This year’s Kerrville New Folk Finalists are AJAYE (Nashville, TN), Caitlin Cannon (Nashville, TN), Cheyloe (Birmingham, AL), Robert Deitch (Polk City, IA), Bill DiLuigi (Nashville, TN), Sarah Golden (Houston, TX), Melody Guy (Nashville, TN), Helena Hallberg (Zurich, Switzerland & Nashville, TN), Sammie Hershock (Marshall, MI), Taylor Lansdale (Lexington, KY), Charlotte Morris (Philadelphia, PA) Hudson Mueller (Houston, TX), Matthew Payne (Dripping Springs, TX), Rebekkah Powell (Boulder, CO), Michelle Raybourn (Nashville, TN), Natalie Royal (Nashville, TN), Monty Russell (Ruston, LA), Stephanie Sammons (Dallas, TX), Liam Slater (Nashville, TN), Casli Stephan (Tulsa, OK), Allison Strong (Union City, NJ), Cat Terrones (San Pedro, CA), Robert Thomas (Monncton, NB, Canada), and Logan Vath (Norfolk, VA). They will showcase their talents and songwriting skills at the Threadgill Theater on the Quiet Valley Ranch Campgrounds in the Texas Hill Country near Austin and San Antonio, beginning at 1:30 p.m. CT. The New Folk Concerts will also be livestreamed on the Kerrville Folk Festival’s website,https:// kerrvillefolkfestival.org.

After performing the two songs that they submitted during the New Folk Concerts, six songwriters will be selected as 2026 New Folk Winners by a panel of judges. As in the first round, the finalists’ songs will be evaluated based on originality, lyrics, melody, harmonic structure, and other elements of song-craft. Each of the six performing songwriters chosen as 2026 New Folk Award Winners, to be announced during the evening concert on May 24, will be invited to perform a 20-minute set as part of a New Folk Award Winners Concert on Saturday, May 30 that will also be livestreamed.

Established in 1972 at the urging of the late Peter Yarrow of Peter, Paul & Mary fame, the Kerrville New Folk Concerts have become a highlight of the annual festival that is geared towards singer-songwriters of various musical styles and is the longest continuously running festival of its kind in North America. In addition to receiving $750 cash awards and two wristbands each for Kerrville’s 2026 fall “Welcome Home” Fest, being named as a New Folk Award Winner is regarded as a very prestigious honor. Kerrville New Folk winners also are invited to participate in a New Folk Winners House Concert Tour in Texas.

Extending for 18 days, the Kerrville Folk Festival is set for May 21 to June 7 and will feature more than 100 artists and acts. Besides concerts each evening, it features “Ballad Tree” song-sharing sessions, campfire jam sessions, concerts and activities for children, as well as songwriting and instrumental workshops, a canoe trip on the Guadelupe River, and wine tasting excursions for additional fees.

Finalists Named in Al Johnson Performing Songwriter Contest

Ten finalists also have been named in the Al Johnson Performing Songwriter Contest and have been invited to showcase their talents during the 2026 Wildflower! Arts & Music Festival that takes place May 15-17 at the Galatyn Park Urban Center in Richardson, Texas — located just a few minutes north of Dallas. The finalists are Bud Bierhaus (Katy, TX), Paul Demer (Dallas, TX), Jerome Goosman (Nashville, TN), Jeff Hewitt (Garland, TX), Michelle Raybourn (Nashville, TN), Ben Reneer (Phoenix, AZ), Stephanie Sammons (Dallas, TX), Branlin Shockey (Rockwall, TX), Alicia Stockman (Heber City, UT), and Reed Waddle (Phoenix, AZ). As noted earlier, Raybourn and Sammons are also Kerrville New Folk Finalists.

Using a blind-screening process, a panel of judges chose the finalists who will perform two songs each on the Singer-Songwriter Stage inside the Eisemann Center during the annual event that is billed as North Texas’ largest music festival. The 10 finalists will compete for cash prizes and be judged based equally on the quality and presentation of their songs – with originality, lyricism, melody, harmonic structure, and overall songwriting craft among the criteria. Each of the finalists will also be afforded an opportunity to perform a set of songs on another stage as well during the festival. Visit https://www.wildflowerfestival.com for more information.

The Canadian Folk Music Awards were established in 2005 to bring greater exposure to the breadth and depth of Canadian folk music, celebrating and promoting it in all its forms. The annual awards in 21 categories were presented during four concerts showcasing many of the talented nominees. More than 100 jurors — located across Canada and representing all of its official provinces, territories and languages — determined the recipients in each category.

A complete list of winners in the 2026 Canadian Folk Music Awards nominees follows, while recorded livestreams of the concerts and awards presentations may be found, along with more information, online at www.folkawards.ca.

Stan Rogers Traditional Singer Award: Matthew Byrne – Stealing Time

Contemporary Singer of the Year: Julian Taylor – Pathways

Vocal Group of the Year: PIQSIQ – Legends

New Artist of the Year: Claire Morrison – Where Do You Go at Night?

French Songwriter of the Year: Guillaume Arsenault – Les plantes continuent de pousser même quand tu dors – Face B

English Songwriter of the Year: Terra Spencer – Sunset

Instrumental Solo Artist of the Year: Rachel Therrien – Mi Hogar II

Solo Artist of the Year: Lennie Gallant – Shelter From the Storms

Indigenous Songwriter of the Year:  TIE — Aysanabee – Edge Of The Earth and Inuksuk Mackay and Tiffany Ayalik (PIQSIQ) – Legends

Album Artwork of the Year: Ru Rose – Revival

Oliver Schroer Pushing the Boundaries Award: Oktoecho – Saimaniq Sivumut

Single of the Year: AHI – Human Kind

Contemporary Album of the Year: AHI – The Light Behind The Sun

Instrumental Composer of the Year: Eric Abramovitz, Rebekah Wolkstein and Drew Jurecka – Schmaltz and Pepper

Producer of the Year: Ben Plotnick for “Every Colour Left” by Loud in the Pines

Instrumental Group of the Year: The Fretless – Glasswing

Ensemble of the Year: Cassie and Maggie – Gold and Coal

Traditional Album of the Year: Matthew Byrne – Stealing Time

Global Roots Album of the Year: Kazdoura – Ghoyoum 

Children’s Album of the Year: Ginalina – All the Earth Speaks

Young Performer of the Year: Max Francis – Home

Bud Bierhaus (Katy, Texas), Charlie Chamberlain (Nashville, TN), Karen Dahlstrom (Brooklyn, NY), Gabe Israel (New York, NY), Claire Kelly (Nashville. TN), Sidney Kenley (Austin, TX), China Kent (Lakewood, CO), Lia Menaker (Philadelphia, PA), Giulia Millanta (Austin, TX), Sarah Morris (Shoreview, MN), Amanda Murari (Ypsilanti, MI), Natalie Price ((Madison, TN), Teni Rane (Chattanooga, TN), Stephanie Sammons (Dallas, TX), and Alicia Stockman (Heber City, UT) were selected as semifinalists by a panel of judges comprised of Susan Gibson, Josh Grider, Kim Richey, and Walt Wilkins.

There were no fees to enter the annual competition that was established in 2007 to provide performing songwriters with a platform to showcase their skills before their peers, a panel of esteemed judges and an appreciative audience of Americana, folk and roots music lovers. Songwriters had to submit four songs in mp3 format that were written and/or copyrighted within the last three years. They were evaluated based on lyrics (imagery, story, creativity, and originality), melody (structure, phrasing and rhythm), and performing ability (vocals, musicianship). Stage presence/audience rapport will also be taken into consideration during the semifinals and finals.

Each of the 15 semifinalists will perform two songs before the judges and an audience from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Following an hour-long lunch break, seven selected finalists will perform one different original song between 3 and 4 p.m. Prize money will be awarded to all participants immediately after the finals, while an awards ceremony is slated for 4:30 p.m. Ken Gaines, an award-winning singer-songwriter and former longtime host of a songwriters’ series at Houston’s famed Anderson Fair, will be the event’s emcee. Public tickets for the concert may be purchased online at songwriterserenade.com, where more information also may be found.

In addition to prize money, the first-place winner in the Songwriter Serenade will open a concert featuring the judges that evening at the TR Ranch in Halletsville, TX. Tickets for the concert, slated for 7-9 p.m., also may be purchased online.

Free room and board at the ranch is being provided to all of the semifinalists over the weekend. They will enjoy a Friday night barbecue and participate in a songwriting workshop with the judges on Sunday.

During the JUNO Awards Broadcast that aired live nationwide on CBC and CBC Gem and was viewed globally on CBC Music’s YouTube channel,  Joni Mitchell received thunderous applause as she took to the stage at the TD Coliseum to accept a Lifetime Achievement Award. In introducing her, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said: “Joni’s music didn’t just provide the soundtrack to our lives he shifted culture, inspired generations and redefined what songwriting could be.”

Gracing the stage, Mitchell, 82, said that she was “so happy to be in Canada [with] our wonderful prime minister.” Noting that she now lives in the United States, she continued “and you know what’s happening there. This man is a blessing. You guys are so fortunate.”

Following her brief remarks, the widely acclaimed Canadian-American singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist joined Sarah McLachlan, Allison Russell and other artists in a musical tribute to her body of work, which includes such notable songs as “Big Yellow Taxi,” “Both Sides, Now,” “Chelsea Morning,” “Help Me,” and “River.”

Mariel Buckley, whose October 2025 release Strange Trip Ahead (Birthday Cake Records) was named Contemporary Folk Album of the Year, is a Calgary, Alberta-based singer-songwriter. She is the younger sister of singer T. Buckley, with whom she has also recorded and performed together as a duo. Strange Trip Ahead was recorded in Nashville, Tennessee with her Edmonton-based band and produced by Jarrad K at Chateau Noir Studios. Her third full-length album, it was preceded by the critically acclaimed Everywhere I Used To Be (2022) and Driving In The Dark (2018). Although Buckley’s music may be genre defying, her songwriting reflects an intimate folk style. She tours Europe for several weeks this spring.

Morgan Toney, 27, whose Heal The Divide, was named Traditional Folk Album of the Year, is a Mi’kmaq folk singer-songwriter and fiddler from Nova Scotia. A member of he Wagmatcook First Nation, Toney performs and records music blends Celtic folk (reflective of Cape Breton) and the traditional, old songs of his people – a fusion that he calls Mikmatic) and describes as his way of celebrating his language and heritage. Heal The Divide is Toney’s third album. Preceding it were 2023’s Resilience, which was nominated for a Juno Award for Traditional Roots Album of the Year in 2024, and 2021’s First Flight, which was reissued in 2022 on Ishkode Records.

Also nominated for Contemporary Roots Album of the Year were The Hammer & The Rose (Matt Andersen), Purple Gas (Noeline Hofmann), These Dark Canyons (The Young Novelists), and Further From The Country (William Prince). The other Traditional Roots Music Album of the Year nominees included I Lost My Heart on Friday (Aerialists), Gold And Coal (Cassie and Maggie), The Moon’s Daughter (Heather MacIsaac), and Folk Signals (The Southern Residents).

Also of potential interest to AcousticMusicScene.com readers, Steven Marriner’s Hear My Heart was named Blues Album of the Year, while Sarah McLachlan’s Better Broken was named Adult Contemporary Album of the Year. Canadian pop star Tate McRae was the big winner, receiving awards in four of the six categories in which she was nominated: album of the year, artist of the year, single of the year, and pop album of the year.

For more information on Canada’s top music awards, including a complete listing of winners and the 248 nominees across 47 categories, visit https://junoawards.ca.

Nashville, Tennessee-based singer-songwriters Pete Mroz (who performed on NBC’s The Voice) and Maya DeVitry (formerly a founding member of the roots trio The Stray Birds) will deliver keynotes and perform during the conference, while some 130 other pre-selected musical acts and artists of various genres will showcase their talents at 15 local bars, restaurants and hotels on Friday and Saturday evenings.

Now in its 13th year, Singer-Songwriter Cape May launched in 2008, continued through 2019, and resumed in last year following a five-year hiatus. The conference also features two days of hour-long music business panel discussions and workshops, as well as mentoring sessions, at Congress Hall & Harrison Conference Center. There will be plenty of opportunities for networking with other singer-songwriters, musicians and music industry professionals.

While AcousticMusicScene.com is my labor of love, I am also a seasoned public relations and strategic communications professional and will moderate a panel discussion entitled “Story to Strategy: Marketing & Branding for Independent Acts & Artists” during a Friday afternoon conference session similar to one that I participated in last year.

The advent of artificial intelligence (AI) has many implications for the music industry and is rapidly changing how music is written, recorded and shared. Aspects of AI will be explored in three workshops. Professor Emeritus Jeff Snyder, who spent 25 years in higher education and chaired a music department, will lead ones on “AI … What Have You Done?” and “AI for Musicians: From Creation to Promotion,” while Dr. Michael Harrington, a frequent speaker at SS Cape May and other music conferences, will explain how to leverage AI as a creative tool while safeguarding your intellectual property in “Harnessing AI for Music Creation: A Legal Perspective.” Harrington, who created a popular Berklee College of Music course on copyright law in the music business, has served as an expert witness and co-authored amicus briefs on behalf of big-name artists and as a consultant in hundreds of music copyright and intellectual property matters.

Bill Pere, a Grammy Award-winning songwriter and author of Songcrafters’ Coloring Book, returns to the conference to again present a workshop on “Building A Successful Career as a Songwriter” and share “The 8 Keys to Success in the Music Business” in another one. His wife, Kay Pere, a nationally known vocal and creativity coach, again leads a workshop entitled “Regenerative Creativity: Making a Musical Life that Matters. The Peres have been sharing their decades of experience and knowledge on the craft and business of songwriting at SS Cape May every year since its inception and are glad to be returning. “Among the dozens of music conferences we have presented at over the last 30 years, SS Cape May is clearly one of the best for both new and experienced singer-songwriters to learn, network, and enhance their career goals,” they told AcousticMusicScene.com last year. “We always look forward to this weekend filled with the creative energy and aspirations of current and upcoming singer-songwriters.”

Lou Plaia (Hot Rats Entertainment), co-founder of ReverbNation – the world’s largest DIY artists services platform, moderates a panel discussion on “Maximizing Your Potential as a Musician,” Fellow music industry veteran Les Scott (Source Q Boutique), who specializes in music placement in film & television and has represented hundreds of writers and artists, speaks on “Marketing Your Music for Film & Television,” as well as “Breaking Down the Doors” of gatekeepers/decision makers. Other workshops and panel discussions will delve into “From Songs to Stages: Building a Sustainable Career as a Singer-Songwriter,”  “Recording and Releasing New Music in 2026,” “The Independent Advantage: Shaping the Future of the Music Industry,” “Redefining the Modern Musician: The Shift from ‘Artist Only’ to Creative Entrepreneur,” and “Maximizing Your Potential As a Musician.”

The conference registration desk opens at 10 a.m. on March 27, while panel discussions and workshops take place between 11:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. Showcasing artists and panelists will receive credentials for the conference, while a limited number of others may still register to attend the daytime events for $135. Evening showcase performances  — apart from those at Congress Hall featuring keynoters Laura Stevenson and Adam Weiner, which are ticketed — are free and open to the public. The venues hosting them are all within walking distance of Congress Hall.

For more information, to register for the conference, and to view the evening showcase schedules, visit www.sscapemay.com.

Sullivan –- whose songs draw inspiration from her own life experiences — was cited for her dedication to the craft, storytelling, stage demeanor, and immersion in the folk community. She beat out finalists Allison Strong and Us! (a trio comprised of AcousticMusicScene.com co-creator Glen Roethel, Judy Kass and Amy Soucy) in a competition that drew more than four times the number of applications than it has in previous years. The number of entries and quality of them made the listening- and decision-making process both time-consuming and challenging for judges Ron Olesko (a folk DJ and creator of Folk Music Notebook), Tina Ross (a singer-songwriter who won the award in 2022), and Debby St. Charles.

“I’m just so happy and grateful,” said Sullivan of receiving the award from the predominantly volunteer organization that that provides performance opportunities for and presents concerts by emerging and nationally touring singer-songwriters, and folk and acoustic musicians in DC, Maryland and Virginia. “To get that vote of confidence from the Focus Music judges has just felt so good. It comes at a time when I’m embarking on a third album and to have that message of support from the organization is really heartening and an encouraging reminder to keep on going,” she told AcousticMusicScene.com.

Sullivan — who primarily performs in the northeast U.S. and along the eastern seaboard —  describes her music as “story-driven folk.” She notes that the kind of songs that she personally loves are those that have a really vivid story attached to them – like ones penned by singer-songwriters Lori McKenna and Patty Griffin. “If you’re someone who likes music that’s going to immerse you in other people’s perspectives and stories, then my songs might be interesting to you,” she said.

In addition to McKenna and Griffin, she cites singer-songwriters Ellis Paul and Vance Gilbert as major inspirations. Sullivan has participated in Ellis Paul’s New England Songwriter Retreats for a number of years. “Those experiences have been game changers for me in terms of inspiration and building community for songwriters,” she said. “Another inspiration for me has been Vance Gilbert,” whom she calls “a real honest and loving mentor.” Noting that he’s someone who doesn’t pull punches, she said: “He just pursues everything with honesty and joy, and I’d like to do that too.”

Music has long been a major part of Sullivan’s life. She recalls taking piano and voice lessons from her grandmother during childhood. However, she didn’t start playing guitar or writing songs until after graduating from Amherst College. While living in and teaching elementary school in New York City, she and Amy Speace, a college friend who is also a noted singer-songwriter, formed a band, Edith O. that performed at venues across the city and released an album called Tattooed Queen. Although marriage, children and her career in education (as both a teacher and an administrator) prompted her to put music on the back-burner for years, Sullivan resumed writing and performing in 2018 and released her debut album in 2021. Entitled We Can Have Each Other, it reached #10 on the monthly Folk Alliance International Folk Radio Charts, and was followed up in 2024 by Signposts and Marks, which reached #4 on the top albums chart during the month that it was released.

Sullivan was named the winner of the Al Johnson Performing Songwriter Award during the 2025 Wildflower! Arts & Music Festival in Richardson, Texas and looks forward to performing at the festival in May. She also was voted a “Most Wanted to Return” Artists by festival attendees following the Grassy Hill Emerging Artist Showcase at the 2023 Falcon Ridge Folk Festival, won the Rose Garden Coffeehouse Performing Songwriter Competition that year, and has been a finalist in a number of other songwriting competitions.

Beyond providing recognition and support, the Heyman Rising Artist Award includes $1,000, which Sullivan plans to use towards producing her third album with Doug Kwartler at Hollow Body Studios near Boston, Massachusetts.

The Heyman Rising Artist Award is named for Vic and Reba Heyman, who were widely viewed as “folk angels” for their staunch, decades-long support of artists – especially those early in their careers. Reba Heyman, who passed away in June 2021 2021 at age 84, grew up in Chevy Chase, Maryland and lived in Rockville, MD for decades. Along with her husband Vic, who died years earlier, she was an integral part of the folk music community in Maryland, South Florida and nationally for many years. The couple was known for their generous financial backing for folk festivals and artists, and also formerly ran a concert series in Rockville known as Vic’s Music Corner. They also launched and ran Heyman Mailing Service for many years (a godsend for artists in the pre-Internet days), served on the boards of several music festivals, and established a scholarship fund for performing artists. In her later years, Reba Heyman spent considerable time in Florida and co-presented the South Florida Folk Festival Singer-Songwriter Competition, whose winners received the Vic Heyman Songwriting Award – including a cash prize and the opportunity to perform at the festival.

There are no fees to enter the completion in which songwriters are evaluated based on lyrics (imagery, story, creativity, and originality), melody (structure, phrasing, and rhythm), and performing ability (vocals, musicianship). Stage presence/audience rapport also will be taken into consideration during the semifinals and finals in May. Tickets for both the daytime contest and an evening concert are available to the public.

Online entry forms, along with complete contest rules and additional information, may be found at songwriterserenade.com. Songwriters are expected to fill out the form and attach four songs in mp3 format, along with titles and lyrics. A link to a live performance — preferably of one or more of the submitted songs — also should be included. All submitted songs must have been written and/or copyrighted within the last three years and each must not exceed five minutes in length.

Songwriters selected as semifinalists will be notified by April 3. To participate, they must commit to being present for the entire weekend’s events — including a Friday evening barbecue, the competition on Saturday (from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.) and an evening concert by the four event judges (singer-songwriters Susan Gibson, Josh Grider, Kim Richey, and Walt Wilkins) and the competition winner, as well as a songwriting workshop on Sunday with the judges. All of the semifinalists will be provided with free room and board at the nearby TR Ranch over the weekend.

Songwriter Serenade was established in 2007 to provide performing songwriters with a platform to showcase their skills before their peers, a panel of esteemed singer-songwriters who serve as judges, and an audience of music lovers. Last year’s first-place winner was Brittany Ann Tranbaugh.

Here’s a link to enjoy the official video for the title track of Emily Scott Robinson’s new album, Appalachia:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K3aXlQxR8CY

And here’s a link to official audio for Bruce Springsteen’s “Streets of Minneapolis”:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wWKSoxG1K7w

The February 2026 top albums, songs and artists charts are based on 10,401 airplays reported on 364 playlists submitted by 101 different folk DJs. The number of reported spins is shown below in parentheses.

Folk Alliance International (https://folk.org) is a nonprofit organization that aims to serve, strengthen, and engage the global folk music community through preservation, presentation and promotion.

Top Albums of February 2026

1. Appalachia by Emily Scott Robinson (102)
2. All Tied Together by Ye Vagabonds (67)
3. King of Hearts by Paul Kaplan (65)
4. Together Again by Tom Paxton & John McCutcheon (63)
5. Songs of Hope by Tom Chapin (53)
6. Business Unusual by Goodnight Moonshine (49)
7. Flight of the Robin by Debi Smith (43)
8. All That Really Matters by Kim Moberg (41)
9. Magic Accident by Della Mae (37)
9. World’s Gone Wrong by Lucinda Williams (37)
11. Questioning the Forty by Kevin Neidig (36)
12. Driftwood by Weary Ramblers (35)
13. Pet by Big Richard (31)
14. Maggie’s Journal by Valerie Smith (30)
15. Here and Gone by Sara Thomsen (29)
16. Unentitled by John Gorka (27)
17. Empire by Kray Van Kirk (26)
18. Circle and Square by Eric Brace and Thomm Jutz (25)
18. Where We Go by Jesse Appelman (25)
20. Wild and Clear and Blue by I’m With Her (24)
21. Fish Crow by M Sparks (23)
22. Bones of Trees by Tim Grimm (22)
22. Strangely in Tune by Diane Coll (22)
24. The Blue Rock Session by Amy Speace (21)
24. Since You Asked Me by Jan Krist (21)
26. The Work, the Hope, the Promise by Wes Weddell (20)
26. Ivyland by James O’Malley (20)
28. O California! by Laurie Lewis & the Right Hands (19)
28. Sad and Beautiful World by Mavis Staples (19)
28. Safe, Sensible and Sane by Alison Brown and Steve Martin (19)
31. Fallen Angel by The Unfaithful Servants (17)
32. Valentine by Courtney Marie Andrews (16)
32. Havin’ a Talk by Melissa Carper and Theo Lawrence (16)
34. Field Notes by Dave Gunning (15)
34. Act 1 by Kashus Culpepper (15)
34. Don’t Drink the Poison by Linda Sussman (15)
37. Voisinages by Le Vent Du Nord (14)
37. The Ground Is Changing by Andi Jane (14)
37. Keep Going by Ken Whiteley (14)
37. Avec Elodie by Eloise & Co (14)
37. Bringing the Light by Hot Tamale (14)
37. One Mississippi by Eric Bibb (14)
43. You Climb the Mountain by The Onlies (13)
43. Dark Ages by Eliza Gilkyson (13)
43. Code to Live By by Grant Peeples (13)
43. Black Banjo by Tray Wellington (13)
43. Spring Green by Mark Erelli (13)
48. Shelter From the Storms by Lennie Gallant (12)
48. A Tip Toe High Wire by Sierra Hull (12)
50. Feather and the Starry Crown: Sons of the Never Wrong by Sons of
the Never Wrong (11)
50. The Knot by The Waymores (11)
50. Together on a Rock by The Pairs (11)
50. Carolina Mountains by Sparrow Smith (11)
50. Passages by Eric Kilburn (11)

Top Songs of February 2026

1. “Streets of Minneapolis” by Bruce Springsteen (34)
2. “The Ballad of Husker Scruggs” by Hana Zara (31)
3. “Appalachia” by Emily Scott Robinson (21)
4. “A Song for Minnesota” by Katie Dahl (19)
4. “I Lie” by Joe Jencks (19)
6. “It’s Not for Sale” by Joe Jencks (17)
7. “The Flood” by Ye Vagabonds (15)
8. “Millionaire” by Big Richard (14)
8. “I Will Keep You Warm” by Paul Kaplan (14)
10. “The Time for Flowers” by Emily Scott Robinson (13)
11. “Sleeves Up” by Crys Matthews (12)
11. “Full Tank and Good Fried Chicken” by M Sparks (12)
11. “America’s Game” by John Flynn (12)
11. “Hymn for the Unholy” by Emily Scott Robinson (12)
11. “Cast Iron Heart” by Emily Scott Robinson (12)
16. “Quite Early Morning” by Tom Chapin (11)
16. “The Water Is Wide” by Emily Scott Robinson (11)
16. “The King of Hearts” by Paul Kaplan (11)
16. “Dirtbag Saloon” by Emily Scott Robinson (11)
16. “Ancient Light” by I’m With Her (11)
21. “At the End of the Day” by Ken Whiteley (10)
21. “Hold On” by Jillian Matundan (10)
21. “No Time to Cry” by John Gorka (10)
21. “Hold Our Ground Forever” by Tom Chapin (10)
21. “If I Were Free” by Naomi Sommers (10)

Top Artists of February 2026

1. Emily Scott Robinson (107)
2. Ye Vagabonds (71)
3. Paul Kaplan (66)
4. Tom Paxton & John McCutcheon (63)
5. Tom Chapin (53)
6. Joe Jencks (52)
7. Goodnight Moonshine (49)
8. Bruce Springsteen (46)
9. Debi Smith (44)
10. Lucinda Williams (43)
11. Kim Moberg (42)
12. Della Mae (41)
13. John Gorka (36)
13. Kevin Neidig (36)
13. Weary Ramblers (36)
16. Bob Dylan (34)
17. Hana Zara (32)
18. Valerie Smith (31)
18. Big Richard (31)
20. Sara Thomsen (30)
21. John Prine (28)
21. Tim Grimm (28)
23. I’m With Her (27)
24. Willie Nelson (26)
24. Kray Van Kirk (26)
24. Amy Speace (26)
27. Eliza Gilkyson (25)
27. Pete Seeger (25)
27. Eric Brace and Thomm Jutz (25)
27. Jesse Appelman (25)
31. Mavis Staples (24)
32. M Sparks (23)
32. Eric Bibb (23)
32. Highwaymen (23)
35. Diane Coll (22)
36. Jan Krist (21)
36. Dave Gunning (21)
36. Crys Matthews (21)
36. Wes Weddell (21)
36. Woody Guthrie (21)
36. Joni Mitchell (21)

Born Roy Alan Bookbinder in Queens, New York on October 5, 1943, he took up the guitar following a tour of duty in the U.S. Navy, after acquiring his first instrument in Italy and returning to New York. A student and friend of the Reverend Gary Davis, whom he met in 1966 and with whom he also toured during the late 1960s, Book Binder launched his career during the folk and blues revival in New York’s Greenwich Village, where he was a frequent participant in open mics hosted by Dave Van Ronk, The Mayor of MacDougal Street, In the early 1970s,Book Binder recorded Travelin’ Man, his first solo acoustic album on Adelphi Records, left his abode in the Village, and began rambling around the world. A real road warrior and contemporary itinerant bluesman, he traveled extensively across the U.S. in a motor home, while also playing festivals and other gigs around Canada, Europe and Australia. The Travelin’ Man and The Book, as he was alternately known, also joined Bonnie Raitt on an east coast tour and toured with Jorma Kaukonen (who recorded two of Book Binder’s songs – “The Preacher Picked the Guitar” and “Another Man Done A Full Go Round,” and invited him to teach guitar at his Fur Peace Ranch — which he did for some 20 years). During the late 1980s, Book Binder made nearly 30 appearances on Nashville Now with Ralph Emory on cable TV’s The Nashville Network (TNN).

A resident of St. Petersburg, Florida, Book Binder was a consummate entertainer known for his distinctive fingerpicking style and slide arrangements, along with his captivating storytelling. His engaging concert and festival performances were punctuated with humorous anecdotes and personal stories.

“I don’t play gigs in places where I wouldn’t go socially,” Book Binder once told thecountryblues.com. “I don’t play the bar blues scene. It’s not my thing. I am just a folk player. Until I started my own label, I didn’t know you could make money from selling records. I had recorded plenty of times, but I never got paid by the labels. So I started my own.”

Although Book Binder helped to keep old-time folk songs and the Piedmont blues tradition alive through the decades and had a vast repertoire, he also wrote and recorded his own songs. Beginning in the late 1990s, he released albums on his own independent label (Peg Leg Records) after having previously recorded for Adelphi, Blue Goose, Flying Fish, Kicking Mule, and Rounder Records.

Book Binder — who died just days after one of his acoustic blues and roots music contemporaries, John Hammond — leaves behind his second wife, Nancy, whom he married in 1999, his brothers Michael and Paul, and a vast repertoire of music and memories.

A follow-up to their acclaimed 2023 release (Together) that similarly topped folk radio charts, Together Again features 14 new co-written songs by Paxton (88) and McCutcheon (73). Amid the pandemic in 2021, the two met weekly for songwriting sessions over Zoom and came up with enough songs for an album. After Together’s release, they realized that they had more than enough material for another one and recorded Together Again. The album features a mix of songs – political, humorous and nostalgic, along with a baseball tale.

[Here’s a link to listen to the album’s opening track,  “The Future,” a cinematically poignant and reflective ballad: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mmlw1TkZvcY.]

Tom Paxton  — a prolific songwriter who is known for such songs as “The Last Thing On My Mind,” “Bottle of Red,” “Whose Garden Was This, “ and Ramblin’ Boy” has retired from the road but has been writing songs and recording professionally for more than 60 years. A Lifetime Achievement Award recipient from ASCAP, BBC Radio 2, Folk Alliance International, and the Recording Academy, Paxton also has had his songs covered by many notable artists. These include Johnny Cash, Judy Collins, John Denver, Willie Nelson, and Peter, Paul & Mary, among others. Bluegrass Sings Paxton, a multi-artist collection of a dozen select songs penned by him and performed by a wide array of bluegrass singers and pickers, topped the FAI Folk Albums Chart during the fall of 2024.

John McCutcheon, a prolific songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, has been a performing =and recording artists since the mid-1970s and a frequent presence on the FAI Folk Charts. A number of his albums and songs have topped the monthly folk charts over the years, while he was the most-played artist for three consecutive years (2017-2019) and also had the top album  (To Everyone in All the World: A Celebration of Pete Seeger) and top song  (“Well May The World Go”) on folk radio during 2019. McCutcheon’s classic “Christmas in the Trenches “ has been among the most-played songs during the holiday season for years. A longtime labor and social activist, McCutcheon is a former president of Local 1000 – the traveling musicians union.

The January 2026 top albums, songs and artists charts are based on 10,424 airplays reported on 344 playlists submitted by 97 different folk DJs. The number of reported spins is shown below in parentheses.

Folk Alliance International (folk.org) is a nonprofit organization that aims to serve, strengthen, and engage the global folk music community through preservation, presentation and promotion.

Top Albums of January 2026

1. Together Again by Tom Paxton and John McCutcheon (117)
2. Maggie’s Journal by Valerie Smith (62)
3. The Blue Rock Session by Amy Speace (60)
4. Circle and Square by Eric Brace and Thomm Jutz (57)
5. Unentitled by John Gorka (43)
6. Where We Go by Jesse Appelman (34)
7. Since You Asked Me by Jan Krist (29)
8. Together on a Rock by The Pairs (28)
8. Safe, Sensible and Sane by Alison Brown and Steve Martin (28)
8. You Climb the Mountain by The Onlies (28)
11. Long Journey Home: A Century After the 1925 Mountain City
Fiddlers Convention by Various Artists (24)
12. Strangely in Tune by Diane Coll (22)
13. Bones of Trees by Tim Grimm (21)
13. The Work, the Hope, the Promise by Wes Weddell (21)
13. Party in the Pines by Dave Miller (21)
13. From Here to the Sea by Meredith Moon (21)
17. Driftwood by Weary Ramblers (20)
18. Voisinages by Le Vent Du Nord (19)
18. So Much I Still Don’t See by Sam Robbins (19)
18. Hummingbird Highway by Dar Williams (19)
18. Wild and Clear and Blue by I’m With Her (19)
18. Hill Country Folk Music by Terry Klein (19)
18. Gold and Coal by Cassie and Maggie (19)
18. Dark Ages by Eliza Gilkyson (19)
18. Empire by Kray Van Kirk (19)
26. Tip of the Spear by Doug Mishkin (18)
26. A Tip Toe High Wire by Sierra Hull (18)
28. Hardscrabble Hope by Maria Dunn (16)
28. Personal History by Mary Chapin Carpenter (16)
28. Bringing the Light by Hot Tamale (16)
28. The Breathing Room by Cosy Sheridan (16)
28. Nightclothes by Annie Gallup (16)
33. Code to Live By by Grant Peeples (15)
33. So Long Little Miss Sunshime by Molly Tuttle (15)
33. Here and Gone by Sara Thomsen (15)
33. Ivyland by James O’Malley (15)
33. The Wind Will Change Again by The Twangtown Paramours (15)
38. A Feather in a Hurricane by Oliver the Crow (14)
38. Avec Elodie by Eloise & Co (14)
38. Reclamation by Crys Matthews (14)
38. Arcadia by Alison Krauss and Union Station (14)
38. Workin’ Man: Willie Sings Merle by Willie Nelson (14)
43. Field of Stars by John McCutcheon (13)
43. Sad and Beautiful World by Mavis Staples (13)
45. Appalachia by Emily Scott Robinson (12)
45. Songs From a Secret Room by Chris Rusin (12)
45. Blue Mountain by Bob Weir (12)
45. Southern Sky by Danny Burns (12)
49. The Woods Have Shown Us by Ponyfolk (11)
49. In the West by The Horsenecks (11)
49. Labor of Love by Tinsley Ellis (11)

Top Songs of January 2026

1.”The Future” by Tom Paxton and John McCutcheon (22)
2. “Artie’s Last Stand” by Tom Paxton and John McCutcheon (18)
3. “Robots” by Annie Gallup (16)
3. “Raise Your Hand” by Crowes Pasture (16)
5. “Blue Kentucky Girl” by Tiffany Williams (15)
6. “Peggy-O” by The McDades (14)
6. “Pathfinder” by Tom Paxton and John McCutcheon (14)
6. “Particle and Wave (Goodness in the World)” by John Gorka (14)
9. “The Sea and the Shore” by Amy Speace (12)
9. “The Ballad of Husker Scruggs” by Hana Zara (12)
9. “Tough Like That” by Sara Thomsen (12)
12. “Fontana Dam” by Eric Brace and Thomm Jutz (10)
12. “If They’d Been Black” by Doug Mishkin (10)
12. “Kindness” by Amy Speace (10)
12. “Lay This Old Guitar Down” by Tom Paxton and John McCutcheon (10)
12. “That Was a Long Time Ago” by Valerie Smith (10)
12. “Cheatin’ When I’m Eatin'” by Tom Paxton and John McCutcheon (10)
18. “On a Monday in London” by Amy Speace (9)
18. “Since You Asked Me” by Jan Krist (9)
18. “10 to 4” by Eric Brace and Thomm Jutz (9)
21. “Waves on the Sea” by The Onlies (8)
21. “A Friend Like You” by The Milk Carton Kids (8)
21. “Both Sides Now” by Cassandra Kubinski (8)
21. “Sugar Magnolia” by Grateful Dead (8)
21. “Broken Truth” by Tim Grimm (8)
21. “Magic Accident” by Della Mae (8)
21. “Dark Night of the Soul” by Eliza Gilkyson (8)
21. “Stop at Nothing” by Tom Paxton and John McCutcheon (8)
21. “The Victim Tree” by John Flynn (8)

Top Artists of January 2026

1.Tom Paxton and John McCutcheon (118)
2. Amy Speace (67)
3. Valerie Smith (63)
4. Eric Brace and Thomm Jutz (57)
5. John Gorka (50)
6. Joan Baez (49)
7. Grateful Dead (36)
8. Bob Dylan (35)
8. Pete Seeger (35)
10. Jesse Appelman (34)
11. Mavis Staples (32)
12. Dar Williams (30)
12. Molly Tuttle (30)
14. Jan Krist (29)
14. John McCutcheon (29)
14. The Onlies (29)
17. Alison Brown and Steve Martin (28)
17. Tiffany Williams (28)
17. The Pairs (28)
20. Eliza Gilkyson (27)
21. Phil Ochs (26)
21. Cassie and Maggie (26)
23. Dolly Parton (25)
23. The Mavericks (25)
25. Joe Ely (24)
25. Willie Nelson (24)
25. Dave Miller (24)
25. Diane Coll (24)
29. Crowes Pasture (23)
29. Bob Weir (23)
31. I’m With Her (22)
31. Sierra Hull (22)
31. Mary Chapin Carpenter (22)
31. Meredith Moon (22)
31. Joni Mitchell (22)
31. Tim Grimm (22)
37. Wes Weddell (21)
37. Cosy Sheridan (21)
37. Grant Peeples (21)
40. Le Vent Du Nord (20)
40. Weary Ramblers (20)
40. Colleen Kattau (20)
40. Kray Van Kirk (20)
40. Sam Robbins (20)