Our writer Helen shares her Top Tens for 2017
TOP 10 ALBUMS
1. All American made - Margo Price
2. Between the Earth and Sky - Lankum
3. Out of all this blue - the Waterboys
4. Trails and tribulations - Martin Simpson
5. Kids in the street - Justin Townes Earle
6. Soulsun - Damien Dempsey
7. Strangers - the Young 'Uns
8. Alive - Kíla
9. Diversions vol. 4 - The songs and poems of Molly Drake - the Unthanks
10. Afterglow - Jon Boden
TOP 10 GIGS
1. U2, Croke Park, Dublin, 22 July
2. Margo Price, Button Factory, Dublin, 22 January
3. Martin Simpson, Hot Spot Music Club, Greystones, 10 February
4. Robert Plant & the Sensational Space Shifters, Grand Canal Theatre, Dublin, 3 December
5. Liam Ó Maonlaí & Rónán Ó Snodaigh, The Bowery Rathmines, Dublin, 13 April
6. Maria McKee, St Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin, 27 January
7. Damien Dempsey + Lankum, Iveagh Gardens, Dublin, 21 July
8. The Waterboys, Symphony Hall, Birmingham, 19 October
9. The Gloaming, National Concert Hall, Dublin, 13 March
10. Chris Wood, Whelans, Dublin, 22 October
TOP 10 FESTIVAL APPEARANCES
1. Martin Simpson, Cambridge Folk Festival
2. Frank Turner & the Sleeping Souls, Cambridge Folk Festival
3. Kíla, Beautiful Days
4. Lankum, Beautiful Days
5. The Waterboys, Beautiful Days
6. The Young 'Uns, Glastonbury
7. Khruangbin, Glastonbury
8. Sharon Shannon, Glastonbury
9. Justin Townes Earle, Glastonbury
10. Lucinda Williams, End Of The Road
SONG OF THE YEAR
Be The Man - the Young 'Uns
FILM OF THE YEAR
The Drummer And The Keeper
PODCAST
Walking The Floor - Chris Shiflett
RADIO SHOW
Midnight Campfire - Chris T-T (totallyradio)
BOOK OF THE YEAR
The Mayor of MacDougal Street - Dave Van Ronk with Elijah Wald
(from 2005, but best music book I have read this year).