As previously announced, this UK-based award honours folk albums from artists from the UK and Ireland.
The nine albums were selected by a jury of music and media professionals and a winner was announced at a live event in Rochdale, Greater Manchester on Patrick’s Day yesterday.
The shortlist was previously shared and looked like this:
Folk Album Of The Year Award 2025 shortlist:
- All Smiles Tonight – Poor Creature
- Teleology – Peggy Seeger
- Auchies Spikkin’ Auchie – Grace Stewart Skinner
- Curlew’s Cry – Barry Kerr
- Teeth of Time – Joshua Burnside
- Shimli – Cynefin
- Tomorrow Held – Spafford Campbell
- Turnstone – Gigspanner Big Band
- Varipasi – Edith WeUtonga
Barry Kerr’s Curlew’s Cry was the winner of the award last night. The Armagh singer-songwriter is Connemara-based and released the album in 2025.
The album was recognised by the jury for its quiet grace and confidence, reflective storytelling and songs rooted in tradition, yet resonating strongly in the present. As juror Rob Cowen noted, “in a world in chaos, Barry Kerr shows a way forward informed by the past.”
Receiving the award on stage, Barry Kerr said: “I’m a bit lost for words. I’ve been at this game all my life, and I do it because music gets me through the ups and downs in life. When I made the record, I just wanted to sing about what I know and what I love. I want to thank my wife and kids. I’m so delighted, and it’s a real honour to be on a line-up with such amazing people. Thank you so much.”
Kerr, who is also a painter, was recently featured on Ruth Mejdber’s 365 photo project Sin Scéal Eile.
The ceremony was held at Rochdale Town Hall, in front of a 200-capacity audience of musicians, industry professionals, event partners and media. The evening followed a Jools Holland-style format, with speeches and performances unfolding across two stages while audience members sat around candle-lit tables within the ornate Victorian hall.
Eight of the nine shortlisted artists performed live, while Dublin trio Poor Creature (unable to attend due to ill health) appeared via a specially recorded video.
- Barry Kerr – Curlew’s Cry
Original songs and traditional material inspired by Irish folklore and landscape.
Performed: ‘She knows things’ and ‘The Curlew’s Cry’
- Grace Stewart-Skinner – Auchies Spikkin’ Auchie
A debut rooted in the fisher-folk traditions of her Highland home village of Avoch.
Performed: ‘Auchie’ and ‘Th’ Herrin’ Must’ve Tacken Fricht’
- Peggy Seeger – Teleology
A philosophical late-career statement from the 90-year-old folk icon – her final album.
Performed: ‘The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face’ and ‘I Want to Meet Paul Simon’
- Edith WeUtonga – Varipasi
Afro-jazz blended with traditional Zimbabwean roots music.
Performed: ‘Amazulu’ and ‘Varipasi’
- Joshua Burnside – Teeth of Time
Experimental folk songwriting fused with electronica and found sound.
Performed: ‘Marching Round the Ladies’ and ‘Up and Down’
- Cynefin – Shimli
A revival of historic Welsh-language farming songs from Ceredigion.
Performed: ‘Pryd Y Potsiwr’ and ‘Cornicyll’
- Poor Creature – All Smiles Tonight
A haunting contemporary take on Irish traditional song.
Video performance: ‘All Smiles Tonight’
- Spafford Campbell – Tomorrow Held
Instrumental English folk reimagined through jazz and chamber influences.
Performed: ‘MacGill’ and ‘All Your Tiny Bones’
- Gigspanner Big Band – Turnstone
Virtuosic reinterpretations of British roots traditions.
Performed: ’Sovay’ and ‘Betsy Williams’
Following the winner announcement, Barry Kerry returned to the stage to perform a further track ‘You Rambling boys of pleasure’ to close the evening’s celebration.
The Folk Album of the Year Award was created by music charity Sound Roots and the award-winning podcast Folk on Foot, hosted by broadcaster Matthew Bannister. The Award is supported by Rochdale Development Agency and formed a key part of Rochdale’s 2026 Town of Culture celebrations.
Niall Byrne is the founder of the most-influential Irish music site Nialler9, where he has been writing about music since 2005. He is the co-host of the Nialler9 Podcast and has written for the Irish Times, Irish Independent, Sunday Times, Totally Dublin, Cara Magazine, Red Bull and more. Niall is a DJ, co-founder of Lumo Club, event curator, Indie Sleaze club promoter, and producer of gigs and monthly listening parties & events in Dublin.
