Acoustic Music

NEWSLETTER ARCHIVES

The following monthly newsletters, covering the
UK folk/acoustic/roots music scene, were originally
written by Paul Castle for Hugh Blumenfeld's Folk
Music about.com website from October 1999 to
July 2001 - now archived at
www.balladtree.com

_______________________________________

Across the Pond #1
(October 1999)

Introduction
Online Resouces and publications

Feature
Ex-Fairport Convention drummer, Dave Mattacks,
touring with Mary Chapin Carpenter.

In the UK this month:
Rory Block, Richard Thompson, Paul Brady,
Joan Baez, Bruce Cockburn, Tori Amos, John Fahey
Flook, Oysterband, Sharon Shannon, Tom Paxton,
Jack Hardy, Shirley Collins, Bert Jansch, Frances Black
.....and many more

Across the Pond #2
(November 1999)

In the UK this month
From the US, Taj Mahal, Mary Chapin Carpenter,
Catie Curtis, Suzanne Vega, Loudon Wainwright III,
Carolyn Hester, Jane Siberry, Alex de Grassi,
Eric Bibb and Woody Mann, Mary Black, Ronnie Drew,
Mary Coughlan, Luka Bloom, Martin Hayes and Dennis Cahill,
and many more....

Across the Pond #3
(December 1999)

Feature
Celebrating New Years Eve - Scots style -
with 'La Bottine Souriante'

In the UK this month
Ramblin' Jack Elliott, Lucy Kaplansky, Ani DiFranco
Maddy Prior, Dick Gaughan, Billy Bragg
and many more....

Across the Pond #4
(January 2000)

Feature
The huge, international 'Celtic Connections'
Festival in Glasgow

In the UK this month
John Prine, Iris Dement, Beth Nielsen Chapman,
Niamh Parsons, Pierre Bensusan, Barachois,
Kathryn Tickell, Leon Rosselson, Jez Lowe,
Freedy Johnston, Solas, and more...

Across the Pond #5
(February 2000)

Interview
with Jez Luton, UK guitarist with
Jez Lowe's Bad Pennies and Tom Paxton

In the UK this month
Randy Newman, Tom Paxton, Kelly Joe Phelps,
Buddy Miller, The Konnarock Critters,
Robyn Hitchcock, Jackie Leven, June Tabor,
Pete Morton,Fairport Convention (with
Dave Swarbrick) and many more...

Across the Pond #6
(March 2000)

Feature
St. Patrick's Day brings out the Celts

In the UK this month
Van Morrison, Paul Brady, Andy White,
Maire Brennan, Celtus, Sharon Shannon,
King Sunny Ade, The Albion Band, Chris Whitley,
Ron Sexsmith, Gabriel Yacoub, Steve Tilston,
Ladysmith Black Mambazo, and many more...

Across the Pond #7
(April 2000)

Feature
Festival season

In the UK this month
Artisan, Tom Ovans, Brass Monkey,
John Tams Band, Flook, Balfour Toujours,
Terry Callier, Tannahill Weavers, Wizz Jones,
Geoff Muldaur, Lunasa, Jack Williams,
Tarras, Andy Irvine, Youssou N'Dour,
Jacqui McShee's Pentangle, The Strawbs,
and many more...

Across the Pond #8
(May 2000)

In the UK this month
The Chieftains, Nanci Griffith, Tracy Chapman,
Janis Ian, Odettta, John Hammond, John Stewart,
Steve Earle, Stacey Earle, Warren Zevon,
Michael Chapman, Bob Brozman, and many more...

Across the Pond #9
(June 2000)

Feature
Glastonbury Festival
Interview
with Richard Thompson about
performing at the Joni Mitchell tribute concert

In the UK this month
Chris Hillman, John Herald, Eddie Le Jeune,
Alistair Hulett & Dave Swarbrick, Altan,
Martin Carthy, Billy Bragg, John Martyn,
Hank Williams III, Martin Simpson, Bob Fox,
Richard Thompson, and many more...

Across the Pond #10
(July 2000)

Features
Cambridge Folk Festival
Sandy Denny biography -
'No More Sad Refrains'

In the UK this month
Joan Baez, Dr John, Suzanne Vega, Janis Ian,
Kate Rusby, Steeleye Span, Liz Carroll, Bill Caddick,
Vin Garbutt, Flowers and Frolics, Donal Lunny's
Coolfin, Mundy Turner, and many more...

Across the Pond #11
(August 2000)

Feature
Paul Castle comes across the pond and
sees more here in a week than I saw all year.
His exploits (with a camera) plus the monthly
UK tour info [HB]

In the UK this month
Little Feat, Emmylou Harris, Steve Earle,
Mary Black, Michelle Shocked, Dale Watson,
Boys of the Lough, Danu, Incredible String Band,
Alan Stivell, Boys of the Lough, Jay Farrar,
Eileen McGann, Simon Mayor & Hilary James,
and many more...

Across the Pond #12
(September 2000)

Feature
'A Skin Too Few' -
new Nick Drake film premier
Interview
Paul interviews Cry, Cry, Cry's
Lucy Kaplansky

In the UK this month
Bob Dylan, Joan Armatrading, Bert Jansch,
Davy Graham, Pierre Le Rue, Mary Coughlan,
Trisha Yearwood, North Mississippi All Stars,
Oh Susanna, Jack Hardy, Eric Bogle, and
many more....

Across the Pond #13
(October 2000)

Feature
new biography -
'Dazzling Stranger: Bert Jansch &
The British Folk Blues Revival'
new autobiography -
Ralph McTell's 'Angel Laughter'
Interview
with Mary Black's bass player,
James Blennerhassett

In the UK this month
Richie Havens, Roy Rogers and Shana Morrison,
Van Morrison & Linda Gail Lewis, Freedy Johnston,
Bob Dylan, Tish Hinojosa, Jaqui McShee's Pentangle,
kd Lang, The Albion Band, Iain Matthews, Joan Armatrading,
Allison Moorer, Darden Smith, Martin Simpson, Kelly Joe Phelps
Slaid Cleaves, Paul Simon, Niamh Parsons, Capercaillie,
John Prine, Maria Muldaur....and many more.

Across the Pond #14
(November 2000)

Interview
Martin Carthy explains how he came to be singing
"Scarborough Fair" on stage with Paul Simon in
London last month

In UK this month
Tim O'Brien & The Crossing, Emmylou Harris, Taj Mahal,
Chris Smither, Steeleye Span, Sara Grey, June Tabor,
Youssou N'Dour, Ralph McTell, John Kirkpatrick & Alistair Anderson
Flook, Terry Callier, Paul Brady, Sharon Shannon, Jez Lowe and
The Bad Pennies, The John Tams Band, Rory Block, Ryan Adams,
Patrick Street, Lindisfarne, Woody Mann & John Renbourn,
Oysterband.....and many more.

Across the Pond #15
(December 2000)

Features
The return of acoustic guitar legend Davey Graham
to one of his old sixties haunts
Kate Rusby review and photos

In the UK this month
Lucy Kaplansky, Tom Pacheco, Eric Bibb, Guy Davis,
Billy Bragg, Bill Jones, Waterson:Carthy, The Levellers,
Kathryn Tickell, Danu, Shane McGowan & The Popes,
Nick Harper, Maddy Prior & The Carnival Band, Brian Peters,
The Men They Couln't Hang, The Saw Doctors ...and more

Across the Pond #16
(January 2001)

Feature
Celtic Connections Festival listings

In the UK this month
Kate & Anna McGarrigle, Iris Dement, Alison Brown,
Rickie Lee Jones, Janis Ian, Laura Cantrell, Cherish the Ladies,
Steve Riley & The Mamou Playboys, Tom Paxton, Derek
Brimstone, Les Barker, Mary Coughlan, Countrypolitans,
Carrie Newcomer, Darryl Purpose, John Martyn, John Renbourn,
Suzzy Roche, Frankie Armstrong, Ani DiFranco...and many more.

Across the Pond #17
(February 2001)

Feature
BBC Folk Awards

Interview
with top US bluegrass guitarist, Dan Crary
Photo: Alison Brown at The Borderline

In the UK this month
Eddi Reader, Dan Crary & Beppe Gambetta, Michael Chapman,
Martin Hayes & Dennis Cahill, Charlie Musselwhite, Michael Marra,
Abdul Tee Jay, Al Stewart, Dougie MacLean, Vin Garbutt,
Robin Williamson, Fairport Convention, Steve Tilston, Sheila Stewart,
Bob Cheevers, Steve Phillips... and many more

Across the Pond #18
(March 2001)

Feature
Paul rides the Folktain across Canada to
the Vancouver Folk Alliance Conference
Rick Scott and Canada's Pied Pumkin

In the UK this month
Kim Richey, Bert Jansch, Buddy Mondlock, Dave Alvin,
Jimmie Dale Gilmore, The New Deal String Band,
Michelle Shocked, Allan Taylor, Kate Rusby, Judy Cook,
Dave Swarbrick & Martin Carthy, Sally Barker, Fernhill...
and many more.

Across the Pond #19
(April 2001)

Feature
Eva Cassidy tops the UK Charts

Interview
Maddy Prior talks about her new album
'Arthur The King'

In the UK this month
Luka Bloom, Kathryn Williams, Oh Susanna, Jay Farrar,
Show of Hands, Coope Boyes & Simpson, Gretchen Peters,
Rokia Traore, Kellie While, Steve Ashley, Eliza Carthy,
Plainsong, Cathal McConnell, Eric Roche, Barachois,
Mark Mulcahy, Cubanismo... and many more.

Across the Pond #20
(May 2001)

Features
BBC launch new folk website
Bob Blackman writes about The Copper Family in Sing Out!
Bob Dylan UK Convention 2001
The Carthy Chronicles

In the UK this month
Bela Fleck & The Flecktones, John Hammond, Louis Killen,
The Strawbs, Dana Robinson, Roger McGuinn, Jim White,
Ken Perlman, Bob Brozman & Takashi Hirayasu, Dave Peabody,
Ben Andrews, John Wright Band, Chris While & Julie Matthews,
Sarah Harmer, Christine Collister, Pierre Bensusan, Steve Forbert,
Rodney Crowell, Geoff Muldaur, Jackie Leven, Paddy Keenan,
Bob Davenport, Julian Dawson & Kimberley Rew...and more.

Across the Pond # 21
(June 2001)

Features
Martin Carthy's 60th Birthday concert
Roy Harper's 60th Birthday concert

Interview
Shawn Colvin talks about touring the UK

In the UK this month
Runrig, Niamh Parsons, Eileen Rose, Turin Brakes,
The Eagles, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Shawn Colvin,
Roy Harper, Baka Beyond, Little Feat, Neil Young &
Crazy Horse, Chris Thomas King, John Martyn &
Danny Thompson, Kate Rusby, Laura Cantrell,
Hubert Sumlin, The McCAlmans, Tarras,Suzanne Vega,
Duck Baker...and many more.

Across the Pond #22
(July 2001)

Features
UK Summer Festivals
David Crosby

In the UK this month
Bob Dylan, Billy Bragg, CPR, Gjallarhorn, Slaid Cleaves,
Ron Sexsmith, Richard Thompson, Country Joe McDonald
La Bottine Souriante, Suzanne Vega, Frankie Gavin,
Amazing Blondel, Dave Swarbrick & Alastair Hulett...
and many more.