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)

The finalists, chosen from among nearly 200 entries, are Caitlin Cannon (Nashville,TN), Lyle de Vitry (Asheville, NC), Rob Drabkin (Denver, CO), Jackson Emmer (Carbondale, CO), Daphne Gale (New York, NY), Amy Keeler (Pugwash Junction, NS, Canada), Gabrielle Louise (Paonia, CO), Sean Magwire (Oxford, MA), Halley Neal (Nashville, TN), and Eliza Thorp (Petoskey, MI). Named as alternates were Lalo Hart (Evergreen, CO) and Sarah Morris (Shoreview, MN).

Each of the ten finalists – who were judged on the basis of their songs’ composition, vocal delivery, and the overall presentation/performance — will perform two original songs in the preliminary round at the Elks Park Stage in downtown Telluride on Thursday afternoon, while the top five finalists will perform two different original songs in the final round the following afternoon. In addition to a complimentary four-day festival pass, each finalist also receives an in-the-round performance slot in Elks Park and will participate in a live radio interview and performance with local station KOTO. The winner performs a 15-minute set on the festival’s main stage on Saturday evening.

The Telluride Troubadour Competition is open to anyone who writes and performs original music and who is not currently signed to a major recording or publishing deal. It has been held in conjunction with the Telluride Bluegrass Festival since 1991, although there hasn’t been one since 2019 – prior to the pandemic. That year’s Telluride Troubadour was Emily Scott Robinson (Greensboro, NC).

More information on the 2023 Telluride Troubadour Competition and on the Telluride Bluegrass Festival can be found online at www.bluegrass.com/telluride.

The finalists, chosen from among nearly 300 entries, are Clara Baker (Portland, OR), Cecilia Castleman (Nashville, TN), Wes Collins (Chapel Hill, NC), Jeff Cramer (Denver, CO), Connor Garvey (Portland, ME), Billy Huston (Boulder, CO), Tim Ostdiek (Longmont, CO), Emily Scott Robinson (Greensboro, NC), Alexa Wildish (Boulder, CO), and Ira Wolf (Nashville, TN). Liv Greene (Boston, MA) and Kimberly Townsend (New York, NY) were named as alternates.

Last year’s Telluride Troubadour winner was Garrett Owen of Dallas, Texas.

Each of this year’s finalists – who were judged on the basis of their songs’ composition, vocal delivery, and the overall presentation/performance — will perform two original songs in the preliminary round at the Elks Park Stage in downtown Telluride on Thursday afternoon, June 20, while the top five finalists will perform two different original songs in the final round the following afternoon. In addition to a complimentary four-day festival pass, each finalist also receives an in-the-round performance slot in Elks Park and an opportunity to perform a “tweener” song on the festival’s main stage. The winner performs a 15-minute set on the festival’s main stage on Saturday evening.

Here’s a link to listen to a Soundcloud stream of songs by each of the finalists:

https://soundcloud.com/planetbluegrass/sets/2019-telluride-troubadour-finalists

More information on the 2019 Telluride Troubadour Competition and on the Telluride Bluegrass Festival can be found online at www.bluegrass.com/telluride.

The singer-songwriter competition – open to anyone who writes and performs original music and who is not currently signed to a major recording or publishing deal — drew more than 300 song entries from around the world. A panel of music industry professionals judged the entrants on the quality of the song’s composition, vocal delivery, and the overall performance.

This year’s finalists include Clint Alphin (Nashville, TN), Jackson Emmer (Carbondale, CO), Monica Marie (Lyons, CO), Brian Pounds (Austin, TX), Jobi Riccio (Denver, CO), Emily Scott Robinson (Greensboro, NC), Kira Small (Nashville, TN), Mike Stocksdale (Culver City, CA), Ira Wolf (Nashville, TN), and Frankie Zwick (Nashville, TN). J. Klein (Tampa, FL) and Jana Pochop (Austin, TX) were named as alternates.

During their main stage performances, a panel of judges will evaluate their songs and select the winners based on a scoring criteria that includes quality of composition (50%), vocal rendering (25%), and quality of delivery (25%). Following the Songwriter Showcase, the winners will be announced from the main stage. The first-place winner will receive a Main Stage set during next year’s festival, along with a Taylor guitar and $400, while cash prizes also will be awarded to the other finalists. Heather Mae (Washington, DC) was the 2017 winner.

More information on the Rocky Mtn Folks Songwriters Showcase and the festival of which it is a part may be found online at www.bluegrass.com/ folks/contests.html.

Feb. 1 Deadline Nears for Chris Austin Songwriting Contest

Now in its 26th year, the Chris Austin Songwriting Contest affords aspiring writers an opportunity to have their original songs heard and judged by a panel of music industry professionals, under the direction of volunteer contest chairperson, Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter Jim Lauderdale. The first place winners will receive $600 and a performance slot on the Cabin Stage on Friday and Saturday at MerleFest 2018. Founded 30 years ago in memory of the late Eddy Merle Watson, son of American music legend Doc Watson, MerleFest is considered one of America’s premier music festivals

Rodney Crowell, Andrew Marlin (of Mandolin Orange), and previous winner Johnny Williams (of Jeanette Williams Band) will judge the on-site final round of this year’s contest on April 27.

The contest entry deadline is February 1. Submissions, including a $30 fee per entry, may be made using the online entry form or by mailing entries to MerleFest/CASC, PO Box 120, Wilkesboro, NC 28697. All lyrics must be written in English and no instrumentals will be accepted. For more information about the contest rules and how to enter, visit: http://merlefest.org/chris-austin-songwriting-contest/enter-the-contest/.

The Chris Austin Songwriting Contest was established to honor the memory of Chris Austin, a songwriter and former sideman for Ricky Skaggs. Austin’s life was tragically cut short when a private plane carrying him and six other members of Reba McEntire’s band, as well as her tour manager, crashed in California in 1991. In the contest that is open to those whose primary source of income is not derived from songwriting or publishing, songs are judged based on originality, lyrics, melody and overall commercial potential. Previous winners of the contest include Gillian Welch, Tift Merritt, Michael Reno Harrell, Adrienne Young, Martha Scanlan, David Via, Eliot Bronson and Johnny Williams. Net proceeds from the contest help support the Wilkes Community College Chris Austin Memorial Scholarship that has provided financial support to 86 students since its inception.

2018 Al Johnson Performing Songwriter Contest Opens

A panel of judges will choose ten finalists to perform two songs on the Singer-Songwriter Stage during the 26th annual event that is billed as North Texas’ largest music festival. The ten finalists will compete for cash prizes and be judged based on both their songwriting craft and the presentation of their songs. Four of them will each receive $500. All performing finalists will receive festival passes for themselves and a guest, lodging, green room access for food and beverages, and the opportunity to perform solo sets on the festival’s Courtyard Stage. The four winners will also be featured in a 75-minute spotlight round on Sunday afternoon.

Last year’s winners were Mike Laureanno (Rhode Island), Tom Meny (Texas) and Emily Scott Robinson (Texas), while Healther Mae (Washington, DC) was the Michael Terry People’s Choice Winner. The contest is named after the late Alton (Al) Walter Johnson, who managed the festival’s singer-songwriter stage for years.

For complete contest rules and more information, visit www.wildflowerfestival.com/songwriter-contest-workshop/.

Entries Continue to Be Accepted for the 2018 Kerrville New Folk Competition

As previously posted on AcousticMusicScene.com, Entries are also now being accepted for the 2018 Grassy Hill Kerrville New Folk Competition for Emerging Songwriters, to be held on Saturday and Sunday, May 26 and 27, 2018, during the first weekend of the 47th Annual Kerrville Folk Festival in the Texas Hill Country. The first 800 entries received by February 28 will be judged, and 32 finalists will be named in April.

Six songwriters will be named as 2018 New Folk Award Winners after performing, along with the 26 other finalists, at the Threadgill Theater on the Quiet Valley Ranch Campgrounds. A Kerrville New Folk Winners concert is slated for Sunday, June 3.

Songwriters may send two original songs (written after Jan. 1, 2016) on a home-burned CD to the Kerrville Folk Festival office, email them in .mp3 format along with a completed entry form, or submit them online via Sonicbids. The entry fee is $25. Official guidelines, along with entry information and forms, are posted at www.kerrville-music.com/new-folk.

Established in 1972 at the urging of Peter Yarrow, the Kerrville New Folk Concerts have become a highlight of the annual festival that is geared towards singer-songwriters of various musical styles.

The ten finalists selected by a panel of judges, based on both their songwriting craft and the presentation of their songs, are Hannah Bethel (Tennessee), Kevin Chambers (Tennessee), Nathan Evans Fox (Texas), Mike Laureanno (Rhode Island), Heather Mae (Washington, DC), Tom Meny (Texas), Emmeline Miles (Texas), Emily Scott Robinson (Texas), Marilyn Rucker (Texas), and Mike P. Ryan (Virginia).

After showcasing their talents on Saturday, May 20, four of the finalists will receive $500 each and will perform in a 75-minute spotlight round on Sunday afternoon, while $100 will be awarded to the remaining six. All ten finalists will also be invited to perform sets on the festival’s Courtyard Stage.

Other artists slated to perform on the Singer Songwriter Stage during the festival include Albert and Gage, Rj Cowdery, Joe Crookston (who also presents a day-long songwriting workshop on Friday that’s limited to 30 students), Jon Christopher Davis, Justin Farren, The Flyin’ A’s, John Fullbright, Butch Hancock, Shake Russell and Michael Hearne with Mike Roberts, Ryanhood, 2-Bit Palomino, and Beth Wood.

In addition to its Singer Songwriter and Courtyard Stages, Wildflower! will feature several other stages with an eclectic array of musical artists (ranging from rockers The B-52s and Lynyrd Skynrd to southern country rockers The Outlaws, folk-rockers Orleans, and soulful blues and folk singer-songwriter Ruthie Foster), as well as the Wild! Marketplace, a Taste of Texas Food Garden, a Kidz Korner family area and petting zoo, strolling entertainers, and more.

Three-day festival passes may be purchased online for $65, while single-day adult tickets are available for $30 online and $40 at the gate. For more information, including performance schedules and a ticket link, visit www.wildflowerfestival.com.

Songwriters may send two original songs (written after Jan. 1, 2015) on a home-burned CD to the Kerrville Folk Festival office, email them in .mp3 format along with a completed entry form, or submit them online via Sonicbids. The entry fee is $25. Official guidelines, along with entry information and forms, are posted at www.kerrvillefolkfestival.org/new-folk.

Six songwriters will be named as 2017 New Folk Winners after performing, along with 26 other finalists, in the Grassy Hill Kerrville New Folk Concerts in May at the Threadgill Theater on the Quiet Valley Ranch Campgrounds. A Kerrville New Folk Winners concert is slated for Sunday, June 4.
The six songwriters named as winners in last year’s competition were Addie Brownlee, Ben De La Cour, Justin Farren, Rachel Laven, Emily Scott Robinson and Joe Shields.

Established in 1972 at the urging of Peter Yarrow, the Kerrville New Folk Concerts have become a highlight of the annual festival that is geared towards singer-songwriters of various musical styles. It is the longest continuously running festival of its kind in North America. In addition to receiving cash awards and additional performance opportunities, being named as a New Folk Winner is regarded as a very prestigious honor.

Addie Brownlee (Brooklyn, NY), Ben de la Cour (Nashville, TN), Justin Farren (Sacramento, CA), Rachel Laven (San Antonio, TX), Emily Scott Robinson (Chattanooga, TN) and Joe Shields (Alto, MI) will each perform 20-minute sets during a Grassy Hill Kerrville New Folk Winners concert at the festival on Sunday afternoon, June 5, and will receive cash honorariums and other prizes.

Established in 1972 at the urging of Peter Yarrow, 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. Being named as a New Folk Winner is regarded as a very prestigious honor.

In addition to concerts each evening, Kerrville features “Ballad Tree” song-sharing sessions, campfire jam sessions, concerts and activities for children, organized canoe trips on the Guadelupe River and Hill Country bike rides, a professional development program for teachers, as well as a three-day songwriters school and instrumental workshops. The festival extends through Sunday, June 12. For more information, visit www.kerrville-music.com.

Scheduled to perform (in order of performance) at the Threadgill Theater on the Quiet Valley Ranch Campgrounds in the Texas Hill Country on May 28, from 1-4 p.m., are Annalise Emerick (Nashville, TN), Rachel Laven (San Antonio, TX), Ro Colegrove (Jamaica Plain, MA), Freddy & Francine (Los Angeles, CA), Donal Hinely (Springfield, TN), Kirsten Maxwell (Huntington, NY), The River Has Many Voices (Austin, TX), Karyn Oliver (New York, NY), Heather Mae (Washington DC), Kelley McRae (Austin, TX), Justin Farren (Sacramento, CA), Annika Bennett (Breezy Point, NY), Dear June (Boston, MA), Michael Braunfeld (Philadelphia, PA), Bob Hillman (San Francisco, CA) and Avery Hill (Portland, OR)

New Folk Finalists slated to perform on May 29 include Aaron Smith (Harrison, AR), Ezra Vancil (Dallas, TX), Joe Shields (Alto, MI), Emily Scott Robinson (Chattanooga, TN), Addie Brownlee (Brooklyn, NY), Ben de la Cour (Nashville, TN), Mare Wakefield and Nomad (Nashville, TN), Grant Peeples (Tallahassee, FL), Meg Braun (Nashville, TN), Randy Palmer (Amarillo, TX), Josh Harvey (San Francisco, CA), Suzanna Choffel (New York, NY), Twangtown Paramours (Nashville, TN), Daniel Champagne (Nashville, TN), Aly Tadros (Brooklyn, NY) and Bethel Steele (Ft Collins, CO).

Named as alternates were Mike Laureanno (Providence, RI), Santiago La Rochelle (Las Vegas, NV), Jeremy Nash (New York, NY), Alex Woodward (Encinitas, CA), and Susan Cattaneo (Medford, MA).

After performing, six songwriters will be selected as 2016 New Folk Winners by noted songwriters Johnsmith, Cheryl Wheeler and Kenny White, who are serving as judges. The six will receive cash honorariums and other prizes, as well as the opportunity to return the following weekend to each perform 20-minute sets during a Grassy Hill Kerrville New Folk Winners concert at the festival on Sunday afternoon, June 5.

Established in 1972 at the urging of Peter Yarrow, 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. Being named as a New Folk Winner is regarded as a very prestigious honor.

In addition to concerts each evening, Kerrville features “Ballad Tree” song-sharing sessions, campfire jam sessions, concerts and activities for children, organized canoe trips on the Guadelupe River and Hill Country bike rides, a professional development program for teachers, as well as a three-day songwriters school and instrumental workshops. The festival runs for 18 straight days – Thursday, May 26– Sunday, June 12. For a complete schedule and additional information, visit www.kerrville-music.com.