Okay, I know that’s probably a pretty broad category, so what I’m referring to is basically the stuff I hear on this show (link to playlists). I find myself liking a lot more of that music than I dislike, which is pretty good for me, but the genre is obscure enough in popular culture that the artists they play are unknown to me and I don’t know where to start.
I’ve been listening to Patty Griffin a lot lately. Her song “Heavenly Day” is simply beautiful.
Your link is blocked on my computer, so maybe you can explain what type of folk music you like. There are so many types. For example I like traditional American (Jean Ritchie for one); lots of Irish/Celtic stuff (not that Celtic Woman glurge that’s on PBS specials tho); and folky singer/songwriters (Stan Rogers, Eric Bogle, Steve Goodman, John Prine); and many many others (Fairport Convention, Judy Collins’ “In My Life” album, Peggy Seeger). It will be interesting to read the recommendations.
Suddenly with internet radio I can find folk music more easily. My favorite folk radio show tho is from right here in Wisconsin, Sunday nights on Wis Public Radio - “Simply Folk”
With all the “recommend me some music” threads showing up in Cafe Society, it might be well to remind people of the Essential Music Library threads that ultrafilter started a couple of years ago. Here’s the one for folk music (not necessarily modern), though it didn’t generate as many suggestions as some of the others in the series (which are linked to in its OP).
I’m kind of a fan of Andrew McKnight, ever since I worked with him at a mundane job years ago before he became a full-time entertainer. If you dig around, his site has names of other folks he’s worked with.
Andrew recently got his own domain. Before that, his internet presence was supported by Shenandoah Acoustics, along with lots of other up-and-coming folk artists. You could look there and see if there’s anything you like.
Sailboat
I just stumbled on a brilliant young fiddle player named Brittany Haas. You can hear some of her stuff here and here. Her sister Natalie often plays cello with her, and it’s a great combination.
Christine Lavin
Her latest album has a song called “Tom Cruise Scares Me”. , and between her songs about relationships she’s also written one about the demotion of Pluto from a planet, and a book (and song) called “Amoeba Hop” that got this endorsement from the AAAS:
You can go to the music down load sites, and click on the folk categories. You’ll get some previews that end after half a minute. It’s a good way to see if you like the style music and voices enough to research later. Take the names of those you liked and search for the persons official web site. Often they have full samples to listen to. They also have links to other folk links.
Here is a good site to listen to full songs.
Near the bottom is the search window you use. I’ll start you off with a direct link to a Corb Lund Band song.
Here’s another direct link to one of their songs.
Under the play list they often have bands the artist likes. I try them to see how I like them.
I want to say do not miss out on Stan Rogers.
I’m sure you’ll enjoy Gordon Lightfoot too.
It may be stretching the definition of Folk a bit, but I discovered Xavier Rudd at a Folk festival…
I have that book. And has there been an update on the Pluto song since the official decision was made? The copy I have describes it as an active debate, and is very pro-planet.
Much as I like some of her songs, I wouldn’t necessarily put her forward as a generic folk music recommendation. She’s definitely in the satiric/humorous sub-genre. If the OP (or anyone else) is leaning in that direction, I’d heartily recommend Uncle Bonsai, a folk music trio with lyrics worthy of Tom Lehrer.
While she’s not specifically folk (and is more oft described as “Americana” or “neo-country”), **Neko Case ** is really something else. I’d highly recommend any of her work.
I also very much like Iron and Wine, which again doesn’t fit the folk mold specifically, but is somewhere in the general neighbourhood of it.
of the many I didn’t mention earlier, I’m coming back to recommend singers Emmylou Harris and Nanci Griffith.
Here’s a few to check out (just glancing through my iTunes collection):
Claudia Schmidt (tho’ she’s been leaning more jazz lately, her early stuff is awesome)
The Wailin’ Jennys (my current modern favorite)
Fred Small (stories in song, I had to stop listening to him 'cause he always makes me cry)
Bill Staines (look up “All God’s Critters” if nothing else)
Natalie McMaster (for hot fiddle music)
Stoney Lonesome (bluegrass)
Laurie Lewis (also bluegrass)
Cheryl Wheeler
Andrea Zonn (another modern singer, I’ve liked what I’ve heard so far)
Cherish the Ladies (awesome celtic)
Connie Caldor (check out “Wood River”)
Lucy Kaplansky
Metamora
Pat Donahue (one of the country’s best guitarists)
I’m a big fan of Clive Gregson and Christine Collister as a duo. I’m trying to get into her solo stuff, but it’s the records they made together that I’ve been listening to for almost 20 years. Still sound fresh, too!
I’ve just gotten my hands on a John Denver Discography.
Some very old stuff. Some great stuff. Some very old great stuff.
Try Generic Up-Tempo Folk Song by the Limelighters.
Never Did No Wanderin’ by The Folksmen
I’ll start this off by saying that I don’t like folk music. Really don’t like it. Granted, I haven’t heard much, but nearly all of what I’ve heard has turned me off in a big way.
However.
I love Greg Brown. His arrangements, his melodies, his lyrics are all fantastic, and all anchored by an incredibly rich, deep voice. Granted, it helps that my first exposure to him was seeing him live in a little tiny club, but I just adore his music. His album “The Iowa Waltz” is one of my all-time favorites, and I catch myself singing songs from it all the time.
Here’s his Web site (with a page where you can listen to song clips), and here’s his Wikipedia page.
Heh. I remember an anti-folk music essay in The New Republic that was titled, “If I had A Hammer.”
Some other suggestions:
“From a Distance” by Nancy Griffith (much better than the Bette Midler version)
“Garden Song” by David Mallett
“Hughie Shortie’s/Trip to Windsor/Barrowburn” by Childsplay (an instrumental group, mostly violins and piano, that plays rollicking reels, waltzes and ballads from the past, giving them a modern spin. Irresistible)
A friend dragged me to Carbon Leaf this summer, and they turned out to be surprisingly good. She’s sometimes called alt country instead, but I like Lucinda Williams. And I haven’t heard much by her yet, but Gillian Welch’s song “Everything is Free” is really worth listening to.
John Prine is my favorite. I saw him in concert last summer and Patty Griffin opened for him. She was incredible.