folk

Gillian Welch and David Rawlings Trace Landscapes of Connection and Resilience

Gillian Welch and David Rawlings Trace Landscapes of Connection and Resilience

Throughout Woodland, Americana songwriters Gillian Welch and David Rawlings underscore the sinews of relationships that are stretched but never torn.

What If They Had a Folk Festival and Nobody Protested?

What If They Had a Folk Festival and Nobody Protested?

What if they had a folk festival and nobody protested? Evanston, Illinois hosted its first folk festival without politics from its stages.

Sima Cunningham Soars and Soothes on the Brilliant ‘High Roller’

Sima Cunningham Soars and Soothes on the Brilliant ‘High Roller’

The different lyrical, musical, and emotional avenues indie folk’s Sima Cunningham travels throughout High Roller shows an artist overflowing with ideas.

Moira Smiley Calls for Peace and Community on ‘The Rhizome Project’

Moira Smiley Calls for Peace and Community on ‘The Rhizome Project’

It would be unfair to put Moira Smiley’s work in a single box, but it seems fitting to note how fully she embodies the core ideals of contemporary folk music.

Caleb Caudle Tells Stories of the South on ‘Sweet Critters’

Caleb Caudle Tells Stories of the South on ‘Sweet Critters’

Caleb Caudle has a soft spot for the natural beauty of the South, its woodlands and memories of the people who live there, and that’s just part of the story.

Mark Ambor’s ‘Rockwood’ Looks at the Bright Side of Life

Mark Ambor’s ‘Rockwood’ Looks at the Bright Side of Life

Singer-songwriter Mark Ambor prefers the sunlight over the moon, literally and metaphorically. Living for today doesn’t have to mean forgetting the past.

Andrew Combs Paints ‘Dream Pictures’ in Blues and Gold

Andrew Combs Paints ‘Dream Pictures’ in Blues and Gold

Andrew Combs’ new album serves as the robin in spring, a sign that seasons have changed. It’s not a chronicle of happiness as much as a statement of normalcy.

Ugandan Master Storyteller Ekuka Morris Sirikiti Is Spellbinding

Ugandan Master Storyteller Ekuka Morris Sirikiti Is Spellbinding

Ekuka Morris Sirikiti’s work reminds us that he and his traditions are very much still here, not artifacts of old media but flesh and blood, spirit and sound.

The Best Artists of the Newport Folk Festival 2024

The Best Artists of the Newport Folk Festival 2024

The esteemed Newport Folk Festival has consistently challenged the notion of folk music. The 2024 edition continued to defy traditions.

Nathan Bowles Trio Create Cosmic Americana on ‘Are Possible’

Nathan Bowles Trio Create Cosmic Americana on ‘Are Possible’

On their first official album as a trio, the Nathan Bowles Trio forsake egotism in favor of collective world-building with warm, inviting acoustic music.

Okaidja Afroso Nurtures Living Tradition on Acoustic ‘Àbòr Édín’

Okaidja Afroso Nurtures Living Tradition on Acoustic ‘Àbòr Édín’

Okaidja Afroso’s Àbòr Édín delivers a genuinely seamless blend of different styles and unplugged sounds, with each track dense with color and meaning.

AJ Lee & Blue Summit Take Bluegrass to the ‘City of Glass’

AJ Lee & Blue Summit Take Bluegrass to the ‘City of Glass’

AJ Lee & Blue Summit’s City of Glass consistently showcases the distinctive gifts of each performer and the magic that happens when they all play together.