# 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:** 18\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Gadfly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/aeb1de/32.png) [@Gadfly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gadfly)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2005, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-folk-music-please/299522/21 "2005-04-15T22:23:55Z")
Nick Drake, Nick Drake, and Nick Drake. His three pre-mortem albums are absolutely stunning: Five Leaves Left, Bryter Layter, and Pink Moon. Those albums can also be gotten for seven to nine bucks each. Pick them up. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2005, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-folk-music-please/299522/22 "2005-04-15T22:35:26Z")
> [@NAF1138](#): > > 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) I like Bright Eyes too. And he does have an…interesting voice. **Shirley Ujest** , ever heard “Black Is the Color of My True Love’s Hair” by\*\* The Twilight Singers\*\*? It’s billed as a “soul-folk cover”. If you like something like that I could probably suggest others you’d like, like the aforementioned Leonard Cohen’s son **Adam Cohen** for example, \*\*Ben Lee \*\* for another. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2005, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-folk-music-please/299522/23 "2005-04-15T22:46:15Z")
Both [Kevin Johnson](http://www.rocknrolligaveyou.com/) and [Mike McClellan](http://www.cia.com.au/thorpe/mike/) have been performing for at least 30 years but - being from Australia - they’re pretty much unkown in the US. ---
**Author:** ![mlerose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/43a26b/32.png) [@mlerose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mlerose)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2005, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-folk-music-please/299522/24 "2005-04-15T22:47:45Z")
Canadian folk singer Stan Rogers is my favorite. He’s dead, but his CD [Home in Halifax](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000003BU3/qid%3D1113605304/sr%3D11-1/ref%3Dsr%5F11%5F1/102-3375779-3520149) is AWESOME. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2005, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-folk-music-please/299522/25 "2005-04-15T22:50:37Z")
[Eva Cassidy](http://evacassidy.org/eva/) died of cancer at the age of 33, before she had a chance to hit the big time. I heartily recommend her [Songbird](http://www.towerrecords.com/product.aspx?pfid=1327615) CD. ---
**Author:** ![Waterman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b2d939/32.png) [@Waterman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Waterman)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2005, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-folk-music-please/299522/26 "2005-04-15T23:14:32Z")
> [@Shirley Ujest](#): > > 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. As you can tell from the wide array of responses this is a pretty open question. Do you have any particular genres (within folk) that you’re looking for or are there any particular types that you like or dislike more than others? You also specifically request contemporary. What do you consider contemporary (I would not, for example, call John Prine contemporary as most of his better work is 30 years old now)? That being said, I would also recommend the following:[ul] [li]Carrie Newcomer[/li][li]Burns Sisters[/li][li]Iris DeMent[/li][li]Dave Alvin[/li][li]Tom Russell[/li][li]Richard Thompson (of Fairport Convention fame and an awesome guitar virtuoso)[/li][/ul] ---
**Author:** ![Twoflower](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/twoflower/32/22_2.png) [@Twoflower](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Twoflower)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2005, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-folk-music-please/299522/27 "2005-04-15T23:23:49Z")
A second for [John McCutcheon](http://www.folkmusic.com/) ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2005, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-folk-music-please/299522/28 "2005-04-15T23:34:30Z")
**Mary Chapin Carpenter** ---
**Author:** ![wonderwench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/35a633/32.png) [@wonderwench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonderwench)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2005, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-folk-music-please/299522/29 "2005-04-15T23:37:40Z")
A lot of good suggestions! For older folk, I really love Tom Rush - The Circle Game is wonderful (Urge for Going is my favorite track). More recent folk music on my iPod: - eastmountainsouth - Mindy Smith - The Waifs - Libby Kirkpatrick ---
**Author:** ![satogata](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@satogata](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/satogata)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2005, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-folk-music-please/299522/30 "2005-04-16T01:43:28Z")
and knowing that you like her, here are some related suggestions (at least in my mind, as her music has a contemporary country feel to it too): First, I’d recommend [Ani DiFranco](http://www.righteousbabe.com/ani/index.asp) ([click here](http://www.righteousbabe.com/ani/words.asp) for audio samples). She’s incredibly diverse, forges her own path yet pays homage to classic folk roots, and has a very recognizable style. If you like Ani, you will also probably like [Laura Love](http://www.lauralove.net/frames.html). Ani and Laura aren’t quite so country-influenced, but recent albums by [The Nields](http://www.nields.com/) are, particularly Love and China. ([click here](http://www.nields.com/discography.html) for samples.) [Alison Krauss and Union Station](http://www.alisonkrauss.com/) are also heavily country-influenced, with fantastic dobro, lyrics, and musicality across the board. A _fantastic_ sampler of this type of music is the [O Brother, Where Art Thou? Soundtrack](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00004XQ83), if you’re looking for a place to dip your toe. Some of Annie’s lyrics remind me a bit of [Susan Werner’s](http://www.susanwerner.com/) and even (as previously mentioned) [Carrie Newcomer’s](http://www.carrienewcomer.com/). They both have ravishing voices, and Susan’s Time Between Trains and New Non-Fiction , as well as Carrie’s The Gathering of Spirits, are highly recommended. [Richard Shindell](http://www.richardshindell.com/) and, to a lesser extent, [Lucy Kaplansky](http://www.lucykaplansky.com/), are also contemporary folkies who occasionally toe the line into country influences. I would more heartily recommend their earlier work (particularly Richard’s Sparrow’s Point and Lucy’s Ten Year Night). Richard and Lucy were part of a one-CD folk “supergroup” with modern folk goddess [Dar Williams](http://www.darwilliams.com/); their eponymous CD, [Cry, Cry, Cry](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00000D9WD), contains incredible harmonies and is an excellent sampler of the writing of a broad range of modern contemporary folk artists. If you like upbeat, fun and spunky, then the previously-mentioned [Eddie From Ohio](http://www.eddiefromohio.com/) ([click here](http://mp3.washingtonpost.com/bands/eddie_from_ohio.shtml) for some samples and a review). All four members are superb musicians, writers, and performers, and they are among the best folk-rock acts to see live. _(Waving to all the fellow Ed-heads out there.)_ I’m not sure quite how up your alley these other artists are, but I’d also recommend Patty Griffin, John Gorka, Voices on the Verge, Cheryl Wheeler, Indigo Girls, Jill Sobule, Carla Ulbrich, Nanci Griffith, Stan Rogers, Eva Cassidy, Cliff Eberhardt, Girlyman, Shawn Colvin, Greg Brown and Iris Dement, Catie Curtis, Kris Delmhorst, Disappear Fear, The Kennedys, The Story (and Jennifer Kimball and Jonatha Brooke solo), Chantal Kreviazuk, Erin McKeown, and Richard Thompson. Many of these are in the “gray area” of folk that crosses over to rock, jazz, country, alternative, or Simply Weird, but all of them are grand artists to give a try if you find yourself getting addicted a regular “Folk On!” fix. Happy listening! ---
**Author:** ![Hunter\_Hawk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/50afbb/32.png) [@Hunter\_Hawk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hunter_Hawk)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2005, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-folk-music-please/299522/31 "2005-04-16T02:51:43Z")
I don’t really listen to folk music any more, but I occasionally run into Laura Veirs (whom I suppose you could classify as alt-folk), and I rather like her music. Her voice isn’t that great, but she’s a good songwriter. ---
**Author:** ![Spavined\_Gelding](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/958977/32.png) [@Spavined\_Gelding](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spavined_Gelding)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2005, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-folk-music-please/299522/32 "2005-04-16T03:06:12Z")
> [@mlerose](#): > > Canadian folk singer Stan Rogers is my favorite. He’s dead, but his CD [Home in Halifax](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000003BU3/qid%3D1113605304/sr%3D11-1/ref%3Dsr%5F11%5F1/102-3375779-3520149) is AWESOME. Stan’s brother [Garnet Rogers](http://www.garnetrogers.com/) continues to work, doing some stirring, uplifting and at times emotionally shattering work. Still, it’s hard to think of a contemporary (or nearly so) singer-song writer who has lifted the hair on the back of my neck like the first time I heard Stan, Garnet and the band do _Barrett’s Privateers_. Garnet has done some great stuff with Archie Fisher, too. ---
**Author:** ![Savannah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b3f665/32.png) [@Savannah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Savannah)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2005, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-folk-music-please/299522/33 "2005-04-16T03:36:57Z")
If you like Richard Thompson, try **Clive Gregson and Christine Collister.** ---
**Author:** ![Savannah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b3f665/32.png) [@Savannah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Savannah)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2005, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-folk-music-please/299522/34 "2005-04-16T03:39:33Z")
> [@mailman](#): > > 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. And you won’t get “the littlest birds sing the prettiest songs” out of your head! ---
**Author:** ![Moe\_Mentum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9d8465/32.png) [@Moe\_Mentum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moe_Mentum)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2005, 6:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-folk-music-please/299522/35 "2005-04-16T06:43:06Z")
Neither one can be called contemporary, but I can’t let a thread about folk music pass without at least mentioning **The Weavers** and **Steve Goodman**. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2005, 8:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-folk-music-please/299522/36 "2005-04-16T08:32:39Z")
**John Prine**. You should own _John Prine_, his eponymous debut. It’s an absolutely amazing album. Here’s the track list: \*\*Illegal Smile Spanish Pipedream Hello in There Sam Stone Paradise Pretty Good Your Flag Decal won’t get You into Heaven Anymore Far from Me Angel from Montgomery Quiet Man Donald and Lydia Six O’Clock News Flashback Blues \*\* Of these all but three or four are now standards that have been covered over and over again. One of the greatest debuts, ever. ---
**Author:** ![kittenblue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ba8739/32.png) [@kittenblue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kittenblue)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2005, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-folk-music-please/299522/37 "2005-04-16T17:38:29Z")
I’m a big fan of David Wilcox and Tanya Savory ---
**Author:** ![St.Urho](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8e7dd6/32.png) [@St.Urho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/St.Urho)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2005, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-folk-music-please/299522/38 "2005-04-16T20:44:22Z")
[Kathleen Edwards](http://www.kathleenedwards.com) has some good stuff, too. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-folk-music-please/299522.md?page=1)