Wednesday, November 26, 2025
First-ever ‘Folk Album of the Year Award’ shortlist announced
The inaugural Folk Album of the Year Award has unveiled its first-ever shortlist, featuring nine albums released across Britain and Ireland in 2025, with a winner to be announced in March next year
Grace Stewart-Skinner
The award “aims to showcase the breadth and diversity of the genre's community across Britain and Ireland, celebrating originality, artistic quality and cultural impact – regardless of commercial profile.”
Selected from 146 submissions by a jury of musicians, journalists and industry professionals, here are the nine nominated albums:
Barry Kerr – Curlew’s Cry (Barry Kerr)
Cynefin – Shimli (Cynefin)
Edith WeUtonga – Varipasi (Edith WeUtonga)
Gigspanner Big Band – Turnstone (Gigspanner)
Grace Stewart Skinner – Auchies Spikkin' Auchie (Grace Stewart Skinner)
Joshua Burnside – Teeth of Time (Nettwerk)
Peggy Seeger – Teleology (Red Grape Music)
Poor Creature – All Smiles Tonight (River Lea Recordings)
Spafford Campbell – Tomorrow Held (Real World Records)
The winner will be announced at a live-streamed ceremony on Tuesday, March 17, 2026, at Rochdale Town Hall, part of the town’s 2026 Town of Culture celebrations. The ceremony will feature performances from the shortlisted artists.
The award is presented by music charity Sound Roots – who also produce The Official Folk Albums Chart – in partnership with the podcast Folk on Foot, which will feature each nominated album in a nine-part series from December 3–11, 2025.
