Author: Ashleigh

News | Get festive at these Christmas gigs

James Yorkston Christmas Show 2014

If you’re the sort of person whose Christmas list is perennially packed with records, band merch and gig ticket requests, you’re also likely to be the sort of person who’ll appreciate the often joyful, often cheesy, always cockle-warming Christmas gig. We’ve…

Live | The National @ Alexandra Palace

The National, Alexandra Palace

Some bands create a niche for themselves that’s so particular they end up being terribly boring. The furrow The National have ended up in is certainly distinctive, but every earnest, stirring indie rock ballad that comes from it is unmistakably…

Playlist | Happy birthday to us!

happy birthday, birthday cake, birthday playlist

Photo © Will Clayton Dear readers, It has come the day when our wonderful cyber-friend For Folk’s Sake, the music critique glue which brings us all closer together, celebrates its fifth birthday. Obviously such frivolous celebrations are unlikely to move…

Live | Bryan Ferry @ Proms in the Park, Hyde Park

Bryan Ferry, proms in the Park, Hyde Park

Probably Bryan Ferry wishes he was a bit cooler than headlining Proms in the Park. He almost definitely wouldn’t have done it in his Roxy Music days, but maybe he’ll take the screaming fans wherever he can get them now…

Live | Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros @ Somerset House

Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, Somerset House Summer Series, London 2013

FFS often find ourselves moaning about the noise levels at lovely folk gigs where you want to be able to hear nothing but the singer’s voice or a pin dropping, but find yourself shushing those chatting behind you in a…

Review | Camera Obscura @ Heaven, London

Camera Obscura live gig at Heaven

Is there a band more simultaneously joyous and mardy than Camera Obscura? We’re yet to find one, especially now that we’ve seen them live and in full gloom. We’ve loved Camera Obscura’s sugar-coated melancholy for a good deal longer than…

News | Somerset House Summer Series goes folk

Summer Series at Somerset House

The Summer Series at Somerset House is back for 2013 with an altogether more FFS-friendly line-up. Eleven open-air concerts will be held during July in the building’s stunning courtyard, a use which beats their winter ice rink hands down, in…

Brian’s Mixtape | Birds

Bird on guitar

Hello dear readers, It will come as no surprise to you that I am of the opinion that birds are the finest class of creature to inhabit this planet. Our singing voices are remarkable (some better than others, though I…

Live | Fairport Convention @ The Union Chapel, Islington

Fairport Convention at the Union Chapel

There are some abilities that all children of folkie parents have in common. Knowing the words to most of ‘Tempted and Tried’ by Steeleye Span. Being able to hold their own at a ceilidh. Having a favourite Christmas song that…