Newsletter: January-March

Very Happy New Year to all. We will approach our NEWS from a new format this year. Subscribe to our quarterly newsletters, such as this one, to receive advance notice directly in your email. In addition to the quarterly newsletter, on our website newsfeed we will share each new release and of course announcements of new Artists that we sign to the label. For all in-between bits happening around the world, follow our Friendly Folk Records social media sites at Facebook, Instagram, Spotify, LinkedIn, and Twitter. 

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Greetings from the team here at Friendly Folk Records. What a challenging year 2020 was for everyone during this pandemic that has taken over the concept of ‘normal’ in every corner of the world.  Our family of musicians here at Friendly Folk Records also experienced many challenges in 2020. Our heart goes out to all who have experienced loss due to the Covid-19.

Unsurprising, many parts of the world were in and out of lockdown phases which caused festivals and club performance cancellations.  We tip our hat to the many festivals that did their best to compensate by creating online versions of their festivals. Of course, there were many ‘living room concerts’ and other creative split-screen video efforts via TEAMS, ZOOM, Facebook, YouTube and other mediums to bring music and lighthearted moments to the fans. Our Artists have kept busy, each in their own way, to keep the spirit alive.  There have been brief windows of reprieve from global lockdowns, where small intimate performances with 30 guests were allowed. However, for the most part, LIVE music was limited to LIVESTREAM sessions via the various internet platforms. As we say goodbye to 2020, let us all look forward to the moment that the lockdowns end, and we can rejoice worldwide live shows return. From all of us to all of you….. stay safe and stay strong. With perseverance we shall all prevail and with luck reunite at festivals in Summer/2021! And now some news…

Greenrose Faire: Greenrose Faire have been busy during the lockdown with creating their fifth studio album. We will release the first single on 1/April/2021. They are also busy with a YouTube series called: Greenrose Faire Histories. Fun video clips where you can learn a bit about each of the band members and follow the ‘making of’ the new album. We are getting excited to release their new album 4/June/2021. Follow the band and our FFR social media for the revealing of the album artwork early Spring. Subscribe to Greenrose Faire YouTube channel HERE for all the videos.

Harmony Glen: Kick 2021 off right with our very first release of the year. Harmony Glen, ft. Guy Forsyth Band ‘Children of Jack’ is the 2nd digital single from the album ‘Sing A Song’.  Stream/Download this single on all digital platforms worldwide, or direct from our webstore HERE!  The third and final single release, ‘Happy Song’ can be expected 17/March. We can also announce that there is brand new music in the making and that the worldwide digital release of the full album, ‘Sing Me a Song’ will be released on Friendly Folk Records Spring/2021.  Follow the band on social media for updates. You can order the physical cd via Harmony Glen webstore. Digital downloads available on all worldwide digital platforms and our webstore.

Jyoti Verhoeff, The Woolverstones, Prophecy Playground: Jyoti Verhoeff is in the final production stages of her new album which will be released on our sister label, OOB Records. We wish Jyoti huge success! (Here is what OOB Records have to say about the first single):  “There are several collaborations on this masterpiece, shifting from Jyoti’s trademark sound of dark ambient folk to neo-progressive rock underscored with cinematic style. The professional guests on this album are diverse and deliver spectacular results. The first single, Vision, has been sent to Abbey Road Studios, (UK), where Christian Wright is adding his magic of mixing and mastering.  The release will be accompanied by a video featuring the stunning art of Gerard Boymans.  We anticipate the single to be released end February.”  So, although the album will feature diverse genres, it will have enough elements of folk music to appeal to Jyoti folk fans. Visit our sister label, OOB Records to order Jyoti Verhoeff’s new album, ‘The Sky of You’, Summer/2021. We also would like to announce that two more bands, The Woolverstones and Prophecy Playground, will be leaving Friendly Folk Records and re-releasing their music on our sister label OOB Records.  The music has many folk elements, but there is much more cross-genre potential for these Artists, so OOB Records is a better fit. We wish both of these fine bands all the best and look forward to new releases in Fall/2021.

Chris Murphy: We are getting very excited for the April/2021 release from Chris Murphy Music! The single, ‘When The World Lifts Its Head Again’ will feature many guests from the USA. We are excited to announce that two Friendly Folk Records Artists will also join Chris on this album. Having just heard track demos, we can guarantee a fantastic album in the making!  The album, ‘Sovereign’ will be released in June/2021. So far, we can confirm the following featured guests: Doug Pettibone (John Mayer band) on guitar, Stephen Hodges (Smashing Pumpkins and formerly Tom Waits band) can be heard on the drums.  The bass player is none less than Hal Cragin, (Iggy Pop, Rufus Wainwright, Sarah McLachlan), and two tracks will feature (Harmony Glen and The Jolly Gents), bands from Friendly Folk Records.  Follow Chris Murphy to enjoy his wonderful violin online shows.

The Flask, Sassenachs, Drusuna: The Flask are back in the studio recording their debut album. They are keeping the title of the album a secret for now. We have been given a target date of Spring/2021 for the release of the first single. Sassenachs, Laird Peter de Wit and Friendly Folk Records owner, Kathy Keller met up to sign the official contract for the upcoming album.  Although due to Covid-19 social distancing restrictions prevented celebrating the moment with a traditional handshake and hug, their smiles say it all.   There will be a delay until late Summer/2021, but album is coming along nicely. Drusuna are also busy with a new album. Their new single, ‘Spirit of Ancient Trees‘ was well received in the Pagan Folk community. We welcome their upcoming single in Spring/2021 and the full album Summer/2021.

…. Keep an eye on our social media for updates on all the in-between bits. A special shout-out to Old Man Fergus who has been very busy on local television programs in his home town of Dordrecht, Netherlands.

Stay healthy, stay happy, and subscribe to our Friendly Folk Records Newsletter to be first informed of new releases.