Every year we each make a list of our gold star albums: our favourite releases from the previous year. These are our picks for the essential albums of 2006, and would enhance any traditional music lover's collection.

See also: next year and gold star releases from other years.

Colin's Gold Star Releases for 2006 Artist Album Label Nicholas Boulerice Olivier Demers Un peu d'ci, un peu de ça Roues et Archets Stuart Cassells Blown away Footstompin The Devil's Interval Blood and honey Wildgoose Nancy Kerr James Fagan Strands of gold Fellside Anna Massie Mairearad Green Jenn Butterworth The missing gift Footstompin Mick Moloney McNally's row of flats Compass Solas Reunion: A decade of Solas Compass Kathryn Tickell Corrina Hewat The sky didn't fall Park Tim van Eyken Stiffs lovers holymen thieves Topic Nicholas Williams The whispering woods Lunar Canoe Also outstanding: Écosse, Claude Méthe, McSherry & O'Connor, Salsa Celtica, Téada.

Gordon's Gold Star Releases for 2006 Artist Album Label Bellowhead Burlesque Westpark Steve Byrne Songs From Home Greentrax Nicholas Boulerice Olivier Demers Un peu d'ci, un peu de ça Roues et Archets The Devil's Interval Blood and honey Wildgoose Nic Jones Game Set Match Topic James Keelaghan A Few Simple Verses Jericho Beach Nancy Kerr James Fagan Strands of gold Fellside Kathleen MacInnes Summer Dawn Greentrax Téada Inné Amárach Compass Tim van Eyken Stiffs lovers holymen thieves Topic Also outstanding: Bodega, Carthy & Swarbrick, Matapat, The Whistlebinkies, Nicholas Williams.