The year I decided to be a folk musician...

Wow. What a year it's been!

In May this year (was it really only this year!?) I decided to release a 'Folk' album and try my luck at being a 'Folk Musician'. I kicked off my shoes, called the album 'Bare Foot Folk'... and it's gone pretty well...!

I've had a huge amount of support this year, and I owe it all to you. You kind people that buy my music, come to see me perform live, and remind me that music is something that adds light to the world even when it seems like such a hard career path to follow!

Special thanks also go Mike Harding on the Mike Harding Folk Show, Terry Ferdinand's Folk Show on Bishop FM, The Richard Harris 'Folk and Blues Show' on SomerValley FM, David Bond's 'Folk and Roots' show on 10 Radio, the incredible Emma Britton at BBC Somerset, Maverick Magazine, Rock 'n' Reel (R2) Magazine, Fatea Magazine, Bright Young Folk, FolkWords, Armandaleg Music, Readifolk, FolkCast, Irish Music Magazine, Albion Magazine and The Living Tradition magazine to name but some of the wonderful people that have played, reviewed and promoted my music this year.

(Oh, and Rob, who now co-runs “Story Records Limited” as a proper record label... he's done a fair bit this year too...!)

The “Bare Foot Folk” tour saw me playing theatre stages and village halls alike, and the closing night at the “Glastonbury Assembly Rooms” still makes me smile!

I've played a fair few other gigs throughout the year. I shared a stage with some wonderful talent during “Flying Folk” at the Ilminster Arts Center, and I was an honorary member of “Folk Room Records” at Home Farm Festival. The album launch at “Silver Street Sessions” was an absolute delight, and ending the year by playing in the old stables of Dunster Castle for the whole evening at “Dunster by Candlelight” was a beautiful end to a beautiful year.

So what's next?

A new album

I've written my next album! “The Lament of the Black Sheep” is a 12 track acoustic folk album. It's similar to Bare Foot Folk in style, but (hopefully) showing some fairly substantial growth as a folk musician.

I've got time booked in the recording studio in March. I'm VERY excited by this!

There will be a promo video with previews of songs from the album very soon, as well as a chance to pre-order with a lots of lovely ways of showing your support and getting goodies in exchange!

Folk Festivals

Bookings have started coming in for folk festivals next year, but I'm waiting until a few more have confirmed in the new year before I start publishing dates.

Amongst them, however, I've been shortlisted to open the Warwick Folk Festival main stage. It's all going to come down to a public vote to see who get's the honour – I'll be relying on you good people to help with that! There's a video to go alongside this competition... but I'm not allowed to share it with you just yet!

Nominated for "Female Vocalist of the Year"

I was very excited to learn I've been nominated by Fatea Magazine for "Female Vocalist of the Year" alongside the wonderful Lucy Ward and the exceptional Emily Barker. It would be incredible to take the award; but keeping such fine company is good enough for me!

Here's hoping 2014 is as great as 2013 has been!

Ange x