Folk

Explore notable folk musicians, songs, and histories with this guide to traditional folk and roots music. Read album reviews, discover festivals and events, and track the recorded and oral history of the most famous folk songs.

  • Tom Paxton On Stage
    All About Protest Music
  • Railroad Train Tracks
    The Folk Story of 'I've Been Working on the Railroad'
  • Peggy Seeger performing folk music in the 1960s on banjo
    What Exactly Is Folk Music? Banjos, Jugbands, and More
  • Reenactment of Revolutionary war soldiers
    The History of "Yankee Doodle"
  • Senior man playing acoustic guitar in Plaza de la Cathedral at night, Havana, Cuba
    "Guantanamera": The Famous Cuban Folk Song
  • Copies of The Carter Family Album of Smokey Mountain Ballads
    How Is Folk Music Different from Country?
  • A woman singing at an open mic
    Open Mic Nights in Seattle
  • March On Washington
    "Keep Your Eyes on the Prize": A Civil Rights Movement Anthem
  • Accordion
    10 Common Bluegrass and Folk Instruments
  • Bob Seger
    Antiwar protest songs of the '60s and '70s
  • A statue of John Henry on State Highway 12
    Songs and Lyrics About Labor Hero John Henry
  • Guitars
    The 10 Best Guitars for Folk Musicians
  • Rowboat on the shore of a lake at daytime.
    The Story of 'Michael Row the Boat Ashore'
  • Woman Wearing a March on Washington Button
    Who Wrote "This Little Light of Mine"?
  • Close up musician playing guitar for audience
    Folk Song History of "We Shall Not Be Moved"
  • Woody Guthrie Playing the Guitar
    The History of American Folk Music
  • Mid section of two guitarists in recording studio
    What Is Indie Folk Music?
  • Peter, Paul, and Mary
    "If I Had a Hammer," by Pete Seeger and Lee Hays
  • Man playing Dobro
    Dobro Definition and Description
  • Woody Guthrie, a father of the American Folk movement
    All About the Folk Revival
  • Photo of Art GARFUNKEL and SIMON & GARFUNKEL and Paul SIMON and SIMON AND GARFUNKEL
    History of the Folk Song 'Scarborough Fair'
  • "We Wish You A Merry Christmas"
  • Christmas decorations on a table
    'Deck the Halls' Song History
  • Lucinda Williams on stage in front of AMA poster.
    All About Americana Music
  • Singer-Songwriter duo Simon & Garfunkel performing outside at a concert in Dublin
    Folk Rock 101
  • Leadbelly Ledbetter
    How "Goodnight Irene" Saved Leadbelly From Prison
  • Pete Seeger, full-length portrait, performing on stage at Yorktown Heights High School, Yorktown, N.Y. / World Journal Tribune photo by James Kavallines, 1967.
    The Best Songs of the 1960s Folk Revival
  • Midsection Of Man Playing Banjo With Fingerpicks
    Top 5 Instrumental Songs for the Banjo
  • Uncle Tupelo - 'No Depression'
    Best Folk CDs of the 1990s
  • Balconies Like These are the Hottest Ticket in Town During Mardi Gras
    Essential Mardi Gras Songs
  • Pete Seeger performs at the 2009 Dorothy and Lillian Gish Prize on September 3, 2009 in New York City.
    Classic Anti-War Protest Songs
  • Thanksgiving
    Thanksgiving Songs
  • Arlo Guthrie and daughter sarah lee Perform At Saban Theatre
    The Guthrie Family Tree
  • Bessie Smith, 1930
    10 Early Artists Who Defined the Blues
  • The Almanac Singers
    50 Best Folk Music Artists of All Time
  • Latitude Festival - Day 3
    If You Like Mumford & Sons...
  • Blue still life painting
    Great Mandolin Players
  • Portrait of Odetta
    11 Important Black Folk Music Artists
  • Joan Baez with Bob Dylan
    Folk Singer Joan Baez's 10 Best Songs
  • Patty Griffin performing at Jack Ingram And Friends
    Patty Griffin's Best Songs
  • Alison Krause
    Important Women in Folk Music
  • Cat Stevens
    Biography of Cat Stevens (Yusuf Islam)
  • : American Pop artist Andy Warhol (1928 - 1987) sits next to actor Edie Sedgwick
    The Story of Bob Dylan, Billy Quinn, and "Factory Girl"
  • Singer Joan Baez strumming guitar during protest march (Vietnam War) in Trafalgar Square.
    10 Influential Political and Protest Folk Music Artists
  • Ani Difranco Performs At The London Palladium
    20 of Ani DiFranco's Best Songs
  • Alison Krauss
    Essential Alison Krauss
  • The Weavers - Ultimate Collection CD Cover
    The Weavers
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