Updated Articles and Resources

By Kim Ruehl, About.com Guide since 2005

Guthrie Family Tree - All About Woody Guthrie, Arlo, Sarah Lee, Cathy, and More Created: Wednesday, May 23, 2012 Updated: Wednesday, May 23, 2012
Woody Guthrie was inarguably one of the most important singer-songwriters in the history of contemporary folk music. But his family has followed suit with their insightful, ruminative, and often hu...
Folk Uke - CD Review of Folk Uke Reincarnation Created: Wednesday, May 23, 2012 Updated: Wednesday, May 23, 2012
Folk Uke - the singer-songwriter duo comprised of Cathy Guthrie and Amy Nelson - is one of the most lyrically creative new bands on the scene. Check out this review of their second full-length albu...
Indigo Girls - Biography and Profile of the Indigo Girls Created: Friday, September 30, 2005 Updated: Thursday, May 17, 2012
For more than 20 years, the Indigo Girls have rocked the folk community with their highly topical tuns and insightful love songs. Learn more about this rather influential folk duo with this introdu...
Sara Watkins - CD Review of Sara Watkins Sun Midnight Sun Created: Wednesday, May 16, 2012 Updated: Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Sara Watkins began her career as one third of the bluegrass trio Nickel Creek. But, since that illustrious group of innovators split, Watkins has divided her time between playing backup for bands l...
Pete Seeger - The Complete Bowdoin College Concert 1960 CD Review Created: Wednesday, May 02, 2012 Updated: Wednesday, May 02, 2012
This new live album from Pete Seeger captures a concert he played at Bowdoin College back in 1960. The result is a double-disc collection of traditional labor, protest, and other songs including We...
House of the Rising Sun - Folk Song History of House of the Rising Sun Created: Saturday, April 28, 2012 Updated: Saturday, April 28, 2012
Woody Guthrie Books - Recommended Books By and About Woody Guthrie Created: Wednesday, April 25, 2012 Updated: Wednesday, April 25, 2012
Woody Guthrie was a nearly compulsive writer, creating two quasi-autobiographies in his life (along with innumerable songs). There have also been a few great books written about his life and work. ...
Hiss Golden Messenger - Biography and Profile of Hiss Golden Messenger Created: Tuesday, April 24, 2012 Updated: Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Over the past year or so, North Carolina has proven fertile ground for great up-and-coming singer-songwriters. The latest export from that part of Appalachia is indie folk duo Hiss Golden Messenger...
Merlefest 2012 - Artists to Watch at Merlefest 2012 Created: Wednesday, April 18, 2012 Updated: Wednesday, April 18, 2012
In 2012, Merlefest will be celebrating its 25th anniversary with a selection of artists on the lineup which is sure to satisfy all manner of music fans. Specifically, though, you'll want to make su..
Two Man Gentleman Band - Biography and Profile of the Two Man Gentleman Band Created: Monday, April 16, 2012 Updated: Monday, April 16, 2012
Learn more about the Two Man Gentleman Band - one of the best old timey Vaudeville troupes - with this basic biography and profile. As they ready their new release 'Two At a Time', learn more about..
Scott Miller - Biography and Profile of Scott Miller Created: Thursday, April 12, 2012 Updated: Thursday, April 12, 2012
Scott Miller started his career as singer-songwriter for popular Americana band the V-Roys. After that group split, he took off on his own and began performing with his band the Commonwealth. Now a..
New Multitudes - Review of Jay Farrar, Yim Yames, and More Playing Woody Guthrie Created: Tuesday, April 10, 2012 Updated: Tuesday, April 10, 2012
New Multitudes is the latest album release from a long-standing project resurrecting thousands of Woody Guthrie's lost songs. Here, indie roots and folk artists like Jay Farrar (Son Volt), Yim Yame..
Banjo Songs - Top Five Instrumental Songs for Banjo Created: Friday, March 30, 2012 Updated: Friday, March 30, 2012
The banjo is not an easy instrument to play, much less an easy one to play well. Whether you're learning how to play the banjo or you're just looking for some great banjo instrumentals which can in..
Earl Scruggs - Biography and Profile of Earl Scruggs Created: Monday, April 30, 2007 Updated: Thursday, March 29, 2012
Earl Scruggs was one of the greatest banjo players ever to meet the instrument. His three-finger picking style has come to be known as
Justin Townes Earle - CD Review of Justin Townes Earle Nothing's Gonna Change the Way You Feel About Me Now Created: Tuesday, March 27, 2012 Updated: Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Justin Townes Earle is easily one of the most promising young singer-songwriters on the Americana and roots music scene these days. With his fifth studio album, 'Nothing's Gonna Change the Way You ..
Mary Chapin Carpenter - Biography and Profile of Mary Chapin Carpenter Created: Thursday, March 22, 2012 Updated: Thursday, March 22, 2012
Mary Chapin Carpenter has made her career as a songwriter's songwriter, carrying no specific allegiance to any one category and, as such, dabbling in the art of songwriting across the lines of folk..
Whitehorse - Biography and Profile of Whitehorse Created: Wednesday, March 21, 2012 Updated: Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Whitehorse is a Canadian singer-songwriter duo comprised of Melissa McLelland and her husband Luke Doucet. While both of these artists had productive solo careers, they've been playing on each othe..
Catie Curtis - Biography and Profile of Catie Curtis Created: Wednesday, March 14, 2012 Updated: Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Catie Curtis may not be a household name outside of the contemporary folk and singer-songwriter world, but within it, she's a songwriter's songwriter. Learn more about Catie Curtis with this introd..
Merlefest - Share Your Story: Share your Merlefest stories and photos Created: Tuesday, March 13, 2012 Updated: Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Merlefest is one of the largest and most beloved American folk music festivals, taking place each spring in Wilkesboro, NC. Have you been to Merlefest? Here's a chance to share your favorite storie..
Claire Lynch - Biography and Profile of Claire Lynch Created: Tuesday, March 06, 2012 Updated: Tuesday, March 06, 2012
Claire Lynch is one of the darlings of the International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA), having taken home its Best Female Vocalist honor a number of years. Her earnest narrative songs and rema..
Folk Music SXSW 2012 - Folk and Americana Artists to Watch at SXSW 2012 Created: Thursday, March 01, 2012 Updated: Thursday, March 01, 2012
South by Southwest (SXSW) is an overwhelmingly behemoth festival, saddling Austin, Tex., with a week's worth of utter aural insanity. If you're heading to Austin in March 2012 for the annual SXSW c..
Women in Folk Music - Important Women in Folk Music Created: Friday, June 15, 2007 Updated: Thursday, March 01, 2012
Women in folk music run the gamut from singer-songwriters to blues guitarists, alt-country crooners and activist protest singers. Learn more about women in folk music, from the legendary trailblaze..
Carolina Chocolate Drops - CD Review of Carolina Chocolate Drops Leaving Eden Created: Wednesday, February 29, 2012 Updated: Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Carolina Chocolate Drops are one of the most celebrated new traditional folk bands, pulling from traditions as variant as old timey jugbands and contemporary R&B. Their latest album 'Leaving Eden' ..
Leadbelly - Huddie Ledbetter - Biography and Profile of Leadbelly Created: Tuesday, February 28, 2012 Updated: Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Leadbelly was one of the most impressive performers in the history of traditional folk music, with a remarkable personal story to boot. Popularized by the Lomax family who helped free him from pris..
Anais Mitchell - CD Review of Anais Mitchell Young Man in America Created: Monday, February 27, 2012 Updated: Monday, February 27, 2012
Anais Mitchell's sixth studio album, 'Young Man in America,' continues on her path of intense narrative storytelling through almost mythological themes. She pulls from various traditions and storie..
Laura Marling - Biography and Profile of Laura Marling Created: Friday, February 24, 2012 Updated: Friday, February 24, 2012
Laura Marling is one of England's best and most beloved folk/Americana singer-songwriters. Learn more about her remarkable career with this brief biography.
Folk Alliance 2012 - Artists to Watch at Folk Alliance 2012 Created: Wednesday, February 22, 2012 Updated: Friday, February 24, 2012
If you're in Memphis for the annual Folk Alliance gathering, conference, and honors, just looking at the list of showcases may make you feel like your schedule is slightly overpacked. But, let this..
Bob Dylan Amnesty International Tribute - CD Review of Bob Dylan Chimes of Freedom Tribute Created: Thursday, February 16, 2012 Updated: Thursday, February 16, 2012
An unprecedented, impressive roster of artists donated tracks to a new album paying tribute to Bob Dylan and Amnesty International this year. The three-disc set, titled 'Chimes of Freedom', feature..
African-American Folksingers Created: Thursday, February 16, 2012 Updated: Thursday, February 16, 2012
To celebrate Black History Month, vote for your favorite African-American folksinger. Tell us what you love about their work and which albums we need to hear.
African-American Folk Music - Top African-American Folk Music Artists Created: Friday, June 15, 2007 Updated: Thursday, February 16, 2012
African-American artists as variant as Leadbelly and Toshi Reagon, Harry Belafonte and Doria Roberts have leant their voices to the ever-evolving folk music songbook through the years. As we celebr..
Grammy 2012 Folk Music - Winners in Folk and Americana for Grammy 2012 Created: Thursday, December 01, 2011 Updated: Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Check out the nominees (and winners) in the folk and Americana categories, for the 2011 Grammy Awards. Listed here are also folk and Americana artists nominated in other catgeories.
Sweet Honey in the Rock - Biography and Profile of Sweet Honey in the Rock Created: Tuesday, February 14, 2012 Updated: Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Sweet Honey in the Rock have been one of the greatest staples of the contemporary folk music movement. From their formation in the early 1970s until the present day, Sweet Honey has traveled the wo..

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