Guardian Music — Singer delights fans with surprise appearance at Sidmouth Folk Festival event celebrating his musicAfter an absence of 28 years, one of the great names of British folk music made a surprise and emotional return to the stage today.Nic Jones, a huge in... more info

The Telegraph — 10 Songs For The New Depression is oddly uplifiting. Rating: * * * more info

Totally Fuzzy — Willard said... THE RAISINS The Raisins (1983) Prelude to THE BEARS. Power pop at its best. The debut of The Raisins, produced by Adrian Belew, who would join the band after this - to be re-christened as THE BEARS. (We've got links to lots o' Bears i... more info

Guardian Music — (Proper)It's been 40 years since he recorded his first album, and he's now probably less well known than his children Rufus and Martha, but Loudon Wainwright is still on impressive form. His last album, a tribute to the great country singer and banjo... more info

Aquarium Drunkard — By the time of Attempted Mustache’s 1973 release Loudon Wainwright III had been kicking around for some time, releasing several critically acclaimed folk albums throughout the early 70s. One of Loudon’s finest efforts, the LP is a loose, low key,... more info

Totally Fuzzy — a r n e l said... V.A. - The 5th Sunny Summer Sampler 01. I Got The Sun In The Morning - Betty Hutton / 2:15 02. Don't Let The Sun Catch You Crying - Ray Charles / 5:18 03. (Zo van die) Zomerdagen - Bart Peeters / 3:32 04. Sunny Weather - Lisa Ekdahl... more info

Songs:Illinois — The old man continues his recent rash of productivity by releasing his new record 10 Songs For The New Depression. If only his offspring were as prolific it’d be great. Loudon Wainwright III’s new song “Cash For Clunkers” is a bit of a sill... more info

Guardian Music — Southbank Centre, LondonRichard Thompson converted to Islam in the mid-1970s, and the bravest, if not most successful, event of his Meltdown festival was surely this concert featuring young American bands who are trying to match Sufism with rock musi... more info

Swedesplease — Thanks to songs about Charlie Poole by Loudon Wainwright III (here) and now J Shogren I have learned quite a bit about this original country music star and hard partying man of all trades (textiles, pro ballplayer, moonshiner). J Shogren is quite a ... more info

Guardian Music — A clan who channel their dysfunction into songThere has perhaps been no family in the history of popular music more vocal about its glorious dysfunction than the Wainwright/McGarrigles. Loudon, Kate, Martha and Rufus are the bards of kith and kin, th... more info