Zoe Speaks, a folk-Americana group from Kentucky, had the top album (Wings) and five of the month’s most-played songs on folk radio during August 2018, while singer-songwriter Eliza Gilkyson (whose new album, Secularia, was #1 in July) had the #2 album and the #1 song for a second consecutive month {her rendition of “Down By the Riverside” as a duet with her friend, the late Jimmy LaFave). So say charts compiled from radio playlists submitted to FOLKDJ-L, an electronic discussion group for DJs and others interested in all folk-based music on the radio.

The August 2018 FOLKDJ-L charts are based on 15,959 airplays reported on 580 playlists submitted by 136 different DJs. The number of reported spins is shown in parentheses. The top albums and songs charts are compiled under the auspices of Folk Alliance International (www.folk.org), a nonprofit organization that aims to nurture, engage and empower the international folk music community – traditional and contemporary, amateur and professional – through education, advocacy and performance The monthly top albums and songs charts are posted here with permission.

Zoe Speaks

Zoe Speaks

Top Albums of August 2018

1. Wings by Zoe Speaks (122)
2. Secularia by Eliza Gilkyson (107)
3. Shout and Shine by Fink, Marxer & Gleaves (71)
4. Damn Sure Blue by Kate Campbell (65)
5. Lovers Tree by Claudia Russell and Bruce Kaplan (60)
6. Make Your Own Luck by Mustard’s Retreat (57)
7. Full Detroit by Paul Sachs (54)
8. Thanks, Mac! Songs of Mac Wiseman by Jerry Wicentowski (51)
8. Wilderness Years by Jory Nash (51)
8. Welcome to the Ether by Wes Collins (51)
11. Lucky Star by Brooks Williams (49)
12. Epilogue: A Tribute to John Duffey by Various Artists (47)
13. Queen City Jubilee by The Slocan Ramblers (46)
14. Didn’t He Ramble: Songs of Charlie Poole by David Davis and the Warrior River Boys (41)
14. Duckpin by Charm City Junction (41)
16. The Broken Heart of Everything by David Francey (40)
16. Ready to Go by Reggie Harris (40)
16. Reckless Abandon by Susan Shann (40)
16. Kanawha County Flatpicking by Tyler Grant and Robin Kessinger (40)
20. Sweet Old Religion by Pharis and Jason Romero (39)
20. The Other Side by Dawn and Hawkes (39)
22. The Prodigal Son by Ry Cooder (37)
22. Troubadour by Dave Fry (37)
24. Oliver the Crow by Oliver the Crow (36)
25. Orach by The Tannahill Weavers (35)
26. River’s Rising by Nancy Cassidy (34)
27. Soul Searching by Mountain Heart (32)
27. Shed My Skin by Dan Navarro (32)
29. Quarter Past Tonight by Chicago Farmer (31)
30. Above Ground by Kim Moberg (30)
31. Black Cowboys by Dom Flemons (29)
31. Safe Until Tomorrow by The Kennedys (29)
31. Clovis Man by Cej (29)
31. Armadillo on a Hot Tin Roof by Vi Wickam and Justin Branum (29)
31. Roses in November by Tret Fure (29)
31. Haven by We Banjo 3 (29)
37. The Lies the Poets Tell by Laurie MacAllister (28)
37. Wild! Wild! Wild! by Robbie Fulks and Linda Gail Lewis (28)
37. The Tree of Forgiveness by John Prine (28)
37. All These Changes by Bobby Sweet (28)
41. See You Around by I’m With Her (27)
42. Rough and Ready Heart by Blue Yonder (25)
42. Ghost Light by John McCutcheon (25)
44. Sister Sadie ll by Sister Sadie (24)
44. Triumph by Kate Callahan (24)
44. The Travelin’ McCourys by The Travelin’ McCourys (24)
44. Hot Rize 40th Anniversary Bash by Hot Rize (24)
48. Downey to Lubbock by Dave Alvin and Jimmie Dale Gilmore (23)
48. Contortionist Blues by Wilhelms (23)
50. Shiver by Carolann Solebello (22)
50. Daydream by Katey Laurel (22)
52. Live With the University of Colorado Symphony Orchestra by Indigo Girls (21)
52. Whistle Down the Wind by Joan Baez (21)
54. All Ashore by Punch Brothers (20)
54. Shelter by Olivia Chaney (20)
54. The Tree by Lori McKenna (20)
54. Letters Never Read by Dori Freeman (20)
54. Blood Brothers by Jeffrey Foucault (20)
54. 2018 by Holly Near (20)
54. Take This Hammer by Joe Rollin Porter (20)
54. Been on Your Side by Courtney Hartman and Taylor Ashton (20)
62. Emerald Rae by Emerald Rae (19)
62. The Man I’m Supposed to Be by Rod Abernethy (19)
62. The Nashville Acoustic Sessions by Raul Malo (19)
62. Cover Story by Love Canon (19)
62. Out of the Blues by Boz Scaggs (19)
67. We Ain’t Gonna Give It Back by John O’Connor (18)
67. Volunteer by Old Crow Medicine Show (18)
67. Get Us Out of Fearland by Banjo Nickaru and Western Scooches (18)
67. Them and Us by Chuck Brodsky (18)
67. Acoustic Classics by Rodney Crowell (18)
67. True in Time by John Gorka (18)
67. Beginning Again by Rod Macdonald (18)
67. Time Is Everything by Vivian Leva (18)

Here’s a link to a medley of songs from Zoe Speak’s fourth album, Wings:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W7Ij2VCMjQA

Top Songs of August 2018

1. “Down by the Riverside” by Eliza Gilkyson (28)
2. “There’s a Hole Where Your Soul’s Supposed to Be” by Zoe Speaks (24)
3. “Ether” by Wes Collins (20)
3. “Wings of a Dove” by Zoe Speaks (20)
5. “That’s What Dreamers Do” by Zoe Speaks (17)
6. “Damn Sure Blue” by Kate Campbell (14)
7. “Through the Looking Glass” by Eliza Gilkyson (13)
7. “Change Should’ve Come by Now” by Kate Campbell (13)
9. “The Earth Has Had Enough” by Zoe Speaks (11)
9. “Solitary Singer” by Eliza Gilkyson (11)
9. “In the Name of the Lord” by Eliza Gilkyson (11)
12. “Highway” by Dawn and Hawkes (10)
12. “My Old Brooklyn Deli” by Claudia Russell and Bruce Kaplan (10)
12. “Lessons From Pete” by Dave Fry (10)
12. “This, and My Heart Beside” by Kate Campbell (10)
12. “Conservation” by Eliza Gilkyson (10)
12. “Knockin’ on Your Screen Door” by John Prine (10)
12. “Grace” by Oliver the Crow (10)
12. “The Jeannie C” by The Tannahill Weavers (10)
12. “Make Your Own Luck” by Mustard’s Retreat (10)
21. “I’m Gonna Walk It With You” by Mustard’s Retreat (9)
21. “Travelin’ This Lonesome Road” by Jerry Wicentowski (9)
21. “Dreamtime” by Eliza Gilkyson (9)
21. “Respect” by Aretha Franklin (9)
21. “Soldier’s Joy” by Tyler Grant and Robin Kessinger (9)
21. “Oh Babe It Ain’t No Lie” by Fink, Marxer & Gleaves (9)
21. “Summer Days” by Kim Moberg (9)
21. “The Machine” by John McCutcheon (9)
21. “Curly Headed Woman” by Mountain Heart (9)
21. “Give Me Some Sugar” by Zoe Speaks (9)
21. “Love Letters in the Sand” by Jerry Wicentowski (9)
21. “Dark Matter” by Jory Nash (9)
21. “Ordinary Miracles” by Susan Shann (9)
21. “If the Poor Don’t Matter” by Fink, Marxer & Gleaves (9)

Here’s a link to hear Eliza Gilkyson performing “Down By The Riverside” with the late Jimmy LaFave: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vZ1NMIw8S1c