Guardian Music — Does royalty make for the best stories? According to historian Thomas Penn, who paints a dark portrait of Henry VII in Winter King, the continuing fascination with the royal family lies in the gap between the lofty conception of the institution and t... more info

Core News — “Formerly a member of Mercury nominated folk band The Unthanks, Belinda O’Hooley joined forces with Yorkshire singer-songwriter Heidi Tidow to become O’ Hooley & Tidow. The folk duo have been described as Dapper gentlewomen and purveyors of cha... more info

ContactMusic — American Pie singer Don Mclean and The Dubliners are to be honoured with Lifetime Achievement Awards at the Bbc Folk Awards next month Feb12 Singing sisters The Unthanks lead the nominations for the 13th annual prizegiving which will be held in Salfo... more info

Guardian Music — Our writers share their predictions for the coming year. Plus, meet the musicians causing trouble with their cover versions ...The new year is here and, according to Guardian and Observer critics, 2012 will be a fine time for the Staves, Ren Harvieu ... more info

Guardian Music — Aloe Blacc, On tourRappers who choose to act are brave; those who choose to sing possibly more so. For Aloe Blacc (real name: Egbert Dawkins III), singing has been the right decision. Formerly an MC with Emanon, it's his pipes that have been winning ... more info

Guardian Music — (RabbleRouser/Cadiz)The second Unthanks album of the year is a thoughtful, delicate and bravely original tribute to two fine contemporary songwriters, and a further reminder of the role that pianist, arranger and producer Adrian McNally is playing i... more info

Guardian Music — The Unthanks singer on morris dancing as a child and a teenage fixation with Faith No MoreThe Unthanks are a traditional, though unique and idiosyncratic, folk outfit from Northumberland fronted by sisters Rachel and Becky Unthank and managed by Rach... more info

Guardian Music — (Rabblerouser)The distance between the Unthanks' Geordie folk canon and the songbooks of modern-day sophisticates Antony Hegarty and Robert Wyatt proves less than expected. The group's chamber folk – stately piano, string quartet, trumpet – is a ... more info

Guardian Music — (RabbleRouser)This is a debut album, but the 12 songs are in many ways a continuation of the haunting six-track EP The North Farm Sessions Jonny Kearney and Lucy Farrell released last year; after all, they were recorded in the same location, at the N... more info

Guardian Music — A new baby boy and a new project with brass bands have given the Unthanks' Adrian McNally two great reasons to be thankfulHe's the best. A lovely midsummer's baby. Beautiful like his mother, Rachel Unthank. My son was born nine whole pounds exactly... more info