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)

The ten finalists, selected by a panel of judges, based on both their songwriting craft and the presentation of their songs, are Chris Alvarado (Santa Rosa Beach, FL), Wyatt Easterling (Nashville, TN), Terry Holder (Olympia, WA), Mikaela Kahn (Denton, TX), Daniel Makins (San Angelo, TX), Heather McCready (Arlington, TX), Dave Murphy (Rutherford, NJ), Ashlee Rose (San Antonio, TX), Paul Sachs (New York, NY) and Talia Segal (Bethesda, MD). After showcasing their talents on the festival’s Singer Songwriter Stage on Saturday, May 18, four of them will receive $500 each in cash prizes and will perform in a winners’ round on Sunday afternoon.

Last year’s Wildflower! Performing Songwriter Contest winners were Connor Garvey (Portland, ME), Nicolette Good (San Antonio, TX) Robyn Landis (Tucson, AZ) and Michael Terry People’s Choice Award-winner MaryBeth Zamer of Twangtown Paramours (Nashville, TN).

Other artists slated to perform on the Singer Songwriter Stage during the festival include Sally Barris and Don Henry, Brother Sun, Slaid Cleaves, Joe Crookston, Tom Faulkner, Eliza Gilkyson, Terri Hendrix and Lloyd Maines, Tom Kimmel, Tom Prasada Rao, Amy Speace, Bill Ward/2-Bit Palomino and The Waymores.

In addition to its Singer Songwriter Stage and Dallas Songwriters Association Spotlights on the Courtyard Stage, Wildflower! will feature several other stages with an eclectic array of musical artists (including Robert Earl Keen and Ray Wylie Hubbard on Sunday), the Wild! Marketplace, a Taste of Texas Food Garden, a Kidz Korner, and more. Three-day festival passes are now on sale for $30, while single-day adult tickets will be available for $20 at the gate and online (www.wildflowerfestival.com).

The ten finalists, selected by a panel of judges, based on both their songwriting craft and the presentation of their songs, are Jen Cass (Bay City, MI), Angela Easterling (Greenville, SC), Tom Faulkner (Highland Village, TX), Connor Garvey (South Berwick, ME), Nicolette Good (San Antonio, TX), Robyn Landis (Tucson, AZ), Cassie Peterson (Nashville, TN), Ernest Troost (Los Angeles, CA), Crystal Yates McKinney, Texas, and MaryBeth Zamer of Twangtown Paramours (Nashville, TN). Four of them will receive $500 each in cash prizes.

Last year’s Wildflower! Performing Songwriter Contest winners were Steve Chizmadia (Peekskill, NY), Suzanna Choffel (Austin, TX), RJ Cowdery (Columbus, OH) and Michael Terry People’s Choice Award-winner Ellen Cherry (Baltimore, MD).

Cowdery will showcase her talents on the Singer Songwriter Stage on Saturday, May 19, as will The Flyin’ A’s, Ken Gaines and Wayne Wilkerson, Mary Gauthier, headliner John Gorka, Matt Harlan and Louise Mosrie. Noted Texas-based artists Guy Clark and Zane Williams are slated to grace the stage the following day.

In addition to its Singer Songwriter Stage, Wildflower! features three main outdoor stages with an eclectic array of musical artists, the Wild! Marketplace, a Taste of Texas Food Garden, a Kidz Korner, and more. Three-day festival passes go on sale for $30 on April 16, while single-day adult tickets will be available for $20 at the gate and online (www.wildflowerfestival.com).