Father John Misty: Fear Run – review
Former Fleet Foxes drummer Joshua Tillman returns with a new moniker and a haunting collection of songs, writes Paul Mardles
Mystery Jets: Radlands – review
The Mystery Jets take a pleasant but slightly unconvincing detour into Americana on their new album, writes Rebecca Nicholson
The Chieftans: Voice of Ages – review
The Chieftains' 50th anniversary set marries Americana and Irish folk to winning effect, writes Neil Spencer
The Civil Wars: Barton Hollow – review
After great success at home in the US, the debut by high-class Americana/AOR act Civil Wars gets a welcome UK release, writes Michael Hann
Shearwater: Animal Joy – review
Shearwater meld free-form pop and twisted blue-collar rock into their boldest album yet, writes Paul Mardles
Carolina Chocolate Drops: Leaving Eden – review
The Drops serve up another delicious set of string band classics, writes Neil Spencer
Lambchop: Mr M – review
The Nashville stalwarts go from dreary to sumblime on their 11th album, writes Hermione Hoby
Carolina Chocolate Drops – review
Classy playing and a stompy, no-nonsense approach made this old-timey string band's show a rousing pleasure, writes Robin Denselow
Craig Finn: Clear Heart Full Eyes – review
Craig Finn's new understated style for his solo debut emphasises his marvellous storytelling, writes Dave Simpson
Kathleen Edwards: Voyageur – review
Kathleen Edwards's languid alt-country songs are sung with sweet simplicity on her fourth album, writes Hermione Hoby
The War on Drugs: Slave Ambient – review
Michael Hann is bowled over by a classic rock/Krautrock crossover from Philadelphia
Mercury Rev: Deserter’s Songs – review
Maddy Costa hears fragility and hope combined in Mercury Rev's masterpiece
Best albums of 2011, No 5: Bon Iver – Bon Iver
Dorian Lynskey: The story behind Bon Iver's debut album was so perfect some wondered if its fragile beauty was a one off. But the follow-up wove an even more ravishing tapestry of folk, ambient and MOR
Other Voices day two – review
The second night of the festival saw four singer-songwriters take the stage, including James Vincent McMorrow and Lisa Hannigan
Dan Mangan: Oh Fortune – review
Maddy Costa celebrates Dan Mangan's fleetness of expression and glowing melodies
Chris Martin and Jonny Buckland; Gillian Welch – review
Chris Martin and Jonny Buckland – Coldplay Redux – take a break from arenas and stadiums, writes Kitty Empire
AA Bondy: Believers – review
AA Bondy has mastered eveything about Americana but the character, says Maddy Costa
Other Lives – review
The overall effect is astonishing. It's not so much that they recreate the album's sound live, but that they actually increase its power, writes Alexis Petridis
Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy: Wolfroy Goes to Town – review
The prolific Will Oldham returns with a sparse, intimate album that rewards careful listening, writes Kitty Empire
Groanbox: Guts, Lungs and Bones – review
This an entertaining, freewheeling album was written and recorded in 10 days in a cottage in the Scottish lowlands, writes Robin Denselow
Shelby Lynne: Revelation Road – review
Shelby Lynne gets back to basics on an acoustic collection about lost love, writes Neil Spencer
My favourite album: Moon Pix by Cat Power
Our writers are picking their favourite albums. Here, Sean Michaels recalls stumbling over a melancholy masterpiece in the depths of the Canadian winter
Ryan Adams: Ashes & Fire – review
Ryan Adams's talent comes sharply back into focus on this stripped-back album, says Michael Hann
Wilco: The Whole Love – review
Wilco's eighth album shows Jeff Tweedy and band maturing nicely, writes Kitty Empire
My favourite album: Boxer by the National
Our writers are picking their favourite albums. Here, Laura Snapes gets in the ring with the National
Blitzen Trapper: American Goldwing – review
The once thrillingly eclectic Oregonians have succumbed to formula, fears Dave Simpson
End of the Road – review
The lineup at the End of the Road festival was varied with a strong female presence – Emmy the Great, Joanna Newsom, Laura Marling – but the real joy was stumbling across unexpected pleasures, writes Michael Hann
Ry Cooder: Pull Up Some Dust and Sit Down – review
Musically, he's in territory he explored in the 1970s, but Ry Cooder's political bite belongs in the here and now, writes Neil Spencer
Other Lives: Tamer Animals – review
Dave Simpson is transported by sublime Americana from these majestic Oklahomans
The Big Chill: day three – review
Robert Plant and the Band of Joy were the highlight of a bill featuring acts such as Femi Kuti and Rodrigo y Gabriela, writes Akin Ojumu
Jonathan Wilson: Gentle Spirit – review
Jonathan Wilson's languid evocation of California in the early 70s is quietly hypnotic, writes Kitty Empire
Justin Townes Earle – review
A singular talent who is best when he stamps his own idiosyncratic character on his essentially traditional music, writes Ian Gittins
The Wronglers with Jimmie Dale Gilmore: Heirloom Music – review
The Texan legend goes back to his roots with a band of bluegrass enthusiasts for some finely played American classics, writes Robin Denselow
Robert Stillman: Machine’s Song – review
Robert Stillman's third album is a haunting, sometimes elusive soundscape of pre-modern Americana, says Kitty Empire
Gillian Welch: The Harrow & the Harvest – review
Welch and Rawlings reap what they sow with a perfect 10, writes Kitty Empire