Top Tunes of 2018

Here's my favourite new music of 2018. Some of it wasn't released this year but I first encountered it in 2018.
Let me know who I've missed, and who was new to you - the older the act the better.

Grave Digger - Healed by Metal

35 years playing heavy metal and I'd never heard them until February this year at HRH Metal. To me it was like hearing a long lost Judas Priest album from the 80's. Loved 'em to death. Good to see people are still making daft videos as well.

The Fierce & The Dead - The Euphoric

Been following these guys for a while and by rights this year's album should have raised the band to a new level.

The Outlaw Orchestra - Back To Georgia

This lot were my first A Shirt on Sunday post on Steem, following HRH C.R.O.W.S. in Sheffield. I raved about them then and I'll rave about them now. Whiskey-swigging southern rock from the South of England! Wth banjo! Love these guys and wish they played in london more often.

Seckou Keita - If Only I Knew

First act at my first folk festival of the year - Folk by The Oak. Beautiful work on the Kora.

Louna - Колыбельная

@trincowski put me on to this Russian band a couple of months ago. Nice bit of modern metal and a great front-woman.

The Transports - Dark Water

There isn't a good video of this anywhere. The Transports is a folk concept album by Peter Bellamy and dates back to the 70s. Last year it was revived by Matthew Crampton along with The Young’uns, Faustus, Nancy Kerr and others. We saw the production in 2018 and this new song brought the perils of 18th Century transportation and displacement right up to date.

Vice - Greed

Vice were the other highlight of HRH Metal in Febraury. The line-up has changed since this was made, and they're even better now. Another band I want to see again.

Robinson & Rohe - Louisa

Robinson & Rohe came to TwickFolk this year and were one of the highlights. Great songs and beautifully produced CD packaging (not shown).

Hollywood Vampires - As Bad As I Am

The finest covers band in the world, with the added surprise that Johnny Depp can not only sing like Bowie but can write an excellent song, like this one.

Alden, Patterson & Dashwood - Call Me Home

Also encountered at Folk by The Oak. No flash, just great playing and fabulous harmonies.

Nick Parker & The False Alarms - Es Tut Mir Leid

Encountered at Trowbridge Festival and my favourite band of the weekend. Coming from the Divine Comedy / Beautiful South corner of English musical observation.

The Manatees - Milan

Stumbled across these lads at Wickham Festival and stayed for the entire set. This is indie-pop gold.

Findlay Napier - Cod Liver Oil and the Orange Juice

Raconteur and folkie Findlay Napier has been around for a while, but I only heard him for the first time this year at Trowbridge. Everything he played from the 'Glagow' album was great.

Sad Palace - Breeze

Late night at Wickham Festival; Squeeze were dreadful and we headed for the campsite. To get there we would have had to walk past this lot. We stopped and watched their whole set.

Dawson Smith and the Dissenters - Good One Coming On

Another HRH C.R.O.W.S. moment with a performer who's been going for twenty five years and I'd never heard of him.

Gorilla Riot - Down The Road

Also found at HRH C.R.O.W.S.

Thirteen Stars - Tired of Waiting

HRH C.R.O.W.S. again. Good, solid southern rock.

Elles Bailey - Medicine Man

The best song she played at HRH C.R.O.W.S. In her acoustic set the guitar player made the hairs on my arms stand up.

Buffalode - Graze anatomy

I love a pun. HRH Doom/Stoner discovery - guitar and drums in the White Stripes mould, but different.

Zack Logan - Annalee

Yer basic singer-songwriter. A lovely little acoustic set at HRH C.R.O.W.S., then I missed his electric set. Will catch him next time around.

1968 - Temple Of The Acid Wølf

Stupid name for an excellent band - impossible to search successfully on the internet. Best discovery at HRH Doom/Stoner in Sheffield.

Stephen Fearing - Long Walk to Freedom

Last time he played TwickFolk I wasn't there, but Iwas this year for a set many claimed to be the highlight of the year. his latest album is a vinyl-only affair - Microphone -> analogue tape -> vinyl master.

The Grudge - Long Live The Peel

Best frontman of HRH Doom/Stoner.

Sedulus - Born on The Bayou

The natural connection between Doom metal and 60's american pop, encountered at HRH Doom/Stoner in Sheffield

Morass of Molasses - Ashtabula

A band with some weird sounds and a bass made out of a dead Gibson. HRH Doom/Stoner discovery
There were also excellent new albums by...
Manic Street Preachers
The Blues Band
Richard Thompson
Paul Kelly
First Aid Kit
Florence + The Machine
Waxahatchee