Birds" another push towards prominence. It's recognition, both Kat and the album deserve. Kat is a keen observer of the events that shape our lives, the small things as well as the obvious, it's a perception that brings a delicious touch to her arrangement. There's not much bugle on "Christopher You're A Soldier Now" but it's enough to infuse your thoughts with soldiers away from home thinking about friends..

Album:The Haunted Year:Spring

Website: http://www.jackieleven.co.uk

If Jackie Leven had been born in Japan, he would have been declared a living treasure by now. Not only is he one of the most prolific songwriters Scotland has ever produced, he is proof that quanity and quality are not two exclusive bedfellows. "The Haunted Year:Spring" is part of a greater song cycle and on it's own consists of two albums, one with ad-hoc band, The Celtic Soulman, the other with The Stornoway Girls. Either album is more than capable of standing on it's own two feet and drawing glowing reviews, together they are a sublime tribute to the songwriters art.

Website: http://www.myspace.com/thenightjars

The Nightjars are on the fringe of what we cover. There's a distinct rock vibe that forms the foundation of their music, sometimes drifting more towards indie, sometimes pulling towards the higher octane end of what's come to be known as singer/songwriter. This self titled album is rich in riffs and high rocking melody. It has a sense of the dramtic and a real drive to it. The instrumental breaks giving the individual musicians a chance to shine out and display the talent incorporated in the band. It's not at the expense of the songs, which take an anthemaic quality.

Website: http://www.myspace.com/mickeywynne

Mickey, has been a guitarist from the age of six, helping teac Julian Lennon at only sixteen. He's also been a top session man, a house writer at MCA and twiddled the nobs and ran the desk on a number of albums. He's been a key in a number of bands, including the Pioneers alongside John Entwhistle of The Who. "Running On Empty" sees Mickey stepping out of the shadows to have his name on the recor, it's one that's down to him and he wants you to know it. That's why it will come as no surprise to hear that this a a riff laden ep that joins folk rock to blues.

Album:Where The Working Boats Went

Website: http://www.lifeandtimes.info

There are more miles of Canal in Birmingham than in Venice. In the brief era before the railway, when the narrowboat was king a whole culture and way of life grew up. It's never quite gone away. The folk memory, tourism and a few working boats kept it alive and it's in a bit of a renassiance. "Where The Working Boats Went" are 17 mainly contemporary folk songs, many recorded in a morris style, that reflect two hundred and fifty years of canal side culture. Life And Times have put together a collection of songs that reflect the rich heritage of the cut and gets the foot tapping.

The Etiquette Project

EP:The Etiquette Project

Website: http://www.myspace.com/theetiquetteproject

There are a lot of elements that go into the self titled EP "The Etuquet Project" it's part art rock, part electroacoustic, part shoegaze, part dream pop. The alchemy is in trying to balance those elements into a cohesive mass without letting the creativity take too many tangents. By and large the band have succeeded, they've produced a release that may not be easy to listen to, but at least holds the interest purely on musical merit and not because you're interested as to what might get thrown in the mix. The ideas are definitely out there and are just forming into a direction.

Album:Ring Around The Land

Website: http://www.myspace.com/redshoes1

There's a breath of fresh air breezing through the folk rock scene like a tornado out of Kansas, Red Shoes. This Birmingham based duo draw on twelve self penned numbers and a stunning cover of "White Dress" to compile an album of stunning beauty. Drawn from personal experience and the English landscape and traditions, "Ring Around The Land" is a celebration and reflection on the psyche of the country and the people. With Fairport's Dave Pegg at the desk the album relects it's inspirations whilst defining it's own path. Folk rock is alive and well, living in the black country.

Website: http://www.bapkennedy.com

"Howl On" is Bap Kennedy's homecoming album, written and produced in Northern Ireland. It's an album immeresed in the events that have inspired, space and the moon landings both get an outing, as do tributes to legends of music, Hank, Jimi & Elvis. It's an incredibly relaxed album, Bap is a man aware of his talent and lets it speak for it's self. The popuri of americana and country rock has that down to earth feel. The world has been going through a tough time and is looking for the singer/songwriters to gladden it's heart. "Howl On" definitely strikes the right note

Lupen Crook And The Murderbirds

EP:The Lost Belongings

Website: http://www.lupencrookandthemurderbirds.co.uk

The sound of Lupen Crook And The Murderbirds is as likely to take you down a dark alley and kick the living daylights out of you as it is to look at you. Whilst it's got a touch of the Anthony Newleys to it or even Bowie it picks up a harder edge that sets it apart, but retains the theatrics that gave both artists their early success. "The Lost Belongings" lashes out with punk sensibility, angry, passionate and overwhleming desire to rage against the bland. It's dark almost Dickensian, dark stories fighting against hopelessness, because it's stronger than that.

The Carrivick Sisters

Album:Jupiter's Corner

Website: http://www.myspace.com/thecarrivicksisters

What is it about Devon at the moment, every note it touches seems to turn to gold. "Jupiter's Corner" is the second track from bluegrass siblings, The Carrivick Sisters and comes with a sound that makes you think they were bred and born in Kansas. It's an album of rich blood harmonies and intricate instrumentation. Most of the songs are self penned, reflecting events from their neck of the woods, some old, some new, let's just say Jupiter is a goldfish that had an encounter with a heron. There's even time for the obligatory train song, pure bluegrass magic.

Blind Blake & The Royal Victoria Hotel Calypso

Album:Bahamian Songs

Website: http://megaphonemusic.blogspot.com/

This 28 track Blind(from 16) Blake retrospective reminds us there's a lot more to calypso than "Daylight Come". For a start there's the controversial political songs like ""Love Love Alone" about the abdication of Edward 8th. Songs about violence, guns and sex sit confortably alongside the more comedic songs we're used to getting. "John B Sail" is the song that inspired a certain Beach Boy ditty. Blind Blake was recording from before WW2 pretty much up until his death in 1985, The tracks on the compilation are from the early 50s when he was enjoying success Stateside.

Website: http://www.myspace.com/babajack

There's a lot to be said for good honest folk blues, particularly when it's been put together like this. Duo, BabaJack, have a real life affirming sound. The early blues artists were hell and damnation of Friday and Saturday nights, living life to the full because it was probably going to be short, life was hard, but there was always going to be redemption and relief at the end of it. "The Maker" has that feel to it, it's also hard to believe that this is an album full of original songs, Becky Tate and Trevor Steger have penned an album that feels like classics rediscovered.