Links

Sian James is Wales's premier traditional folk singer, songwriter and harpist: her contribution, together with her partner Gwyn Jones, on Wild Flowers is just beautiful, and together they brought something very special to the CD.

Wyoming-born Jeb Loy Nichols, dubbed ‘Country Soul Brother Number One’, lives in enviably remote upland mid-Wales, where he spends his time making art, playing music, writing, worrying, digging holes and planting things. He also makes wonderful records where southern soul, country, folk and jazz meet and coalesce to unique effect. How he found the time to lend unobtrusive support to my project and take on the layout for the CD cover and booklet, goodness only knows, but he did, and I'm eternally grateful. He's also a fellow obscure vinyl junkie, which is definitely a good thing.

Paul White is a gifted photographer whose mission in life is to visit and capture the innumerable houses and cottages that have fallen into disuse and disrepair all across rural Wales. His website has built into a massive archive that's both heart-rending and uplifting. He has even visited and recorded what little remains of Maes Mynach, my beloved home of 1976-81. Be warned, his website will keep you spellbound for hours …

My Colorado-based chum John William Davis is a guitarist and songwriter whose music (often in collaboration with his wife Rebecca Jones) has drawn critical acclaim, and comparison with the likes of Randy Newman and Tom Waits, but informed by William Faulkner, Tennessee Williams, and Stephen Foster. His CDs range from full-blown gothic 'southern folk opera' to acoustic folk/blues: articulate, funny, scholarly, and virtuosic, you need to discover this man and his music.

Lily Dior is perhaps the finest jazz/soul singer and writer to emerge from Australia in recent years. Now London-based, she's building a strong UK following, with regular gigs at Ronnie Scott's and other prestigious jazz venues. Her latest CD, Let's Talk About It, is a storming and soulful affair, and it can only be a matter of time before her obvious talents gain wider acclaim. Lily had readily agreed to contribute some backing vocals on the CD, but in the end I didn't write anything that quite fitted somehow ... ah well, maybe next time!

Richard Williams has been writing about music since the early 1960s, and his authoritative and measured observations on jazz, rock, folk, and much more besides show him to be a doyen of music criticism and history. His regularly-updated blog is essential reading and sets the benchmark for on-line music sites.

Aquarium Drunkard is another music blog to which I'm addicted. LA-based, and encompassing every style from folk to jazz, rock to ambient, soul to country, and more besides, both old and new, it's an audio blog featuring daily music reviews, interviews, features, MP3 samples, and sessions. Compelling stuff.

My dear friends Ron Dukelow and Hilary Booth, who created Cambria Arts and the Live at The Talbot roots music venue in Tregaron that we co-ran, are now based in Bradford, and have established a wonderful venue there, The Live Room @ Caroline Social Club in Saltaire. They present the very best live folk, roots and acoustic music, as a glance at their fine website will prove. If you're within striking distance of Bradford, this is your essential destination for great live music.