Darren Hayman (Hefner / New Starts / The French) launches a series of re-issues and releases with The Violence (Expanded Edition) on June 12. A highly ambitious and beautifully layered folk album about the 17th-century English Civil Wars and the East Anglian Witch Trials with a huge ensemble lineup. Tragically still relevant in how society vilifies marginalised people, the original 2012 release was praised by The Quietus, Stewart Lee (The Sunday Times), The Line of Best Fit, Q Magazine, Mojo, NME, the BBC, and many more. As part of a wider effort to fill the holes in his catalogue, this expanded album is accompanied by its companion EP, Four Queens, also made available again for the first time in years.

Hayman can be seen live at the Komedia in Brighton, England, with David Gedge (The Wedding Present) on September 15.

First Listen is the part of Musos' Guide where we tempt you in with lesser played tracks from the recent past or this very minute. Enjoy.

Thankful Villages, Volume 1 is available to pre-order from amazon.