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

CMT reports today that the hugely influential folk and country singer-songwriter Kris Kristofferson will be honored as a BMI Icon at the BMI Country Awards this November. According to CMT:

The Icon designation is given to BMI songwriters and artists who have had "a unique and indelible influence on generations of music makers." Kristofferson's catalog will also be the subject of a musical tribute during the ceremony.

In addition to Kristofferson's numerous solo albums, his career has been boosted and defined by the version of his songs recorded by other artists. From Johnny Cash's "Sunday Morning Coming Down" to Janis Joplin's "Me and Bobbie McGhee," Kristofferson's songs have defied genres and influenced numerous artists throughout the past four decades. Learn more about Kris Kristofferson

photo courtesy Planet Bluegrass

Shawn Colvin is one of contemporary folk music's finest live performaers. She doesn't dance about or shred on her instrument. Instead, she stands (or sits) still, calmly delving into the deepest - and frequently darkest - reaches of her psyche. With little or no physical affect she delivers pure emotion. When she addresses the audience, it's with wry wit and charming stories. All these things are captured on her latest live album, titled appropriately Live. Read my full review of Shawn Colvin Live.

image © Nonesuch

Independence Day is now about a week away. We all know one of the most important parts of party planning is making sure you get the music just right. So before you start stressing on that front, let me help you get ahead of the game. While you're planning your celebratory barbecues, road trips, or other celebrations, now is a great time to get that 4th of July playlist in order. To help you out, here's a list of contemporary folk songs about the holiday and the history behind some of America's most unmatchably patriotic folk songs.

photo: Getty

Sarah Jarosz is still a teenager - a fact that makes her Sugar Hill debut that much more remarkable. Joining a long line of teen talents to grow up in the contemporary bluegrass scene (Alison Krauss, Nickel Creek, more recently Sierra Hull), Jarosz draws influence no doubt from the teenagers who preceded her. She's also managed to surround herself with the same folks who helped launch those folks' careers. The result is a community effort album that seeks to lift Jarosz above the din of bluegrass-influenced artists breaking onto the national radar, and succeeds. Read my full review of Sarah Jarosz - Song Up In Her Head.

image © Sugar Hill Records

It's been a great year for new music releases in the roots realm. Folk, bluegrass, alt-country, and Americana music are dominating the popular music scene lately, with artists old and new releasing some of the best music around. Neko Case's Middle Cyclone has made enormous waves on the mainstream charts, while artists like Eilen Jewell and Gregory Alan Isakov have begun to break through to even wider audiences so far this year. Take a look at my top picks for the best folk music albums of 2009...so far.

image © Anti- Records

Bearfoot has been making progressive bluegrass music for nearly a decade, churning out an average of one album every three years. With the departure of long-time lead singer Analisa Tornfelt in late 2008, the band brought in Odessa Jorgenson, who had been performing with the Biscuit Burners, inked a deal with Compass Records, and went to work on album number four, Doors and Windows. In the wake of that disc’s release, Jorgenson was kind enough to chat with me about filling Tornfelt’s shoes and the new album. Read my full interview with Odessa Jorgenson.

photo © Daniel Meigs

Every now and then I get an email from someone looking for great covert ways to introduce their children to folk and Americana music. Lucky for those folks, our About.com Children's Music Guide Warren Truitt has made a list of the best new Americana albums for kids.

As you may know, folk music can be very serious or very goofy, or very much everything between. So many of the old, old folk songs we learned as children turn out to have verses about murder or blatant racism. Now familiar with the story behind something like "Oh Susanna," you may be reticent to play the entire traditional version for your kids. But there are plenty of ways to introduce the kiddies to traditional and traditionally-influenced music. Check out Warren's top picks. (He also, incidentally, reviewed Worlds of Sound: The Story of Smithsonian Folkways Records, which isn't really about kids but may be a book of great interest.)