The Albion Band’s “Lark Rise to Candleford” was one of my childhood exposures to folk, and I still have my parents vinyl of it. Listening to it again, I had forgotten quite how good it is. Though I appreciate different tracks to I used to, I think that uplifting opening is why I have such affection for “Brighton Camp”.

Also you can play a guessing game each time you hear a melodeon: is that John Kirkpatrick or John Tams playing it? (What, you didn’t know that Tams could play the box as well as singing, fiddling etc? Shame!)

#Melodeon #DiatonicAccordion #Accordion #Folk #FolkMusic #Music #TradMusic #Trad

Album Recommendations – April 2026

I’ve given up on trying to regularly write reviews of new albums, but I still want to share albums I enjoyed.  Below are several new (and new-ish) albums – no ratings, no criticism – just music I enjoy listening to and hope you will to.

Album: Midnight Feature
Artist: Grace Givertz
Genre:  Indie Folk
Release Date: March 13, 2026
Label: Self-released
Favorite Tracks:

• Purgatory
• In 500 ft, Your Destination is on the Right
• Black Belt (feat. Rat Tally)
• Midnight Feature
• America (feat. Jake Blount)

Boston-based folk musician Grace Givertz lends her unique voice to songs of heartbreak and the experience of being bi-racial in a predominantly white folk scene.

Album: Foggy Mountain Mental Breakdown
Artist: Sweet Petunia
Genre: Americana
Release Date: March 13, 2026
Label: Righteous Babe Records
Favorite Tracks:

• Kennedy Rag/Clementine
• I Wanna Run
• Grub
• Heels
• Guise

The Boston-based duo of Maddy Simpson and Mairead Guy take a contemporary approach to Americana/old-time music with banjo, acoustic guitar, and close harmonies.

Album: Land of the Noon-Day Moon
Artist: Boxing Robin
Genre: Traditional Folk
Release Date: February 27, 2026
Label: Richard Cunningham
Favorite Tracks:

• Ned Coleman’s #2/The Orphan
• Bonaparte Crossing the Rhine/Time Will End
• Ridee six Temps/Quand les Garçons Vont Aux Noces
• The Scots Guards Set

Tennessee-based duo Rick Cunningham and Gypsy Youngraven use instruments like button accordions and Hurdy Gurdy to perform traditional music styles from Ireland, Scotland, France, England, and Brittany.

Album: Creature of Habit
Artist: Courtney Barnett
Genre: Indie Rock
Release Date: March 27, 2026
Label: Mom + Pop
Favorite Tracks:

• Stay in Your Lane
• Mantis
• Same
• Another Beautiful Day

I’ve been following Australian singer-songwriter Courtney Bartnett since her first album Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit came out in 2015 so it’s a pleasure to see her return with her fourth album.

Album: Ö
Artist: Fcukers
Genre: Electronic
Release Date: March 27, 2026
Label: Ninja Tune
Favorite Tracks:

• Beatback
• if you wanna party, come over to my house
• Shake it Up

Fcukers are the electronic music duo of Shanny Wise and Jackson Walker Lewis from New York City.  This is their debut album.  It slaps.

La lettre de nouvelles de Avril vient tout juste de sortir.

Elle est ici : https://adeuxbals.blogspot.com/2026/04/lettre-de-nouvelles-debut-avril-2026.html

Bonne lecture !

#folk #baltrad #trad #danse #nantes #bal