Singer-Songwriter Janis Ian had the #1 album (Light at the End of the Line) and was the most-played artist on folk radio for a second consecutive month in February 2022, while Michael Veitch’s “Valentine’s Day” 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.
Janis Ian’s Light at the End of the Line, officially released in January on her own Rude Girl Records, is the veteran artist’s first album of new material since 2006’s Folk is the New Black and is reportedly her last solo recording. Ian, 70, who burst on the folk scene while still a teenager in the mid-1960s and scored major hits with “Society’s Child” early on in her career, is a two-time Grammy Award-winner. Her new album features 12 newly recorded tracks – including two of February’s top five songs, “I’m Still Standing” and “Better Times Will Come.” Also lending their musical talents to the recording are John Cowan, Vince Gill, Diane Schuur, and Andrea Zonn, among others.
Woodstock, NY-based singer-songwriter Michael Veitch’s song “Valentine’s Day,” co-written with his longtime recording engineer Julie Last, appears on his new album, Wachtraum (which means Wake Dream). Veitch is also part of a documentary entitled We Remember: Songs of Survivors that tells the Holocaust story through song and begins airing on PBS television stations next month.
The February 2022 Top Albums, Songs and Artists charts are based on 12, 637 airplays reported on 421 playlists submitted by 120 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 2022
Janis Ian’s The Light at the End of the Line was the top album on folk radio during February 2022.
1. The Light at the End of the Line by Janis Ian (99)
2. Songs From the River Wind by Eliza Gilkyson (87)
3. Backroads by Johnsmith (81)
4. Long Haul by John Wort Hannam (60)
5. Folk Hero by House of Hamill (57)
6. For the People by Rupert Wates (55)
6. Age of Apathy by Aoife O’Donovan (55)
8. I Can Face the Truth by Dana Cooper (52)
9. Raise the Roof by Robert Plant and Alison Krauss (51)
10. 8-String Sketches by Mike Mullins (50)
11. Lost Love Songs by The Pine Hearts (48)
12. The Way the River Goes by Dan Weber (45)
13. Head Above Water by Heather Sarona (41)
14. Ghost Hotel by Karen Morand and the Bosco Boys (40)
15. Rabbit by Buffalo Rose and Tom Paxton (38)
16. Wachtraum by Michael Veitch (37)
16. Hell on Church Street by Punch Brothers (37)
16. We’ll Dance Again by Folkapotamus (37)
16. Anthems of Home by HuDost (37)
20. Resilience by Josie Bello (36)
21. Violet Light by Maya De Vitry (34)
22. The Love in You by Jordi Baizan (33)
23. Hurricane Clarice by Allison De Groot and Tatiana Hargreaves (32)
24. Strings, Wings and Curious Things by Sue Horowitz (29)
25. Digging in John’s Back Yard by Grant Dermody and Frank Fotusky (28)
26. Double Down on a Bad Thing by The Twangtown Paramours (27)
26. The Empress by The McDades (27)
26. Norma Waterson by Norma Waterson (27)
29. FORGET-ME-NOTS, VOL. 1 & 2 by Jesse Terry (26)
29. Anais Mitchell by Anais Mitchell (26)
31. Chinook Waltz by Over the Moon (25)
32. Arrivals by Declan O’Rourke (24)
32. Hometown Tragedies by Terry Family (24)
32. Anthology, Volume 1 by Ken Dunn (24)
35. Good Luck Take Care by Terry Klein (23)
35. Way Up in the Hills by Sad Daddy (23)
35. On Solid Ground by Reggie Harris (23)
38. Sacred Spaces by Eric Bannan (22)
39. Bucket List by John McCutcheon (21)
39. Songs of Our Native Daughters by Our Native Daughters (21)
39. Long Time Coming by Sierra Ferrell (21)
39. Awake by Mala Oreen (21)
39. Be Here for a While by Shane Cook and the Woodchippers (21)
39. Uranium Maiden by Kate Macleod (21)
39. The Insurrection Blues by Corey Harris (21)
39. The Astronaut by Jana Pochop (21)
47. Freedom Highway by Rhiannon Giddens (20)
47. Harley Kimbro Lewis by Harley Kimbro Lewis (20)
49. Good to Be by Keb’ Mo (19)
49. Renewal by Billy Strings (19)
49. Rewrite the Ending by Ina May Wool (19)
52. Color My World by Annette Adler (17)
52. Until Now by Carrie Newcomer (17)
52. Stardust and Satellites by Steve Poltz (17)
55. Outside Child by Allison Russell (16)
55. The Flowers That Bloom in Spring by Kieran Kane and Rayna Gellert (16)
55. Mercy by Cody Jinks (16)
58. I’ll Meet You Here by Dar Williams (15)
58. Surely Will Be Singing by Tammy Rogers and Thomm Jutz (15)
58. The Birds of Florida by Susan Werner (15)
61. Settler by Malcolm Macwatt (14)
62. Family Reunion by Della Mae (13)
62. Stories and Memories by Mohavisoul (13)
62. New Chapter by Cedar Hill (13)
62. A Little Life by Liz Miller (13)
62. Gone, Long Gone by Steve Dawson (13)
62. Everywhere You Go by Bruce Molsky (13)
62. Brave Land by Raine Hamilton (13)
69. Now and the Evermore by Colin Hay (12)
69. Changemakers by Crys Matthews (12)
69. You Get It All by Hayes Carll (12)
69. Timeless by Magnolia Drive (12)
69. Depreciated by John R. Miller (12)
69. The Source of Light by Eric Bogle (12)
69. Fresh Pickles by Chris Castino and Chicken Wire Empire (12)
Top Songs of February 2022
Michael Vetch’s “Valentine’s Day” was the most-played song on folk radio during February 2022.
2. “I’m Still Standing” by Janis Ian (18)
2. “Anyone but You” by The Twangtown Paramours (18)
4. “Black Muddy River” by Norma Waterson (17)
5. “Better Times Will Come” by Janis Ian (16)
5. “Backroads” by Johnsmith (16)
5. “Lincoln on the Streets of New York” by Ina May Wool (16)
8. “I Give You the Morning” by Buffalo Rose and Tom Paxton (14)
9. “For the People” by Rupert Wates (13)
9. “At the Foot of the Mountain” by Eliza Gilkyson (13)
11. “Wind River and You” by Eliza Gilkyson (12)
11. “Deliverance” by HuDost (12)
11. “Coffee” by Karen Morand and the Bosco Boys (12)
11. “Jennifer’s Rabbit” by Buffalo Rose and Tom Paxton (12)
11. “Three Quarter Time” by Abbie Gardner (12)
11. “The Sound of Guitars” by Josie Bello (12)
17. “Emmit Till” by Martine Allard (11)
17. “Prodigal Daughter” by Aoife O’Donovan (11)
17. “The Hill Behind This Town” by Eliza Gilkyson (11)
17. “Old Habits” by Courtney Granger (11)
17. “My Name Is America” by Johnsmith (11)
22. “The Walls Stand on and On” by Terry Family (10)
22. “We’ll Dance Again” by Folkapotamus (10)
22. “Ladder to the Sun” by House of Hamill (10)
22. “Ghost Hotel” by Karen Morand and the Bosco Boys (10)
22. “Round of Blues” by Low Lily (10)
22. “A Most Creative Valentine” by Stuart Kabak (10)
22. “Mary the Night’s on Fire” by The Pine Hearts (10)
22. “Dancing With the Dark” by Janis Ian (10)
22. “Always Old Friends” by Dana Cooper (10)
Top Artists of February 2022
Eliza Gilkyson closely followed Janis Ian as the second most-played artist on folk radio during February 2022.
2. Eliza Gilkyson (101)
3. Johnsmith (94)
4. John Wort Hannam (60)
5. House of Hamill (58)
5. Aoife O’Donovan (58)
7. Rupert Wates (55)
8. Dana Cooper (52)
9. Robert Plant and Alison Krauss (51)
10. Mike Mullins (50)
11. Bob Dylan (49)
12. The Pine Hearts (48)
12. Norma Waterson (48)
14. Dan Weber (45)
15. John McCutcheon (43)
16. Heather Sarona (41)
16. John Roberts and Tony Barrand (41)
18. Michael Veitch (40)
18. Karen Morand and the Bosco Boys (40)
20. Josie Bello (39)
21. Buffalo Rose and Tom Paxton (38)
22. HuDost (37)
22. Punch Brothers (37)
22. Folkapotamus (37)
25. Rhiannon Giddens (35)
26. Maya De Vitry (34)
26. Jordi Baizan (34)
28. Dar Williams (33)
28. Allison De Groot and Tatiana Hargreaves (33)
30. Carrie Newcomer (31)
31. Sue Horowitz (29)
31. Susan Werner (29)
33. Reggie Harris (28)
33. Anais Mitchell (28)
33. Grant Dermody and Frank Fotusky (28)
33. Jesse Terry (28)
37. The Twangtown Paramours (27)
37. Pete Seeger (27)
37. The McDades (27)
40. Keb’ Mo (26)
40. Bill Staines (26)
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