Music
16 Sep 26

Strong month for Irish acts on Official Folk Albums Chart

Dove Ellis, Madra Salach, Joshua Burnside, Ye Vagabonds, Damien Dempsey, Lemoncello and DUG all feature on in the Top 40 of the chart – which is based on sales in the UK of downloads, CDs, vinyl and other formats, plus streams.

Irish folk artists are continuing to enjoy serious success not only on these shores, but on the other side of the Irish Sea too – with the latest Official Folk Albums Chart placing Dove Ellis, Madra Salach and Joshua Burnside in its Top 10 for yet another month.

The chart features the biggest folk albums of the month (defined in partnership with the English Folk Expo) by British and Irish artists, based on sales in the UK of downloads, CDs, vinyl and other formats, plus streams.

Galway artist Dove Ellis's Blizzard has jumped up to No.3, while Island Records-signed six-piece Madra Salach also remain in the Top 5 this month with It's A Hell Of An Age (No.5). Joshua Burnside's It's Not Going To Be Okay holds onto its position at No.7.

There's also plenty of strong Irish talent across the Top 40 of the Official Folk Albums Chart – including Ye Vagabonds' All Tied Together (No.11), Damien Dempsey's Holywell (No.18), Lemoncello's Perfect Place (No.25), and DUG's Have At It! (No.26).

The Official Folk Albums Chart was first launched in September 2020, in recognition of the growing popularity of folk music.

“Some people might say that folk and charts are odd bedfellows, but I don’t think so," broadcaster Mark Radcliffe, who presents The Folk Show on BBC Radio 2, commented at the time. "Whatever kind of musician you are, you want to be successful, and imagine the thrill, whoever you are, of being number one in the charts! I’m very proud to be involved with the Official Folk Chart and wish everybody involved with it lots of luck…”

The chart is unveiled on the first Monday of each month.

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