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)

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)

The November 2025 top albums, songs and artists charts are based on 11,366 airplays reported on 373 playlists submitted by 99 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.

Editor’s Note: I would have posted the charts last week but was preoccupied with other important matters.

The October 2025 top albums, songs and artists charts are based on 10,245 airplays reported on 349 playlists submitted by 99 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 October 2025

[Here’s a link to view a video for “Par-dessus le pont,” the first single from Voisonages, Le Vent Du Nord’s #1 album on folk radio in October 2025: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCueZgiKkHyrcWYwWHEJuS3A]

1. Voisinages by Le Vent Du Nord (80)
2. Bones of Better Days by The Whispering Tree (72)
3. Long Journey Home: A Century After the 1925 Mountain City
Fiddlers by Various Artists (64)
4. Unentitled by John Gorka (61)
5. Safe, Sensible and Sane by Alison Brown & Steve Martin (57)
6. The Breathing Room by Cosy Sheridan (53)
7. Every Town by Anne Hills (52)
8. The Agonist by Leslie Jordan (43)
8. Wide Open Spaces by Connie Kaldor (43)
10. Further From the Country by William Prince (42)
11. Shelter From the Storms by Lennie Gallant (38)
12. Look to the Moon by Patty and Craig (34)
12. Stay Put by Elexa Dawson (34)
14. Avec Elodie by Eloise & Co (32)
15. Fiction by Megan Bee (30)
16. From Here to the Sea by Meredith Moon (29)
16. Reverse the Flow by Alice Di Micele (29)
16. You Climb the Mountain by The Onlies (29)
19. Tidy Memorial by Josh Fortenbery (27)
20. The Road Taken by Reggie Garrett and Christine Gunn (25)
20. Hummingbird Highway by Dar Williams (25)
22. The Other Evening in Chicago by Bob Franke (24)
22. Now Then by Robbie Fulks (24)
22. The Last Bough by Kyle Carey (24)
25. Ghosts of the Old West by George Mann and Mick Coates (22)
25. Sweet Resilience by Jane Fallon (22)
25. Lost and Found by Becki Davis (22)
25. Saving Grace by Robert Plant (22)
29. Blue Tapestry by Veronneau (21)
30. The Ghost of Sis Draper by Shawn Camp (20)
30. Featherbed by Sarah Kate Morgan and Lee Shannon (20)
30. The Light Still Shines on the Main by Jory Nash (20)
30. Stone by Stone by Friction Farm (20)
34. Bones of Trees by Tim Grimm (19)
34. So Long Little Miss Sunshine by Molly Tuttle (19)
36. Heavy on the Blues by Rory Block (18)
36. The Winds by Selken (18)
36. Nobody’s Girl by Amanda Shires (18)
36. Big Wing by The Lonesome Ace Stringband (18)
40. Mother Mind by Tekla Waterfield and Jeff Fielder (17)
40. Crown of Roses by Patty Griffin (17)
40. The Raven and the Moon by Sherie Davis (17)
40. Gallowglass by Ann Ramsey (17)
44. Songbird by Waylon Jennings (16)
44. Songs That Sing Me by Becky Buller (16)
46. We’ll Be Fine by Doug Kolmar (15)
46. Drift by Wes Corbett (15)
46. Fallen Angel by The Unfaithful Servants (15)
46. In the West by The Horsenecks (15)
50. Kentucky Queen by Carla Gover (14)
50. Sidereal Days by Bill Scorzari (14)
50. Don’t You Ever Give Up on Love by Brennen Leigh (14)

Top Songs of October 2025

[Here’s a link to view a lyric video for “Bones of Better Days” by The Whispering Tree:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B6vgD7WYz2s]

1. “Bones of Better Days” by The Whispering Tree (22)
2. “Particle & Wave (Goodness in the World)” by John Gorka (19)
3. “Par-Dessus Le Pont” by Le Vent Du Nord (15)
3. “The Breathing Room” by Cosy Sheridan (15)
3. “Speed of the Sound of Loneliness” by Jesse Lynn Madera (15)
6. “Dear Time” by Alison Brown & Steve Martin (13)
6. “No Kings Here” by Tom Paxton (13)
8. “Born Again” by The Whispering Tree (12)
8. “By My Side” by The Whispering Tree (12)
10. “Le Pari De Jeanne” by Le Vent Du Nord (11)
10. “Spoon River” by Anne Hills (11)
12. “Broken Truth” by Tim Grimm (10)
12. “I’ve Always Been a Rambler” by Molly Tuttle (10)
12. “For the First Time” by William Prince (10)
12. “900 Miles” by Tim O’Brien (10)
16. “Where Have All the Flowers Gone” by Elexa Dawson (9)
16. “Hello in There” by The Real Sarahs and Alex De Grassi (9)
16. “Counting on Angels” by Lennie Gallant (9)
16. “Sweeter Things” by Megan Bee (9)
16. “Claude’s Cookies” by Cosy Sheridan (9)
16. “Love, Surround Me” by Patty and Craig (9)
16. “House Carpenter” by Jake Blount (9)
16. “Falling Through the Cracks” by Alice Di Micele (9)
16. “Find a Man” by The Whispering Tree (9)
25. “I Talk to Ghosts” by Nicole Mish (8)
25. “The Invention of Tv” by Megan Bee (8)
25. “Open All the Doors and Windows” by Billy Jonas (8)
25. “Fleur Radieuse” by Le Vent Du Nord (8)
25. “Old Friends” by Lennie Gallant (8)
25. “Girl, Have Money When You’re Old” by Alison Brown & Steve Martin (8)
25. “Ballad of Elizabeth Dark” by Anne Hills (8)
25. “Resilience” by Jane Fallon (8)

Top Artists of October 2025

[Here’s a link to view an Oct. 29, 2025 concert by Le Vent duu Nord that was livestreamed and recorded at The Kennedy Center’s Millennium Stage in Washington, DC:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ACuHGl2Gxyw]

1. Le Vent Du Nord (83)
2. John Gorka (76)
2. The Whispering Tree (76)
4. Cosy Sheridan (62)
5. Anne Hills (61)
6. Alison Brown & Steve Martin (58)
7. Connie Kaldor (50)
8. Bob Franke (48)
9. Leslie Jordan (44)
10. William Prince (43)
11. Lennie Gallant (38)
12. Elexa Dawson (35)
12. John Prine (35)
14. Patty and Craig (34)
14. Bob Dylan (34)
16. Eloise & Co (33)
16. Dar Williams (33)
16. Molly Tuttle (33)
19. Meredith Moon (30)
19. Megan Bee (30)
21. Alice Di Micele (29)
21. Tim Grimm (29)
21. The Onlies (29)
24. Josh Fortenbery (27)
24. Becky Buller (27)
26. John McCutcheon (26)
27. Robert Plant (25)
27. Reggie Garrett and Christine Gunn (25)
29. Kyle Carey (24)
29. Joan Baez (24)
29. Robbie Fulks (24)
32. George Mann and Mick Coates (23)
32. Jane Fallon (23)
32. Patty Griffin (23)
35. Becki Davis (22)
35. Friction Farm (22)
35. Nanci Griffith (22)
38. Veronneau (21)
39. Jory Nash (20)
39. Sarah Kate Morgan and Lee Shannon (20)
39. Cheryl Wheeler (20)
39. Crowes Pasture (20)
39. Waylon Jennings (20)
39. Shawn Camp (20)

A 17-song tribute compilation, Long Journey Home: A Century After the 1925 Mountain City Fiddlers Convention celebrates the centenary of the iconic gathering of nearly 100 musicians in rural Mountain City, Tennessee. Produced by John McCutcheon (who also sings and plays banjo and fretless banjo on it), the album on Appalsongs showcases old-time fiddling and old time music with a number of today’s most celebrated old-time and bluegrass artists performing their own renditions of ballads, reels and tunes that have stood the test of time. Featured artists, in addition to McCutcheon and Tuttle, include Jake Blount, Old Crow Medicine Show, Tim O’Brien, Sparky & Rhonda Rucker, Becky Buller, Trey Wellington & Victor Furtado, Stuart Duncan, Cathy & Marcy’s Old Time Coalition, Kody Norris Show, Earl White Stringband, and Bruce Molsky.

Molly Tuttle, who is joined by Ketch Secor (who fronts and co-founded Old Crow Medicine Show) on “I’ve Always Been a Rambler,” is an acclaimed guitarist known for her prowess at flatpicking and cross-picking, as well as a singer- songwriter and banjo player. At age 24, she became the first woman to win the International Bluegrass Music Association’s Guitar Player of the Year Award in 2017 and did so again the following year when the Americana Music Association also named her Instrumentalist of the Year. Tuttle has been the recipient of two Grammy Awards for Best Bluegrass Album for Crooked Tree and City of Gold in 2023 and 2024, respectively. Crooked Tree also was named Album of the Year in the International Bluegrass Music Awards, while its title track was feted as Song of the Year and she was named Female Vocalist of the Year. City of Gold, also recorded with her band Golden Highway, also was named Album of the Year during the 2023 International Folk Music Awards presented by Folk Alliance International.

Connie Kaldor is a three-time Juno Award-winning singer songwriter who has been writing and performing her songs for more than 45 years and has recorded 19 albums. Her new release, Wide Open Space, was the #2 album on the FAI Folk Chart in September. A member of the Order of Canada and a Queen’s Golden Jubilee Award recipient, she also received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Woodstock Folk Festival in Woodstock, Illinois earlier this year. Kaldor is based in Montreal and tours extensively. She is frequently joined in concert by her husband Paul Campagne and sons Aleksi and Gabriel Campagne. She will be among the official showcase artists during the Northeast Regional folk Alliance (NERFA) Conference in Albany, NY in November.

The September 2025 top albums, songs and artists charts are based on 10, 565 airplays reported on 347 playlists submitted by 93 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 September 2025 

1.Long Journey Home: A Century After the 1925 Mountain City Fiddlers
Convention by Various Artists (131)

2. Wide Open Spaces by Connie Kaldor (71)

3. Look to the Moon by Patty and Craig (51)
3. Stone by Stone by Friction Farm (51)
5. Connected by Darryl Purpose (48)
6. Song of the Bricoleur by Rags Rosenberg (42)
7. Lost & Found by Becki Davis (40)
8. Mother Mind by Tekla Waterfield & Jeff Fiedler (39)
9. Hummingbird Highway by Dar Williams (38)
9. Stay Put by Elexa Dawson (38)
9. The Last Bough by Kyle Carey (38)
12. Kentucky Queen by Carla Gover (34)
12. Songs That Sing Me by Becky Buller (34)
12. Now Then by Robbie Fulks (34)
15. Sweet Resilence by Jane Fallon (32)
16. So Long Little Miss Sunshine by Molly Tuttle (30)
17. Heavy on the Blues by Rory Block (29)
18. The Light Still Shines on the Main by Jory Nash (28)
19. The Ghost of Sis Draper by Shawn Camp (27)
20. The America Chronicles by Kemp Harris (25)
21. Drum School Dropout by Christine Lavin (24)
22. Time Out #3 by The Accidentals (23)
23. New Skin by Judy Kass (22)
23. NERFA Songwriters, Vol. 1 by Various Artists (22)
25. Perennial by Kate MacLeod (21)
25. You Climb the Mountain by The Onlies (21)
27. Bridging Divides by Billy Jonas (20)
28. Wild and Clear and Blue by I’m With Her (19)
28. Squirrels by Jubal Lee Young (19)
30. One Hour Mama: The Blues of Victoria Spivey by Maria Muldaur (18)
30. Crown of Rose by Patty Griffin (18)
30. Callin’ Me Back by Petunia & the Vipers (18)
30. The Woods Have Shown Us by Ponyfolk (18)
30. Seeds of Dreaming by Diyet and the Love Soldiers (18)
35. Bones of Trees by Tim Grimm (17)
35. Personal History by Mary Chapin Carpenter (17)
35. Hard Headed Woman by Margo Price (17)
38. Ghost of the Old West by George Mann and Mick Coates (16)

38. Lost & Found Highway by Joselyn & Don (16)
38. Lift Up the Old World by Hilary Hawke (16)
38. Dark Ages by Eliza Gilkyson (16)
42. Riding High in Texas by Asleep at the Wheel (15)
42. The Way I Tell the Story by David Wilcox (15)
42. American Romance by Lukas Nelson (15)
42. Kerrville Covers by Janet Feld (15)
42. Shadows of a Ghost Town by Meghan Clarisse (15)
47. American Portraits by Marty Cooper (14)
47. Airline Highway by Rodney Crowell (14)
47. Arcadia by Alison Krauss and Union Station (14)
47. The Way the West Was Won by Dallas Burrow (14)
47. We’re Only Human by Hayes Carll (14)

Top Songs of September 2025

1. “I’ve Always Been a Rambler” by Molly Tuttle (23)
2. “No Kings Here” by Tom Paxton (18)
3. “Love, Surround Me” by Patty and Craig (15)
4. “Cuckoo” by John McCutcheon (14)
4. “Me & Robbie Erenberg” by Darryl Purpose (14)
6. “Louder Than Guns” by Friction Farm (13)
7. “Hummingbird Highway” by Dar Williams (12)
7. “900 Miles” by Tim O’Brien (12)
9. “Goodnight America” by Kemp Harris (11)
9. “Bullfrogs” by Rags Rosenberg (11)
11. “It Ain’t Gonna Go Away (Ode to the Epstein Files)” by Cathy Fink
& Marcy Marxer (10)
11. “Memory of August” by Anne Hills (10)
11. “What You Gonna Do With the Baby” by Old Crow Medicine Show (10)
11. “Returning to Myself” by Brandi Carlile (10)
11. “The Last Bough” by Kyle Carey (10)
11. “Tennessee Mountain Fox Chase” by Cathy and Marcy’s Old Time Coaltion (10)
17. “Open All the Doors and Windows” by Billy Jonas (9)
17. “Don’t Let Your Deal Go Down” by Sparky and Rhonda Rucker (9)
17. “Oh, Little One” by Jory Nash (9)
17. “House Carpenter” by Jake Blount (9)
17. “At Our Best” by Judy Kass (9)
17. “Dear Time” by Alison Brown and Steve Martin (9)
17. “Wide Open Spaces” by Connie Kaldor (9)
24. “Baling Hay” by Elexa Dawson (8)
24. “Early Fields” by Kate MacLeod (8)
24. “Millworker” by Becky Buller (8)
24. “The Edge” by Becki Davis (8)
24. “Something My Own” by Tekla Waterfield & Jeff Fiedler (8)
24. “Rocky Road to Dinah’s House” by Becky Buller (8)
24. “Bridget O’Brien” by Maggie’s Wake (8)
24. “Feel What Our Hearts Feel” by Darryl Purpose (8)
24. “Savannah Is a Devilish Girl” by Robbie Fulks (8)
24. “American Dream” by Friction Farm (8)
24. “This Car” by Connie Kaldor (8)
24. “Bright Side of the Blues” by Bryan Titus (8)

Top Artists of September 2025

1. Connie Kaldor (71)
2. Molly Tuttle (57)
3. Friction Farm (53)
4. Patty and Craig (51)
4. Darryl Purpose (51)
6. Becky Buller (50)
7. Dar Williams (49)
8. Tom Paxton (48)
9. John McCutcheon (44)
10. Rags Rosenberg (43)
11. Becki Davis (41)
12. Tekla Waterfield & Jeff Fiedler (39)
12. Elexa Dawson (39)
14. Kyle Carey (38)
15. Woody Guthrie (36)
16. Bruce Springsteen (35)
16. Robbie Fulks (35)
18. Carla Gover (34)
19. Jane Fallon (33)
19. John Prine (33)
21. Christine Lavin (31)
22. Jory Nash (30)
22. Cheryl Wheeler (30)
24. Rory Block (29)
25. Eliza Gilkyson (28)
26. Joni Mitchell (27)
26. Shawn Camp (27)
28. Tim O’Brien (26)
29. Kemp Harris (25)
29. Tim Grimm (25)
31. Kate MacLeod (24)
31. Mary Chapin Carpenter (24)
33. Guy Clark (23)
33. Pete Seeger (23)
33. The Accidentals (23)
36. Willie Nelson (22)
36. Judy Kass (22)
36. The Onlies (22)
39. The Kennedys (21)
39. Bill Monroe (21)

The Accidentals are a female-fronted, high-energy, indie folk-pop-Americana power trio of multi-instrumentalists and singer-songwriters whose previous recordings have also charted — including “Wildfire,” the #1 song on the FAI Folk Charts in 2021.

Sav Madigan and Katie Larson front the band that was formed in Traverse City, Michigan in 2012 (and since 2023 has also included Katelynn Corll on drums). Madigan and Larson expressed thanks to the folk DJ community for spinning songs from their new album, which is officially released in August. “Growing up listening to radio (especially our local public radio station in Northern Michigan) exposed us to so many important music voices from around the world, alongside the voices in our community. We appreciate you for keeping the tradition alive. We co-wrote the songs on Time Out 3 with legends we admire, who taught us to write about truth and when things are hard – to lean into our community and create, create, create.

“Sommer” Is an upbeat and danceable Danish singing tune performed on fiddle, guitar, pump organ and double bass. It is the opening track on The Woods Have Shown Us, the debut album by Minnesota-based ensemble Ponyfolk that pays homage to old time American and Nordic music traditions with a mix of fiddle tunes and original songs, –both instrumental and vocal. Formed in 2014 by Clifton Nesseth (vocals, fiddle) and Paul Sauey (vocals, guitar, bass pedals), the chamber ensemble performs in a variety of configurations and includes Alex Jakob Nelson (keyboards, vocals), Mikey Marget (cello, vocals), Lewis Franti (percussion) and Aaron Hays (drums)

Here’s a link to listen to “Sommer” performed by Ponyfolk:

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

The July 2025 top albums, songs and artists charts are based on 10, 663 airplays reported on 354 playlists submitted by 96 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 July 2025

1. Time Out 3 by The Accidentals (72)
2. The Woods Have Shown Us by Ponyfolk (63)
3. Best Of by Steve Gillette (60)
4. New Skin by Judy Kass (50)
5. Personal History by Mary Chapin Carpenter (49)
6. Perfume Like a Full Moon by Ray Lambiase (44)
7. The Shape of a Sway by Eli West (43)
8. Wild and Clear and Blue by I’m With Her (42)
9. Saltwater Country by Grace Morrison (41)
10. Beautiful You: The Songs of Tom Prasada-Rao by Tom Prasada-Rao (40)
11. Gold and Coal by Cassie and Maggie (38)
11. Dark Ages by Eliza Gilkyson (38)
13. The Time That Remains by Mike Ward (34)
14. Little Songs by Rrinaco (31)
14. Lift Up This Old World by Hilary Hawke (31)
16. Bones of Trees by Tim Grimm (29)
16. Better Than I Was by Sara Trunzo (29)
18. In the West by The Horsenecks (27)
19. Been All Around This World by Special Consensus (26)
20. Burden of Hope by Peter Campbell (25)
20. Rituals by Watchhouse (25)
20. Signs of Life by My Politic (25)
23. Colored Edge of Memory by From the Dirt (24)
23. Shelby Means by Shelby Means (24)
25. House of the Dog by Grain Thief (23)
26. Paper Flowers by Tim O’Brien and Jan Fabricius (22)
26. Homegrown by Cole Quest and the City Pickers (22)
28. So Much I Still Don’t See by Sam Robbins (21)
29. Arcadia by Alison Krauss and Union Station (20)
30. Room on the Porch by Taj Mahal and Keb’ Mo (19)
30. Reverie by Amble (19)
30. The Ballad of Charlie Avalon by Stillhouse Junkies (19)
33. Shelter From the Storms by Lennie Gallant (18)
33. Winged Victory by Willi Carlisle (18)
33. Cruel Joke by Ken Pomeroy (18)
33. The Black Dog and the Wandering Boy by James McMurtry (18)
33. Old Growth by Brad Kolodner (18)
33. A Teacher, a Preacher, and a Bad Farmer by Ernie Palmer (18)
33. A Tip Toe High Wire by Sierra Hull (18)
33. One Hour Mama -The Blues of Victoria Spivey by Maria Muldaur (18)
41. The Agonist by Leslie Jordan (17)
42. Tip of the Spear by Doug Mishkin (16)
43. Never Been Home by Sweet Megg (15)
43. Songs Worth Saving by Suzie Brown (15)
45. Kentucky Queen by Carla Gover (14)
45. What Did the Blackbird Say to the Crow by Rhiannon Giddens &
Justin Robinson (14)
45. Oubliette by Jez Lowe (14)
45. Life Behind Bars by Vandoliers (14)
49. All I Got and Gone by Chris Walz (13)
49. An Inch of This New York Mile by Christian Rutledge (13)
49. Every Ghost by Kelsey Waldon (13)
49. We All Dream by Terry Kitchen (13)
49. Story the Crow Told Me by Ketch Secor (13)

Top Songs of July 2025

1.  “Sommer” by Ponyfolk (21)
2. “Woody’s Children” by Doug Mishkin (15)
3. “Someday We Won’t Live Here Anymore” by The Accidentals (14)
3. “We Are the Power” by Emma’s Revolution (14)
3. “Girl and Her Dog” by Mary Chapin Carpenter (14)
6. “Fly Away” by The Accidentals (13)
6. “Dark Night of the Soul” by Eliza Gilkyson (13)
8. “Grapes on the Vine” by Steve Gillette (12)
8. “The Old Trail” by Steve Gillette (12)
8. “No Kings in America” by Lisa Bastoni (12)
8. “Instrument for Good” by Mike Ward (12)
12. “Around the Horn” by Ray Lambiase (11)
12. “Better Than Me” by The Accidentals (11)
12. “Why Not” by Mike Ward (11)
12. “Thank the Stone” by Judy Kass (11)
16. “Deportee (Plane Wreck at Los Gatos)” by Colleen Kattau (10)
16. “Masters of War” by Abbie Gardner (10)
16. “Burden of Hope” by Peter Campbell (10)
16. “Honeybees” by Steve Kunzman (10)
16. “Cranberry Blossoms” by Grace Morrison (10)
16. “Shenandoah” by Ponyfolk (10)
16. “That Song About the River” by Steve Gillette (10)
16. “Letter to America” by Cindy Kallet (10)
24. “Look at Us Marching Now” by Judy Kass (9)
25. “Get Along Somehow” by Rrinaco (8)
25. “Too Good to Be True” by The Accidentals (8)
25. “Wild and Clear and Blue” by I’m With Her (8)
25. “One Small Step” by Sara Trunzo (8)
25. “Home Is a Song” by Mary Chapin Carpenter (8)
25. “Pastures of Plenty” by Cole Quest and the City Pickers (8)
25. “Five Alarm Fire on the 4th of July” by Ellis Paul (8)
25. “Radio Silence” by The Sharar Sisters (8)

Top Artists of July 2025

1. The Accidentals (74)
2. Woody Guthrie (66)
3. Ponyfolk (64)
3. Steve Gillette (64)
5. Mary Chapin Carpenter (58)
6. Eliza Gilkyson (55)
7. Ray Lambiase (52)
8. Judy Kass (50)
9. Nanci Griffith (49)
10. Eli West (44)
10. Tom Prasada-Rao (44)
12. I’m With Her (43)
13. Grace Morrison (41)
14. John McCutcheon (39)
15. Cassie and Maggie (38)
16. Mike Ward (35)
17. Bob Dylan (33)
18. Pete Seeger (32)
18. Tim Grimm (32)
20. Rrinaco (31)
20. Special Consensus (31)
20. Hilary Hawke (31)
23. Sara Trunzo (29)
23. Alison Krauss and Union Station (29)
25. The Horsenecks (28)
26. My Politic (26)
26. Watchhouse (26)
28. Bruce Springsteen (25)
28. Peter Campbell (25)
30. Grain Thief (24)
30. Maria Muldaur (24)
30. From the Dirt (24)
30. Shelby Means (24)
34. Beppe Gambetta (23)
34. Emma’s Revolution (23)
34. John Prine (23)
34. Amadou and Mariam (23)
34. Tim O’Brien and Jan Fabricius (23)
34. Cole Quest and the City Pickers (23)
40. The Heart Collectors (22)
40. Sam Robbins (22)

Hailed as “The songwriter laureate of modern city folk” (The Boston Globe), Lucy Kaplansky is a New York City-based contemporary folk singer-songwriter with a luminous voice whose recordings frequently topped folk and Americana radio charts. The Lucy Story, her 10th album, is a collection of mostly unreleased tracks that form a retrospective /history of her musical life. It features songs performed in a variety of musical styles — both self-penned and ones by Richard Shindell, Robbie Robertson, Townes Van Zandt, John Lennon, Lyle Lovett and Jack Hardy, as well as demos and album outtakes, and live recordings with some of her favorite collaborators (Shawn Colvin, Shindell, and Dar Williams among them).

Kaplansky, who began singing at Chicago folk clubs as a teenager, moved to NYC after high school, where she performed frequently with Shawn Colvin on and around the Greenwich Village folk scene during the early to mid 1980s. Before leaving the music scene to pursue a doctorate in clinical psychology. After earning her degree, she worked with chronically mentally ill adults at a New York hospital as well as in private practice. However, she continued to sing and was frequently asked to add harmony vocals to albums by friends including Colvin and Nanci Griffith and film soundtracks with Griffith and Suzanne Vega. Her voice could also be heard on Chevrolet’s popular “The Heartbeat of America” commercial jingle. She left her career as a psychologist in the 1990s after signing with Red House Records, which released her critically acclaimed debut album, The Tide (primarily produced by Colvin) in 1994. She signed with a booking agency and began touring extensively.

In addition to her solo recordings and tours since, Kaplansky has frequently collaborated with other singer-songwriters on recording projects and concert tours over the years. She joined with Shindell and Dar Williams in 1998 to form the folk trio Cry Cry Cry, recorded some of their favorite songs written by other songwriters, and toured nationally in support of it – as they did in 2017-2018 to celebrate its 20th anniversary. She and Shindell have also contributed harmony vocals to most of each other’s albums, recorded an album as The Pine Hill Project, and have frequently shared concert stages. In 2010, Kaplansky, John Gorka and Eliza Gilkyson teamed up to record an album as Red Horse on which they performed each other’s songs. The album topped the folk radio charts for several months that year. Kaplansky has also been part of a recurring On A Winter’s Night Tour with Gorka, Cliff Eberhardt and Patty Larkin.

“Which Side Are You On?” is a reworked and updated version of the famed folk and labor song originally penned Florence Reece in 1931. Artists for Action is an international folk supergroup comprised of 16 artists who teamed up to raise their voices in response to the global rise of far-right politics and the resurgence of fascism. Initially recorded in September 2022 and recently re-released, the track features Black Umfalosi (Zimbabwe), Ray Bonneville (Canada), Bruce Cockburn (Canada), Chris Corrigan (Canada), Guy Davis (U.S.), Ani DiFranco (U.S.), Maria Dunn (Canada), Adam Hill (Canada), Bob Jensen (Canada), James Keelaghan (Canada), Richard Knox (Canada), Lucy MacNeil (Canada), Tony McManus (Scotland/Canada), Moulettes (England), Oysterband (England), Richard Perso (Australia), Heather Rankin (Canada), Martin Simpson (England), and Jon Weaver (Canada).

Although the project’s primary goal is conveying its message and raising people’s consciousness, rather than raising funds, proceeds from the single – for which none of the artists were paid — will be donated to a registered charity in aid of Ukraine. For more information, visit whichsideareyouon.ca.

The March 2025 top albums, songs and artists charts are based on 11.385 airplays reported on 382 playlists submitted by 103 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 March 2025

1. The Lucy Story: Unreleased and Rare Tracks 1976-2023 by Lucy Kaplansky (94)
2. All I Got and Gone by Chris Walz (78)
3. Maybe New Mexico by Helene Cronin (76)
4. Alice Howe and Freebo (Live) by Alice Howe and Freebo (74)
5. So Much I Still Don’t See by Sam Robbins (58)
5. A Tip Toe High Wire by Sierra Hull (58)
7. Foxes in the Snow by Jason Isbell (52)
8. Remains to Be Scene by The Seldom Scene (49)
9. Field of Stars by John McCutcheon (46)
10. I Made It This Far by Deborah Holland (45)
11. Reclamation by Crys Matthews(43)
12. The Monkey in the Crown by HuDost (42)
13. Looking for the Thread by Mary Chapin Carpenter, Julie Fowlis, Karine Polwert (38)
14. Be Real With Me by Chatham Rabbits (37)
14. Daggomit by Max Wareham (37)
16. Beneath Your Skin by Kim Beggs (35)
17. I’m From Here by Rob Siegel (31)
17. Burnished by Amelia Hogan (31)
19. Arcadia by Alison Krauss and Union Station (28)
20. The Wind Will Change Again by The Twangtown Paramours (26)
21. Dear Meadowlark by The Wildwoods (25)
22. We Were Wood by Barry Oreck and Friends (24)
23. Spirits by The Devil Makes Three (23)
24. The Boy From Bluegrass by The Boy From Bluegrass (22)
25. Exploding Star by Heather Maloney (20)
25. Dark Country by Gary Louris (20)
25. Some Kind of Truth by Kora Feder (20)
25. To Fly So Low by Leo DiSanto (20)
29. Glimmer by Carol Crittenden (19)
30. Take It Easy Greasy by Jim Brewer (17)
30. Winterbirds by Boreal (17)
30. Gold in Your Pocket by Caleb Klauder and Reeb Willms (17)
33. Sea Salt and Sawdust by Marian Mastrorilli (16)
34. The Purple Bird by Bonnie Prince’ Billy (15)
34. Life Is a Wonder by Kevin Whalen (15)
36. Waiting for Inspiration by Socks in the Frying Pan (14)
36. Racing Down the Valley by Sam Bergquist (14)
36. Paris by Louise Coombe (14)
36. Face the Day by Will Branch (14)
36. Silver Rounds by Olivia Wolf (14)
36. Hear My Call by Cristina Vane (14)
36. Songs of a Younger Man by Michael Melia (14)
36. Life Is Just a Vapor by Paul Thorn (14)
36. Cher Reve by Miss Tess (14)
45. Julia Belle: The John Hartford Fiddle Tune Project, Vol. 2 by Various Artists (13)
45. Porcelain Angel by Rees Shad (13)
45. The Empathist by Stephen Fearing (13)
45. Besos Kisses by Colleen Kattau (13)
45. Cold Feet by Mark Freeman (13)
45. Peace With a Lion by David Lindes (13)
45. Red Camel Collective by Red Camel Collective (13)

Top Songs of March 2025

1. “Which Side Are You On?” by Artists for Action (30)
2. “Elephant” by Annie Gallup (23)
3. “Home by Bearna” by Amelia Hogan (22)
4. “Maybe New Mexico” by Helene Cronin (21)
5.”Come Out of My Blues” by Sierra Hull (19)
6. “Onward Through the Fog (America Is Bleeding)” by Rob Siegel (15)
6. “You Are Not God” by Emma’s Revolution (15)
8. “Piles of Sand” by Sam Robbins (14)
9. “Circling the Drain” by Deborah Holland (13)
9. “Wind Behind the Rain” by Jason Isbell (13)
9. “Man at the Crossroads” by The Seldom Scene (13)
12. “Fields of Athenry” by Carol Crittenden (12)
12. “Bury Me” by Jason Isbell (12)
12. “Granite Mills” by Alison Krauss and Union Station (12)
12. “Hard Times Come Again No More” by Chris Walz (12)
12. “Blue Ridge Mountain Blues” by Chris Walz (12)
17. “Dangerous Women” by Colleen Kattau (11)
17. “What a Little Love Can Do” by Sam Robbins (11)
17. “Angel From Montgomery” by Alice Howe and Freebo (11)
20. “Twilight” by Alice Howe and Freebo (10)
20. “Delia” by Chris Walz (10)
22. “Forget Me Not” by Lucy Kaplansky (9)
22. “Mother Tongue” by Jean Rohe and Sean Kiely (9)
22. “Copperhill” by Helene Cronin (9)
22. “Thankful (Thanksgiving (2023)” by Deborah Holland (9)
22. “Alabama Bound” by Chris Walz (9)
22. “Big Fish, Small Pond” by Chatham Rabbits (9)
22. “We Won’t Let It Die (Without a Fight)” by Len Seligman (9)

Top Artists of March 2025

1. Lucy Kaplansky (99)
2. Chris Walz (78)
3. Helene Cronin (77)
4. Alice Howe and Freebo (74)
5. John McCutcheon (63)
6. Sierra Hull (59)
7. Sam Robbins (58)
8. The Seldom Scene (55)
9. Jason Isbell (52)
10. Crys Matthews (51)
11. Deborah Holland (47)
12. Bob Dylan (45)
13. HuDost (44)
14. Amelia Hogan (38)
14. Mary Chapin Carpenter, Julie Fowlis, Karine Polwert (38)
16. Max Wareham (37)
16. Chatham Rabbits (37)
18. Kim Beggs (36)
19. Alison Krauss and Union Station (34)
20. Rob Siegel (31)
21. Artists for Action (30)
22. Jesse Colin Young (29)
23. The Twangtown Paramours (27)
23. Tim Grimm (27)
25. Chuck Brodsky (26)
26. Guy Clark (25)
26. Joni Mitchell (25)
26. The Wildwoods (25)
29. Barry Oreck and Friends (24)
29. Joan Baez (24)
31. Eliza Gilkyson (23)
31. The Boy From Bluegrass (23)
31. Annie Gallup (23)
31. The Devil Makes Three (23)
31. John Prine (23)
36. Emma’s Revolution (22)
37. Heather Maloney (21)
37. Colleen Kattau (21)
37. Gary Louris (21)
37. Karan Casey (21)

The February 2025 top albums, songs and artists charts are based on 9, 809 airplays reported on 383 playlists submitted by 98 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 February 2025

1. Live by Alice Howe and Freebo (90)
2. Field of Stars by John McCutcheon (83)
3. Reclamation by Crys Matthews (78)
4. Looking for the Thread by Mary Chapin Carpenter, Julie Fowlis,
Karine Polwart (54)
4. The Wind Will Change Again by The Twangtown Paramours (54)
6. Beneath Your Skin by Kim Beggs (40)
7. We Were Wood by Barry Oreck and Friends (34)
8. Gold in Your Pocket by Caleb Klauder and Reeb Willms (32)
9. Look Up by Ringo Starr (31)
10. Glimmer by Carol Crittenden (27)
11. Be Real With Me by Chatham Rabbits (24)
12. If the Sky Fell by Michael Henchman (23)
13. Songs to a Wild God by Mallory Chipman (22)
13. Woodland by Gillian Welch and David Rawlings (22)
15. Remains to Be Scene by The Seldom Scene (21)
16. Union Station by Collide (20)
17. Beacons by Nefesh Mountain (19)
17. The Lucy Story: Unreleased and Rare Tracks 1976-2023 [Disc 1] by
Lucy Kaplansky (19)
19. Exploding Star by Heather Maloney (18)
19. Ride in the Light by Cindy Kallet (18)
21. Earl Jam by Tony Trischka (17)
21. Trail of Flowers by Sierra Ferrell (17)
21. Now, O Now by Rakish (17)
21. Life Is a Wonder by Kevin Whalen (17)
25. The American Dream by Amy Speace (16)
25. Hear My Call by Cristina Vane (16)
25. Manos Pan Americanos by Larry and Joe (16)
28. Things Done Changed by Jerron Paxton (15)
28. Arcadia by Alison Krauss and Union Station (15)
28. Dark Moon by Holly Cole (15)
31. Quiet Town by Mindy Smith (13)
32. Take It Easy Greasy by Jim Brewer (12)
32. Flee Though None Pursue by Ed Alstrom (12)
32. All Hat No Cattle by The Doohickeys (12)
32. On Solid Ground by Reggie Harris (12)
32. Let the Longing Run Wild and Free by Robert Sarazin Blake (12)
32. Girl Dinner by Big Richard (12)
32. Up From the Mud by Diane Coll (12)
39. Waiting for Inspiration by Socks in the Frying Pan (11)
39. The Legend of Sugarbelly by Guy Davis (11)
39. Edge of America by Crowes Pasture (11)
39. Winterbirds by Boreal (11)
39. Loudon Live in London by Loudon Wainwright Iii (11)
39. Cher Reve by Miss Tess (11)
45. Presidential Campaign Songs 1789 – 1996 by Oscar Brand (10)
45. In the Real World by Eric Bibb (10)
45. A Complete Unknown (Original Motion Picture Sound Track) by
Timothee Chalamet (10)
45. The Purple Bird by Bonnie Prince Billy (10)
45. Mileage by Ruthie Foster (10)
45. Anything but Ordinary by Jan Aldridge Clark (10)
45. Daggomit! by Max Wareham (10)
45. Lonely as It Gets by Wilson Banjo Co (10)
45. Don’t Play Guitar Boy by Geoff Achison (10)
45. Into the Wild by Golden Highway and Molly Tuttle (10)

Top Songs of February 2025

[Here’s a link to view the official lyric video for “Looks Like the End of the Road” by Allison Krauss and Union Station: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oQNPvSNMEyo.]

1. “Looks Like the End of the Road” by Alison Krauss and Union Station (15)
2. “Twilight” by Alice Howe and Freebo (14)
3. “Field of Stars” by John McCutcheon (13)
3. “Angel From Montgomery” by Alice Howe and Freebo (13)
5. “Oklahoma Sunset” by Crys Matthews (12)
5. “Travelin’ Soul” by Alice Howe and Freebo (12)
5. “A Heart That Never Closes” by Mary Chapin Carpenter, Julie Fowlis,
Karine Polwart (12)
8. “Farewell Angelina” by The Seldom Scene (11)
8. “Catch the Wind” by Crowes Pasture (11)
8. “A Case of You” by Alice Howe and Freebo (11)
8. “At the End of the Day” by John McCutcheon (11)
8. “Like Jesus Would” by Crys Matthews (11)
13. “We Were Wood” by Barry Oreck and Friends (9)
13. “Old Friends” by The Twangtown Paramours (9)
13. “Last of the Steam Powered Trains” by The Seldom Scene (9)
16. “Somebody’s New Lover Now” by Alice Howe and Freebo (8)
16. “Send Love” by Mary Chapin Carpenter, Julie Fowlis, Karine Polwart (8)
16. “Only Ones Dancing” by John McCutcheon (8)
16. “American Dreaming” by Sierra Ferrell (8)
16. “Build Me a City: The Ballad of Robert Moses” by Barry Oreck and Friends (8)
16. “$20 Bill (For George Floyd)” by Kim Moberg (8)
16. “Ms St. Louis” by John McCutcheon (8)
16. “Rebecca” by Mary Chapin Carpenter, Julie Fowlis, Karine Polwart (8)
16. “Winter Birds” by Heather Hurlock (8)
16. “The Genius Bar” by Julie Gold (8)
16. “Bury Me Inside Your Heart” by Kim Beggs (8)
16. “The Difference Between” by Crys Matthews (8)
16. “Cancel Culture” by Crys Matthews (8)

Top Artists of February 2025

1. John McCutcheon (94)
2. Crys Matthews (92)
3. Alice Howe and Freebo (90)
4. The Twangtown Paramours (55)
5. Mary Chapin Carpenter, Julie Fowlis, Karine Polwart (54)
6. Kim Beggs (41)
7. Barry Oreck and Friends (34)
8. Caleb Klauder and Reeb Willms (33)
9. Ringo Starr (31)
10. Pete Seeger (30)
10. Paul and Mary Peter (30)
12. Bob Dylan (29)
12. Lucy Kaplansky (29)
12. The Band (29)
15. Rhiannon Giddens (28)
16. Carol Crittenden (27)
16. Tony Trischka (27)
18. Cindy Kallet (25)
19. Chatham Rabbits (24)
19. The Seldom Scene (24)
21. Michael Henchman (23)
22. Reggie Harris (22)
22. Nina Simone (22)
22. Billy Strings (22)
22. John Roberts and Tony Barrand (22)
22. Mallory Chipman (22)
22. Gillian Welch and David Rawlings (22)
22. Highwaymen (22)
29. Larry and Joe (21)
30. Amy Speace (20)
30. Guy Davis (20)
30. Collide (20)
30. Marianne Faithfull (20)
34. Ruthie Foster (19)
34. Nefesh Mountain (19)
34. Alison Krauss and Union Station (19)
34. Tim Grimm (19)
34. Sierra Ferrell (19)
39. Heather Maloney (18)
39. Willie Nelson (18)
39. Mary Chapin Carpenter (18)
39. Rakish (18)

The Wind Will Change Again is the fourth album released by The Twangtown Paramours (Mike T. Lewis and MaryBeth Zamer), who met in 2009 while working on their own individual musical projects, started dating, and released their debut recording as a duo the following year. Not easily musically pigeonholed by genre, The Twangtown Paramours perform a mix of Americana, folk and blues. However, The Wind Will Change Again reflects the duo’s acoustic folk roots.

Mike T. Lewis, who began learning classical and jazz guitar as a youngster growing up in New York City, has also occasionally played upright bass with Jimmie Dale Gilmore. MaryBeth Zamer, who was born in Washington, DC and raised on a mix of opera and American Songbook-style music, credits the late Eva Cassidy — in whose band (Method Actor) she was a backup vocalist — as a major influence on her singing style. The Twangtown Paramours have been two-time finalists in the prestigious Kerrville New Folk Competition and winners in Wildflower! Performing Songwriter Contest in Richardson, TX.

“Field of Stars” is the title track of the 45th album produced and released by John McCutcheon during a career that has spanned more than 50 years and shows no signs of slowing down. A prolific songwriter, master of the hammered dulcimer (among other instruments), and frequent presence on the folk radio charts, McCutcheon was the most-played artist of 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2022. He had both the top album (To Everyone in All the World: A Celebration of Pete Seeger) and the top song (“Well May the World Go”) on folk radio during 2019. A number of his other previous albums and songs have topped the monthly charts in recent years, while McCutcheon’s classic “Christmas in the Trenches” has been among the most-played songs on folk radio during the holiday season for years.

[Here’s a link to enjoy listening to John McCutcheon’s “Field of Stars”: link]

The January 2025 top albums, songs and artists charts are based on 11, 601 airplays reported on 387 playlists submitted by 107 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. Its annual conference takes place in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, February 19-23.

Top Albums of January 2025

1. The Wind Will Change Again by The Twangtown Paramours (150)
2. Field of Stars by John McCutcheon (137)
3. Reclamation by Crys Matthews (61)
4. Gold in Your Pocket by Caleb Klauder and Reeb Willms (54)
5. Songs to a Wild God by Mallory Chipman (49)
6. Glimmer by Carol Crittenden (41)
7. Ride in the Light by Cindy Kallet (39)
8. Hydra by Nuala Kennedy and Eamon O’Leary (30)
9. A Complete Unknown (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) by
Timothee Chalamet (28)
9. Woodland by Gillian Welch and David Rawlings (28)
11. Up From the Mud by Diane Coll (25)
12. Deep Feeler by Liv Greene (24)
13. Look Up by Ringo Starr (23)
14. Looking for the Thread by Mary Chapin Carpenter, Julie Fowlis,
Karine Polwart (22)
14. Wildfire by House of Hamill (22)
16. “Earl Jam by Tony Trischka (21)
17. “The Silence of the Stars by Linda Marks (20)
17. “Trail of Flowers by Sierra Ferrell (20)
17. If the Sky Fell by Michael Henchman (20)
20. Things Done Changed by Jerron Paxton (19)
20. Last Leaf on the Tree by Willie Nelson (19)
22. The American Dream by Amy Speace (18)
23. In the Real World by Eric Bibb (17)
23. Willie Watson by Willie Watson (17)
23. Highway Prayers by Billy Strings (17)
26. Thirteen by Colin O’Brien (16)
26. Hear My Call by Cristina Vane (16)
26. Polaroid Lovers by Sarah Jarosz (16)
26. Live at the Raven Gallery by Josh White Jr (16)
30. Parallel Lives by David Mallett (15)
30. From China to Appalachia by Cathy Fink, Marcy Marxer and Chao Tian (15)
32. Ten Good Sermons by Eugene Ruffolo (14)
32. Turning Over Stones by Bett Padgett (14)
32. Now, O Now by Rakish (14)
35. Ravens and the Roses by Cris Williamson (13)
35. This Hen’s Gonna Crow by Colleen Kattau (13)
35. The Very Best of Peter, Paul and Mary by Paul and Mary Peter (13)
35. Who We Are by Dan and Faith (13)
35. Trees by Laurie Lewis (13)
35. Roadmap by Roy Zimmerman (13)
35. Boarding Windows in Paradise by Rebecca Frazier (13)
35. Into the Wild” by Molly Tuttle and Golden Highway (13)
43. Golden by Genevieve Racette (12)
43. Beacons by Nefesh Mountain (12)
43. Cortelia Clark by Josh White Jr (12)
43. With a Guitar and a Pen by Tish Hinojosa (12)
47. Waiting for Inspiration by Socks in the Frying Pan (11)
47. Around the Campfire by Paul and Mary Peter (11)
47. Fever Longing Still by Paul Kelly (11)
47. Reach by Becky Buller (11)
47. Manos Panamericanos by Larry and Joe (11)
47. Still Troubled by Mike Ward (11)
47. Snappy Comeback by L.A. Moore (11)

Top Songs of January 2025

1. “Field of Stars” by John McCutcheon (30)
2. “The Wind Will Change Again” by The Twangtown Paramours (25)
3. “Old Friends” by The Twangtown Paramours (21)
4. “A Room in Bordeaux” by The Twangtown Paramours (19)
5. “Sincerely Yours No More” by The Twangtown Paramours (18)
6. “A Heart That Never Closes” by Mary Chapin Carpenter, Julie Fowlis,
Karine Polwart (17)
7. “Tonight I Think I’m Gonna Go Downtown” by The Twangtown Paramours (16)
8. “Hopeful Hearts” by Judy Kass and Sloan Wainwright (15)
9. “Stars Without a Heaven” by The Twangtown Paramours (14)
10. “When Winter Comes to Call” by Bett Padgett (13)
11. “Big Sky Country” by Mallory Chipman (12)
11. “The Goodwill Store” by The Twangtown Paramours (12)
11. “None” by The Twangtown Paramours (12)
11. “That Thing You Do” by The Twangtown Paramours (12)
11. “Waiting for the Moon” by John McCutcheon (12)
11. “Here” by John McCutcheon (12)
17. “Peace Can Be Louder Than War” by Merry Hell (11)
17. “Wild Geese” by Liv Greene (11)
17. “The Garden” by The Twangtown Paramours (11)
17. “Too Old to Die Young” by John McCutcheon (11)
21. “Tikkun Olam” by John McCutcheon (10)
21. “Immigration Nation” by Mike Ward (10)
21. “Only Ones Dancing” by John McCutcheon (10)
21. “Garden Song” by David Mallett (10)
21. “Empty Trainload of Sky” by Gillian Welch and David Rawlings (10)
21. “Ms St. Louis” by John McCutcheon (10)
21. “Luckier Than Most” by Jon Shain (10)
21. “Mercury & Mars” by Christine Lavin (10)
21. “Sing Me Home” by Mallory Chipman (10)
21. “Sleeves Up” by Crys Matthews (10)

Top Artists of January 2025

1. John McCutcheon (157)
2. The Twangtown Paramours (153)
3. David Mallett (92)
4. Paul and Mary Peter (88)
5. Crys Matthews (82)
6. Bob Dylan (67)
7. Caleb Klauder and Reeb Willms (54)
8. Josh White Jr (52)
9. Mallory Chipman (49)
9. Cindy Kallet (49)
11. Carol Crittenden (41)
12. The Band (37)
13. Pete Seeger (35)
14. Willie Nelson (34)
15. Peter Paul and Mary (32)
15. Timothee Chalamet (32)
17. Nuala Kennedy and Eamon O’Leary (30)
18. Gillian Welch and David Rawlings (29)
18. Peter Yarrow (29)
20. Mary Chapin Carpenter, Julie Fowlis, Karine Polwart (28)
21. Billy Strings (26)
21. House of Hamill (26)
21. Tony Trischka (26)
24. Sarah Jarosz (25)
24. Diane Coll (25)
26. Iris Dement (24)
26. Ringo Starr (24)
26. Liv Greene (24)
29. John Gorka (23)
29. Sierra Ferrell (23)
31. Stan Rogers (22)
31. Bett Padgett (22)
33. Amy Speace (21)
33. Michael Henchman (21)
33. Tom Paxton (21)
33. Eric Bibb (21)
37. Linda Marks (20)
37. Joan Baez (20)
37. Nanci Griffith (20)
40. Becky Buller (19)
40. Jerron Paxton (19)
40. Colleen Kattau (19)
40. Molly Tuttle and Golden Highway (19)

A modern honky-tonk country roots harmony duo, Caleb Klauder and Reeb Willms are based in the Pacific Northwest and have been touring together for years. Inspired by classic country, bluegrass, old-time, and Cajun music, the duo performs and records primarily original songs (many of which have been covered by others), along with some choice covers.

Caleb Klauder and Reeb Willms performed live on WVDX Blue Plate Special in Knoxville, TN last fall. Here’s a link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9a0g-r6RIv. And here’s a link to enjoy the official video for “Gold in Your Pocket,” the title track from the month’s most-played folk album: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f6tWzoItEI8.]

Tom Prasada Rao, who died last year, was a gifted Maryland-based singer-songwriter. Although perhaps best-known for “$20 Bill (for George Floyd);” a widely covered song that he wrote in the wake of protests following the murder of George Floyd in 2020, his rendition of Chris Rosser’s “Christmas in the Ashram” has also drawn much radio airplay. Here’s a link to listen to that song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1u8C5m7LKz4.

The December 2024 top albums, songs and artists charts are based on 12,269 airplays reported on 395 playlists submitted by 106 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. Its 37th annual conference takes place in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, February 19-23.

Top Albums of December 2024

1. Gold in Your Pocket by Caleb Klauder and Reeb Willms (74)
2. The American Dream by Amy Speace (38)
3. Hydra by Eamon O’ Leary and Nuala Kennedy (37)
4. Last Leaf on the Tree by Willie Nelson (36)
4. Woodland by Gillian Welch and David Rawlings (36)
6. Deep Feeler by Liv Greene (34)
7. Things Done Changed by Jerron Paxton (33)
8. Highway Prayers by Billy Strings (28)
9. Ride in the Light by Cindy Kallet (26)
10. Can’t Steal My Fire: The Songs of David Olney by Various Artists (25)
10. Now, O Now by Rakish (25)
12. Pathways by Julian Taylor (24)
13. In the Real World by Eric Bibb (23)
13. A Pinecastle Christmas Celebration by Various Artists (23)
15. Golden by Genevieve Racette (22)
15. Nowhere Next by Yonder Mountain String Band (22)
15. Storm Season by Tania Elizabeth (22)
15. Brighter Days by Dwight Yoakam (22)
19. Bluegrass Sings Paxton by Various Artists (21)
19. Trail of Flowers by Sierra Ferrell (21)
19. Backbone by Kasey Chambers (21)
19. Everything Must Go by Donal Hinely (21)
23. Thirteen by Colin O’Brien (19)
23. Love Your Mind by Twisted Pine (19)
23. Christmas in the Ashram by Tom Prasada-Rao (19)
23. Love, Dan by C. Daniel Boling (19)
27. Back on Track by Pure Prairie League (18)
27. Quiet Town by Mindy Smith (18)
29. Far Away With You by Woody Platt (17)
29. Earl Jam by Tony Trischka (17)
29. Come Darkness, Come Light: Twelve Songs of Christmas by Mary
Chapin Carpenter (17)
29. Lonesome Road by Joel Mabus (17)
29. Blue by Joni Mitchell (17)
34. Yule Like This by Mark Stepakoff (16)
34. Christmas by Bruce Cockburn (16)
34. Lantern in the Dark: Songs of Comfort and Lullabies by Edie
Carey and Sarah Sample (16)
34. Wintertide by Brittany Jean (16)
38. American Noel by Dave Carter and Tracy Grammer (15)
38. This Hen’s Gonna Crow by Colleen Kattau (15)
38. With a Guitar and a Pen by Tish Hinojosa (15)
38. Postcards of the Reckoning by Sean Kiely (15)
38. Woodbird by Jenny Burtis (15)
43. Waiting for Inspiration by Socks in the Frying Pan (14)
43. Just One Angel by Various Artists (14)
43. Where the Islands Overflow by Susan Graham Pepper (14)
43. Willie Watson by Willie Watson (14)
47. Ten Good Sermons by Eugene Ruffolo (13)
47. Heart of the Swan by Carla Sciaky (13)
49. As Above Now So Below by Crow and Gazelle (12)
49. Songs of the Celtic Winter Ii by Ashley Davis (12)
49. Ordinary Elephant by Ordinary Elephant (12)
49. Midwinter by Peter Mayer (12)

Top Songs of December 2024

1. “Christmas in the Ashram” by Tom Prasada-Rao (21)
2. “First United Methodist Day Care Christmas Show” by Amy Speace (16)
3. “Gold in Your Pocket” by Caleb Klauder and Reeb Willms (15)
3. “River” by Joni Mitchell (15)
5. “Christmas on the Mekong” by Scott Cook (13)
6. “He’s Gone” by Caleb Klauder and Reeb Willms (11)
6. “Christmas in the Trenches” by John McCutcheon (11)
8. “At Christmas” by Sofia Talvik (10)
9. “The Rites of Christmas” by Bett Padgett (9)
9. “Empty Trainload of Sky” by Gillian Welch and David Rawlings (9)
9. “Silver Bells Ring” by Ana Egge (9)
9. “Wild Geese” by Liv Greene (9)
9. “Flowers” by Liv Greene (9)
14. “Shame Shame Shame” by Caleb Klauder and Reeb Willms (8)
14. “Same Little Heart” by Caleb Klauder and Reeb Willms (8)
14. “Celebration” by David Mallett (8)
14. “The American Dream” by Amy Speace (8)
14. “Must Be Santa” by Bob Dylan (8)
14. “Last of My Kind” by Caleb Klauder and Reeb Willms (8)
14. “The Welcome Song” by Jan Aldridge Clark (8)
14. “Ride in the Light” by Cindy Kallet (8)
22. “Last Leaf” by Willie Nelson (7)
22. “Brown’s Ferry Blues” by Tony Trischka (7)
22. “Just Go to Bethlehem” by Chris Haddox (7)
22. “Keep Me in Your Heart” by Willie Nelson (7)
22. “The Christians and the Pagans” by Dar Williams (7)
22. “Auld Lang Syne” by Ed Sweeney (7)
22. “Lighthouse” by Sierra Ferrell (7)
22. “Alice’s Restaurant (The Massacree Revisited)” by Arlo Guthrie (7)
22. “Silent Night” by Jesse Lynn Madera (7)

Top Artists of December 2024

1. Caleb Klauder and Reeb Willms (74)
2. David Mallett (61)
3. Bob Dylan (48)
4. John McCutcheon (45)
5. Amy Speace (44)
6. Willie Nelson (41)
6. Joel Mabus (41)
8. Gillian Welch and David Rawlings (37)
8. Eamon O’ Leary and Nuala Kennedy (37)
10. Billy Strings (34)
10. Liv Greene (34)
12. Jerron Paxton (33)
13. Mary Chapin Carpenter (30)
13. Tony Trischka (30)
13. Cindy Kallet (30)
13. Joni Mitchell (30)
17. Pete Seeger (29)
17. Tom Prasada-Rao (29)
19. Eric Bibb (28)
20. Mark Stepakoff (27)
20. Brittany Jean (27)
22. Rakish (26)
23. Julian Taylor (25)
23. Bruce Cockburn (25)
25. Phil Ochs (24)
25. Paul and Mary Peter (24)
27. Judy Collins (23)
27. Genevieve Racette (23)
27. Stan Rogers (23)
27. John Prine (23)
27. Dwight Yoakam (23)
27. Carrie Newcomer (23)
27. Sierra Ferrell (23)
34. Willie Watson (22)
34. Mindy Smith (22)
34. Yonder Mountain String Band (22)
34. Tish Hinojosa (22)
34. Kasey Chambers (22)
34. Tania Elizabeth (22)
34. Bett Padgett (22)