DESPITE THE CONTINUING DISMAL WEATHER AND THE SAD CANCELLATION OF SAUL CANAL AND BOAT, THE FESTIVAL SEASON IS NOW, WELL AND TRULY, UNDERWAY. SHEPLEY AND BEVERLEY WERE BOTH NEW ADVENTURES FOR US, THE LATTER BEING ALL THE MORE ADVENTUROUS FOR THE AMOUNT OF RAINFALL ON THURSDAY NIGHT, BUT BOTH, EXCELLENT FESTIVALS. MORE DETAILS OF FESTIVALS ON THE ABOUT US PAGE (CLICK ON LINK AT TOP OF PAGE)

OF COURSE, THE RICHARD THOMPSON AND THE NICK LOWE AND ALTOGETHER, A PRETTY GOOD CROP OF NEW RELEASES, PLUS, THE VERY WELCOME RETURN OF CLASSICS BY SHARON SHANNON, DE DANNAN, DONAL LUNNY AND ANDY IRVINE, BUT MOST EXCITING OF ALL IS ALWAYS THE UNEXPECTED GEM THAT ARRIVES SEEMINGLY FROM NOWHERE. OLABELLE CLEARLY HAVE BOTH PROVENANCE AND SUBSTANCE SO,IT IS NO SURPRISE AT ALL THAT THIS IS SUCH A GREAT ALBUM. WITH MATERIAL FROM ALAN LOMAX'S ENORMOUS SONG COLLECTION AND FAMILY LINKS TO THE BAND THIS CD IS STEEPED IN HISTORY WHILST BEING ENTIRELY OF TODAY. I DON'T MEAN THAT THEY HAVE TURNED OLD TIMEY INTO A DIGITISED BEEPFEST; THESE YOUNG PEOPLE ARE PROPER SINGERS AND MUSICIANS. GOSPEL FUNK JAZZ BLUES AND SOUL ARE THE ELEMENTS THEY APPLY TO THESE OLD SONGS AND THE RESULT IS TRADITIONAL MUSIC THAT EVEN THE MOST SEVERELY FOLKPHOBIC CAN GET