I'd have extreme difficulty in accepting a definition of 'contemporary folk' applied to Bellowhead and Bodega. Good grief! They are bang up-to-date bands playing mainly trad music rooted firmly in their respective English and Scottish traditions. Bodega won the Young Folk Award a couple of years ago and Bellowhead have a prime position on the touring circuit and are, individually, heavily involved in vast numbers of ceilidh bands and concert combinations.

To answer the question, truly outstanding releases (among many others) I have come across this year include Fenlandia, Askew Sisters, Trespasser and Jim Causley, all I think, already mentioned.