Go Folk

2025 marks KLOF Mag's 21st Anniversary. The challenges that face us today have changed significantly since 2004. Meeting them has always required considerable time and effort, but the financial difficulties are now far greater. With your support, we can continue to bring you some musical joy; therefore, starting July 25th, KLOF Mag will transition to a membership model. Source

We catch up with Grace Stewart-Skinner, a clàrsach player from the Scottish highlands based in Glasgow, who recently released her debut album, Auchies Spikkin’ Auchie. The album not only seeks to preserve the fading Avochie dialect for future generations but also celebrates the spirit, humour, and resilience of the community that shaped it. Grace provides a deep insight into the album's creation and the cultural history of the Avoch community. Source

Several years after his last release, folk and blues artist Jason Steel returns with Studies Volume 1. This intimate 6-track collection was recorded live to a single microphone in East London, blending original songs with traditional arrangements. Rooted in folk and country blues, the album explores themes of memory and resistance, drawing inspiration from sources as diverse as Elizabeth Cotten, Cormac McCarthy, and Paul Klee. Source

Portland’s Strange Pilgrim has released "Through the Branches," a contemplative new single from their forthcoming album, Too Bright Planet (via Royal Oakie Records). Led by Josh Barnhart and featuring a new lineup with members of Rogue Wave and The Dandy Warhols, the track is a shimmering piece of jangle-pop reflecting on the surreal stillness of the early Covid era with bright, layered guitars. Source

The new documentary, "IT'S NEVER OVER, JEFF BUCKLEY," offers a poignant look into the musician's life. Directed by Amy Berg, the film draws on unseen archives and intimate interviews with Jeff Buckley's mother, former partners, and bandmates. It chronicles his meteoric rise and enduring legacy, shaped by his only studio album, "Grace." The documentary features never-before-seen archival footage, watch the film trailer here. Source

Acclaimed Aotearoa musician and New Zealand Arts Laureate Ariana Tikao will bring the ancient sounds of taonga puoro (traditional Māori instruments) to London's Cafe OTO on July 27th. A renowned composer and practitioner, Tikao will collaborate with the Rothko Collective to perform newly commissioned works based on Māori chants, blending composed music with improvisation, spoken word, and video art for what promises to be an immersive experience. Source