J - L

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

Dr. J
• Black Cloud (2001)
• It Really Don't Change Much (2003)

Alan Jabbour, Ken Perlman & Jim Watson
• You Can't Beat the Classics (2015)

Jacanda
• Back to the Sky (2007)
• Skimming Stones (2008)

Shane Jackman
• Equilibrium (2000)

Christopher Jak
• Applause of the Rain (2003)

Colin James
• Fuse (2000)

Gabriel James
• In the Hands of Fools (2004)

Hilary James
• A Big Surprise, with Simon Mayor (1998)
• Bluesy (1999)
• Duos, with Simon Mayor (2001)
• Laughing with the Moon, with Simon Mayor (2004)
• Lullabies with Mandolin, with Simon Mayor (2004)
• Children's Favourites, with Simon Mayor (2005)
• Burning Sun (2008)
• You Don't Know (2015)

Markus James
• Head for the Hills (2014)

Jami Lynn
• Fall is a Good Time to Die (2015)

Jamison Priest
• Dreams I'll Never Know (2006)

Jane
• Close Up & Real (2002)

Margaret Jane
• Mate With Life (2002)

Jane & Gord
• The Blue Madonna (2002)

Jed & Lucia
• Candles in Daylight (2006)

Sue Jeffers
• One Man's Ceiling Is Just Another One's Door (1999)
• Welcome Home (2002)

Jefferson & Friends
• The Baby & the Bathwater: New Songs for Peace & Justice (2006)

Jeordie
• Jeordie & the Mixology Project (2011)
• Pixiebeast (2013)

Michael Jerling
• Little Movies (2001)

Georgie Jessup
• Woman in a Man's Suit (2006)

Jethro Tull
• Broadsword & the Beast (1982)
• Benefit (2001)
• The Jethro Tull Christmas Album (2003)

Eilen Jewell
• Letters from Sinners & Strangers (2007)
• Sea of Tears (2009)

Jiggernaut
• Jiggernaut (2000)
• In Search of More (2001)
• Evolution (2004)

Jim et Bertrand
• La T�te en Gigue (1999)

JimJim & the FatBoys
• Bottle Up & Go (2001)

John & the Sisters
• John & the Sisters (2004)

The John Henrys
• Sweet As the Grain (2009)

Evan Johns & the Hillbilly Soul Surfers
• Moontan (2001)

Dennis Johnson
• Revelation (2022)

"Peerie" Willie Johnson
• Willie's World (2007)

Bessie Jones
• Put Your Hand on Your Hip (2001)

Dallas Jones
• Wherever You Roam (2004)

J.P. Jones
• Ashes (1999)
• Back to Jerusalem (2000)

Nic Jones
• Game Set Match (2006)

Southpaw Jones
• One in the Door, One in the Grave (2002)

Stacy Jones
• Love is Everywhere (2017)

Jones & Leva
• Vertie's Dream (2000)

Brian Joseph
• King of Echo Park (2004)

Ruarri Joseph
• Brother (2012)

Paul Joses
• Gold in a Muddy River (2002)

Juliana's Pony
• Total System Failure (2000)

Junior League Band
• Mitchell Williams fo Govena (2008)

Kacy & Clayton
• The Day is Past & Gone (2013)

Dodi Kallick
• What are They Doing in Heaven Today? (2022)

Kathy Kallick
• My Mother's Voice (2001)
• Reason & Rhyme (2003)
• What are They Doing in Heaven Today? (2022)

For more by Kathy Kallick, visit her in our bluegrass section.

Cindy Kalmenson
• Let Me Out Here (1997)

Paul Kamm & Eleanore MacDonald
• Calling on Love (1999)
• Fool's Paradise (2003)

Barbara Jo Kammer
• One Song at a Time (2017)
• Big Blue Sky in the Morning (2020)

Judy Kamminga
• Visions of Freedom (1998)

Christine Kane
• Rain & Mud & Wild & Green (2002)

Kevin Kane
• Blind Man (2003)
• American Songs (2006)

Kieran Kane
• Somewhere Beyond the Roses (2009)

Kieran Kane, Kevin Welch & Fats Kaplin
• Lost John Dean (2006)

Lisa Kane
• Old Strings & All (1999)

Paul Kaplan
• After the Fire (2003)
• The Folk Process (2008)
• We Shall Stay Here (2021)

Lucy Kaplansky
• Ten Year Night (1999)
• The Red Thread (2004)
• Over the Hills (2007)
• Red Horse (2010)

Deborah Wai Kapohe
• I Unwrap You (2002)

Ingrid Karklins
• A Darker Passion (1992)

Alex Kash
• Florida Heat (2005)

Kaia Kater
• Sorrow Bound (2015)
• Nine Pin (2016)

Davis Kathriner
• Losing Habits (2018)

Rebecca Katz
• Spendin' On Today (2007)

Jorma Kaukonen
• Stars in My Crown (2007)
• River of Time (2009)
• Ain't in No Hurry (2015)

Justine Kay
• Dreaming in Colour (2002)

Sandi Kay
• 8355 (2000)

John-Michael Kaye & Tim Tedrow
• self-titled (1997)

Mary Kaye
• Spin Your Web (2006)

Arden Kaywin
• Quarter Life Crisis (2006)

James Keelaghan
• Road (1999)
• Second-Hand (2022)

Alicia Keister
• Heartwood (2007)

Susannah Keith
• Torchlight (1999)

Pat Kelleher
• Songs of the Sea (2005)

Alan Kelly
• The Rest of the Country (2000)
• Quiet Lives of Consequence (2004)

Lee Kelm
• Nightsounds (2002)

Grady Kelneck
• Take My Hand (2014)

Bob Kemmis
• Okay So... (2001)

Carolyn Kendrick
• Each Machine (2024)

Benita Kenn
• Roads (2003)

Mary Ann Kennedy, Kirsty N. MacKinnon & Alasdair C. Whyte
• Oran Ur do Mhuile (2008)

The Kennedys
• Evolver (2000)
• Stand (2003)
• Songs of the Open Road (2006)
• Better Dreams (2008)

Enoch Kent
• I'm a Workin' Chap (2002)
• Songs of Love, Lust & Loathing (2003)

Julie Keough
• Blue (2001)

Penny Kerr
• Conscious Contact (1997)

Jack Kid
• Espresso Ecstasy (2001)

Adam Kiesling
• BNJO & GTR (2018)

The Killdares
• A Place to Stand (2000)
• Live (2002)

Ben Bowen King
• Sidewalk Saints: Roots Gospel Guitar (2007)

Kaki King
• Everybody Loves You (2003)

Linda King & Michael William Harrison
• For Kids of All Ages (2006)

Megan King
• Pretty Songs (2008)

Kingston Trio
• The Final Concert (2007)
• The Lost 1967 Album (2007)

Kingwhistler
• Grass Routes (2014)

Larry Kirwan
• Kilroy Was Here (2001)

The Kitchen Band
• Simply (2000)

Terry Kitchen
• Blues for Cain & Abel (1999)
• Right Now (2002)
• That's How It Used to Be (2004)
•  We All Dream (2025)

Kittyhawk
• Kill Devil Hills (1999)

Jess Klein
• Wishes Well Disguised (1998)
• Strawberry Lover (2005)
• City Garden (2006)
• Bound to Love (2009)

Terry Klein
• Good Luck, Take Care (2022)
• Leave the Light On (2023)

Sheri Kling
• Let It Unfold (2002)
• Passions & Prodigals (2005)

Steve Klingaman
• Packwood (2001)
• Vanishing Point (2003)

Jennifer Knapp
• Set Me Free (2014)
• Love Comes Back Around (2017)

Lisa Knapp
• Wild & Undaunted (2007)
• Hidden Seam (2013)

Mary Knickle
• Weave (2006)

Chris Knight
• A Pretty Good Guy (2001)
• The Jealous Kind (2003)
• Enough Rope (2006)
• The Trailer Tapes (2007)
• Heart of Stone (2008)
• Little Victories (2012)

Deanna Knight
• Shadow of a Star (2000)

Knights of Mentis
• New Pound Coin (2013)

Mark Knopfler
• The Ragpicker's Dream (2002)

Dave Knudsen
• The Weeping City (2005)

Fred Koller
• No Song Left to Sell (2001)

Jordan Kolton
• When the Hammer Drops (2003)

Ken Kolodner
• Walking Stones: A Celtic Sojourn (1997)
• Journey to the Heartland (2005)

Ken & Brad Kolodner
• Skipping Rocks (2013)

K-Passa
• The Morning After...? (1998)

Joel Kraft
• Big Ideas (2006)

Jane Kramer
• Valley of the Bones (2019)

Alison Krauss & Union Station
• New Favorite (2001)
• Live (2002)
• Live DVD (2003)
•  Arcadia (2025)

Jeff Krebs
• Keep an Eye Out (2000)

Marienne Kreitlow
• Like Noah's Dove (2014)

Jim Kremens
• Spun (2003)

John Kribs
• Vibratile (1999)

Kris Kristofferson
• Kristofferson (2001)
• Third World Warrior & Repossessed (2004)
• The Pilgrim: A Celebration of Kris Kristofferson (2006)
• This Old Road (2006)

Sonja Kristina
• Songs from the Acid Folk (2001)
• Cri De Couer (2003)
• Mask (2005)
• Sonja Kristina (2006)

James Krueger
• And Then a Silence Falls (2002)
• Fine (2004)
• Bluebird in the Snow (2005)
• Life Ain't That Long (2018)

Judy Krueger
• Keep the Wisdom (1999)

Kultur Shock
• FUCC the I.N.S. (2001)

Emily Kurn
• The Doorman (2001)

Jim Kweskin & Geoff Muldaur
• Penny's Farm (2016)

Sleepy LaBeef
• Rockabilly Blues (2001)

Steve Lacey
• Habits of a Lifetime (Better Late Than Never) (1999)

Lackawanna Rail
• I Think You Should Know (2006)

Megan Lacy
• Salvation (2021)

Jimmy LaFave
• Blue Nightfall (2005)
• Cimarron Manifesto (2007)

Peter Lainson
• The Wind & the Waves (2003)

Dan Lambert
• The Clearing (1997)
• Plaids (1998)
• Melodies/Improvisations (2000)
• The Blue Hand (2001)

Brianna Lane
• Radiator (2005)

Penny Lang
• Gather Honey (2001)
• Stone+Sand+Sea+Sky (2006)

Peter Lang
• Dharma Blues (2001)
• Guitar (2003)

Tom Langford
• Acoustic (2007)

Lankum
• Between the Earth & Sky (2018)
• False Lankum (2023)

Brett Larson
• One of These Roads (2014)

Custer LaRue
• The Daemon Lover, with the Baltimore Consort (1993)
• Ballads (1999)
• Amazing Grace, with the Baltimore Consort (2001)

Grit Laskin
• A Few Simple Words (1995)
• Earthly Concerns (1998)
• Unabashedly Folk (2000)

Roger Lasley
• What Cheer Road (2001)
• Duck & Let the Wave Go By (2002)
• Dinner on the Ground (2002)

Last Train Home
• Last Good Kiss (2007)

Late Bloomers
• Late Bloomers (1999)
• Sneakin' in the Back Door (2003)

Rose Laughlin
• House of Memory (2011)

Joni Laurence
• With No Apology (2006)

Eileen Laverty
• Dancing with Angels (1999)
• Ground Beneath My Feet (2006)

Christine Lavin
• Future Fossils (1985)
• Good Thing He Can't Read My Mind (1988)
• Live at the Cactus Cafe (1993)
• The Bellevue Years (2000)
• Getting In Touch With My Inner Bitch (2000)
• I Was in Love with a Difficult Man (2002)
• Girl Uninterrupted DVD (2003)
• The Runaway Christmas Tree: Favorite Holiday Songs & Bedtime Stories (2003)
• Sometimes Mother Really Does Know Best (2004)

John & Michele Law
• Estimated Time of Revival (2000)

Eddy Lawrence
• Going to Water (2001)
• Inside My Secret Pocket (2004)

Shandy Lawson
• Devils & Crows (2000)

Jim Layeux
• Red Dust (2001)

Lea
• Great Big World (2007)

Lead Belly
• The Legend of Lead Belly (2006)
• The Smithsonian Folkways Collection (2015)

Tina Lear
• The Road Home (2000)

David Leask
• Tightrope of Dreams (2003)

Josh Lederman y Los Diablos
• It's a Long & Lonely Time Until the Train Will Bring You Home (2001)
• The Town's Old Fair (2004)

Louis Ledford
• Adios King (2007)

Rick Lee & Les Daniels
• Dr. Daniels & Mr. Lee (1999)

Sam Lee
• Old Wow (2020)

Leerone
• Hail to the Queen (2004)

Lehto & Wright
• Ye Mariners All (2000)
• The Further Adventures of Darling Cory (2002)
• A Game of Chess (2003)

Bonnie Leigh
• Bridge of Flowers (2000)

Ute Lemper
• But One Day... (2002)

Lenahan
• Contrary Motion: Lenahan Plays Acoustic (1998)
• Hooligans in Suits: Live in the UK (2000)
• Brand New Bag (2002)

Lenore
• Summer Dancing (2002)
• Another Life (2007)

Sondre Lerche
• Two Way Monologue (2004)

Marilyn Lerner & David Wall
• Still Soft Voiced Heart (2001)

John Graham Leslie
• The Land, the River, the Sea (2008)

John Lester
• So Many Reasons (2007)

Meredith LeVande
• Through the Clouds (1999)

Mara Levine
• Facets of Folk (2019)

The Levins
• My Friend Hafiz (2009)
• Trust (2015)

Laurie Lewis
• Winter's Grace, with Tom Rozum (1999)
• Birdsong (2002)
• One Evening in May (2013)
• Laurie & Kathy Sing the Songs of Vern & Ray, with Kathy Kallick (2014)
• Trees (2024)

Laurie Lewis & the Right Hands
• The Hazel & Alice Sessions (2016)

Michelle Lewis
• This Time Around (2004)

Life Trip
• Chronicles II (2002)
• World of Evil (2002)

Gordon Lightfoot
• Complete Greatest Hits (2002)
• Beautiful: A Tribute to Gordon Lightfoot (2003)

Likewater
• Weightless (2004)

Colin Linden
• From the Water (2009)
• Rich in Love (2015)

Arto Lindsay
• Invoke (2002)

Jenn Lindsay
• Gotta Lotta (2002)
• Fired (2003)
• Uphill Both Ways (2006)
• Perfect Handful (2006)

Lingering Doubts
• First & Ruby Street (1999)

Dominique Lise
• 20 Years (2007)

Heather Little
• By Now (2024)

Little Wings
• Magic Wand (2004)

Locust Honey String Band
• Never Let Me Cross Your Mind (2014)

Rebecca Loebe
• Blink (2017)

Wolf Loescher
• Holy Grail (1999)
• Sheep's Clothing (2020)
• Immigrant Songs (2023)

Logan
• Breathe (2003)

Kenny Loggins
• Outside: From the Redwoods (1993)

Alan Lomax
• various collections & archive sets

Lonesome Brothers
• Swamptown Girl (2001)
• Pony Tales (2002)
• Fences (2004)
• Mono (2006)

Bobby Long
• Ode to Thinking (2015)

Kate Long
• bigollady (2000)

Kate Long & Robin Kessinger
• What We Do (2008)

Long Prairie
• By Sunrise (2024)

Loosehoundrifters
• Hard to Be Human (2000)

Christian Lopez
• Down By the Drowning Creek (2004)

Lorraine a' Malena
• Mirror Mirror (2005)

Rachel Loshak
• Firefly (2000)

Lotus
• Better Day (2004)

Annie Lou
• Grandma's Rules for Drinking (2012)
• Tried & True (2014)

Heloise Love
• Song for the Mira (2005)

Laura Love
• Fourteen Days (2000)

Jez Lowe & the Bad Pennies
• Tenterhooks (1995)
• The Parish Notices (1998)
• Live at the Davy Lamp (2000)
• Honesty Box (2002)
• Doolally (2004)
• Tenterhooks (The Art Edition) (2005)

Jez Lowe & Jake Walton
• Two a Roue (2001)

Zachary Lucky
• Midwestern (2019)

"Old Man" Luedecke
• Hinterland (2006)
• My Hands are on Fire & Other Love Songs (2010)
• Tender is the Night (2012)

Cara Luft
• Darlingford (2012)

Toupey Luft
• A Season with Athena (1999)

Lulu & the Tomcats
• All the Cats Were Playin' (2001)

Corb Lund
• Songs My Friends Wrote (2022)

The Corb Lund Band
• Five Dollar Bill (2002)

David Lykins
• Blurry White Guy (2008)

Claire Lynch
• Lovelight (2000)

Yvonne Lyon
• Fearless (2005)
• A Thousand Questions Why (2007)