Floyds Row – The Carlisle Sessions (2026)
Exploring traditional renditions and original work, Floyds Row brings the comfort and charm of old-school folk to people’s ears. Formed in Oxford, the group is a collective of like-minded artists with a passion for music and conviction in its ability to calm, soothe and inspire. I’ll admit, this is the first time I’ve come across Floyds Row, and given that I don’t live in the UK, I’m not able to head to their shows; the music reaches my ears in its studio-recorded fashion, but the live session sound transcends the recording, so it’s as immersive as any gig. Join me as I turn on my headphones and hit the play button on The Carlisle Sessions.
The first release since 2018’s The Oxford Sessions, or at least according to Spotify, The Carlisle Sessions takes listeners “back in time with Floyds Row… who seeks the old, forgotten, and obscure. On The Carlisle Sessions, the group unearths and brushes the dust off of musical relics and freshens them anew with contemporary folk-classical flair, reviving five musical tales that tell epic tales of swashbuckling, recount the tale of Robin Hood, and inspired George Washington to cut a rug.”
Produced by Floyds Row and Mac Ritchey, with mastering by Melanie Montgomery, The Carlisle Sessions weaves percussion, guitars, orchestral elements, and even an accordion into its five tracks. I mean, not everyone all at the same time, but with the harmonic groove of a united rhythm flowing from the first moment of ‘George Washington’s Favorite Cotillion’ to the final moment of ‘The Song of Robin Hood & His Huntes-Men’.
Toe-tapping and upbeat, Floyds Row grabs your hand and dances about a campfire with ‘George Washington’s Favorite Cotillion’. The accordion adds obscurity while percussion shimmers beneath with guitars and a mandolin. Short and abrupt, while soothing and gentle, this single is the perfect opener, waking a person from any reverie.
‘Henry Martin’ introduces us to vocalist Emily Noel with her haunting soprano, with Asako Takeuchi on the violin. For me, this immediately flung me into that campfire party where a vocalist stands up and begins to serenade, touching your heart with every rich note. ‘Jackaroe’ retains the soprano’s haunting quality, yet adds a darker tinge with a somewhat gothic but traditional folk flair. ‘Maiden Lane / Kettle Drum’ ups the tempo once again and flows into the final track. ‘The Song Of Robin Hood / His Huntes-Men’ gives you the heart of old-school Robin Hood ballads and poetry.
So, what is my opinion of The Carlisle Sessions and Floyds Row? A wonderful breath of old-school folk music intertwined with the classical charm of an orchestra. Highly recommended!!!
Find out more about Floyds Row on their official website, Facebook and Spotify.
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