Merope: Vėjula review – Lithuanian folk reborn in glittering new forms

The duo are joined by a stellar cast including Bill Frisell and Laraaji, bringing innovation and playfulness to their bright, elemental music

Distant Voices, New Worlds review – avant-garde vision of Albion by bright British composers

Inspired by the South Downs near Brighton, this selection box of new work from contemporary composers is English to its core – and yet defies tradition

Laura Marling review – a sumptuous performance, with strings attached

The singer-songwriter’s impressive showcase of her new album is bookended by solo guitar numbers that underline what a class act she is

Iron & Wine review – shadow puppets and folk-pop combine in singular gig

Emmy award-winning puppeteers Manual Cinema occasionally pull focus from Sam Beam’s rich songwriting, but mostly enhance it with eerie and intricate staging

Róis: Mo Léan review – ancient keening songs filled with startling new life

Singer Rose Connolly expands the pre-Christian Irish grieving tradition with synthesisers, distortion and drone in an arresting set

Leon Bridges: Leon review – deliciously soulful confection with added country

(Columbia)The musician’s emotional fourth album borrows liberally from the past but the themes are modern and the sound utterly timeless

Willie Watson: Willie Watson review – a former hell-raiser finds his voice

Known for his versions of old American folk, the singer finally puts his extraordinary voice at the service of his own material

Mustafa: Dunya review – poet’s songwriting is a little too beautiful for its own good

The multitalented Canadian renders his subtle songs in tasteful autumnal shades – but could have benefitted from more head-turning numbers such as Gaza Is Calling

The Rheingans Sisters: Start Close In review – a radical leap into darkness

With their golden voices, fertile soundworlds and evocative influences from across Europe, the Sheffield duo’s fifth album is admirably confrontational

Astrid Williamson: Shetland Suite review – a beautiful enchantment

The Scottish musician pays tribute to her homeland and her late mother with this powerfully moving set

Supersonic festival review – an awesome windmill of noise and connection

This festival of heavier sounds from the fringes was a blast, from chilling Gazelle Twin to Daisy Rickman’s Krautrock-folk, noise icons Melt-Banana and locals Flesh Creep

Nuala Kennedy and Eamon O’Leary: Hydra review – sumptuous folk songs

With guests including Will Oldham and Anaïs Mitchell, this record’s island setting seems to bring extra light and warmth to stories of the sea, love, work, war and migration

Maestros in Fusion review – virtuosic Indian ensemble knit two traditions together

Six supremely talented jazz and classical instrumentalists, whose humility belies their mastery, all show how malleable and moving their music can be

Womad festival review – wildly entertaining treasure trove for adventurous music fans

Radically inclusive global lineup includes Sampa the Great’s feminist pizzazz, Young Fathers’ twisted genre-splicing and Bixiga 70’s full-tent conga

Raphael Rogiński: Žaltys review – hypnotic eastern European folk

This searching, soulful release conjures up the spirit of summers spent by the lake and in the forest