Fifty Essential Folk Albums

Featuring releases covering the five year period From the Margins has existed and the odd earlier reference work, this is not a purist's selection - it extends from traditional folk to roots and Americana.

Nor is it for the strict monoglot - there are songs sung in English, Welsh, Gaelic and Breton. What unites the albums chosen is that they all have been thoroughly road-tested for enduring, soul-stirring impact.

The list started with an initial fifty picks - five more will be added at the end of each year. First amongst equals, for now, is Mhairi Hall’s Airs - but any LP found on this page is a guaranteed step into a world of wonder, should you have any need for such a thing.

  • Mhairi Hall : Airs
  • Gigspanner : Natural Invention
  • Gwilym Bowen Rhys : Arenig
  • Douglas MacGregor : Songs of Loss & Healing
  • Slow Moving Clouds : Starfall
  • David Ian Roberts : Travelling Bright
  • Kitty Macfarlane : Namer of Clouds
  • Harbottle & Jonas : The Sea is My Brother
  • Nick Ellis : Speakers Corner
  • Bendith : Bendith
  • Jodie Marie : Trouble in Mind
  • Toby Hay : The Longest Day
  • Edgelarks : Feather
  • Tom Blackwell : Memphis Volume I
  • Findlay Napier : Glasgow
  • Matthew Frederick : Fragments
  • Kirsty Merryn : Our Bright Night
  • Iwan Huws : Pan Fydda Ni'n Symud
  • Gwenifer Raymond : You Never Were Much of a Dancer
  • Plu : Tir a Golau
  • Michael Walsh : Quarehawk
  • Gwen Màiri : Mentro
  • Lisa O'Neill : Heard a Long Gone Song
  • 9Bach : Anian
  • Alden, Patterson & Dashwood : Waterbound
  • Bird in the Belly : Neighbours & Sisters
  • Blodau Gwylltion : Llifo Fel Oed
  • Sam Lou Talbot : Mer-Made
  • Bob Delyn a'r Ebillion : Dal i 'Redig Dipyn Bach
  • Lleuwen : Gwn Glân Beibl Budr
  • Colorama : Some Things Just Take Time
  • Chris Jones : Dacw'r Tannau
  • Findlay Napier, Gillian Frame & Mike Vass : The Ledger
  • Tom Kitching : Seasons of Change
  • Young Waters : Young Waters
  • Rowan Rheigans : The Lines We Draw Together
  • Huw M : Utica
  • Merry Hell : Anthems to the Wind
  • The Gentle Good : Ruins / Adfeilion
  • Aled Rheon : A Georgeous Charge (EP)
  • Llio Rhydderch : Enlli
  • Mike Vass : Save His Calm
  • Fiona and Gorwel Owen : Releasing Birds
  • Hannah Sanders and Ben Savage : Awake
  • VRï : Tŷ Ein Tadau
  • DnA : Llinyn Arian
  • The Goat Roper Rodeo Band : Tall Grass
  • Cowbois Rhos Botwnnog : IV
  • Cynefin : Dilyn Afon
  • The Wilderness Yet : The Wilderness Yet