# Recommend me some Folk Music,please. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 15, 2005, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-folk-music-please/299522 "2005-04-15T18:51:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2005, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-folk-music-please/299522/1 "2005-04-15T18:51:46Z")
I have a cd from a [friend](http://www.maynardmusic.com/) that I’ve had for years which every time I listen to Annie I just go, " I need to get some more contemporary folksie music." so, I finally remembered and decided to ask the music mavens here that are so much cooler and hip than I will ever be. ---
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2005, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-folk-music-please/299522/2 "2005-04-15T19:06:42Z")
If you don’t mind something fairly melancholy and not in English, I highly recommend Ulver’s _Kveldssanger_. Be aware, though, that it’s their only folk album; their other works are different. ---
**Author:** ![poeticyde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/6bbea6/32.png) [@poeticyde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/poeticyde)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2005, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-folk-music-please/299522/3 "2005-04-15T19:16:30Z")
I am a recent convert to the cult of [Ethan Daniel Davidson](http://www.ethandanieldavidson.com/edd-start.htm). ---
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2005, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-folk-music-please/299522/4 "2005-04-15T19:18:57Z")
The real action in the Folk scene is local (any locality will do) guys at the Open Mic Night who sell their CDs after their set is over. I don’t want to dis the many fine recording artists from the Folk idiom, but one of Folk’s defining qualities is that you’re most likely to hear a folksong for the first time live, sung by someone you’re at least vaguely personally acquainted with. Pop is something you hear first on the radio, by someone you’ll probably never meet or hear live. That said: John Prine just blows me away every time I hear his stuff. **Prime Prine** is his “greatest hits” album from the early 70s. His most recent, I think, is **In Spite of Ourselves** , duets with the cream of country/folk queens (mostly Iris deMent) on the theme of middle-aged romance. ---
**Author:** ![LifeOnWry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/96bed5/32.png) [@LifeOnWry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LifeOnWry)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2005, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-folk-music-please/299522/5 "2005-04-15T19:20:09Z")
> [@Shirley Ujest](#): > > " I need to get some more contemporary folksie music." Check out [Eddie From Ohio.](http://www.efohio.com/) Me, I’m more into old/traditional stuff myself, but my friend Sarah turned me on to these guys and I like 'em a lot. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2005, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-folk-music-please/299522/6 "2005-04-15T19:21:43Z")
If you’re open to some very literate wit with your music, grab anything you can find by **[Uncle Bonsai](http://www.yellowtailrecords.com/ub/ub.htm)** (except possibly _Sponge Boy_). You’ll have to look hard. And if you like that, there are side projects Mel Cooleys and Electric Bonsai Band. **John Wesley Harding** ’s also very good, I recommend _Her Comes the Groom_ and _John Wesley Harding’s New Deal_. I’ve only bought one **Christine Lavin** CD so far, but it’s excellent. I should start looking for the rest of her music. ---
**Author:** ![koeeoaddi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/koeeoaddi/32/408_2.png) [@koeeoaddi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/koeeoaddi)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2005, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-folk-music-please/299522/7 "2005-04-15T19:24:57Z")
Has to be contemporary? Well, okay. Try **Living with Ghosts** by Patty Griffin – She’s been covered by the Dixie Chicks (Let Him Fly) but is much better all by herownself. An almost flawless CD. **Too Long in the Wasteland** by James McMurtry – Check this one out if only for “Talkin’ at the Texaco.” It has a slight twang to it, but it’s forgivable. Great stuff. **Raise Your Head** by The Poozies – Try this for some Celtic flavor. Lovely harmonies. Not a bad song on it. You could also try Dar Williams, Jonatha Brooke, Patty Larkin, Beth Orton, Shawn Colvin & Bruce Cockburn. I know you said contemporary, but if you like this stuff and you’re feeling adventurous, set your way-back machine for 1960-something and check out some Joni Mitchell, Incredible String Band, Phil Ochs, Peter Bellemy, Leonard Cohen, Bob Dylan, Tom Paxton, Nick Drake, Pentangle, Doc Watson, Dave Van Ronk, Steeleye Span, Karla Bonoff and Wendy Waldman. Hey **Biffy the Elephant Shrew** , who’d I miss? ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2005, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-folk-music-please/299522/8 "2005-04-15T19:29:36Z")
Richard and Mimi Farina are my favorite. ---
**Author:** ![pinkfreud](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pinkfreud/32/17603_2.png) [@pinkfreud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pinkfreud)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2005, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-folk-music-please/299522/9 "2005-04-15T19:44:10Z")
I heartily recommend [Kate Rusby](http://www.katerusby.com/) and [Loreena McKennitt](http://www.quinlanroad.com/homepage/index.asp?LangType=1033). ---
**Author:** ![AuntPam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc348/32.png) [@AuntPam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntPam)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2005, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-folk-music-please/299522/10 "2005-04-15T19:55:46Z")
Small Potatoes Bridget Ball (an actually GOOD sensitive singer-songwriter) Christopher Shaw Mike Esposito’s great albums on resonator/ National steel guitars Woods Tea Company John Gorka (not my taste, but very contemporary) Susan Werner (not her most recent album, which is GREAT, but not exactly folk) Heartwood Blue Plate Special (snarky, super songwriting in a Cajun/bluegrass theme) Schooner Fare Hugh Moffat Full Frontal Folk John MCCutcheon All highly recommended by self, who has run sound for many of these folks at folk concerts in New Jersey. Really traditional arrangements, but great style: Scott Ainslie. Strictly for fun: Lou and Peter Berryman–and what fun it is–they sold out two shows at the Cornelia Street Cafe in NYC last year, after promising the owner that they could do so without ANY local advertising whatsoever. You probably can’t find a lot of these in your local CD outlet, and sometimes not even at [Amazon.com](http://Amazon.com). Check out a local folk website on line and look for links to the sites that specialize. ---
**Author:** ![mailman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8491ac/32.png) [@mailman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mailman)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2005, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-folk-music-please/299522/11 "2005-04-15T20:00:15Z")
Check out the **Be Good Tanyas**. They are three women from Canada who do beautiful, sparse arrangements of traditional American folk songs. Simple harmonies, a sweet honest live sounding, real sounding band. Their first album Blue Horse, will not leave your CD player for weeks. I promise. ---
**Author:** ![plnnr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@plnnr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/plnnr)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2005, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-folk-music-please/299522/12 "2005-04-15T20:05:34Z")
Visit the web site for “The Folk Sampler,” which is a public radio program devoted to folk music (including contemporary). It is broadcast out of Siloam Springs, Arkansas (which I’ve actually visited - pretty country). ---
**Author:** ![stpauler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@stpauler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stpauler)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2005, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-folk-music-please/299522/13 "2005-04-15T20:14:52Z")
I’ll second recommend these for sure: **The Be Good Tanyas (and Po’ Girl too) John Wesley Harding Dar Williams Jonatha Brooke Patty Larkin Beth Orton Shawn Colvin Joni Mitchell Nick Drake** **Christine Lavin** (and as part and parcel **The Four Bitchin’ Babes** ) Firsties on the following: Cheryl Wheeler Josh Rouse Bic Runga Indigo Girls Catie Curtis Connie Kaldor Ferron Greg Brown Hart Rouge Iris Dement Janis Ian Jesse Denatale Jill Sobule Jim White Keren Ann Kings of Convenience Nanci Griffith Ray LaMontagne Slaid Cleaves Stacey Earle Steve Earle Gillian Welch Kasey Chambers ---
**Author:** ![stpauler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@stpauler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stpauler)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2005, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-folk-music-please/299522/14 "2005-04-15T20:19:00Z")
> [@plnnr](#): > > Visit the web site for “The Folk Sampler,” which is a public radio program devoted to folk music (including contemporary). It is broadcast out of Siloam Springs, Arkansas (which I’ve actually visited - pretty country). You can also check out [WUMB](http://www.wumb.org/home/index.php) which is a folk radio station out of Boston which has streaming broadcasts online too. ---
**Author:** ![OtakuLoki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ac8455/32.png) [@OtakuLoki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OtakuLoki)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2005, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-folk-music-please/299522/15 "2005-04-15T20:36:59Z")
I’ll second many of the great artists already mentioned, especially Christine Lavin, Nanci Griffith, John Gorka, Indigo Girls. For interesting samplers (a bit dated, but still good, I think) try Christine Lavin’s [On a Winter’s Night](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0000003V0/qid=1113597393/sr=2-3/ref=pd_bbs_b_2_3/103-9571370-7903067), and [When October Goes](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0000003TQ/qid%3D1113597340/sr%3D11-1/ref%3Dsr%5F11%5F1/103-9571370-7903067). I’d also reccomend [Trout Fishing in America](http://www.troutmusic.com/bio.htm). ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2005, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-folk-music-please/299522/16 "2005-04-15T21:05:46Z")
These are great! I think I’ve seen **trout fishing in america** before. Probably here. I think I just may be ready for them now. Eddie from Ohio has a great sound. ---
**Author:** ![NAF1138](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naf1138/32/3245_2.png) [@NAF1138](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NAF1138)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2005, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-folk-music-please/299522/17 "2005-04-15T21:08:07Z")
All of the above are great recomendations. The only thing I would add is Bright Eyes’s new album “I’m Wide Awake its Morning.” Not everything Connor does is of equal quality, but this is currently one of my favorite albums. (Warning: Connor has a…nontraditional voice. I like it, obviously, and so do many others, but I have heard it refered to as the worst voice in modern american music. YMMV) ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2005, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-folk-music-please/299522/18 "2005-04-15T21:09:41Z")
Try the **Warsaw Village Band**. Good stuff on CD - although far better live, should you get a chance. ---
**Author:** ![OtakuLoki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ac8455/32.png) [@OtakuLoki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OtakuLoki)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2005, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-folk-music-please/299522/19 "2005-04-15T21:57:33Z")
Oh, one more that I just remembered, [Meg Davis](http://www.megdavis.com/). She is more filk than folk, but still very, very good. One of my favorite songs of all times is on her 20th Anniversary Captain Jack and the Mermaid album. ---
**Author:** ![Scarlett67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scarlett67/32/7387_2.png) [@Scarlett67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scarlett67)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2005, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-folk-music-please/299522/20 "2005-04-15T22:10:31Z")
[Waterbug Records](http://www.waterbug.com) offers several excellent folk music sampler CDs for just $5 each, and also has links to the Web sites of dozens of Waterbug and independent musicians. Usual disclaimers, etc. (I have seen several of these artists perform live and own all of the samplers, and they’re all pretty good.) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-folk-music-please/299522.md?page=2)