British Publication fRoots Announces 2012 Critics Poll Winners

BBC Radio 3’s World on 3 and fRoots have announced today the results of the 2012 Critics Poll for world music folk and roots music albums.

English singer and music researcher Sam Lee is the winner of the fRoots Critics Poll Album of 2012 for A Ground Of Its Own (Nest Collective). A Ground Of Its Own encompasses material collected from years of research and exploration into the forgotten songs and sounds of the British Isles. ‘Ground Of Its Own’ brings together songs directly obtained from English Gypsy and Irish and Scottish Traveler communities until now unheard in the wider music world.

I’m A Romany Rai (Topic) is the winner of fRoots Critics Poll Compilation / Reissue of 2012. I’m A Romany Rai is a two CD collection of songs by Southern English Gypsy Traditional singers. The compilation was elected and presented by Shirley Collins from classic field recordings made in the 1950s by Peter Kennedy. The album includes some of the finest Southern English Gypsy traditional singers including Tom Willett, Phoebe Smith, Charlie Scamp, Sheila Smith and Rebecca Penfold. The second CD is entirely dedicated to recordings of Carolyne Hughes and her family.

Lastly, the winner of the fRoots Critics Poll Best Packaged Album Of 2012 is Broadside by British ensemble Bellowhead, an 11-piece band that combines folk, funk, rock, world music, jazz, music hall and classical music.

Buy the albums:

Sam Lee: A Ground Of Its Own (Nest Collective)

Various Artists: I’m A Romany Rai (Topic)

Bellowhead: Broadside (Navigator)