DESPITE the trials and tribulations of the pandemic and uncertainty about live performances 2021 proved to be an interesting year for folk fans with some inspiring albums from artists both old and new to the scene.

Lincolnshire-born Mossy Christian made an impressive start to what looks like a promising career with his debut album Come Nobles and Heroes. Stemming from the musical traditions of Yorkshire and Lincolnshire, the album referenced historical events like the 1827 Red Barn murder.

Another interesting debut album came from Joe Danks with Seaspeak, a collection of songs about the sea and its role in history culminating in a beautiful rendition of Ewan MacColl’s Sweet Thames Flow Softly.

A number of artists in fact used the conditions enforced by lockdown to explore thematically their surroundings and traditions. In A Pocket Full of Acorns folk duo Ninebarrow recorded songs inspired by the history and landscape of Dorset. Consisting of traditional songs like John Barleycorn the album also included new songs like Under the Fence and Cry Unity (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tniC8VsShwI) reflecting current political concerns.  

The sixth album from Philip Henry and Hannah Martin now known as Edgelarks consisted of traditional songs from Peter Kennedy’s Folk Songs of the British Isles but with an emphasis on overcoming difficulties particularly relevant in these Covid times.

Another folk duo, Honey and the Bear, recorded Journey Through the Roke which includes songs based on true events which happened on the Sussex coast, but also contemporary songs reflecting environmental concerns such as Unless We Start — https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nZCg1NwKbYI.

Another fine album reflecting concerns about the environment came from Christina Alden and Alex Patterson with Hunter — https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qkWOhzSfYks. Comprising mainly of contemporary songs rooted in the folk tradition the album explores the relationship between humans and the natural world in songs like The Greenland Shark as well as giving hope for better times with New Year Waltz.

There was a rip-roaring collection of songs from Jez Hellard and The Djukella Orchestra in The Fruitful Fells. Fired with a recurring anger throughout at the attitudes of the ruling class, songs like Food Banks and Gonna Rise Again maintain the tradition of folk music’s link with protest against injustice.

And continuing that link the compilation album Stand Up Now (Songs from the Landworkers’ Alliance) is a brilliant addition to any Star reader’s collection of political albums. Recorded by various artists the album puts together versions of classic songs like The World Turned Upside Down sang by Jimmy Aldridge and Sid Goldsith - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MgVg2s-llsQ - together with new songs about the land like The O’Halleran Sisters sung by Anna O’Neil. The struggles of the past are still with us today.

While we may not know what 2022 has in store in relation to Covid and possible further lockdown, we can be assured there are likely to be more inspiring albums to come from these and other artists in the coming year.