Nominees Named for 2024 Juno Awards
The Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (CARAS) has revealed the nominees for the 2024 JUNO Awards – including those for Contemporary Roots Album of the Year and Traditional Roots Album of the Year. The coveted awards will be presented on Saturday, March 23 at the Scotiabank Centre in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Hosted by Canadian pop star Nelly Furtado, the ceremonies will be broadcast live across Canada at 8 p.m. ET on CBC TV, CBC Radio One and CBC Music, and may be viewed online globally at CBCMusic.ca/junos and CBC Music’s YouTube page. In the running for Contemporary Roots Album of the Year are The Returner (Allison Russell), We Will Never Be The Same ((Good Lovelies), Beyond the Reservoir...
The Top 100 Americana Albums of 2023
The Americana Music Association has released a listing of the top 100 albums of 2023 as reported to the Americana Radio Airplay Albums Chart (powered by CDX) during the period extending from January 1—December 12, 2023. Topping the chart is Weathervanes by Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit, which also had the #1 and #3 singles with “When We Were Close” and “Death Wish,” respectively. Charley Crockett had the #2 album (The Man From Waco) and #2 song (“Trinity River”).
[Click on the headline to view the Top 100 Americana Albums Radio Airplay Chart for 2023. Editor's Note: Not all of these albums are strictly acoustic.]
Singer-Songwriter Roger Whittaker, 1936-2023
Roger Whittaker, a Nairobi, Kenya-born and raised British singer-songwriter and musician, died September 13, 2023 at the age of 87. A resident of southern France, where he and his wife Natalie had retired to in 2012, Whittaker was an internationally acclaimed artist whose career spanned six decades. His music was a mix of folk and easy listening-style pop songs, both original compositions and choice covers.
[Click on the headline to continue reading this article and listen to a couple of Roger Whittaker's hit songs.]
Gordon Lightfoot, Canada’s Folk-Poet Laureate, 1938-2023
Gordon Lightfoot, an iconic Canadian folksinger-songwriter known for his evocative, poetic and stirring songs, died of natural causes in a Toronto hospital on May 1, 2023 at age 84.
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Americana Honors & Awards Airs on Circle Network, Nov. 23
Performances by some of Americana music’s biggest stars – including Brandi Carlile with Lucius, Fairfield Four, Indigo Girls, Chris Isaak, Lyle Lovett, The McCrary Sisters, James McMurtry, The Milk Carton Kids, Allison Russell, The War and Treaty, and Lucinda Williams – captured live during the 21st annual Americana Honors & Awards show in September will air on Circle Network, November 23, 2022 at 9 p.m. CT.
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Judith Durham, Lead Singer of The Seekers, 1943-2022
Judith Durham, lead singer of the Australian folk-pop quartet The Seekers, has died at age 79. Durham -- whose crystalline voice can be heard on such 1960s hit songs as “Georgy Girl” (the title track of the movie of the same name) and “I’ll Never Find Another You” -- passed away on August 5, 2022, as a result of long-standing chronic lung disease. She had been admitted to palliative care earlier that day following a brief hospital stay, according to Musicoast and Universal Music Australia.
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Norma Waterson, British Folksinger, 1939-2022
Norma Waterson, a leading voice in British folk music, died January 30, 2022 at age 82. Waterson -- who performed and recorded with her siblings Mike and Lal, her husband Martin Carthy, and their daughter Eliza Carthy -- had recently been hospitalized with pneumonia.
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Tony Barrand, 1945-2022
Tony Barrand, a traditional folk and sea chantey singer, folklorist, and Morris & clog dancer died on January 29, 2022. Barrand, 76, was half of the musical duo Roberts and Barrand, and also performed and recorded with Nowell Sing We Clear. Folk Music Notebook will honor his life and work today (January 30).
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Clearwater’s Virtual Great Hudson River Revival Streams June 19
For a second consecutive year, Clearwater’s Great Hudson River Revival, a festival celebrating environmental activism and education, traditionally held over the Father’s Day weekend won’t be taking place at Croton Point Park in Croton-On-Hudson in New York’s Hudson Valley due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, you can enjoy music by many talented artists from the comfort of your own home on Saturday, June 19, 2021 when Clearwater presents the Great Hudson River Revival Livestream.
[Click on the headline to continue reading this article and to view the complete festival schedule.]
Linus Entertainment Acquires Borealis Records
Linus Entertainment, a leading Canadian rights management company, distributor and music publisher whose portfolio of labels also includes Stony Plain Records, True North Records and others, has acquired the catalog of Borealis Records, an artist-focused Canadian folk and roots music label.
[Click on the headline to continue reading this article that includes reflections from several artists on the label.]
Winners of 2020 Canadian Folk Music Awards To be Announced Online, April 4
In the wake of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19 pandemic, organizers of the 2020 Canadian Folk Music Awards (CFMAs) have opted to host its awards celebration online this year. All 20 awards will be presented virtually on Saturday, April 4.They were to have been presented at the PEI Convention Centre in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, during two Awards Weekend Concerts on April 3-4.
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