The album also features additional musicians including Lukas Drinkwater who’s also establishing himself a reputation as a double bassist to work with, Thea Gilmore and fiddler (as in violinist) Ciaran Algar. This time round, production duties come courtesy of Lauren Deakin Davies whose previous work included Kelly’s debut ‘This Land’ and also Nigel Stonier and Stu Hanna, the latter whose folk credits and pedigree put him in the top echelon of ‘go to’ guys when it comes to folk music in the studio. But as Frank Turner sang famously, “there’s no such things as rock stars, there’s just people who play music.” Of course, anyone who’s been on the ball may well have heard the tracks which have been previewed ahead of the release of the album which have probably only heightened the anticipation. Well shepherded obviously by Folkstock Records who have made sure Kelly has remained in the spotlight rather than go on a long hiatus as used to be the want of rock stars in the past – the four year wait for a new album all part and parcel of the rock star trip. If truth be told, it’s not taken long in coming either and the appetite has been thoroughly whetted over the previous few months, built up by a series of teasers released ahead of the album. An album too which could boast guests such as the similarly legendary fiddle of Dave Swarbrick and new folk sensation Luke Jackson, earning her tour support slots for Thea Gilmore, Cara Dillon and current Folk Awards ‘best band’ The Young’Uns.

Kelly Oliver follows up her ‘This Land’ debut a debut which saw her attracting all sorts of media attention – moths gathered round her brightly burning flame led famously by the legendary Bob Harris as king moth. Kelly Oliver: Bedlam ( Folkstock Records)

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