Hush Records is an independent acoustic, experimental, and indie roots record label based in Portland, Ore., founded in 1998 by Portland-based singer-songwriter and artist Chad Crouch. Now, with over a decade under its belt, the label has signed and promoted the music of Portland's best envelope-pushing folk and roots-inspired artists. The artists on the Hush label have come to define what's become known as the Portland sound. While their roster—which includes Laura Gibson, Loch Lomond, and Run-On Sentence—is heavy on acoustic music, the label bills itself with the more vague term "anti-rock." Learn more about Hush Records.

Laura Gibson promo shot © C. Charles Bowden

This isn't necessarily folk music news—at least not in the traditional folk music sense. But, Dolores O'Riordan (of the Cranberries; remember them?) will be releasing a solo album, No Baggage, on Zoe Records (an offshoot of prominent folk/roots/Americana label Rounder Records) this fall. Considering Zoe and Rounder's incredible roster of Americana singer-songwriters (Mary Chapin Carpenter, Vienna Teng, Martha Wainwright), it's likely that O'Riordan's solo disc will fall under the wide-reaching folk umbrella.

Rounder Records has, for nearly four decades, been one of the most trusted labels for folk and roots music in North America. It's also become one of the largest independent record labels at work in the industry. O'Riordan is, therefore, in excellent hands. She'll be hitting the road following the disc's release, with dates in Quebec and Ontario before criss-crossing the States from Washington, D.C., to Milwaukee and Los Angeles. A full track listing and other information is available from Rounder Records' Web site.

photo © Cary "Slim" Richter/courtesy Rounder Records

Slaid Cleaves has long been considered one of the finest under-appreciated, under-known singer-songwriters on the contemporary folk/Americana scene. His latest effort, Everything You Love Will Be Taken Away only adds to his excellent canon of work.

Cleaves' compositions so intuitively marry music and lyrics that there's almost a cool, calming pop element at work. Of course, the folk and country influence is quite a bit more strong than that of formulaic pop...read my full review of Slaid Cleaves' latest album.

image © Music Road

Country blues, folk blues, traditional blues music...it's known by many names. If you're curious about great classic-style country blues—artists like Blind Lemon Jefferson and Leadbelly, who have widely influenced a number of folk music's greatest troubadours—look no further. About.com Blues Guide Reverend Keith A. Gordon has created an excellent introduction to country blues.

More folk music styles...

• Americana
• Old Time
• Bluegrass
• Indie Folk