FARM, SWRFA Select Official Showcase Artists
Folk Alliance Region Midwest (FARM) and Southwest Regional Folk Alliance (SWRFA), two regional affiliates of Folk Alliance International, have selected artists/acts to participate in juried official showcases during their respective annual conferences this fall. Northeast Regional Folk Alliance (NERFA) will do so in August.
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Allison Russell, Maria Dunn Win Juno Awards
Allison Russell’s Outside Child was named Contemporary Roots Album of the Year and Maria Dunn’s _Joyful Banner Blazing won Traditional Roots Album of the Year during the 2022 JUNO Awards ceremonies on May 15 at the Budweiser Stage in Toronto, Ontario. Members of the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (CARAS) selected the award recipients in these and other categories.
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International Folk Music Awards Show Set for May 18
Folk Alliance International revealed the names of upcoming recipients of International Folk Music Awards and Best of 2021 nominees during an April 7 livestream. An awards show is slated for May 18, 2022 in Kansas City, Missouri on the opening night of FAI’s 34th annual conference. It will also be streamed online.
[Click on the headline to continue reading this article that includes information about award winners and a listing of the finalists for album, song and artist of the year.]
Reba Heyman Tribute Concert & Livestream Set for March 19
Fourteen artists/acts will help celebrate the life and legacy of Reba Heyman, a stalwart supporter of the folk music community who was widely viewed as a ‘folk angel’ or ‘folk mom,’ on Saturday, March 19, 2022. Co-sponsored by Focus Music, Uptown Concerts, World Folk Music Association (WFMA), Songwriters’ Association of Washington (SAW), and Institute of Musical Traditions, the concert takes place at the Olney Theatre in Olney, Maryland and will also be live streamed.
[Click on the headline to continue reading this article, which includes reflections from several of the participating artists.]
FAI Folk Radio Charts – January 2022
Singer-Songwriter Janis Ian had the #1 album (Light at the End of the Line), four of the top 10 songs, and was the most-played artist on folk radio during January 2022. Buffalo Rose, a modern folk-Americana ensemble, joined by Tom Paxton, had the month’s most-played song (Paxton’s “I Give You the Morning”). 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.
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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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FAI Folk Radio Charts – December 2021
Raise the Roof by Robert Plant and Alison Krauss was the most-played album on folk radio during December 2021, while “The Turning Year: A New Year’s Toast” by Jennifer Cutting’s Ocean Orchestra was the month’s most-played song. Bill Staines, the New Hampshire-based traveling troubadour and prolific songwriter who died last month, was December’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.
[The monthly top albums, songs and artists charts are posted with permission. Click on the headline to view them.]
In Memoriam: Scott Alarik, Bill Staines & Joe Virga
Scott Alarik, Bill Staines and Joe Virga — each of whom made important contributions to the folk music community in the U.S. — passed away in early December 2021 and will be greatly missed. Ethan Baird, executive director of Northeast Regional Folk Alliance (NERFA), pays tribute to them below.
[Click on the headline to read Ethan's reflections and an extended editor's note with more information about Scott, Bill and Joe -- along with video links.]
Grammy Nominees Named in American Roots Music Field
Nominees in 86 categories have been named for the 64th annual Grammy Awards to be presented by the Recording Academy on Monday, January 31, 2022. Allison Russell leads the nominees in the American Roots Music Field with three nominations, while Jon Batiste, Béla Fleck, Rhiannon Giddens, Billy Strings, and Yola each received two.
Click on the headline to continue reading this article and to see the complete list of nominees in the American Roots Music Field.
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