A self-described upcycled Celtic folk band, House of Hamill features Rose Baldino (fiddle and vocals), Brian Buchanan (fiddle, vocals and guitar), and Caroline Browning (bass, mandolin and piano). The Pennsylvania-based, nationally touring trio has performed at music festivals and established folk venues. Its version of Ed Pickford’s “Pound a Week Rise” previously topped the songs chart on folk radio, while an all-violin cover of Guns N’ Roses’ “Sweet Child O’ Mine” garnered more than 17-million views on Facebook and was reportedly shared more than 400,000 times.

House of Hamill’s tight vocal harmonies, sophisticated instrumental arrangements, and acoustic pop sensibilities are evident on Wildfire, its fourth full-length album. Like its live shows and previous releases, the album features a mix of original numbers, modern takes on centuries-old folk ballads, and choice covers. The trio’s rendition of Jimmy Webb’s “The Highwayman” was the month’s most-played song on folk radio.

[Here’s a link to view a live performance of House of Hamill performing “The Highwayman” in concert earlier this year: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CqzdZVPbxJM.]

Wildfire — which was recorded in a cabin in the Blue Ridge Mountains near Asheville, North Carolina — also features House of Hamill’s original song “Banks of the Brandywine.” An ode to folklore that surrounds a notorious location on the Brandywine River in Chester County, PA, the song — which was #10 in August — was recently selected as the grand-prize winner in the folk category of the John Lennon Songwriting Contest – 2024 Session 1. An international songwriting contest designed to help enable songwriters to express themselves, gain recognition, and get their music heard, the contest was made possible by Yoko Ono Lennon and proceeds from it help support the nonprofit John Lennon Educational Tour Bus mobile recording studio that provides young people with opportunities to create original music and digital media.

[Here’s a link to view House of Hamill’s official video for “Banks of the Brandywine”: https://youtu.be/KGK0E3ROGp8?feature=shared.For more information on the trio and to view more videos, visit houseofhamill.com.]

The August 2024 top albums, songs and artists charts are based on 11,755 airplays reported on 405 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.

Top Albums of August 2024

1. Wildfire by House of Hamill (91)
2. From China to Appalachia by Cathy Fink and Marcy Marxer with Chao Tian (75)
3. Boarding Windows in Paradise by Rebecca Frazier (69)
4. Bloom Where You Fall by Hana Zara (58)
5. The Light Years by The Magnolia Janes (52)
6. The Legend of Sugarbelly by Guy Davis (43)
6. Hanging at the Luna Star by Lou Dominguez (43)
8. The First Day of December by Ivan Strunin (41)
9. Earl Jam by Tony Trischka (40)
9. Points of Light by Noah Zacharin (40)
11. Signposts and Marks by Erin Ash Sullivan (39)
12. The Two of Us by Janie Rothfield and Allan Carr (38)
13. Goldenrod by Teni Rane (35)
14. Wasted Luck by Tiffany Williams and Dalton Mills (33)
15. Holding the Threads by Beth DeSombre (32)
16. A Prosperous Gale by Open the Door for Three (30)
17. City of Glass by AJ Lee and Blue Summit (28)
18. Terra Madre by Beppe Gambetta (26)
19. Alone Again….live by Steve Earle (25)
19. Trees by Laurie Lewis (25)
21. Starting Over by Dan Bern (23)
22. Trail of Flowers by Sierra Ferrell (22)
23. Wanderers Like Me by The Po’ Ramblin’ Boys (21)
23. Broken Homes and Hearts of Gold by The Lucky Nows (21)
23. Borned in Ya by Melissa Carper (21)
23. Woodland by Gillian Welch and David Rawlings (21)
23. Driven to Drive by Joe Ely (21)
23. Soliloquy: Sixteen Solo Songs by Craig Bickhardt (21)
29. The Earth Turns and So Do We by The Honey Badgers (19)
30. Resurrection by Los Lonely Boys (18)
30. The Ghost of Tucumcari by Dana Cooper (18)
30. Cowgirl’s Delight by Phoebe White (18)
33. There’s a Bright Side Somewhere by Happy Traum (17)
33. Texicali by Dave Alvin and Jimmie Dale Gilmore (17)
33. Look Up by Lynn Hollyfield (17)
33. Banjo Jubilations by Benny Bleu (17)
33. Proxy Music by Linda Thompson (17)
33. One of These Days by Cris Jacobs (17)
39. The Only Moment by Maya De Vitry (16)
39. Wanderer by Ruth Moody (16)
39. Blame It on Eve by Shemekia Copeland (16)
42. The Avett Brothers by The Avett Brothers (15)
42. Weary Ramblers by Weary Ramblers (15)
42. Transmissions by Amos Lee (15)
45. On Banjo by Alison Brown (14)
45. South of Here by Nathaniel Rateliff and the Night Sweats (14)
45. Listen to the World Spin by Paper Wings (14)
45. The Price of Happiness by Miranda Hardy (14)
45. Phthalo Blue by Andrew Marlin (14)
45. Ordinary Elephant by Ordinary Elephant (14)
45. Lace by Billy Eli (14)
45. The Beauty of This Now by Marc Douglas Berardo (14)
45. Wild Birds Warbel by Jubal Lee Young (14)
45. Hymn of Wild Things by Natalie Spears (14)

Top Songs of August 2024

1. “The Highwayman” by House of Hamill (21)
2. “Gentle Arms of Eden” by Erik Balkey and Jessica Smucker (18)
2. “Put No Walls Around Your Garden” by New Dangerfield (18)
2. “High on a Mountain” by Cathy Fink and Marcy Marxer with Chao Tian (18)
2. “Who Will Take My Place” by Tania Elizabeth (18)
6. “Our Work Here Is Not Yet Done” by Hana Zara (17)
7. “Empty Trainload of Sky” by Gillian Welch and David Rawlings (14)
7. “Worst of Both Worlds” by Tiffany Williams and Dalton Mills (14)
7. “People Against an Empire” by Hana Zara (14)
10. “Banks of the Brandywine” by House of Hamill (13)
10. “Think I’ll Have Another One” by Lisa Jeanette (13)
12. “Gold Watch and Chain” by Tiffany Williams and Dalton Mills (12)
12. “Listen to the Radio” by Beth DeSombre (12)
12. “Borderline” by Rebecca Frazier (12)
15. “Firefly” by Teni Rane (11)
15. “Zydeco Minor Swing” by Ivan Strunin (11)
15. “Ten Tons of Road” by Noah Zacharin (11)
15. “Leadfoot” by Billy Strings (11)
15. “Talkin’ Bout a Revolution” by Lou Dominguez (11)
20. “Smokejumper” by House of Hamill (10)
20. “Speed of Life” by The Magnolia Janes (10)
20. “August Flower” by Cathy Fink and Marcy Marxer with Chao Tian (10)
20. “Stones on the Road” by The Magnolia Janes (10)
24. “Dooley” by Tony Trischka (9)
24. “Saro Jane” by Rebecca Frazier (9)
24. “High Country Road Trip” by Rebecca Frazier (9)
24. “Ausable” by House of Hamill (9)
24. “Goat on a Stone Wall” by Erin Ash Sullivan (9)
24. “Sit and Pick With You” by Beppe Gambetta (9)
24. “Into the Wild” by Molly Tuttle and Golden Highway (9)
24. “Chilly Winds” by Janie Rothfield and Allan Carr (9)
24. “The Sun in My Backyard” by The Magnolia Janes (9)
24. “Wildfire” by House of Hamill (9)
24. “Into the Golden” by House of Hamill (9)

Top Artists of August 2024

1. House of Hamill (93)
2. Cathy Fink and Marcy Marxer with Chao Tian (75)
3. Rebecca Frazier (70)
4. Hana Zara (58)
5. The Magnolia Janes (52)
6. Guy Davis (50)
7. Lou Dominguez (47)
8. Sweet Honey in the Rock (45)
9. Tony Trischka (42)
10. Erin Ash Sullivan (41)
10. Ivan Strunin (41)
12. Noah Zacharin (40)
13. Janie Rothfield and Allan Carr (38)
14. Happy Traum (37)
14. Laurie Lewis (37)
16. Pete Seeger (35)
16. Teni Rane (35)
18. Tiffany Williams and Dalton Mills (33)
18. Steve Earle (33)
20. Beth DeSombre (32)
21. Open the Door for Three (31)
21. Nanci Griffith (31)
21. Dan Bern (31)
24. AJ Lee and Blue Summit (30)
24. Johnny Cash (30)
26. Alison Brown (29)
27. Beppe Gambetta (28)
28. Billy Strings (27)
28. The Po’ Ramblin’ Boys (27)
30. Tom Rush (26)
31. Craig Bickhardt (25)
31. John Prine (25)
33. Ellis Paul (24)
33. Bob Dylan (24)
33. Gillian Welch and David Rawlings (24)
33. Benny Bleu (24)
33. Carrie Newcomer (24)
38. John McCutcheon (23)
38. Joe Ely (23)
40. Stan Rogers (22)
40. Richard Thompson (22)
40. Sierra Ferrell (22)

Among the dozens of artists and acts slated to perform are Mike Agranoff, April Mae & the June Bugs, Boris Garcia, Michael Braunfeld, Bumper Jacksons, Burning Bridget Cleary, Mya Byrne, Meghan Cary with Analog Gypsies, CJ Chenier and the Buckwheat Zydeco Band, Darlingside, Del & Dawg (living legends of bluegrass Del Mc Coury and David Grisman), Iris DeMent, John Flynn, Fortunate Ones, John Francis, Sam Gleaves, The Hello Strangers, Si Kahn, Christie Lenee, The Lone Below, Los Lobos, Mist Covered Mountains, Peter Mulvey, David Myles, Mollie O’Brien & Rich Moore, Pine Leaf Boys, River Whyless, Katherine Rondeau, Buffy Sainte-Marie, Session Americana, Sharon Shannon, Roger Sprung, Spuyten Duyvil, The Stray Birds, Marty Stuart & His Fabulous Superlatives, Tall Heights, Tempest, Vishten, Toby Walker, Robin & Linda Williams, Avi Wisnia, Scott Wolfson & Other Heroes, The Wood Brothers, and Peter Yarrow.

As the names above suggest, the Philadelphia Folk Festival features an eclectic mix of traditional and contemporary music that stretches the boundaries of folk, helping to broaden its appeal and reach a new generation of listeners. Both notable national and international touring artists and emerging ones are on the bill.

Through a new partnership with the Northeast Regional Folk Alliance, a regional affiliate of Folk Alliance International, the festival will showcase the talents of three up-and-coming 20-something artists – Kaia Kater, Kirsten Maxwell and Ethan Pierce– during a NERFA Presents Young Folk song swap on Saturday morning. Maxwell will also be part of a Next Gen Folk set on Friday (along with Deer Scout and Jason McCue) and a Sunday afternoon Songsmiths session (with Michael Braunfeld, Sam Gleaves and Peter Mulvey), while Kater joins David Myles in a Sunday afternoon Oh Canada! set.

In addition to musical performances and workshops on eight stages – including contradancing with Groovemama, a Martin Guitar Jam and an old time & bluegrass jam — there will be an array of children’s activities and kid-oriented musicians in the shady Dulcimer Grove. Singer-songwriters and social activists John Flynn and Si Kahn will conduct a short workshop on “The Role of Musicians in Movements for Social Justice. ”

As in years past, many artisans will display and sell their creations in an open-air juried crafts area.

There’s also a festival within the festival for those who opt to camp onsite and enjoy some late-night musical revelry. The 40-acre campground – chock-a-block with tents — is home to a unique late-night scene, with singing by campfires and jamming into the early morning hours. David Dye, host of the syndicated World Café radio program, will host a special Thursday night concert on the Camp Stage –featuring Liz Longley, Quiet Life and The Sheepdogs — exclusively for all-festival camping ticket holders.

For more information about the Philadelphia Folk Festival and to order tickets, visit
www.pfs.org/Philadelphia-folk-festival/55th-folk-festival/.

Editor’s Note: As vice president of the Northeast Regional Folk Alliance (NERFA) board of directors, I have the honor and pleasure of hosting the “NERFA Presents Young Folk” showcase on Saturday, Aug. 20.

Boulder, Colorado-based singer-songwriter Rebecca Folsom’s “Better Times” was February’s most-played song, edging out Burning Bridget Cleary’s “Madam I’m a Darling,” January’s top song.

The February 2016 FOLKDJ-L charts are based on 13,220 airplays from 143 different DJs. Label and release date appear in brackets below, while the number of reported spins is shown in parentheses. The charts are posted on AcousticMusicScene.com with permission.

Top Albums of February 2016

1: All These Years, Solas [solasmusic.com, 2/16] (93)
2: The Hazel And Alice Sessions, Laurie Lewis And The Right Hands [Spruce And Maple, 1/16] (75)
3: Roses And Victory, Honor Finnegan [Frock, 2/16] (63)
4: These Are The Days, Burning Bridget Cleary [burningbridgetcleary.com, 11/15] (56)
5: Extraordinary Days, Rebecca Folsom [rebeccafolsom.com, 1/16] (55)
5: The K.O.A. Tapes (Vol. 1), Kate Campbell [Large River, 1/16] (55)
5: Live From Blue Rock, Moors And McCumber [moorsandmccumber.bandcamp.com, new] (55)
8: Dori Freeman, Dori Freeman [Free Dirt, 2/16] (53)
9: Didn’t We Waltz, Amy White with Al Petteway [Fairewood, new] (50)
10: Ladies And Gentlemen, Infamous Stringdusters [Compass, 1/16] (48)
11: Weighted Mind, Sierra Hull [Rounder, 1/16] (47)
12: Where I Belong, Lauren Heintz [Gatorbone, 2015] (46)
13: Traveling Circus, No Fuss And Feathers [Roadshow, 1/16] (45)
14: Foxhounds, Kathy Kallick Band [Live Oak, 11/15] (41)
15: Big Sky Country, Sofia Talvik [Makaki, 4/15] (38)
15: Folkest, Denise Jordan Finley [Dome Island, new] (38)
17: Beyond The Ash And Steel, Judy Kass [judykassmusic.com, 1/16] (33)
17: Folk Art, The Robert Bobby Duo [I Likemike, new] (33)
19: Beyond The Rain, Quiles And Cloud [Compass, 1/16] (32)
19: Real Midnight, Birds Of Chicago [5 Head, new] (32)
21: The Both, Eli West [Self, new] (30)
21: Please Come Home, The Debutones [debutones.com, 8/15] (30)
23: Less Is More, Gordie Tentrees [tentrees.ca, 4/15] (29)
23: You’re Dreaming, Cactus Blossoms [Red House, 2/16] (29)
25: Love You Strong, Terri Hendrix [Wilory, new] (28)
26: The Back Of Winter, Adrianna Ciccone [adriannaciccone.com, 9/15] (26)
26: Hobo Jungle Fever Dreams, Corin Raymond [Local Rascal, new] (26)
26: Lola, Carrie Rodriguez [Luz, new] (26)
29: Above The Prairie, The Pines [Red House, new] (24)
29: The Guest House, Ellis [Singing Crow, 2/16] (24)
29: Subcontinental Drift, Sultans Of String with Anwar Khurshid [McK, 9/15] (24)
32: Crow The Dawn, Jon Shain And Joe Newberry [Flyin, new] (23)
32: Pompadour, Tim O’Brien [Howdy Skies, 10/15] (23)
32: So Lucky, The Lucky Sisters [Patio, 12/15] (23)
35: The Ghosts Of Highway 20, Lucinda Williams [Highway 20, new] (22)
35: The Jeremiahs, The Jeremiahs [Self, 2014] (22)
37: C&O Canal, Eric Brace And Peter Cooper [Red Beet, new] (21)
37: Charm City Junction, Charm City Junction [Patuxent, 6/15] (21)
37: Love, Guns And Money, Bianca De Leon [Self, 2011] (21)
40: A Congress Of Treasons, Grant Peeples And The Peeples Republik [Gatorbone, new] (20)
41: City Painted Gold, The Brothers Comatose [Swamp Jam, new] (19)
41: Crimson, Kirsten Maxwell [Self, 4/15] (19)
41: Simon Linsteadt, Simon Linsteadt [Stormy Deep, 2/15] (19)
41: Traveling Roots, Matt Flinner Trio [Compass, 1/16] (19)
45: God Don’t Never Change: The Songs Of Blind Willie Johnson, Various Artists [Alligator, new] (18)
45: In The Magic Hour, Aoife O’Donovan [Yep Roc, 1/16] (18)
45: Meridian Rising, Paul Burch [Plowboy, new] (18)
45: Through Many A Land, Eden MacAdam-Somer And Larry Unger [Black Socks, 11/15] (18)
49: Domestic Eccentric, Old Man Luedecke [True North, 7/15] (17)
49: Fine Bloom, Free The Honey [freethehoney.com, 9/15] (17)
51: Beg And Borrow, Battlefield Band [Temple, 8/15] (16)
51: I’ll Take You Home, Steve Brooks [Frog, new] (16)
51: Joy Of Living: A Tribute To Ewan MacColl, Various Artists [Compass, 10/15] (16)
51: Something More Than Free, Jason Isbell [Southeastern, 7/15] (16)
51: Sorrows And Glories, Red Moon Road [redmoonroad.com, 9/15] (16)
51: Too Big World, Bumper Jacksons [bumperjacksons.com, 6/15] (16)
57: Blues And Ballads: A Folksinger’s Songbook, Volumes I & II, Luther Dickinson [New West, 2/16] (15)
57: Cayamo Sessions At Sea, Buddy Miller And Friends [New West, new] (15)
57: Experienced, Larry Keel [Keel Fish, 2/16] (15)
57: Nashville Obsolete, Dave Rawlings Machine [Acony, 9/15] (15)
61: Ain’t We Brothers, Sam Gleaves [Community, 11/15] (14)
61: Another Black Hole, Malcolm Holcombe [Gypsy Eyes, new] (14)
61: Bela Fleck & Abigail Washburn, Bela Fleck & Abigail Washburn [Rounder, 2014] (14)
61: So Familiar, Steve Martin And Edie Brickell [Rounder, 10/15] (14)
65: At Peace With One’s Ghosts, The Paperboys [paperboys.com, 2014] (13)
65: Dreams And Ghosts: A Family Album, Avery Hill [averyhilltunes.com, 7/15] (13)
65: The Fiddle Preacher, Otter Creek [ottercreekduo.com, 8/15] (13)
65: Just For The Love Of It, Happy Traum [happytraum.com, 7/15] (13)
65: The Tennessee Sessions, The Swamp Brothers [Itchy Sabot, 7/15] (13)
65: A Wanderer I’ll Stay, Pharis And Jason Romero [Lula, 3/15] (13)

Top Songs of February 2016

Burning Bridget Cleary’s previous release, Pressed For time, reached #1 on the Roots Music Report Folk and Roots radio airplay charts in 2013 and was among the most-played albums on FOLKDJ-L that year. Fronted by charismatic young fiddler and vocalist Rose Baldino, the band also features Amy Beshara (fiddle), Lou Baldino (guitar) and Peter Trezzi (percussion).

The January 2016 FOLKDJ-L charts are based on 15,008 airplays from 148 different DJs. Label and release date appear in brackets below, while the number of reported spins is shown in parentheses. The charts are posted on AcousticMusicScene.com, with permission.

Top Albums of January 2016

1: These Are The Days, Burning Bridget Cleary [burningbridgetcleary.com, 11/15] (71)
2: The K.O.A. Tapes (Vol. 1), Kate Campbell [Large River, new] (68)
3: Foxhounds, Kathy Kallick Band [Live Oak, 11/15] (67)
4: Weighted Mind, Sierra Hull [Rounder, new] (55)
5: The Hazel And Alice Sessions, Laurie Lewis And The Right Hands [Spruce And Maple, new] (52)
6: Oh Freedom! Songs of the Civil Rights Movement, Chris Vallillo [Gin Ridge, 10/15] (49)
6: Traveling Circus, No Fuss And Feathers [Roadshow, new] (49)
8: Ain’t We Brothers, Sam Gleaves [Community, 11/15] (42)
9: Dori Freeman, Dori Freeman [Free Dirt, new] (41)
10: Fine Bloom, Free The Honey [freethehoney.com, 9/15] (38)
11: Just For The Love Of It, Happy Traum [happytraum.com, 7/15] (37)
12: So Lucky, The Lucky Sisters [Patio, 12/15] (36)
13: At Peace With One’s Ghosts, The Paperboys [paperboys.com, 2014] (34)
14: Pompadour, Tim O’Brien [Howdy Skies, 10/15] (32)
15: Charm City Junction, Charm City Junction [Patuxent, 6/15] (31)
16: Beg And Borrow, Battlefield Band [Temple, 8/15] (28)
17: Joy Of Living: A Tribute To Ewan MacColl, Various Artists [Compass, 10/15] (27)
17: Shadow Trails, Linda McRae [Borealis, 9/15] (27)
17: Shifted, Harpeth Rising [Grimm Rising, 8/15] (27)
20: The Back Of Winter, Adrianna Ciccone [adriannaciccone.com, 9/15] (26)
21: Knockout Rose, Boxcar Lilies [boxcarlilies.com, 9/15] (25)
21: Third Street, Peter Mayer [Blue Boat, 2014] (25)
23: Sorrows And Glories, Red Moon Road [redmoonroad.com, 9/15] (24)
24: In The Magic Hour, Aoife O’Donovan [Yep Roc, new] (23)
24: Tomorrow’s Child, Jonathan Edwards [Rising, 6/15] (23)
24: The Ultimate Guide To Scottish Folk, Various Artists [ARC, 10/15] (23)
27: #LoveInEvolution, Sweet Honey In The Rock [Appleseed, new] (22)
27: Tomorrow Is My Turn, Rhiannon Giddens [Nonesuch, 2/15] (22)
27: A Wanderer I’ll Stay, Pharis And Jason Romero [Lula, 3/15] (22)
30: Jayme Stone’s Lomax Project, Jayme Stone [Borealis, 2/15] (21)
30: So Familiar, Steve Martin And Edie Brickell [Rounder, 10/15] (21)
32: Hard Cry Moon, Donna Ulisse [Hadley, 9/15] (20)
32: The Jeremiahs, The Jeremiahs [Self, 2014] (20)
32: Roses And Victory, Honor Finnegan [Frock, new] (20)
32: This River, Amy Soucy [amysoucymusic.com, 6/15] (20)
32: Too Big World, Bumper Jacksons [bumperjacksons.com, 6/15] (20)
37: Anna And Elizabeth, Anna And Elizabeth [Free Dirt, 3/15] (19)
37: Manannan’s Cloak, Barrule [Easy On The Record, 5/15] (19)
37: Ready For The Storm, Lori Lieberman [Drive On, 10/15] (19)
40: At Home: The Maine Tour, Noel Paul Stookey [Neworld, 9/15] (18)
40: Domestic Eccentric, Old Man Luedecke [True North, 7/15] (18)
40: Happy Prisoner: The Bluegrass Sessions, Robert Earl Keen [Dualtone, 2/15] (18)
40: Leave Some Things Behind, The Steel Wheels [Big Ring, 4/15] (18)
40: The Tennessee Sessions, The Swamp Brothers [Itchy Sabot, 7/15] (18)
45: North East Rising Sun, Brooksie Wells [Down Home Diva, 10/15] (17)
45: Silver Lining, Efrat [efratmusic.com, 10/15] (17)
47: Anna Laube, Anna Elizabeth Laube [Ahh? Pockets, 5/15] (16)
47: Beyond The Ash And Steel, Judy Kass [Self, new] (16)
47: Brotherhood, The Gibson Brothers [Rounder, 2/15] (16)
47: Dreams And Ghosts: A Family Album, Avery Hill [averyhilltunes.com, 7/15] (16)
47: The Heart Is The Hunter, Lenne Klingaman [Humuncules, 8/15] (16)
47: Salt As Wolves, Jeffrey Foucault [Blueblade, 10/15] (16)
47: Hudson Harding Sampler, Vol. 10: Happy Holidays, Various Artists [Hudson Harding, 12/15] (16)
54: Birds Say, Darlingside [30 Tigers, 9/15] (15)
54: Blues And Ballads: A Folksinger’s Songbook, Volumes I & II, Luther Dickinson [New West, new] (15)
54: Dancing Toward The Light, Jesse Palidofsky [Azalea City, 2014] (15)
54: The Fiddle Preacher, Otter Creek [ottercreekduo.com, 8/15] (15)
54: A Silent Song, Archie Fisher [Red House, 9/15] (15)
54: The Song Of The Banjo, Alison Brown [Compass, 10/15] (15)
54: Songs Of Heart And Home, Greg Blake [gregblakemusic.com, 9/15] (15)
54: Through Many A Land, Eden MacAdam-Somer And Larry Unger [Black Socks, 11/15] (15)
54: Woven, Jenna Moynihan [Self, 10/15] (15)
63: And Then There’s This, The Grascals [Mountain Home, new] (14)
63: Depot Light: Songs Of Eric Taylor, Peter Cooper [Red Beet, 11/15] (14)
63: Kokomo Kidd, Guy Davis [M. C., 9/15] (14)
63: Man In The Moon, Andy M. Stewart [Green Linnet, 1994] (14)
63: Old Time Reverie, Mipso [Robust, 10/15] (14)
63: So Far, So Good, David Roth [Wind River, 6/15] (14)
63: So Low, Tim Williams [Lowdenproud, 11/15] (14)
70: Cayamo Sessions At Sea, Buddy Miller And Friends [New West, new] (13)
70: Crimson, Kirsten Maxwell [Self, 4/15] (13)
70: Dogwood Cats, Jefferson Ross [Deep Fried, 6/15] (13)
70: Experienced, Larry Keel [Keel Fish, new] (13)
70: Nashville Obsolete, Dave Rawlings Machine [Acony, 9/15] (13)
70: Round Trip, Beppe Gambetta And Tony McManus [Borealis, 8/15] (13)
70: Runaway Train, Flatt Lonesome [Mountain Home, 10/15] (13)

Top Songs of January 2016

1. “Madam I’m A Darling” (21)
by Burning Bridget Cleary
from These Are The Days
2. “Mountain” (17)
by Burning Bridget Cleary
from These Are The Days
3. “Union Pacific” (16)
by No Fuss And Feathers
from Traveling Circus
4. “Another Day” (15)
by Burning Bridget Cleary
from These Are The Days
5. “Greensboro” (12)
by Kate Campbell
from The K.O.A. Tapes (Vol. 1)
6. “Ain’t Nobody” (11)
by Dori Freeman
from Dori Freeman
6. “Let The Mystery Be” (11)
by The Lucky Sisters
from So Lucky
6. “Snowflakes” (11)
by Kathy Kallick Band
from Foxhounds
9. “Black River” (10)
by Sierra Hull
from Weighted Mind
10. “Foxhounds” (9)
by Kathy Kallick Band
from Foxhounds
10. “In-Between” (9)
by Sierra Hull
from Weighted Mind
10. “Pretty Bird” (9)
by Laurie Lewis And The Right Hands
from The Hazel And Alice Sessions
10. “Some Song” (9)
by Kate Campbell
from The K.O.A. Tapes (Vol. 1)
10. “Won’t You Come Sing For Me” (9)
by Laurie Lewis And The Right Hands
from The Hazel And Alice Sessions
10. “Working Girl Blues” (9)
by Laurie Lewis And The Right Hands
from The Hazel And Alice Sessions
16. “Angel In The Ashes” (8)
by Sam Gleaves
from Ain’t We Brothers
16. “Better Than The Last” (8)
by Paperboys
from At Peace With One’s Ghost
16. “Beyond The Ash And Steel” (8)
by Judy Kass
from Beyond The Ash And Steel
16. “Careless Love Blues” (8)
by Happy Traum
from Just For The Love Of It
16. “Down In The Woods” (8)
by Jonathan Edwards
from Tomorrow’s Child
16. “Drift Away” (8)
by No Fuss And Feathers
from Traveling Circus
16. “From Galway To Graceland” (8)
by Kate Campbell
from The K.O.A. Tapes (Vol. 1)
16. “Motherless Child” (8)
by No Fuss And Feathers
from Traveling Circus
16. “So Dang Lonesome” (8)
by Kathy Kallick Band
from Foxhounds
16. “Stranded” (8)
by Sierra Hull
from Weighted Mind
16. “Strangeness Of The Day” (8)
by Kate Campbell
from The K.O.A. Tapes (Vol. 1)

More than 800 performing artists, presenters, promoters, agents and managers, folk DJs and others actively engaged in contemporary and traditional folk music will converge on the Hudson Valley Resort in Kerhonkson, New York, Nov. 13-16, 2014, for the 20th Annual Northeast Regional Folk Alliance (NERFA) Conference. AcousticMusicScene.com will again have a major presence as it hosts afternoon and late-night song swaps, in addition to its popular Midnight Hoot at the close of the conference’s first day.

The NERFA Conference will feature several jam-packed days and nights of music showcases, open mics, song swaps and informal jam sessions, informative panel discussions and workshops, a keynote by acclaimed composer and multi-instrumentalist David Amram, one-on-one and group mentoring sessions, a large trade show-like exhibit hall, tasty communal meals in the dining room, a welcoming party and happy hours, and lots of informal conversation and networking.

Booking gigs may be the primary objective of some performers who attend the NERFA Conference, and many presenters and folk DJs do scout out new artists and those whom they have not previously heard and seen in live performance. However, the conference experience is much more than that; it’s really about forging connections, building community, and attending workshops and seminars to learn about options to further careers, promote the music, and attract audiences and listeners.

Taking center stage during this year’s conference will be 15 artists/acts selected by a panel of judges, with each to perform a 15-minute formal showcase set in the resort’s theater on Friday and Saturday nights. Slated to perform on Friday are Bobtown, Claudia Schmidt, Cassie & Maggie MacDonald, Guy Mendilow Ensemble, Harpeth Rising, Dave Gunning, and David Jacobs-Strain. Saturday’s Formal Showcase lineup features Shtreimi & Ismail Fencioglu, SONiA disappear fear, Modern Man, Burning Bridget Cleary, No Fuss & Feathers Roadshow, Jory Nash, The Don Juans, and Tim Grimm Band.

After the formal showcases, attendees will shuffle between four conference rooms to catch short sets by 40 additional artists who were selected by a different set of judges. Performing in Quad Showcases on Friday night are Kristin Andreassen, Brothers McCann, Ellen Bukstel, Bumper Jacksons, Kate Callahan, Roger Street Friedman, Connor Garvey, Loretta Hagen, Phil Henry, Lara Herscovitch, JEWMONGOUS, Libby Koch, Mara Levine, Lords of Liechtenstein, Lois Morton, Hannah Shira Naiman, Jeff Scroggins & Colorado, Scott Wolfson & Other Heroes, and Young Novelists. Saturday’s Quad Showcase artists include Beaucoup Blue, Nancy Beaudette, Jeff Black, Chasing June, RJ Cowdery, Doll Sisters, Driftwood, Folk Goddesses, Matt Harlan, Jesse Stuart Few, Mark Mandeville & Raianne Richards, Matt Nakoa, No Good Sister, Rose Sheehan & Colin de la Barre, John Sherman & Randy Clepper, Lyal Strickland, Jesse Terry, Ernest Troost, and Victor & Penny.

Following the juried showcases each evening (as well as during the afternoons), AcousticMusicScene.com will join dozens of presenters, performers and others in hosting guerilla showcases in their hotel rooms that extend through the early morning hours. Open mics, informal jam sessions, private showcases, thematic song circles and round-robin song swaps round out the musical mix. It’s not unusual to see musicians staking out other areas of the hotel and jamming until 4 or 5 a.m.

AcousticMusicScene.com Midnight Hoot Features Artists and Singing Folk DJs

An overflow crowd will likely again descend on the AcousticMusicScene.com room (1506) on Thursday overnight for its popular Midnight Hoot. Following the Suzi Wollenberg Folk DJ Showcase and extending from 11:45 p.m. to 3 a.m., the AcousticMusicScene.com Midnight Hoot is a pre-arranged, round-robin song swap featuring several singing folk DJs (Barbara and Graham Dean, Wanda Fischer and Jon Stein) and some three-dozen of artists/acts – each of whom will perform one song.

Now in its eighth year, the Midnight Hoot is intended to shine a spotlight on several folk DJs who also enjoy singing, while providing them, presenters and others with an opportunity to get a small sampling of the music of a lot of artists in a short period of time. It also enables artists to enjoy each other’s company and music before the conference really gets into full swing on Friday (although since increasingly more people have been arriving on Thursday, some intensive workshops will take place that afternoon).

A house band comprised of David Buskin (keyboards), Mark Dann (bass) and Marshal Rosenberg (percussion) also will be there for anyone who desires accompaniment.

Schedules for the AcousticMusicScene.com showcases appear below. Craft beers and wine are being graciously provided by Blue Point Brewing Company (Patchogue, NY) and Clovis Point (a boutique winery on Long Island’s North Fork).

Thursday Night 11:45 p.m. – 3 a.m.

AcousticMusicScene.com Midnight Hoot

Featuring one song by each of the following (not listed in order of appearance)

Folk DJs: Graham & Barbara Dean, Wanda Fischer and Jon Stein

Artists: Annika, Robert Sarazin Blake, Robert Bruey, Ellen Bukstel, Burning Bridget Cleary, Dan and Faith, Gathering Time, Marci Geller, Generations: Mike & Aleksi Glick, Rick Gottlieb, Loretta Hagen, Christopher Mark Jones, Stuart Kabak, Susan Kane, Judy Kass, Savannah King, Terry Kitchen, Libby Koch, Mara Levine, Bernice Lewis, Rob Lytle, Lois Morton, Zoe Mulford, Jory Nash, Aaron Nathans, Dan Navarro, Hugh O’ Doherty, Karyn Oliver, Amanda Pearcy, Glen Roethel, Elaine Romanelli, Jeff Scroggins and Colorado, Sorcha Cribben-Merrill, Hank Stone, Chuck Williams

House Band: David Buskin (keyboards), Mark Dann (bass), Marshal Rosenberg (percussion)

Friday Afternoon

12:15 Lower Hudson Valley Songsters: Susan Kane, Judy Kass, Glen Roethel
12:45 I’m From New Jersey: Christine DeLeon, Loretta Hagen, Kathy Moser, John
Sonntag
1:30 Brooklyn in da House: The Lords of Liechtenstein, Alex Mallett, Matt Nakoa
2:00 Texas Troubadours: Matt Harlan, Libby Koch & Amanda Pearcy
2:30 Long Island Sounds: He-Bird, She-Bird, Hank Stone, The Folk Goddesses
3:15 Long Island Sounds: Robert Bruey, Jerry DeMeo, Gathering Time, Rorie Kelly

Friday Night

11:45 Dan Navarro

12:00 Funny Folk: JEWMONGOUS featuring Sean Altman, Mark Berube, Lois Morton

12:30 Harmonic Convergence: Gathering Time, Mara Levine, Jeff Scroggins & Colorado

1:00 The Wisch List: Robert Bruey, Jenai Huff, Eugene Ruffolo
1:30 Folk You Should Know: Kristin Andreassen, Rob Lytle, Teresa Storch

2:00 Mass. Appeal: Brothers McCann, Danielle Miraglia, Pesky J. Nixon

Saturday Afternoon

1:45 Pirate Camp: Monty Delaney, Laura Joy, Stuart Kabak, Mike Laureanno

2:30: Salty Songs & Sailor Slang: Stuart Markus & Robin Greenstein

2:45 Pirate Camp Part II: Mya Byrne, Elaine Romanelli, Hank Stone, Jesse Terry

3:30 New Englanders of Note: Marc Douglas Berardo. Heather Pierson, The Boxcar Lilies

Saturday Evening

11:45 Burning Bridget Cleary

12:00 Funny Folk II: Modern Man and Lois Morton

12:30 POSItively Good Music: Freebo, Glen Roethel, David Roth

1:00 CT State Troubadours: Kristen Graves and Lara Herscovitch

1:30 Folk You Should Know: Friction Farm, Robinson Treacher, Laura Zucker

2:00 O’ Canada: Shawna Caspi, Irish Mythen, Young Novelists: Graydon James & Laura Spink, Cassie & Maggie MacDonald, Manitoba Hal, Jory Nash, David Newland, Cheryl Prashker

NERFA (www.nerfa.org) is a regional affiliate of Folk Alliance International, an association that seeks to foster and promote contemporary, traditional and multicultural folk music.

Editor’s Note: My thanks to Stuart Kabak, with whom I partner in hosting late-night song swaps and open circles under the AcousticMusicScene.com Tent @ Pirate Camp during the Falcon Ridge Folk Festival, for providing a carpeted wooden platform stage and stage lights for this year’s AcousticMusicScene.com showcases. Thanks also are due to him and fellow singer-songwriters Glen Roethel and Hank Stone for graciously offering to host afternoon showcases, and to Amy Blake, Sybil Moser and Gary Schoenberger for the loan of folding chairs.

In addition to hosting the AcousticMusicScene.com Midnight Hoot and other showcases during the NERFA Conference, I will be participating in a panel discussion on social media and offering some group mentoring sessions focused on artist bios and one-sheets, electronic press kits (EPKs), media relations, social media, website content, and what presenters look for when considering artists for their concert series and festivals. I also serve on the board of directors for both Folk Alliance International and NERFA.

Artists slated to perform include Barleyjuice, Blackwater, Brownpenny, Burning Bridget Cleary, Dublin 5, The Elders, Emish, Four Leaf Clovers, Full Set, Glengarry Bhoys, Jamison, Seamus Kennedy, Kilmaine Saints, Long Time Courting, Makem & Spain Brothers, Carl Peterson, Piper’s Request, Poor Angus, RUNA, Slainte, Craig Thatcher & Nyk VanDyk, and Timlin & Kane. Other musical attractions during the weekend include pipe band, fiddle and drum major competitions. Irish dancers from the Irish Stars School of Irish Dance and the O’Grady Quinlan Academy of Irish Dance also will take part in the festivities, as will several Irish and Irish-American comedians.

North America’s largest highland games take place during the Celtic Classic. The U.S. National Highland Athletic Championships will include the lifting of heavy stone, throwing 16 and 22-pound hammers, and tossing of the sheaf and caber. Border collie exhibitions, a “Showing of the Tartan” parade, a Guinness “Pour a Perfect Pint” contest, a new children’s tent, instructional contra and ceili dancing, clan tents, and a Celtic marketplace featuring crafts, merchandise and collectibles also are on tap.

The festival grounds are located along the banks of Monocracy Creek and adjacent to downtown Bethlehem’s Main Street shopping area. More information on one of the most popular events in northeastern Pennsylvania’s Lehigh Valley, including daily schedules, may be found at www.celticfest.org.

The June 2013 FOLKDJ-L charts are based on 12,267 airplays from 135 different DJs. The number of reported spins (airplays) is shown in parentheses, while label and release dates appear in brackets. They are posted, with permission, on AcousticMusicScene.com.

Top Albums of June 2013

1: “Ring Them Bells,” The Copper Ponies [Hudson Harding, new] (66)
“Ring Them Bells”
“Why Worry”
“Last Train”
2: “Pressed For Time,” Burning Bridget Cleary [burningbridgetcleary.com, new] (65)
“On A Sea Of Fleur De Lis”
“Pressed For Time”
“Oh My Little Darling”
“2 Sisters”
3: “Memory Wall,” Buddy Mondlock [Sparking Gap, 5/13] (64)
“Canary’s Song”
“Stone In My Pocket”
“Holes You Leave”
“Ugly One”
4: “So Say We All,” David Francey [Red House, 5/13] (57)
“Rain”
“Satellite”
“Blue Skies”
“Cheap Motel”
5: “Vancouver,” Deborah Holland [RageOn, 6/13] (56)
“I Wanna Be A Canadian”
“Norwegian Wood”
“Vancouver”
“Home”
6: “The Heart’s Swift Foot,” Red Tail Ring [Earthwork, 4/13] (52)
“Ohio Turnpike”
“Body Like A Bell”
“Clearing In The Wild”
7: “Still Fighting The War,” Slaid Cleaves [Music Road, 6/13] (50)
“Still Fighting The War”
“Rust Belt Fields”
“In The Rain”
8: “Sugar Shack,” The Boxcar Lilies [boxcarlillies.com, 5/13] (48)
“If I Needed You”
“In This Valley”
“6 Ways To Sunday”
9: “Bristol Bay,” Si Kahn [Strictly Country, new] (47)
“Beauty Of Alaska”
“Dead Man’s Sand”
“Once When I Was Young”
9: “Woody Guthrie At 100! Live At The Kennedy Center,” Various Artists [Legacy, new] (47)
“Pastures Of Plenty,” Judy Collins
“Pretty Boy Floyd,” Rosanne Cash
“Deportee,” Ani Difranco
11: “Into The Dark,” Laura Cortese [lauracortese.net, 4/13] (46)
“Into The Dark”
“For Catherine”
“Heel To Toe”
11: “This World Oft Can Be,” Della Mae [Rounder, 5/13] (46)
“This World Oft Can Be”
“Letter From Down The Road”
“Pine Tree”
13: “These Wilder Things,” Ruth Moody [Red House, 5/13] (45)
“One Light Shining”
“Trouble And Woe”
“Dancing In The Dark”
14: “High Moon Order,” Betse Ellis [Free Dirt, new] (41)
“Long Time To Get There”
“Elk River Blues”
“Straight To Hell”
14: “Kitchen, Love,” Putnam Smith [Itchy Sabot, new] (41)
“Succotash”
“Country Girl”
“Emily Dickinson”
16: “American Kid,” Patty Griffin [New West, 5/13] (37)
“Go Wherever You Wanna Go”
“Ohio”
“That Kind Of Lonely”
17: “Dear Sister,” Claire Lynch [Compass, new] (35)
“Buttermilk Road/The Arbours”
“How Many Moons”
“Dear Sister”
18: “No More Rain,” The Steel Wheels [thesteelwheels.com, 4/13] (34)
“Walk Away”
“Go Up To That Mountain”
“Whistle Blows”
19: “Land On Shore,” Ari And Mia [ariandmiamusic.com, new] (33)
“Turtle”
“Glad You Came By”
“Starry Crown”
20: “Some Part Of The Truth,” Brother Sun [brothersunmusic.com, 2/13] (30)
“Lady Of The Harbor”
“In The Name Of Love”
“These Hands”
21: “Goodnight Moonshine,” Molly Venter And Eben Pariser [myspace.com/mollyventer, 2/13] (29)
“Goodnight Moonshine”
“Dark Side Of The Rainbow”
“Gasoline”
22: “All Our Luck Is Changing,” Claudia Russell [Radio Rhythm, 5/13] (28)
“Pirate Girls”
“All Our Luck Is Changing”
“Follow Your Tail Lights Home”
22: “The Comeback Album,” Eric Brace And Peter Cooper [Red Beet, 4/13] (28)
“Boxcars”
“Sailor”
22: “The Old School,” Peter Rowan [Compass, 4/13] (28)
“Doc Watson Morning”
“O Freedom”
“That’s All She Wrote”
22: “Old-Fashioned Gal,” The Carper Family [carperfamilyband.com, new] (28)
“Old Fashioned Gal”
“Boxcar Blues”
26: “Fists Of Violets,” Sarah Alden [Self, 10/12] (27)
“Dink’s Tune”
“Ruby, Honey Are You Mad At Your Man?”
26: “Fossils,” Aoife O’Donovan [Yep Roc, 6/13] (27)
“Lay My Burden Down”
“Fire Engine”
“Red And White And Blue And Gold”
26: “How To Sleep In A Stormy Boat,” Amy Speace [Windbone, 4/13] (27)
“Fortunate Ones”
“How To Sleep In A Stormy Boat”
29: “Against The Grain,” Moors And McCumber [moorsandmccumber.com, 6/13] (25)
“Against The Grain”
“Buried In Stone”
“I Used To Run Around”
29: “Little Boat,” Rita Hosking [ritahosking.com, 2/13] (25)
“Sierra Bound”
“Blow Northwest Wind”
31: “Enregistre Live,” Genticorum [Les Productions Du Moulin, new] (24)
“Le 25 De Mai”
“Le Forgeron”
31: “Living Room,” Andrew Calhoun [Waterbug, new] (24)
“Hallelujah Morning”
“Walk Easy”
“Crawdad Song”
31: “Love Has Come For You,” Steve Martin And Edie Brickell [Rounder, 4/13] (24)
“Love Has Come For You”
“When You Get To Asheville”
31: “Texodus,” Dylan Sneed [myspace.com/dylansneed, 2010] (24)
“Garden”
“Girls Just Want To Have Fun”
35: “Runaway Freeway Blues,” Black Lillies [North Knox, 3/13] (23)
“Fall”
“Ramblin’ Boy”
35: “Wide Awake,” Joy Kills Sorrow [Signature, new] (23)
“Such Great Heights”
“Was It You”
37: “Banjo Babes,” Various Artists [Wepecket Island, 10/12] (22)
“When I Go To West Virginia,” Aubrey Atwater
“I Love My Honey,” Evie Ladin
37: “Bright Like Gold,” April Verch [Slab Town, 4/13] (22)
“Broken”
“No Other Would Do”
37: “Carry Me Home,” The Dustbowl Revival [Self, 4/13] (22)
“John The Revelator”
“New River Train”
37: “Carved Wood Box,” Cal Scott [Tamarack, 12/12] (22)
“Carved Wood Box”
“One More River”
37: “Close To The Soul,” Larry Diehl [Self, 4/13] (22)
“Passing Through”
“Box Of This And That”
37: “Hayseed,” Susan Werner [30 Tigers, 6/13] (22)
“Back To The Land”
“City Kids”
“Something To Be Said”
37: “Walk Along John,” John Reischman [Corvus, 4/13] (22)
“Itzbin Reel”
“Salt River”
44: “Brothers Of The Highway,” Dailey And Vincent [Rounder, 5/13] (21)
“Hills Of Caroline”
“Back To Hancock County”
44: “Carnival,” Nora Jane Struthers & The Party Line [Blue Pig, 4/13] (21)
“Baker’s Boy”
“Barn Dance”
44: “Magdalene,” Karyn Oliver [Buxom County, 5/13] (21)
“Magdalene”
“Hallelujah”
44: “The Truth Is,” Melissa Ferrick [Mpress, 6/13] (21)
“Love Ain’t Afraid”
“Everything You Were”
44: “Yes Please,” The Bills [Red House, 8/12] (21)
“Blackberry Ivy And Broom”
“Shining Face”
49: “Friends,” Thomas Snow [Self, 2/13] (20)
“Hard Times”
“Shenandoah”
49: “The Light Still Burns,” Lauren Sheehan [Wilson River, 4/13] (20)
“My Baby’s So Sweet”
“Bearcat Blues”
51: “Jewels And Harmony,” Mara Levine [maralevine.com, 1/13] (19)
“Summertime”
“River”
51: “Traces,” Karine Polwart [Borealis, 8/12] (19)
“Cover Your Eyes”
“Salters Road”
51: “Wrote A Song For Everyone,” John Fogerty [Vanguard, new] (19)
“Who’ll Stop The Rain”
54: “Long Gone Out West Blues,” Pharis And Jason Romero [Lula, 2/13] (18)
“Long Gone Out West Blues”
“Lost Lula”
54: “Love Calling,” Darden Smith [Compass, new] (18)
“Angel Flight”
54: “Northern Lights,” Matt Stone [mattfolkmuse.com, 3/13] (18)
“Brown Dog”
“Orion”
54: “When We Fall,” Rebecca Frazier [Compass, 5/13] (18)
“Darken Your Doorway”
58: “The Beautiful Old: Turn-of-the-Century Songs,” Various Artists [Doubloon, 6/13] (17)
“Band Played On,” Richard Thompson And Christine Collister
“Let Me Call You Sweetheart,” Simone Stevens
58: “Bright Sunny South,” Sam Amidon [Nonesuch, 5/13] (17)
“My Old Friend”
“Bright Sunny South”
58: “House And Garden,” Nell Robinson And Jim Nunally [Self, 5/13] (17)
“Life In The Garden”
“Gardener”
58: “Let Us In Americana: The Music of Paul McCartney,” Various Artists [Reviver, 5/13] (17)
“Yellow Submarine,” Buddy Miller
58: “The Stray Birds,” The Stray Birds [thestraybirds.com, 9/12] (17)
“Dream In Blue”
“Railroad Man”
58: “Time Is Possibility,” Stolen Thyme [Blackbeard’s Fiddle, 2/13] (17)
“Big Hoedown”
“Cherry With No Stone”
64: “Come Home To Me,” The Gloria Darlings [Self, 3/13] (16)
“Come Home To Me”
64: “Everything Is Moving,” Laura Smith [Borealis, 4/13] (16)
“John Keane’s Boys”
“I Built A Boat”
64: “I Read Your Book,” Friction Farm [Self, new] (16)
“Let It Rain”
“Normal”
64: “Next Time Around,” Darryl Purpose [Blue Rock, 10/12] (16)
“Girl From Golden”
“Ghost Of Crazy Horse”
64: “They Called It Music,” The Gibson Brothers [Compass, 3/13] (16)
“Buy A Ring, Find A Preacher”
“Songbird’s Song”
69: “Coyote Wings,” Zoe Mulford [Azalea City, 1/13] (15)
“Pocket Fulla Quarters”
“Coyote Wings”
69: “No Borders,” Spinney Brothers [Mountain Fever, new] (15)
“Grandpa’s Way Of Life”
“Whiskey Daniels”
69: “Old Yellow Moon,” Emmylou Harris And Rodney Crowell [Nonesuch, 2/13] (15)
“Dreaming My Dreams”
“Spanish Dancer”
69: “One Shot,” Josh Halverson [Self, new] (15)
“Take Me To Forever”
69: “Southeastern,” Jason Isbell [Southeastern, new] (15)
“Stockholm”
“Traveling Alone”
69: “Wish We Had Our Time Again,” Marty Hays [Right Side Up, 4/13] (15)
“Leader Of The Band”
“Wish We Had Our Time Again”

Editor’s Note: A medley of songs from The Copper Ponies’ EP Ring Them Bells is posted on YouTube.

Top Songs of June 2013

1. “Why Worry” (24)
by The Copper Ponies
from “Ring Them Bells”
2. “Ring Them Bells” (22)
by The Copper Ponies
from “Ring Them Bells”
3. “I Wanna Be A Canadian” (17)
by Deborah Holland
from “Vancouver”
3. “Last Train” (17)
by The Copper Ponies
from “Ring Them Bells”
5. “One Light Shining” (13)
by Ruth Moody
from “These Wilder Things”
5. “Rain” (13)
by David Francey
from “So Say We All”
5. “Trouble And Woe” (13)
by Ruth Moody
from “These Wilder Things”
8. “Canary’s Song” (12)
by Buddy Mondlock
from “Memory Wall”
8. “Dad’s Yard” (12)
by Catie Curtis
from “Hello, Stranger”
also “Truth From Lies”
10. “Dink’s Tune” (11)
by Sarah Alden
from “Fists Of Violets”
10. “Satellite” (11)
by David Francey
from “So Say We All”
10. “Succotash” (11)
by Putnam Smith
from “Kitchen, Love”
13. “Into The Dark” (10)
by Laura Cortese
from “Into The Dark”
13. “Lay My Burden Down” (10)
by Aoife O’Donovan
from “Fossils”
13. “Norwegian Wood” (10)
by Deborah Holland
from “Vancouver”
13. “On A Sea Of Fleur De Lis” (10)
by Burning Bridget Cleary
from “Pressed For Time”
13. “Pressed For Time” (10)
by Burning Bridget Cleary
from “Pressed For Time”
13. “Walk Away” (10)
by The Steel Wheels
from “No More Rain”
19. “Against The Grain” (9)
by Moors And McCumber
from “Against The Grain”
19. “For Catherine” (9)
by Laura Cortese
from “Into The Dark”
19. “If I Needed You” (9)
by The Boxcar Lilies
from “Sugar Shack”
19. “Oh My Little Darling” (9)
by Burning Bridget Cleary
from “Pressed For Time”
19. “Ohio Turnpike” (9)
by Red Tail Ring
from “The Heart’s Swift Foot”
19. “Still Fighting The War” (9)
by Slaid Cleaves
from “Still Fighting The War”
19. “Stone In My Pocket” (9)
by Buddy Mondlock
from “Memory Wall”
19. “Such Great Heights” (9)
by Joy Kills Sorrow
from “Wide Awake”
19. “This World Oft Can Be” (9)
by Della Mae
from “This World Oft Can Be”
19. “Vancouver” (9)
by Deborah Holland
from “Vancouver”

Like previous one-day mini-conferences, these are designed especially to give artists, presenters, DJs, agents and others engaged in the folk music scene a small taste of what takes place during NERFA’s annual conference each fall (for which Formal and Quad Showcase applications are now being accepted via Sonicbids and NERFA.org). These one-day events will feature workshops, networking and juried artist showcases, as well as informal jams in RI.

Registration forms and additional information on the one-day mini-conferences may be found at www.nerfa.org, where you’ll also find information on the Formal and Quad Showcases during the annual NERFA Conference, for which the application deadlines are May 17 and June 17, respectively.

NERFA is part of the larger Folk Alliance International, an association that aims to foster and promote multicultural, traditional and contemporary folk music, while strengthening and advancing organizational and individual initiatives in folk music and dance through education, networking, advocacy, and professional and field development.

Editor’s Note: I will be a participating panelist in the “Building Your Audience” and ”How to Get Radio Airplay” workshops during the one-day mini-conference at the University of Rhode Island. I serve as vice president of NERFA’s board of directors and also host AcousticMusicScene.com showcases during our annual fall conferences.

Irish Music Awards nominees for 2012 include:

Top Solo Performer in Concert: George Donaldson, Christy Moore, John Doyle, Tommy Fleming

Top Solo Performer in a Pub Venue: Ian Gould, Luka Bloom, Tony Cummins, Mickey Coleman

Top Duo in a Pub, Festival, Concert: The Ryans Irish Band , Lilt, Switchback, Siusan O’Rourke and Zig Zeitler

Top Group: Cherish The Ladies, Lunasa, Gaelic Storm, Altan

Best New Irish Artist(s): Burning Bridget Cleary, The Rovers, The Fighting Jamesons, Ciorras

Best New Irish CD: Lilt – Onward, The Mickey Finns – Prayers and Idle Chatter, The Ryans – Songs of Irish Freedom, Mairi Morrison & Alasdair Roberts – Urstan

Top Celtic Rock Band: Barleyjuice, Roger Drawdy & the Firestarters, The Clumsy Lovers, Scythian

Best Irish Tenor (individual): Paul Byrom, Anthony Kearns, Daryl Simpson, Tommy Fleming

Best Female Vocalist (individual/trad.): Katie McMahon, Chloe Agnew, Méav, Shannon Lambert-Ryan of RUNA

Best Sean-nos Singer: Brid Ni Mhaoileoin, Maighread Ni Dhombhnaill, Aine Meenaghan Len Graham

Top Traditional Performance Show: The Fureys, Celtic Crossroads, The Henry Girls, Fidil

Top Traditional Group in a Pub, Festival, Concert: Vishten, Guidewires, Slide, Dervish

Top Uilleann Piper: Diarmaid Moynihan, Cillian Vallely, Barry Kerr, Paddy Keenan

Top Harpist: Seana Davey, Chad McAnally, Triona Marshall, Sibohan Owen

Top Fiddle: Martin Hayes, Alasdair Fraser, Mairead Nesbitt, Kevin Burke

Top Button Accordion: John Williams, Liam O’Connor, Paddy O’Brien, David Munnelly

Tommy Makem Award: The Irish Rovers, Máirtín de Cógáin, Mick Moloney, Jimmy Crowley

Note: This award is presented to an Irish music act that best reflects the performance style, philosophy, and traditional approach to Irish music of the late Tommy Makem.

Lifetime Achievement Award: Patsy Whelan, Carmel Quinn, Joanie Madden

Note: This award will be given to someone who has dedicated his/her life to Irish music and continues to be an icon in the Irish music community globally.

The Irish Music Association produces, promotes and perpetuates Irish music through sponsored events, festivals, concerts, pub shows, and an annual network production, according to its website.