Salut! Live

When the rug was suddenly pulled from under our feet, the future of Salut! Live at first seemed uncertain. Typepad’s announcement that it was closing left precious little time to arrange migration of the site to a new host. After 18 years in familiar if sometimes frustrating or even downright unreliable surrounds, we first had to investigate whether a new home could be found. And if it could, what would the migration cost? Salut! Live is a labour of love.

w Colin Randall writes: when artists announce their retirement, it is not unusual to raise a sceptical eyebrow. Just the prelude to a comeback tour, you may think. But Oysterband, who recently completed a marathon "Long, long goodbye" trek around northern Europe to climax a 47-year career seemed to mean it (the Faceebook group is already metamorphosing into the John Jones Trio or Oysterband's John Jones Trio group to promote his new projects). And now Mary Black looks determined to call it a day.

How was your birthday? Mine, today (Aug 29), started well with kisses, after-shave balm and a bottle of one of the best wines our region produces - Chateau Leoube, delicious despite their vineyard being owned by delusional Brexiters, Lord and Lady Bamford. It has continued in pleasant fashion, with a table booked for tonight at Bo, arguably the nicest restaurant in Le Lavandou, the corner of France where I spend up to half the year. Then came the party-pooping  e-mail.

I think of Mary Black as a young woman, much the one I first encountered in the 1980s. but she turned 70 in May this year. She has enjoyed a fine career, selling out concert halls, collecting awards galore and seeing her records rise high in the charts, including three top 20 albums in the US. She is sensational solo but also a skilled and sensitive collaborator with other artists.

That brings me to Ibrahim Maalouf, a Lebanese-born French trumpeter, pianist, composer (including film scores), arranger, producer and more. His Juan concert, Ibrahim Maalouf and the Trumpets of Michel-Ange, reproduced an album of that name, combining elements of jazz, the Middle East, Latin-American,  Armenian influences and - the nearest I can get to folk - the big band sound of Bellowhead. I think I could get away with listing it as world music.

FolkEast will run from August 15-17  and this year's gathering promises a familiar diet of tip-top entertainment and glorious setting. The Barnes family's estate is renowned for its Georgian house, extensive parkland, ancient woodland, a picturesque lake with Palladian folly and a 12th century church. Admission prices range from £80 for day tickets to £180 for the weekend with concessions for the young, the old and families. Follow this link for more information or to make reservations.

Colin Randall writes: Vin Garbutt was an important figure of my early interest and involvement in folk music in the North East of England, part pf the country we both called home. Eight years after his death, I am delighted to recall one of his many fine recordings as my Album of the Month here and at Salut! Live's Facebook group ... Vin Garbutt was the perfect choice of folk club guest artist.

Tanya McCole Tanya McCole grew up in the unique village that is Ardara, Co. Donegal, Ireland. Having moved to London in ’94 she returned to Ireland and settled in Galway city. Her first band was the very popular Horny Devils. Tanya then joined the very successful Black Magic Big band and finally the fantastic Lewd Tunes. Tanya returned to Donegal in 2005 and has performed with many of Irelands leading artists, including Sharon Shannon, Mundy and Shane MacGowan to name a few.