Nashville-based contemporary folk and Americana singer-songwriter Amy Speace’s The American Dream was the top album, while its title track was the most-played song and she was the second most-played artist on folk radio during October 2024. Kris Kristofferson, a singer-songwriter and pioneer of the 1970s outlaw country movement, who died on Sept. 28, was the month’s top artist. So say charts compiled by Folk Alliance International based on radio playlists submitted to FOLKDJ-L, an electronic discussion group for DJs and others interested in folk-based music on the radio.

[Here’s a link to enjoy the official video for Amy Speace’s “The American Dream”:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dqf9isqmEu4.]

The October 2024 top albums, songs and artists charts are based on 10,592 airplays reported on 374 playlists submitted by 101 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 2024

1. The American Dream by Amy Speace (82)
2. Bluegrass Sings Paxton by Various Artists (75)
3. Lonesome Road by Joel Mabus (55)
4. Heart of the Swan by Carla Sciaky (52)
5. Everything Must Go by Donal Hinely (48)
6. In the Real World by Eric Bibb (47)
7. Now, O Now by Rakish (43)
8. Wildfire by House of Hamill (38)
9. Woodland by Gillian Welch and David Rawlings (35)
9. Quiet Town by Mindy Smith (35)
11. Beneath Blue Water by Bett Padgett (34)
11. Lantern in the Dark: Songs of Comfort and Lullabies by Edie
Carey and Sarah Sample (34)
13. The Legend of Sugarbelly by Guy Davis (33)
14. This Hen’s Gonna Cro by Colleen Kattau (32)
14. Things Done Changed by Jerron Paxton (32)
16. Back to the Light by Heather Pierson (31)
16. The Sound of That by Mark Stepakoff (31)
16. Trapeze by Kate McDonnell (31)
19. Deep Feeler by Liv Greene (30)
20. Carved in the Bark by Nick Carter (29)
20. Highway Prayers by Billy Strings (29)
22. Hot Jazz Cool Blues and Hard Hitting Songs by Barbara Dane (28)
22. Woodbird by Jenny Burtis (28)
22. With a Guitar and a Pen by Tish Hinojosa (28)
22. Ten Good Sermons by Eugene Ruffolo (28)
22. The Set by Jerry Douglas (28)
27. Crooked Road by Steve Erickson (26)
27. Hands of Time by Rik Palieri (26)
29. Backbone by Kasey Chambers (25)
30. Storm Season by Tania Elizabeth (24)
30. Manos Panamericanos by Larry and Joe (24)
30. From China to Appalachia by Cathy Fink, Chao Tian, and Marcy Marxer (24)
33. Willie Watson by Willie Watson (23)
34. Dan Tyminski: Live From the Ryman by Dan Tyminski (22)
35. Never Too Late by Neale Eckstein (21)
35. Somewhere in the Constellation by Brad Yoder (21)
35. Hurricane’s Eye by Jan Gillies (21)
38. Earth Music by Moses Crouch (20)
38. Terra Madre by Beppe Gambetta (20)
38. Haunted by Steve Madewell (20)
38. Into the Wild by Molly Tuttle and Golden Highway (20)
42. Hanging at the Luna Star by Lou Dominguez (19)
42. Harbortowne by Jim Patton and Sherry Brokus (19)
44. Always Here by Trampled by Turtles (17)
44. Pathways by Julian Taylor (17)
44. Woman Creature (Portrait of a Woman, Part 2) by Mean Mary (17)
44. Boarding Windows in Paradise by Rebecca Frazier (17)
48. Blessed by the West by Sarah Pierce (16)
48. A Prosperous Gale by Open the Door for Three (16)
48. Symbiont by Jake Blount and Mali Obomsawin (16)

Top Songs of October 2024

1. “The American Dream” by Amy Speace (20)
2. “Standing by a River” by Carla Sciaky (16)
3. “I Can’t Help but Wonder (Where I’m Bound)” by Tom Paxton and Della Mae (13)
3. “Me and Bobbie McGee” by Kris Kristofferson (13)
5. “Something ‘Bout a Town” by Amy Speace (12)
5. “Wild Geese” by Liv Greene (12)
5. “When Fall Comes to New England” by Cheryl Wheeler (12)
8. “Gray October Days” by Bett Padgett (11)
8. “Put a Woman in Charge” by Raise the Vibration (11)
8. “Sunday Mornin’ Comin’ Down” by Kris Kristofferson (11)
11. “Blues in a Bottle” by Joel Mabus (10)
11. “This Hen’s Gonna Crow” by Colleen Kattau (10)
11. “The Frog and the Scorpion” by Tom Smith (10)
11. “Love Is Gonna Come Again” by Amy Speace (10)
11. “I Can’t Wait to Wake Up Tomorrow” by Mark Stepakoff (10)
11. “Lightly Come or Lightly Go” by Rakish (10)
11. “The Welcome Song” by Jan Aldridge Clark (10)
18. “Ramblin’ Boy” by Danny Paisley (9)
18. “Time After Time” by Edie Carey and Sarah Sample (9)
18. “Crooked Road” by Steve Erickson (9)
18. “Show Up” by Natalia Zukerman (9)
18. “With a Guitar and a Pen” by Tish Hinojosa (9)
18. “Blackbird” by Edie Carey and Sarah Sample (9)
18. “Everything Must Go” by Donal Hinely (9)
18. “Where Did You Go” by Amy Speace (9)
18. “1800 and Froze to Death” by Carla Sciaky (9)
18. “Dirty Dish Rag” by Theme: Harvey Reid (9)
18. “Up Here in the Mountains” by Heather Pierson (9)

Top Artists of October 2024

1. Kris Kristofferson (107)
2. Amy Speace (89)
3. Joel Mabus (65)
4. Carla Sciaky (54)
5. Eric Bibb (51)
6. Donal Hinely (48)
7. Barbara Dane (47)
8. Rakish (43)
9. House of Hamill (39)
9. Gillian Welch and David Rawlings (39)
9. The Brothers Four (39)
12. John Prine (37)
13. Billy Strings (36)
13. Guy Davis (36)
13. Mindy Smith (36)
16. Heather Pierson (35)
16. Colleen Kattau (35)
18. Edie Carey and Sarah Sample (34)
18. Bett Padgett (34)
20. Kate McDonnell (33)
20. Jerron Paxton (33)
22. John McCutcheon (32)
22. Tom Paxton (32)
24. Mark Stepakoff (31)
25. Tish Hinojosa (30)
25. Liv Greene (30)
25. Eugene Ruffolo (30)
28. Nick Carter (29)
28. Rik Palieri (29)
28. Jerry Douglas (29)
31. Jenny Burtis (28)
31. Kasey Chambers (28)
33. Steve Erickson (27)
33. Cheryl Wheeler (27)
35. Larry and Joe (26)
36. Joni Mitchell (25)
37. Cathy Fink, Chao Tian, and Marcy Marxer (24)
37. Dan Tyminski (24)
37. Molly Tuttle and Golden Highway (24)
37. Tim Grimm (24)
37. Tania Elizabeth (24)

Willie Nelson was the most-played artist and had the top album (Last leaf on the Tree) on folk radio during November 2024, while the album’s title track tied with Joe Crookston’s “Oh Mercy, Where Are You Now? “ as the month’s most-played song. So say charts compiled by Folk Alliance International based on radio playlists submitted to FOLKDJ-L, an electronic discussion group for DJs and others interested in folk-based music on the radio.

[Here’s a link to enjoy the official video’s for Willie Nelson’s “Last Leaf:” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NySpcFpPcQg.]

The November 2024 top albums, songs and artists charts are based on 10,648 airplays reported on 366 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 November 2024

1. Last Leaf on the Tree by Willie Nelson (73)
2. Hydra by Nuala Kennedy and Eamon O’ Leary (57)
3. Golden by Genevieve Racette (41)
4. Lonesome Road by Joel Mabus (40)
5. The American Dream by Amy Speace (39)
5. Bluegrass Sings Paxton by Various Artists (39)
7. Now, O Now by Rakish (35)
8. Storm Season by Tania Elizabeth (32)
9. Woodland by Gillian Welch and David Rawlings (31)
10. Thirteen by Colin O’Brien (30)
10. Things Done Changed by Jerron Paxton (30)
10. Where the Islands Overflow by Susan Graham Pepper (30)
10. Highway Prayers by Billy Strings (30)
10. Can’t Steal My Fire: The Songs of David Olney by Various Artists (30)
15. Postcards of the Reckoning by Sean Kiely (27)
15. Deep Feeler by Liv Greene (27)
15. Gold in Your Pocket by Caleb Klauder and Reeb Willms (27)
18. Fever Longing Still by Paul Kelly (26)
18. In the Real World by Eric Bibb (26)
18. This Hen’s Gonna Crow by Colleen Kattau (26)
18. Quiet Town by Mindy Smith (26)
18. Lantern in the Dark: Songs of Comfort and Lullabies by Edie
Carey and Sarah Sample (26)
23. Heart of the Swan by Carla Sciaky (25)
23. Life on Interstate 40 by Kurt Anderson (25)
23. Love, Dan by C. Daniel Boling (25)
26. With a Guitar and a Pen by Tish Hinojosa (24)
27. Nine Becomes One (Chapter 7) by Joe Crookston (23)
27. Pathways by Julian Taylor (23)
29. Everything Must Go by Donal Hinely (22)
30. The Sound of That by Mark Stepakoff (20)
31. Backbone by Kasey Chambers (19)
31. Hot Jazz, Cool Blues and Hard-Hitting Songs by Barbara Dane (19)
33. Who We Are by Dan and Faith (18)
33. Love Your Mind by Twisted Pine (18)
33. Trapeze by Kate McDonnell (18)
36. Still + Bright by Amythyst Kiah (17)
36. Smokey Mountain High by Mike McKenna Jr (17)
36. Dan Tyminski: Live From the Ryman by Dan Tyminski (17)
36. Purple Gas by Noeline Hofmann (17)
40. Heartbreak, Misery and Death by Grayson Capps (16)
40. Long Days and Short Stories by Daryl Mosley (16)
40. Snake Hollow by Tristan Israel Band (16)
40. Harbortowne by Jim Patton and Sherry Brokus (16)
44. Nowhere Next by Yonder Mountain String Band (15)
44. Bloom Where You Fall by Hana Zara (15)
46. Wall Dogs by Tim Stafford and Thomm Jutz (14)
46. Haunted by Steve Madewell (14)
46. The Set by Jerry Douglas (14)
46. Woodbird by Jenny Burtis (14)
50. Far Away With You by Woody Platt (13)
50. The Legend of Sugarbelly by Guy Davis (13)
50. The Light Years by The Magnolia Janes (13)
50. Never Too Late by Neale Eckstein (13)
50. Willie Watson by Willie Watson (13)
50. From China to Appalachia by Cathy Fink, Marcy Marxer and Chao Tian (13)
50. Shady Lane by George Jackson and Brad Kolodner (13)

Top Songs of November 2024

1. “Last Leaf” by Willie Nelson (23)
1. “Oh Mercy, Where Are You Now?” by Joe Crookston (23)
3. “The American Dream” by Amy Speace (17)
4. “The Dark-Eyed Gypsy” by Nuala Kennedy and Eamon O’ Leary (16)
5. “Keep Me in Your Heart” by Willie Nelson (15)
6. “We Won’t Go Back” by Carla Ulbrich (12)
6. “Talkin’ About a Revolution/Lay Down (Candles in the Rain)” by
Chicks With Dip (12)
8. “American Insanity” by Mike Ward (10)
8. “Sing It Loud” by Kim Moberg (10)
8. “Love Along the Way (Live)” by Larry and Joe (10)
11. “Cherry Blossoms” by Doug Irwin (9)
11. “Put a Woman in Charge” by Raise the Vibration (9)
11. “Lining Track” by Women of Kelley (9)
11. “The Cuckoo” by Susan Graham Pepper (9)
11. “Are You Ready for the Country” by Willie Nelson (9)
11. “Willie-O” by Nuala Kennedy and Eamon O’ Leary (9)
11. “I Will Hang My Harp on a Willow Tree” by Nuala Kennedy and Eamon
O’ Leary (9)
11. “Love Them, Too” by The Rough and Tumble (9)
19. “My Way or the Highway” by Craig Werth (8)
19. “I Can’t Wait to Wake Up Tomorrow” by Mark Stepakoff (8)
19. “Irises” by Sean Kiely (8)
19. “Haunted” by Steve Madewell (8)
19. “One More” by Sean Kiely (8)
19. “Cotton Jenny” by Jane Fallon and Mike Worrall (8)
25. “I Will Rise” by Colleen Kattau (7)
25. “From Friends to Strangers” by Genevieve Racette (7)
25. “Thanksgiving Song” by Mary Chapin Carpenter (7)
25. “Big Dark’s Fancy” by Cindy Kallet (7)
25. “Wall Guitar” by Alison Brown and Steve Martin (7)
25. “Dance to the Manulenjo” by Noel Paul Stookey (7)
25. “Wild Geese” by Liv Greene (7)
25. “Weighing Down” by Julian Taylor (7)
25. “Broken Truth” by Tim Grimm (7)
25. “Thanksgiving” by Si Kahn (7)
25. “If I Could Only Fly” by Tish Hinojosa (7)
25. “Deep Feeler” by Liv Greene (7)
25. “Light in the Window” by Salamander Crossing (7)
25. “All Those Smiling Faces” by Paul Kelly (7)
25. “Baby Days Blues” by Jerron Paxton (7)
25. “The Pill” by Eilen Jewell (7)
25. “Backbone (The Desert Child)” by Kasey Chambers (7)
25. “I Will Not Go Down” by Amythyst Kiah (7)
25. “900 Miles” by Kurt Anderson (7)
25. “48 and Goal” by Kieran Kane (7)
25. “Slim and the Devil” by Willie Watson (7)

Top Artists of November 2024

1. Willie Nelson (86)
2. Nuala Kennedy and Eamon O’ Leary (57)
3. Joel Mabus (55)
4. Amy Speace (43)
5. Genevieve Racette (41)
6. Rakish (38)
7. Gillian Welch and David Rawlings (37)
8. Billy Strings (36)
9. Bob Dylan (34)
9. Barbara Dane (34)
9. Tania Elizabeth (34)
12. Susan Graham Pepper (30)
12. Jerron Paxton (30)
12. Colin O’Brien (30)
15. Caleb Klauder and Reeb Willms (29)
15. Joe Crookston (29)
17. Sean Kiely (28)
17. Stan Rogers (28)
17. Colleen Kattau (28)
17. Eric Bibb (28)
21. Mindy Smith (27)
21. Edie Carey and Sarah Sample (27)
21. Liv Greene (27)
24. Pete Seeger (26)
24. Grateful Dead (26)
24. Carla Sciaky (26)
24. C. Daniel Boling (26)
24. Paul Kelly (26)
29. John McCutcheon (25)
29. Kurt Anderson (25)
29. Joni Mitchell (25)
29. Donal Hinely (25)
33. Julian Taylor (24)
33. Tish Hinojosa (24)
35. Tom Russell (22)
35. Larry and Joe (22)
35. John Prine (22)
35. Mary Gauthier (22)
39. Dan and Faith (21)
39. Molly Tuttle and Golden Highway (21)

Caleb Klauder and Reeb Willms were the most-played artists and had the top album (Gold in Your Pocket) on folk radio during December 2024, while the late Tom Prasada-Rao had the month’s most-played song (“Christmas in the Ashram”). So say charts compiled by Folk Alliance International based on radio playlists submitted to FOLKDJ-L, an electronic discussion group for DJs and others interested in folk-based music on the radio.

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)

Nashville-based husband-and-wife duo The Twangtown Paramours had the most-played album (The Wind Will Change Again) and 10 of the month’s most-played songs on folk radio during January 2025, while revered, Georgia-based folksinger-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist John McCutcheon had the most-played song (“Field of Stars”) and edged them out as the month’s most-played artist. So say charts compiled by Folk Alliance International based on radio playlists submitted to FOLKDJ-L, an electronic discussion group for DJs and others interested in folk-based music on the radio.

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 2025 International Folk Music Awards were presented on the opening night of the 37th annual Folk Alliance International Conference at Le Sheraton Centre in Montreal, Quebec, Canada last month. These included member-voted Best Album, Song and Artist of the Year (2024), as well as Lifetime Achievement Awards, Spirit of Folk Awards, the Clearwater Award, the People’s Voice Award, and the Rising Tide Award, in addition to inductions into the Folk Radio Hall of Fame.

Song of the Year honors went to Dan Navarro and Janiva Magness’ recording of “$20 Bill (for George Floyd) by the late singer-songwriter Tom Prasada-Rao. In accepting the award, Navarro (a singer-songwriter and voice actor perhaps best known for co-writing the hit song “We Belong”) noted that more than 100 artists recorded a version of Prasada-Rao’s song in 2020 “but because of the impact and the challenges of the pandemic, it never really had a proper release and we decided we would do something about that.“ Dedicating the award to Prasado-Rao, who died last year, Navarro said: “This is not just the song of the year; it’s the song of the century and the song of a lifetime.”

Here’s a link to view a video of Dan Navarro and Janiva Magness performing “$20 Bill (for George Floyd)”:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SeHdq817B7Y

Susan Werner’s Halfway to Houston was named Album of the Year. A prolific and versatile singer-songwriter who accompanies herself on both guitar and piano and is known for her sassy wit and classy Midwest charm, Werner was unable to be in Montreal to accept the award and sent a short video, while fellow singer-songwriter Dar Williams picked up the award on her behalf.

Crys Matthews accepts the Artist of the Year award during the 2025 International Folk Music Awards show. (Photo: Indie Montreal, courtesy of FAI)

In addition to these FAI member-voted awards – which were open to recordings released between October 1, 2023 and September 30, 2024 – a number of special awards and honors were presented.

The People’s Voice Award recognizing an artist who embraces social and political commentary in his/her songs was presented to Gina Chavez, an Austin, Texas-based singer-songwriter who has helped to amplify the voices of the marginalized.

The River Roads Festival received The Clearwater Award, honoring a festival that — like its Pete Seeger-founded namesake –- exhibits sound leadership in environmental stewardship and sustainable event production. A one-day event presented by Dar Williams and held in Easthampton, Massachusetts for the past two years, the next River Roads Festival is set for July 5 at Heuser Park in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania. Williams said that she was “so excited” to accept the award. She noted that, like Seeger was, she is a resident of New York’s Hudson Valley and recalled being on Conan O’Brien’s late-night TV talk show with him in 1998. Said Williams: “Music is an incredible force … The culture around the music can be a powerful vehicle for justice.”

The Rising tide Award, which is bestowed on an emerging artist/act of an age, went to OKAN, a female-led, Afro-Cuban roots and jazz duo.

Spirit of Folk Awards recognizing people and organizations actively engaged in the promotion and preservation of folk music were presented to Annie Capps, Innu Nikamu festival, Tom Power, and Alice Randall. Capps is a Michigan-based singer-songwriter and a longtime leader with Folk Alliance Region Midwest (FARM), who has served as both its board president and conference director. Innu Nikamu is a Quebec-based festival of Indigenous music and culture that has taken place for more than 30 years. Power, best known as the host of CBC Radio One’s Q program, is also a musician who performs and records with The Dardanelles, a Canadian folk band. Randall is a hit-making country music songwriter who has been a trailblazer in folk and country music. She’s also a college lecturer and the author of My Black Country, which she describes as both a memoir and a history.

“I owe my sanity to folk music,” said Randall in accepting the award. “In My Black Country, I tell the story of climbing out of the hell of being raped by holding on to the sound of John Prine singing “Angel From Montgomery.” Prine’s label, Oh Boy! Records, also released a collection of songs entitled My Black Country. Randall noted that her book “is about the Black folk, including Black folk musicians, who made country country.”

2025 Lifetime Achievement Award recipients included the folk-rock duo Indigo Girls (whose eponymous debut album won a Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Folk Recording 35 years ago), the late Black Appalachian musician Lesley Riddle, and the global roots magazine Songlines. During the awards show, singer-songwriters Rose Cousins and Mary Bragg performed “Galileo,” one of the Indigo Girls’ hit songs, in tribute to the duo, while Black indigenous Canadian singer-songwriter Julian Taylor performed “Red River Blues” in tribute to Riddle.

Accepting the Legacy Lifetime Achievement Award on behalf of Riddle, who died in 1980 at age 75, Randall referred to him as a founder of country music and a practitioner of folk who collected and taught the Carter Family a lot of songs. “Tonight, Folk Alliance corrects an almost 100 year-old wrong” by recognizing him.

“We need folk music now more than ever,” said the Indigo Girls’ Emily Saliers in a pre-recorded video. “This Folk Alliance is a group that honors diversity, equity, inclusion, and access for all. Folk music is the music of truth telling. Amy [Ray] and I are, especially in this time, particularly honored to accept this award.” Echoing her sentiments, Ray urged folks to “Please stand up with us and make your voices heard in these times … Day by day, song by song, we can make this world a better place.”

Accepting a Lifetime Achievement Award on behalf of Songlines, James Anderson-Hanney, its publisher, said: “I think we’re the last world music magazine on the planet.” The UK-based, glossy bimonthly that comes with CD is currently celebrating its 25th anniversary.Leading Quebecois folk ensemble Le Vent Du Nord, a 2023 Songlines award recipient, performed in honor of the magazine.

Five Inducted Into Folk Radio Hall of Fame

Eight years ago, Folk Alliance International established a Folk Radio Hall of Fame in order to recognize folk DJs and music directors for the vital role that they play by sharing the music with their listeners. Wanda Fischer, Longtime host of The Hudson River Sampler on WAMC Radio in Albany, New York and herself an inductee in the Hall of Fame, recognized this year’s inductees, while a video featuring visuals and information about them was also screened. The 2025 inductees include Taylor Caffery, Matthew Finch, Archie Fisher, MarySue Twohy, and Chuck Wentworth.

Taylor Caffery, a native of New Orleans, Louisiana, has been the host Hootenanny Power of WRKF Public Radio in Baton Rouge, LA since it began airing in 1981. He’s also been recognized with WRKF’s Founder’s Award (2022) and with the Kari Estrin Founding President’s Award during the 2024 Southeast Regional Folk Alliance (SERFA) Conference.

Matthew Finch, who left our world unexpectedly in July 2024, was a beloved figure in New Mexico’s music scene, who devoted more than 20 years to KUNM in Albuquerque as its music director, and as a tireless advocate for local musicians. Through the programs Ear to the Ground and Studio 55, he created platforms for regional artists to share their music, showcasing live performances and celebrating the diversity of the state’s music community.

Archie Fisher hosted BBC Radio Scotland’s award-winning Traveling Folk program for 27 years – promoting artists and musicians of the folksong revival throughout the British Isles. A talented artist in his own right, he also hosted studio sessions and interviews with such notable American and Canadian artists as Joan Baez, Judy Collins, David Francey, and James Keelaghan. Queen Elizabeth II presented him with a MBE in 2006 for his services to music.

MarySue Twohy is a program director at SiriusXM, who currently manages The Village, its folk channel, among others. She conducts artist interviews and produces a wide array of radio programs. Formerly an artist herself, she moved into broadcasting by hosting a two-hour program 20 years ago and quickly rose to PD. She also served on the FAI board of directors for seven years and continues to serve on national music committees, and to participate in conference panels and as a songwriting contest judge.

Chuck Wentworth, who passed away last year, was a revered figure on the New England music scene – best known for his long-standing contributions as both a radio show host and a festival producer. He began hosting a folk radio show on WRIU-FM, the college radio station at the University of Rhode Island, while he was a student and Traditions aired for 38 years. He also served as the station’s folk and roots music director and expanded its folk programming from one show to five nights a week. Wentworth was also the founder and producer of the Rhythm & Roots Festival, a three-day music and dance festival in Rhode Island.

[Here’s a link to view the International Folk Music Awards Show, which also was livestreamed via YouTube and was available for viewing via Folk Alley and NPR Music: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RVE29BZ6fBg

The International Folk Music Awards was just one part, albeit an important one, of the 37th annual Folk Alliance International Conference that extended from February 19-23 and drew nearly 2,500 attendees. In addition to more than 2,700 showcases featuring more than 700 acts (including 183 juried official showcases plus many more showcases extending into the early morning hours), the conference included a keynote conversation with Allison Russell and Ann Powers [see below], Black American Music and International Indigenous Music Summits, a one-day legal summit, 45 panel discussions and workshops, a number of affinity and peer group sessions, six film screenings and discussions, lobby jams, meetings of FAI’s regional affiliates, a town hall meeting on P2 Visas – Working Through Parity at the Canada/US Border, a popular Meet the Folk DJs session, morning yoga, an exhibit hall, agent-presenter speed networking sessions, and lots of other networking opportunities.

Artist & Activist Allison Russell Engages in Keynote Conversation with Music Journalist Anne Powers

Allison Russell — a widely acclaimed singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, producer and activist –- returned to her hometown to engage in an hour-long keynote conversation with Anne Powers, a critic and correspondent for NPR Music. A soulful, Nashville, Tennessee-based, Montreal-born Scottish Grenadian Canadian, Russell is the recipient of more than a dozen awards. These include a Grammy Award for Best American Roots Music Performance for Eve Was Black,” a single off of her sophomore solo recording, Returner released in September 2023), Juno Awards for Contemporary Album of the Year (for her solo debut, Outside Child – 2022) and Music Video of the Year (for “Demons,” 2024), six UK Americana Music Awards, four Canadian Folk Music Awards, and two Americana Music Honors & Awards. In 2022, Folk Alliance International members voted Russell’s solo debut as Album of the Year and her as Artist of the Year. Outside Child was also named Contemporary album of the Year in the 2022 Canadian Folk Music Awards, while she was named Songwriter of the Year and New/Emerging Artist of the Year in recognition of the emotion-laden album featuring 11 original songs “about resilience and survival, transcendence and the redemptive power of art, community, connection, and chosen family.”

Russell has previously spoken of the abuse and trauma that she faced in her youth and the major role that music has played in helping her to overcome it .In her conversation with Powers, she recalled how, at age 15, while unhoused, she slept in the pews at a church just a few blocks from Le Sheraton Centre.

Allison Russell took part in an on-stage keynote conversation during the 2025 Folk Alliance International Conference in her hometown.

Asked about her latest album, 2023’s The Returner, she noted how she had been a challenged, broken yet brave girl. “”We come from long, broken lines of survivors. We’re all miracles. We’re all returners. We are all overcoming things.”

Much of her on-stage conversation with Powers focused on her recent portrayal of Persephone in Anais Mitchell’s award-winning Broadway musical, Hadestown. Russell noted that it was her first professional acting role and that she had not acted since performing in a Shakespearean play while in high school.

Sharing her reflections on Hadestown just days after she concluded her 50-week run as Persephone and in keeping with the “Illuminate” theme of the conference, she said: Persephone is Hades’ only source of light, of illumination in the underworld. She was the light in his life.”

Playing a mythic goddess in this time took on new connotations, she acknowledged, citing “the current fear-mongering administration in Washington” and “the bigotry and bias that can really harm communities.”

Referring to herself as “a geriatric millennial,” Russell said: “When I came up 24 years ago, there weren’t too many others who looked liked me.” Acknowledging that “our [folk] community is growing more diverse,” she spoke of being a curator during the 2021 Newport Folk Festival tasked with featuring Black and Black & queer women and their allies in the center of a 90-minute set focused on roots and revolution. ”What could be more beautiful than to be conscious, to be mindful [woke],” said Russell, noting that she’s “a queer woman who somehow married a white man with a guitar.”

Prior to embarking on her solo career, Russell was a co-founder of Our Native Daughters and Birds of Chicago and was part of Po’ Girl.

[Here’s a link to view a video recording of the keynote conversation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U_ne2-baY8g.]

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.

Alice Howe and Freebo had the top album (Live) and four of the month’s most-played songs on folk radio during February 2025, while Alison Krauss and Union Station’s “Looks Like the End of the Road” edged them out for top song and John McCutcheon was the most-played artist for a second consecutive month. So say charts compiled by Folk Alliance International based on radio playlists submitted to FOLKDJ-L, an electronic discussion group for DJs and others interested in folk-based music on the radio.

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)

Tim Grimm had the top album (Bones of Trees), was the most-played artist, and had five of the top 10 songs on folk radio during April 2025. “Ain’t That the Way“ by Rees Shad was the month’s top song. So say charts compiled by Folk Alliance International based on radio playlists submitted to FOLKDJ-L, an electronic discussion group for DJs and others interested in folk-based music on the radio.

Tim Grimm had the top album and was the most-played artist on folk radio during April 2025.

Here’s a link to listen to Tim Grimm’s “Woody’s Landlord Revisited”:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cijeaYTVMPM

“Ain’t That the Way,” appears on Porcelain Angel, the latest album by Rees Shad. The western Massachusetts-based and New York City born-and-raised Americana singer-songwriter has released 17 solo albums and an additional 13 albums involving collaborations and side projects to date. He began playing Greenwich Village folk clubs and hanging around recording studios as a sideman on sessions with Brill Building songwriters as a teenager. While still in college, he launched Sweetfish Recording Studios –- a residential full-production studio in a renovated 19th century barn in upstate New York that played a part in hundreds of independent and major label releases over the next 14 years. Sweetish later expanded into interactive marketing, publishing, and record distribution before closing in 2000 when Rees enrolled in graduate school. He earned two Master’s degrees, which led to a 20-year career in higher education. However, he continued writing and recording songs. Rees Shad keynotes the annual Southeast Regional Folk Alliance (SERFA) Conference that takes place in Owensboro, Kentucky, May 15-18.

Here’s a link to the official video for Rees Shad’s “Ain’t That Way”:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5rHh5NBvr78

The April 2025 top albums, songs and artists charts are based on 10, 535 airplays reported on 350 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 April 2025

1. Bones of Trees by Tim Grimm (114)
2. Arcadia by Alison Krauss and Union Station (64)
3. Porcelain Angel by Rees Shad (61)
4. All I Got and Gone by Chris Walz (58)
5. Burnished by Amelia Hogan (55)
6. Some Kind of Truth by Kora Feder (47)
7. Maybe New Mexico by Helene Cronin (46)
8. Suzy Sings Siebel Vol. 1 by Suzy Thompson (45)
9. The Lucy Story: Unreleased & Rare Tracks 1976-2023 by Lucy Kaplansky (44)
10. So Much I Still Don’t See by Sam Robbins (41)
11. It Matters by C. Daniel Boling (38)
12. Foxes in the Snow by Jason Isbell (36)
13. A Tip Toe High Wire by Sierra Hull (34)
14. Oh What a Beautiful World by Willie Nelson (31)
15. Backstage Balladeer by Jefferson Ross (29)
16. The Monkey in the Crown by HuDost (26)
17. Remains to Be Scene by The Seldom Scene (25)
17. Wait for the Night by Eric Schmitt (25)
19. I Made It This Far by Deborah Holland (23)
20. Double Takes by Gordie Tentrees and Jaxon Haldane (22)
20. What Did the Blackbird Say to the Crow by Rhiannon Giddens &
Justin Robinson (22)
22. Field of Stars by John McCutcheon (20)
22. Here We Go! by Antonio Andrade (20)
22. Wild and Clear and Blue by I’m With Her (20)
22. Volume 4 by Kieran Kane and Rayna Gellert (20)
22. Together on a Rock by The Pairs (20)
22. Daggomit! by Max Wareham (20)
28. Paris by Louise Coombe (19)
28. Alice Howe and Freebo Live by Alice Howe and Freebo (19)
28. Dear Meadowlark by The Wildwoods (19)
31. Unravel by Henhouse Prowlers (18)
31. Songs That Made Charlene Cry by The Dillards (18)
31. Reclamation by Crys Matthews (18)
31. Ghosts by Mike Berman (18)
31. Our Way by Loveseat (18)
36. Face the Day by Will Branch (17)
37. I’m From Here by Rob Siegel (16)
37. Julia Belle: The John Hartford Fiddle Tune Project, Vol. 2 by
Various Artists (16)
37. Ghostwriter by Annie Stokes (16)
40. Rushmere by Mumford and Sons (15)
41. Froggy’s Demise by Ezra (14)
41. The Wind Will Change Again by The Twangtown Paramours (14)
43. Racing Down the Valley by Sam Bergquist (13)
43. Looking for the Thread by Mary Chapin Carpenter, Julie Fowlis,
Karine Polwart (13)
43. Carry Me Back to the Bluegrass by Big Country Bluegrass (13)
46. Exploding Star by Heather Maloney (12)
46. Lonesome Drifter by Charley Crockett (12)
46. Changing Union by Chris Moore (12)
46. Te Whare Tiwekaweka by Marlon Williams (12)
50. Beneath Your Skin by Kim Beggs (11)
50. Mill Pond by Rich Scher (11)
50. The Price of Admission by Turnpike Troubadours (11)
50. Dark Country by Gary Louris (11)
50. Cold Feet by Mark Freeman (11)

Top Songs of April 2025

1. “Ain’t That the Way” by Rees Shad (21)
2. “Woody’s Landlord Revisited” by Tim Grimm (19)
2. “Superlover” by Allison Russell and Annie Lennox (19)
4. “5 Days Out, 2 Days Back” by Alison Brown and Steve Martin (18)
4. “Barbed Wire Boys” by Tim Grimm (18)
6. “Rolling in the Gold” by Amelia Hogan (17)
7. “Broken Truth” by Tim Grimm (16)
8. “In the USA” by Tim Grimm (15)
9. “I Will Not Obey” by Erin Inglish (14)
10. “Mists of Ennistymon” by Tim Grimm (13)
10. “Richmond on the James” by Alison Krauss and Union Station (13)
12. “Ancient Light” by I’m With Her (11)
12. “We Will Take Care of Each Other” by Heather Pierson (11)
12. “Up in the Attic” by Tim Grimm (11)
12. “Rambling Man” by Kora Feder (11)
16. “Great Big World” by Rees Shad (10)
16. “It Matters” by C. Daniel Boling (10)
16. “Here’s the Rain” by Cosy Sheridan (10)
16. “North Side Gal” by Alison Krauss and Union Station (10)
16. “Oh What a Beautiful World” by Willie Nelson (10)
21. “Crimson and Clay” by Jason Isbell (9)
21. “What Could Possibly Go Wrong” by C. Daniel Boling (9)
21. “Blue Ridge Mountain Blues” by Chris Walz (9)
21. “There Were People Here” by Mike Berman (9)
21. “Louise” by Suzy Thompson (9)
21. “What a Little Love Can Do” by Sam Robbins (9)
21. “Lose My Blues” by Suzy Thompson (9)

Top Artists of April 2025

1. Tim Grimm (125)
2. Alison Krauss and Union Station (73)
3. Rees Shad (66)
4. Chris Walz (58)
5. Amelia Hogan (57)
6. Lucy Kaplansky (48)
7. Kora Feder (47)
8. Helene Cronin (46)
9. Suzy Thompson (45)
10. Willie Nelson (43)
11. John McCutcheon (42)
11. C. Daniel Boling (42)
11. Sam Robbins (42)
14. Jason Isbell (40)
15. Sierra Hull (38)
16. Michael Hurley (36)
17. John Prine (35)
18. The Neffa Noodlers (34)
19. Guy Clark (32)
19. The Seldom Scene (32)
21. Pete Seeger (30)
21. Jefferson Ross (30)
23. Eliza Gilkyson (27)
24. HuDost (26)
24. Bob Dylan (26)
26. Eric Schmitt (25)
26. Deborah Holland (25)
26. Joni Mitchell (25)
29. Gordie Tentrees and Jaxon Haldane (23)
30. Alison Brown and Steve Martin (22)
30. Rhiannon Giddens & Justin Robinson (22)
30. Crys Matthews (22)
30. Kieran Kane and Rayna Gellert (22)
34. Henhouse Prowlers (21)
34. The Pairs (21)
36. Max Wareham (20)
36. I’m With Her (20)
36. Antonio Andrade (20)
36. Janis Ian (20)
36. The Dillards (20)