Ken joins Phil in the studio for a podcast full of great new releases. Music comes from: Bellowhead - Jon Boden - Blabbermouth - Heidi Talbot - Katriona Gilmore and Jamie Roberts - The Legendary 10 Seconds - Rodney Brannigan - Linda Scanlon - Seize The Day - Stig Denson - Paul and Storm. Babba concludes his Story Behind The Song about The Black Death, and there's a stormy poem from William Topaz McGonnagall. See the ShowNotes at www.folkcast.co.uk

Phil returns after the long summer break with the FolkCast Harvest Festival, sharing with you a crop of great new releases. Music comes from: Leatherat - 3 Daft Monkeys - Raurri Joseph - The Demon Barbers - Acoustic Earth - Chris While and Julie Matthews - Chris and Siobhan Nelson - Mike Katz and Mike Whellens - Galley Beggar - Jez Lowe And The Bad Pennies - Billy Teare - Kathleen O'Sullivan - Will and Ed - Chuck Owston - Black Rat. Our folk poet Dave Alton tells the story of Old Sykes, His Wife And Their Gold, and Babba unlocks the door on the most devastating event in British history ... the Black Death! See the ShowNotes at www.folkcast.co.uk

Poet Dave Alton tells the strange, haunting tale of Joseph And The Red Weaver, and Babba is on the battlefield to tell the Story Behind The Song: Hearts Of Glory. Plus music from: Kindred Spirit - Steeleye Span - Silverwood - Tom Hitt - Jaime Leigh - Benita Johnson - Catherine Howe and Vo Flethcer - Barricades Rise - Matt Stevens - Ghosts I've Met - Lizzie Nunnery - Tommy Sands - Craig Herbertson - Steven Alverado. Plus, Ken makes a shock announcement! See FolkCast 053+ for full details. See the ShowNotes at www.folkcast.co.uk

Ken makes a shock announcement! A special, extra mini-show in which FolkCast co-host Ken Nicol announces why he's decided to call an end to his time as singer and lead guitarist with folk-rock giants Steeleye Span. This is an addition to the information in the main show for June 2010. For full details see www.folkcast.co.uk

The Summer Sizzler means maximum music and minimum chat: a soundtrack to enjoy again and again all summer long! Music from: Circus Envy - Tinkerscuss - Andy Raven - Hot Buttered Rum - Duane Andrews - Andy Patterson - Dala - Michael Wark - Maria Dunn - Cady Finlayson and Vita Tanga - She Swings She Sways - Clive Gregson - Roy Jay - Spiral Dance - David Wilcox - Jesse Manno - RM Hubbert - Rebecca Blackman - Joe Holtaway - Dahm The Bard. For full details see the ShowNotes at www.folkcast.co.uk

Music from: Zeptepi - Them Pastoral Pilots - Richard Koechli - Johnny Bertram and The Golden Bicycles - Chris Ricketts and Mark Willshire - Peter Lacey - The Barracks Band - Mike Collins - Rick Wakeman - Craig and Willoughby - Jess Morgan - April Maybe May. Our folk poet Dave Alton tells the story of Arthur Draws The Sword From The Stone, and Babba digs up the Resurrection Men, with the help of a new song by Chuck Owston. For full details see the ShowNotes at www.folkcast.co.uk

Our fiftieth monthly show but the recipe stays the same - great music from the worlds of folk, folk-rock, singer-songwriter and roots. Featured this month: The Rowan Amber Mill - The Naughty Step - O'Hooley And Tidow - Braebach - Horse Feathers - Rebecca Blackman - William Coulter And Friends - Kim Robertson - Sarah McQuaid - Tina McKevitt and Matt Hegarty - Tomoko Sugawara - Lisa Redford - Robin Grey - Barleyjuice - Chumbawamba. Dave Alton tells the tale of The Enchanting Of Coleen, and Babba seeks out the Story Behind The Song of Here's To The Grog. For full details see the ShowNotes at www.folkcast.co.uk

Music from: Ewan Dobson - Damh The Bard - Letters To The Front - Stew SImpson - David Oakes - The Imagined Village - Bellevue Rendezvous - The Sea Kings - Kathryn Tickell - Bombadeal - Ian A. Anderson. Our folk poet, Dave Alton, tells the inspiring tale of the Free Trade Inn (with music by Nigel Eaton) and Babba tells the story behind The Springhill Mining Disaster. For full details see the ShowNotes at www.folkcast.co.uk

The start of Year Five of FolkCast is full of great music and the return of Ken Nicol, who takes the chance to tell us about his year on the road with Steeleye Span, and about his new album with Ashley Hutchings. Music from: Jo Hamilton - Battlefield Band - Chris Ricketts - Gerry Wall - Elijah Wolfenheart - The Existence Of Harvey Lord - Steeleye Span - Ashley Hutchings and Ken Nicol - Potato Potato - Laura Catlow - Matthew Ord. For full details see the ShowNotes at www.folkcast.co.uk