Founded in January 2006, FolkCast is the original folk music podcast from the UK.

It features the best in folk, folk-rock, singer-songwriter and roots-based music. Your hosts are Phil Widdows and Ken Nicol, who bring you the inside ear on what's happening on the scene with some of the best new music and interviews with the artists making that music today, plus fun and frolics from the broad world of folk.

Podcasting from a professional studio in Preston in England, FolkCast is produced monthly, on the first Saturday of each month. There are also extra, special shows released during the year, including a special Christmas collection - the FolkCast Festive Selection Box.

If you are a musician and would like your music included in a future edition of FolkCast, click here for details of how to do that.

Details of music played on past editions are available via our Shownotes Page. Please get in touch with your suggestions, feedback and polite points of order via email.

FolkCast: our finger in your ears!"

KEN NICOL

Ken is a guitarist, singer, songwriter and producer from Preston, in England. His music covers the spectrum from blues to rock, and effortlessly takes in folk, jazz, ragtime, ballads and more along the way. Ken was a member of the legendary Albion Band until September 2001 when he left in order to spend more time on solo projects. In December 2002, he successfully joined forces with Steeleye Span, and has continued working with the band since.

When he's not touring or writing, he can be found producing projects of his own and other artists at his MVS Studios in Preston.

Based in Preston, England, Phil - known widely as Widds - has been a professional journalist for more than 20 years, working in the news and entertainment fields and as a columnist. Writing on subjects including film, theatre and music he has interviewed many of the biggest stars in the world, from Mel Gibson to Robert Palmer.

Phil's interest in folk and folk-rock sprang from a life-long love affair with the music of Jethro Tull. An interview with the then bass player of Tull, Dave Pegg, led him to experience Fairport Convention live in concert, and he's never looked back.