A - C

The folk section covers a broad spectrum of mostly American folk (traditional and contemporary), folk-rock, singer-songwriter and indie recordings. Primarily, you can expect to find music which strikes at the heart of the folk tradition, where we spotlight innovative songwriters and performers who've laid the groundwork for the great folk tradition and who help to maintain that tradition today.

You'll find acoustic music here, as well as bands playing traditional music with electric guitars and bands playing new music on traditional instruments. Old-style folk meets rock 'n' roll, rockabilly and other stuff with its roots in folk traditions. Explore this section to find a tasty selection of musical possibilities.

While some people argue that "folk music" is by definition limited solely to traditional pieces, we have been reminded by others that songwriting itself is a proud tradition. If new music isn't being written and performed to expand the dog-eared playbook, those old songs are in danger of becoming hackneyed and worn-out cliches.

For folk music from the Canadian Maritimes, look here.

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Mary Abraham
• The First Five (2005)

Margie Adam
• Portal (2005)

Jenn Adams
• In the Pool (2000)

Ilene Adar
• First Sound (2002)
• Quiet the Storm (2005)

Greg Adkins
• Chase the Western Sky (2008)

Adrianne
• For Adeline (1998)
• 10,000 Stones (2004)

Debbie Adshade
• Into Thunder (2004)

a.k.a. George
• Two Tone Throwback (2000)

Chris Alan & Stefan des Lauriers
• Carousel Wind (2005)

Don Alder
• Acoustic Matters (2007)

Terri Allard
• Loose Change & Spare Parts (1999)

Linda Allen
• Lay It Down: Images of the Sacred (1996)
• October Roses (1984/1999)
• The Long Way Home (1999)

Allman Brothers Band
• Live at the Beacon Theatre (2003)

Mike Alviano
• The Vagabond Songs (2006)

Amelia's Dream
• Love Tattoo (2000)

American Zen
• Level 1 (2004)

Lori Amey
• Resignation (1999)

Tori Amos
• Little Earthquakes (1992)
• Crucify (1992)
• Winter (1992)
• Under the Pink (1994)
• Boys for Pele (1996)
• Hey Jupiter (1996)
• Complete Videos: 1991-1998 (1998)

Beth Amsel
• The Reverie (2005)

Merrie Amsterburg
• Little Steps (2000)

Amy & Robin
• Little Did I Know (1999)

Eric Anders
• More Regrets (2004)

Eric Andersen
• You Can't Relive the Past (2000)
• The Street was Always There: Great American Song Series, Vol. 1 (2004)
• Waves: Great American Song Series, Vol. 2 (2005)
• Blue Rain (2007)

Jamie Anderson
• Listen (2001)
• A Promise of Light (2005)

Joyce Anderson
• The Girl I Left Behind (2000)
• Right Where I Should Be (2003)

Muriel Anderson
• Arioso from Paris (1992)
• A Little Christmas Gift, with Jean-Felix Lalanne (1999)

Neil Anderson
• Dante's Local (1999)

Rick Andersen
• Little Fish (2003)

Anderson-Gram
• Where It All Begins (2001)

Debbie Andrews
• Suburbs of Eden (1999)

Kyle Andrews
• Find Love, Let Go (2007)

Andy & Denise
• Go (2002)

Angel Band
• With Roots & Wings (2008)

Lisa Angelle
• Lisa Angelle (2000)

Anonymous 4
• Gloryland, with Darol Anger & Mike Marshall (2006)

Dave Anthony
• 31B Victoria (2001)

James Apollo
• Good Grief (2005)
• Hide Your Heart in a Hive (2007)

Fiona Apple
• When the Pawn... (1999)
• Extraordinary Machine (2005)

Nancy Apple
• Outside the Lines (2000)
• Shoulda Lied About That (2003)

Rani Arbo & Daisy Mayhem
• Cocktail Swing (2001)
• Gambling Eden (2003)
• Big Old Life (2007)

Elana Arian
• How to Stand in the Rain (2007)

Caren Armstrong
• Independent Girl (1999)
• Everything (2007)

The Arrogant Worms
• Live Bait (1997)
• Christmas Turkey (1998)
• Dirt! (1999)
• Idiot Road (2001)
• Semi-Conducted (2002)
• Toast! (2004)
• Beige (2006)

Artisan
• Wings (1995)

Steve Ashley
• Speedy Return (1975/2003)
• Everyday Lives (2001)

Asylum Street Spankers
• Mommy Says NO! (2006)

Atomic City Rhythm Rascals
• Atomic City Rhythm Rascals (2001)

Austin & Elliot
• 13 Songs Plus (2006)

Emilie Autumn
• Enchant (2004)

Kevin Ayers & the Wizards of Twiddly
• Turn the Lights Down (1999)

Aztec Two-Step
• Days of Horses (2004)

Kevin Patrick Baiko
• Fool's Gold (2003)

Fred Bailey
• Ain't Comin' Back This Year (2002)

T.S. Baker
• Through the Shadows (2003)

Eric Balkey
• Negotiations & Compromises (2001)
• While the Paint Dries (2004)
• My Sacred Heart (2007)

Bridget Ball & Christopher Shaw
• Mountain Snow & Mistletoe (1991)
• Songs from the Big Front Porch (1996)

Jeff Ball
• Songs of Winter (2003)

The Baltimore Consort, with Custer LaRue
• The Daemon Lover (1993)
• Amazing Grace (2001)

Kate Barclay
• Sunshine From Mars (1999)

Frank Bard
• Harmonica from the Heartland (2001)

BareBones & WildFlowers
• BareBones & WildFlowers (1998)
• Higher Than the Moon (2000)

Les Barker
• Guide Cats for the Blind (2003)
• Missing Persians File: Guide Cats for the Blind, Vol. 2 (2005)

The Barnacles
• Inland & Otherwise (2003)

Barrage
• Live in Europe (1999)

The Barra MacNeils
• Rock in the Stream (1989)
• Closer to Paradise (1993)
• The Traditional Album (1994)
• Until Now (1997)
• The Christmas Album (1999)
• Racket in the Attic (2000)

Rik Barron
• The Quiet Faith of Man (2004)

Geoff Bartley
• Blues Beneath the Surface (1994)

Janet Bates & Instruments of Change
• The Colours Will Come Back (2005)

Bazza
• Freezer (2006)

The Bees
• Starry Gazey Pie (2004)

Kim Beggs
• Wanderer's Paean (2006)

The Be Good Tanyas
• Blue Horse (2001)

Alan Bell
• The Definitive Collection (2005)

Jan Bell & the Cheap Dates
• Songs for Love Drunk Sinners (2007)

Erin Benjamin
• Monster in My Heart (1998)

Arlon Bennett
• Summer's Voice (2007)

Jason Bennett
• Mindchange (2006)

Kate Bennett
• Over the Moon (1999)

Benny & the Jets Band
• Merry X-mas (2004)

Marc Douglas Berardo
• Harbor (2005)

Rick Berlin
• Me & Van Gogh (2006)

Lou & Peter Berryman
• The Pink One (2003)

Mark Berube
• Suspicious Fish (2005)

Anita Best
• The Colour of Amber, with Pamela Morgan (1991)
• Crosshanded (1997)
• Amber Christmas (1998)

Bethany & Rufus
• 900 Miles (2006)

Bevel Jenny
• Above the Clouds (2000)

Eric Bibb
• Friends (2004)
• A Ship Called Love (2005)
• Diamond Days (2006)

Ray Bierl
• Any Place I Hang My Hat (2007)

Big Smith & Family
• From Hay to Zzzzzz: Hillbilly Songs for Kids (2004)

The Bill Hilly Band
• All Day Every Day (2002)

Billi & Patti
• Love & Other Four Letter Words (2004)

The Bills
• Let Em Run (2005)

Birch Book
• Fortune & Folly (2007)

Bisia
• Thirsty Desert (1997)

Rachel Bissex
• Don't Look Down (1995)
• Between the Broken Lines (2001)

Frank Black
• Honeycomb (2005)

Jeff Black
• Tin Lily (2005)

Michael Black
• Michael Black (2007)

Black 47
• Live in New York City (1999)
• Trouble in the Land (2000)
• On Fire (2001)
• New York Town (2004)

Black Irish Band
• American Landscapes (2004)
• From the Forest (2005)
• The Long Way to Tipperary (2005)

Blackmore's Night
• Under a Violet Moon (1999)
• The Village Lanterne (2006)
• Winter Carols (2006)

Blackthorn
• The Other Side (1998)
• Ratty Shoes (2001)

Black-Tie Banjo
• At Home (1996)

Heather Shayne Blakeslee
• Bones (2001)

Ronee Blakley
• Ronee Blakley (2006)

Bluestring
• Overthinking (2002)

Bodega Three & Rick Van Krugel
• Cat Amongst the Pigeons (2002)

The Walter Bodega Band
• The Walter Bodega Band (1998)

Eric Bogle
• Mirrors (1993)
• I Wrote This Wee Song (1994)
• The Emigrant & The Exile, with John Munro (1996)
• Endangered Species (2000)
• By Request (2001)
• The Colour of Dreams (2002)
• At This Stage (2005)
• Other People's Children (2005)
• Singing the Spirit Home (2005)

Boiled in Lead
• Songs from the Gypsy (1995)

Gordon Bok
• A Rogue's Gallery of Songs for 12-String (1983/1999)

Gordon Bok, Ann Mayo Muir & Ed Trickett
• Turning Toward the Morning (1994)
• All Shall Be Well Again (1997)

C. Daniel Boling
• The Old International (2003)

Jane Bom-Bane
• Round-a-way Wrong Songs (2004)

Brian Bonhomme
• World Keeps Turning (2000)

Ray Bonneville
• Rough Luck (2000)
• Roll It Down (2003)
• Goin' by Feel (2007)

The Bottomfeeders
• Waterview (2001)

Boundary Water Boys
• Acoustic Crossroads (2005)

Ronald Bourgeois
• Le Long Retour (2001)

Bryan Bowers
• Friend for Life (2000)

Mark J. Bradlyn
• Lighthouse Keeper (2000)

Billy Bragg & Wilco
• Mermaid Avenue (1998)
• Mermaid Avenue Vol. II (2000)

Randall Bramblett
• Rich Someday (2006)

Oscar Brand
• Pie in the Sky & Other Folk Song Satires (2006)

Chris Brashear & Peter McLaughlin
• Canyoneers (2003)

Norine Braun
• Crow (2000)

Brave Combo
• Polkasonic (1999)

Mike Breen
• Past Lives (2000)

Billy Bremner
• Bash! (2001)

Jenny Brennan
• Avalon (2002)

Terry Brennan
• Roads (2004)
• Storms & Dreams (2004)

Brindley Brothers
• Playing With the Light (2004)

Luke Brindley
• How Faint the Whisper (2001)

Mark Brine
• Fortunes: The Best of Mark Brine (2004)
• I'm Not Anyone: The Nashville Sessions (2005)

Chuck Brodsky
• Color Came One Day (2004)
• Tulips for Lunch (2006)

Tanya Brody
• Sirens & Lovers (2003)

David Bromberg
• Try Me One More Time (2007)

Paul Bromley
• Where I Come From (1999)

Allette Brooks
• Swim with Me (2001)

Steve Brooks
• Bulletproof (1998)

Big Bill Broonzy
• Amsterdam Live Concerts 1953 (2006)

Brother
• Pipe Dreams (1994)
• Black Stone Tramp (1996)
• Your Backyard (1998)
• This Way Up (2000)
• I You You Me (2001)
• Urban Cave (2003)
• As You Were (2006)
• Pax Romana MMV (2006)

Brothers 3
• No Turning Back (2001)
• The Journey That Lies Before (2003)

Brown Ale
• Heads Up! (2000)

Rosie Brown
• Clocks & Clouds (2004)

The Coby Brown Group
• Homesick (2000)

Karaugh Brown
• One Round Orange (2002)

Mason Brown & Chipper Thompson
• Am I Born to Die: An Appalachian Songbook (1999/2001)

Peter Brown
• Marie-Claude (2002)

Brown, Sullivan & Co.
• Magnum Banjos (1972/2000)

Michael Jerome Browne
• Drive On (2002)
• Michael Jerome Browne & the Twin Rivers String Band (2004)

Severin Browne
• This Twisted Road (2001)

Randy Browning
• Radical Rags (2007)

David Broza
• Painted Postcard (2002)

Peter Bruntnell
• Ends of the Earth (2002)

The Bubbadinos
• We're Really Making Music Now (1999)

Kim Buchanan
• Will I Ever Know? (1998)

Katie Buckhaven
• Katie Buckhaven (2005)

Bud
• Outside It Rains (2001)

Burach
• Deeper (2000)

Burlap to Cashmere
• Anybody Out There? (1998)

The Burns Sisters
• Out of the Blue (2000)

R.L. Burnside
• My Black Name A-Ringin' (1999)

Sarah Burrill
• If By Chance (2006)

Holly Burton
• First Person Singular (2001)
• Little Seattlight (2007)

Jonathan Byrd
• This is the New That (2006)

Carl Cacho
• Spark (2002)

Cadenza
• Making Waves (2000)

Caedmon's Call
• Long Line of Leavers (2000)

Cal
• Scotland: A Part of Me (2000)

Billy Caldwell
• Out of My League (2006)

Andrew Calhoun
• Staring at the Sun: Songs 1973-1981 (2005)

Gary Callahan
• After the Rain (1992)
• Death on the Ice, with Plain & Simple (1996)

Jeff Callahan
• Havens, Haunts & Hollows (2000)

Leah Callahan
• Even Sleepers (2003)

Lisa Cameron
• End of Blue (2004)

Camille
• Le Fil (2006)

Bob Campbell
• Ditchflowers (2005)

Fil Campbell
• Beneath the Calm (2002)

Isobel Campbell & Mark Lanegan
• Ramblin' Man (2005)

Kate Campbell
• Rosaryville (1999)

Mike Campbell
• High Country (1996)
• Sad Eyes (2000)
• Mars Outback (2005)

Camp Susannah
• Happy Today (2004)

CANO
• Tous dans l'meme Bateau (1976)

Grayson Capps
• If You Knew My Mind (2005)
• Wail & Ride (2006)
• Songbones (2007)

Captain Tractor
• North of the Yellowhead (2008)

Carbon Leaf
• Ether-Electrified Porch Music (1999)
• Echo Echo (2001)

Edie Carey
• Call Me Home (2000)

Kim Carnes
• Chasin' Wild Trains (2005)

The Carolliers & George Makredes
• Christmas Spirit (2002)

Adam Carroll
• Live (2002)

Barton Carroll
• The Lost One (2007)

Dave Carter & Tracy Grammer
• Tanglewood Tree (2000)
• Drum Hat Buddha (2001)
• When I Go (2002)

Eliza Carthy
• Red (1998)
• Rice (1998)
• Angels & Cigarettes (2000)
• Anglicana (2002)

Martin Carthy
• Shearwater (1972)

Martin Carthy & Dave Swarbrick
• Straws in the Wind (2006)

Neko Case
• Fox Confessor Brings the Flood (2006)

Andrew Cash
• Murder = (2007)

The Cash Brothers
• A Brand New Night (2003)

Sandy Cash
• Exact Change (2000)

Tory Cassis
• Anywhere But Here (1999)

Robert Lee Castleman
• Crazy As Me (2000)

Jud Caswell
• Blackberry Time (2007)

Nathan Caswell
• Einstein's Brain (2003)

The Cat's Pajamas
• Cool Music for Kids (1999)

CC Railroad
• Smile Whatever (2001)
• Black Horse Motel (2004)

Celtic Elvis
• Hard to Be Real (1998)

Emmy Cerra
• Metamorphic (2005)

Eugene Chadbourne
• Worms with Strings (1999)

Don Chaffer & Waterdeep
• Whole 'Nother Deal (2002)
• What You Don't Know (2003)

Lori Chaffer
• 1 Beginning (2003)

Chantal Chamandy
• Love Needs You (2006)

Jen Chapin
• Linger (2004)

Tom Chapin
• In the City of Mercy (2000)

Beth Nielsen Chapman
• Hymns (2004)
• Look (2005)

Tracy Chapman
• Let It Rain (2002)

Charmer
• The Perfect Cafe (2005)

Bob Cheevers
• Texas to Tennessee (2005)

The Chieftains & Friends
• Tears of Stone (1999)

Charlotte Church
• Voice of an Angel (1998)

Circulus
• The Lick on the Tip of an Envelope Yet to be Sent (2005)

Merry Citoli
• Phantoms (1998)

Fred Clark
• Living in Dakin's Neighborhood (2000)

Guy Clark
• Cold Dog Soup (1999)

Anthony John Clarke
• Man with a Red Guitar (1999)
• An Acquaintance of Mine (2001)

Santa Claws & the Naughty but Nice Orchestra
• The Green Days of Christmas: The Holiday Tribute to Green Day (2007)
• Hell's Bells of Christmas: The Holiday Tribute to AC/DC (2007)

Paul Clayton
• Whaling & Sailing Songs from the Days of Moby Dick (2005)
• American Folk Tales & Songs, with Jean Ritchie (1956/2006)

Slaid Cleaves
• Broke Down (2000)
• Wishbones (2004)

Alex Clements
• Emily's Song (2005)

Rod Clements
• Stamping Ground (2000)
• Odd Man Out (2006)

Colleen Coadic
• You Feel this Good (2004)

Bruce Cockburn
• Anything Anytime Anywhere: Singles 1979-2002 (2002)

Phil Cody
• Big Slow Mover (2000)
• Mad Dog Sessions (2002)

Davis Coen
• Ill Disposition (2007)

Joan Coffey
• Everybody Needs One (2004)

Leonard Cohen
• Tower of Song: The Songs of Leonard Cohen (1995)

Stephen Cohen
• Real Life & Fiction (2000)
• Stephen & the Talk Talk Band (2004)

Colcannon
• Covering Our Tracks (2001)
• The Eureka Suite (2004)
• Journeys (2005)

Eddie Cole
• I Know What's Going On (2003)

Lloyd Cole & the Commotions
• 1984-1989 (1989)

Rebecca Cole
• Bloom (2004)

Bill Colgate
• When Dinosaurs Ruled the Earth (1996)

Julie Collings
• Julie Collings (2005)
• Flotsam (2006)

Judy Collins
• Shameless (1995)
• Maids & Golden Apples (2001)

Lui Collins
• Closer (2006)

Christine Collister
• An Equal Love (2001)

Connie & Paul
• My Father's Songs (1996)
• Dancing in the Moonlight (2000)

Kevin Connolly
• Around the Bend (1999)

Don Conoscenti
• Paradox of Grace (2001)
• Extremely Live at Eddie's Attic (2002)

Wendy Conrad
• Ghosts That Aren't Mine (1998)

Francie Conway with The Works
• The Green Album (2000)

Tommy Conwell & the Little Kings
• Sho' Gone Crazy (1997)

Jack Cooper
• Land of Plenty (2001)

Johnny Coppin
• Keep the Flame (2004)
• The Winding Stair (2005)

J.P. Cormier
• Primary Color (2002)
• Looking Back: The Songs (2005)

Darryl & Dallas Cornell
• Glass Door (2001)
• Songs You Oughta Know, with the Roosevelt School 5th-graders (2002)

Tricia Corrigan
• A Different Kind of Beautiful (2004)

The Corrs
• Unplugged (1999)
• In Blue (2000)
• Home (2006)

David Cortello
• Through an Open Window (2006)

Laura Cortese
• Even the Lost Creek (2006)

Phil Coulter
• Coulter & Company (2004)

John Cowan
• John Cowan (2000)

Cowboy Junkies
• One Soul Now (2004)

Doug Cox & Sam Hurrie
• Hungry Ghosts (2005)

Crazy Mary
• Astronaut Dubs (1999)

Robert Crenshaw
• Victory Songs (2000)

Nonie Crete
• Moonlight Dreams (1999)
• Holidays in Harmony (2001)
• Girl in a Crazy World (2003)

Mark Croft
• Sympathetic Groove (2006)

Croft No. Five
• Attention All Personnel (2001)

Joe Crookston
• Fall Down as the Rain (2004)

Darren Crossey
• Coming Home (2003)

Susan Crowe
• A Pilgrim's Mirror (1999)

Cruachan
• The Middle Kingdom (2000)

Cry Cry Cry
• Cry Cry Cry (1998)

Cris Cuddy
• Come Along Carmelita (2002)

Johnny Cuomo
• American Idle (2006)

James F. Curley
• Tom's Cafe (2002)

Catie Curtis
• My Shirt Looks Good On You (2001)

Melwood Cutlery
• Campfire (2005)