Sound Roots

Have you released a folk album this year that deserves to be heard? 💿✨

Sound Roots and Folk on Foot have opened submissions for the Folk Album of the Year Award 2026, inviting artists, labels and publishers to submit eligible albums for consideration.

The award aims to showcase the breadth and diversity of folk music across Britain and Ireland, celebrating originality, artistic quality and cultural impact, regardless of commercial profile.

Following a hugely successful inaugural year that reached more than 50,000 people online and attracted a global livestream audience of more than 10,000 viewers, Barry Kerr was crowned the 2025 winner for his album 'Curlew's Cry'. He emerged from a shortlist that showcased some of the most exciting voices in folk music, including Peggy Seeger, Joshua Burnside, Edith WeUtonga Katiji (pictured), Grace Stewart-Skinner Clàrsach and many more.

Entry fees are £60 (£50 + VAT), with all income reinvested into running the project, supporting participating artists and delivering the event. In return, all shortlisted artists receive dedicated publicity, extensive media coverage and exposure through the Folk on Foot network. The award is managed by Sound Roots, a registered charity.

Entries can be submitted via the Sound Roots website or by using the application form linked in the comments 👇

Something exciting is on the horizon...

This Friday at midday, submissions open for the Folk Album of the Year Award 2026.

If you've released an album you think deserves to be heard, keep an eye on our channels for everything you need to know 👀

📸 Photo credit: Grace Stewart-Skinner Clàrsach photographed by Chris Payne at the Folk Album of the Year 2025 award ceremony

Tomorrow, 15th July, the incredible duo Tamsin Elliott & Tarek Elazhary will be performing at Festival International De Dougga in Tunisia! A masterful duo, together they explore the idiosyncrasies of both Egyptian and English folk traditions.

This opportunity has come around thanks to our collaboration with Akacia Productions and British Council Tunisia funding. Now in its third year, our partnership seeks to create opportunities for artists from both Tunisia and England. This builds on 2025's successes, which saw BROUA perform at English Folk Expo in Manchester and Lily Lyons at Dougga International Festival.

Our CEO David Agnew says: "The partnership with Akacia has developed from Ben Saïd Mohamed attending English Folk Expo and WOMEX in Manchester in 2024 to Sound Roots engaging with the wider Tunisian festival industry to increase its global reach and connections, while opening up international opportunities for folk artists in England. The mutual learning is incredible and inspiring.”

English Folk Expo and Music PEI (Prince Edward Island, Canada) are proud to unveil the artists selected for the fourth edition of our special international exchange: Bev Lee Harling (England) and Tara MacLean Music (Canada) 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🤝🇨🇦

Singer, violinist and composer Bev Lee Harling will travel to Canada this September for three days of writing and recording with acclaimed singer-songwriter and author Tara McLean, before showcasing at Showcase PEI.

Following their time in Canada, both artists will reunite in Manchester for a further three days of writing and rehearsing ahead of showcasing at English Folk Expo (10–12 March 2027).

We're thrilled to be bringing these two exceptional artists together and can't wait to see where this exciting transatlantic collaboration leads.

📷 Photo credit: Georgie Scott

Our Chief Executive David Agnew will be featuring on the RNCM Music Industry Panel: Music Education, the Grassroots Scene and Beyond ⭐️

Alongside DJ Deb Grant from BBC6Music and artist Nyah Grace, this panel will explore the question where does music education sit in the real world of gigs, radio, and industry work? 🎵

Listen in on the conversation around how careers begin and build, and the wider context that supports that journey alongside formal study. Book your free ticket on the RNCM website 🎟️🔗

📆 Tuesday 9 June
🕐 1pm
📍RNCM Lecture Theatre, 124 Oxford Road, M13 9RD

Photo by Harry Proctor 📸