Guardian Music — The legendary folk musicians explain the history and significance of political songwriting, and perform a couple of numbers more info

Guardian Music — They've written songs that inspired momentous political change – and suffered the consequences. On the eve of a Meltdown gig, Martin Carthy and Tom Robinson talk pop, punk and burnoutThe walls of the bar in Cecil Sharp House, the north London he... more info

Guardian Music — Queen Elizabeth Hall, LondonThe Imagined Village have become a lot better by becoming more ­conventional. When they started out, playing in a large tent in the mudbath that was ­Womad 2007, they were ­almost ­frantically ­experimental ... more info

Guardian Music — (ECC/Proper)When they first appeared at Womad, back in the summer of 2007, the Imagined Village sounded well-intentioned but in need of serious rehearsal. The idea was intriguing - to rework folk songs with global influences and electronica to reflec... more info

Guardian Music — Founding member of Steeleye Span who took traditional songs to a global audience Tim Hart, who has died aged 61, was one of the original members of the highly successful folk-rock band Steeleye Span. When Ashley Hutchings left Fairport Convention to ... more info

Guardian Music — Barbican, LondonThere should have been a stronger sense of occasion for this concert. It was the 40th anniversary for the band that took British folk to mainstream rock audiences, mining the dark elemental mystery of traditional music with classic al... more info

The Music Fix — Capsule Review: Former Choirboy and self taught guitarist Chris Wood is becoming a bit of a British folk institution, working alongside Eliza and Martin Carthy in The Imaginary Village and winning the Radio 2 album of the year award for last year's T... more info

Guardian Music — Barbican, LondonWith his dub-reggae side-projects, cartoon bands and Chinese opera soundtracks, Damon Albarn has long been viewed as the creative Renaissance Man behind Blur, with guitarist Graham Coxon stuck with the image of resolutely indie crafts... more info