Laurie Lewis had the top album (Trees) and was the most-played artist on folk radio during June 2024, while Beppe Gambetta had the month’s most-played song (“Sit and Pick with You”). 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.
Laurie Lewis is an acclaimed, California-based singer-songwriter and fiddler who has been making music since the the 1970s. Although steeped in the bluegrass tradition, her roots music extends beyond that genre and appeals to Americana and folk fans as well. A two-time International Bluegrass Music Association(IBMA) Female Vocalist of the Year, she also won its coveted Song of the Year award for her rendition of the now-standard “Who Will Watch the Someplace?” Such artists as Kathy Mattea and Patsy Montana have also recorded her songs, while Lewis has been prominently featured on the recording of other artists. Besides her solo projects, Lewis has also performed with her bluegrass band, The Right Hands, and as a duo with Tom Rozum, as well as Nina Gerber. She has also spent many years as a teacher at music camps across the U.S., has been a mentor to many young female artists, and has produced albums for other musicians as well.
The 12 tracks on her new album, Trees, include original songs, along with cover of songs by Tom T. Hall, John Hartford, Bill Morrissey, Kate MacLeod, and Mark Simos. Here’s a link to a video for the album’s nature-inspired opening track, “Just a Little Ways Down the Road”: https://laurielewis.com/video/just-a-little-ways-down-the-road/.
Beppe Gambetta, whose “Sit and Pick With You” topped the song charts in June,is an Italian acoustic guitarist, composer and singer whose musical stylings blend elements of European tradition with American roots music and contemporary flair. During his 50-year musical career to date, the Genoa, Italy native has performed extensively on both sides of the Atlantic.
On his 2024 release, Terra Madre (Mother Earth), the master guitarist is joined by such other notable acoustic artists as David Grisman, Tim O’Brien and Dan Crary. “Sit and Pick with You” is the album’s first single. Here’s a link to a video for it that features a number of still photos of Gabetta performing in concert and at festivals with other artists of note: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BbtIH2NJH2I.
The June 2024 top albums, songs and artists charts are based on 12, 068 airplays reported on 406 playlists submitted by 107 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 June 2024
1 Trees Laurie Lewis (78)
2 Change Is Now: A Tribute to the Byrds Christian Parker (63)
2 Terra Madre Beppe Gambetta (63)
4 The Price of Happiness Miranda Hardy (62)
5 Banjo Jubilations Benny Bleu (58)
6 The Wanderer Ruth Moody (57)
7 Earl Jam Tony Trischka (54)
8 Proxy Music Linda Thompson (48)
9 Trail of Flowers Sierra Ferrell (44)
10 Sharing in the Spirit Ana Egge (41)
11 Positively 4th Street: A Tribute to Bob Dylan Rory Block (40)
12 Every New Beginning Kim Richey (36)
12 Strange Medicine Kaia Kater (36)
14 All About the Bones Chris Smither (34)
14 Ship to Shore Richard Thompson (34)
14 Wild Birds Warble Jubal Lee Young (34)
17 The Ghost of Tucumcari Dana Cooper (33)
18 The Earth Turns and So Do We The Honey Badgers (32)
18 The Border Willie Nelson (32)
20 Look Up Lynn Hollyfield (31)
20 One of These Days Cris Jacobs (31)
22 Signposts and Marks Erin Ash Sullivan (29)
22 The Doman Tracks Heather Anne Lomax and Michael Doman (29)
24 As Above Now So Below Crow and Gazelle (26)
24 Time and Evolution Stephanie Sammons (26)
24 The Beauty of This Now Marc Douglas Berardo (26)
27 Gardens Old, Flowers New Tom Rush (25)
27 Dear Future Me Stella Prince (25)
27 Ordinary Elephant Ordinary Elephant (25)
27 Colors and Covers Brittany Jean (25)
27 The Pie Chart of Love Rubyjoyful (25)
32 Jubilee Becky Buller (24)
33 Let the Light In Two of a Kind (23)
33 Circus for Sale Hungrytown (23)
35 Another Heart Ann Savoy (22)
35 Off and Running Ryan David Green (22)
37 Diamond Days Brooks Williams (21)
37 Listen to the World Spin Paper Wings (21)
37 Plastic Flowers Nichole Wagner (21)
37 The Big Album Alex Lacquement (21)
37 Gravity of Grace Johnsmith (21)
37 There’s Always a Song Kelsey Waldon (21)
43 Visitor John Moreland (19)
43 Holding the Threads Beth Desombre (19)
45 One Deep River Mark Knopfler (18)
45 Heroes and Friends Daniel Grindstaff (18)
47 Anniversary Adeem the Artist (17)
47 By Now Heather Little (17)
47 For the Life of Me Will Kimbrough (17)
50 Restless Soul Syndrome Jon Shain (16)
50 Of Light and Shadow Sarah Cade (16)
Top Songs of June 2024
Beppe Gambetta’s “Sit and Pick With You” was the most-played song on folk radio during June 2024.
2 “Father’s Day” Johnsmith (21)
3 “My Father’s Piano” Beth Desombre (19)
4 “Just a Little Ways Down the Road” Laurie Lewis (18)
5 “Those Damn Roches” Linda Thompson (14)
5 “The Price of Happiness” Miranda Hardy (14)
5 “Already Free” Ruth Moody (14)
8 “Goat on a Stone Wall” Erin Ash Sullivan (13)
8 “The Spell of the Lilac Bloom” Ruth Moody (13)
8 “The Ghost of My Father” Liz Queler, Joey Farber, Seth Farber (13)
8 “Everything Is Broken” Rory Block (13)
8 “All Mixed Up” Andy Antipin (13)
13 “Father and Son” Abby K (12)
13 “Strawberry Moon” Miranda Hardy (12)
13 “Long Gone” Laurie Lewis (12)
16 “Saint James Hospital” Beppe Gambetta (11)
16 “Stage Fright” The Lonesome Ace Stringband (11)
16 “Lighthouse” Sierra Ferrell (11)
16 “Wayfaring Stranger” Simone Keane (11)
16 “Chimes of Freedom” Christian Parker (11)
21 “Where Berries Grow” Ana Egge (10)
21 “My Old Man” Steve Goodman (10)
21 “Dear Future Me” Stella Prince (10)
21 “Broken Truth” Tim Grimm (10)
21 “Trees” Laurie Lewis (10)
21 “Texas Wind” Laurie Lewis (10)
21 “I Am a Man” Tom Prasada-Rao (10)
Top Artists of June 2024
Laurie Lewis was the most-played artists and had the top album (Trees) on folk radio during June 2024.
2 Benny Bleu (75)
3 Christian Parker (66)
4 Beppe Gambetta (65)
5 Miranda Hardy (62)
6 Tony Trischka (59)
7 Ruth Moody (58)
8 Linda Thompson (54)
9 Tom Prasada-Rao (46)
9 Sierra Ferrell (46)
11 Rory Block (45)
12 Richard Thompson (43)
12 Ana Egge (43)
12 Willie Nelson (43)
15 Chris Smither (42)
16 Bob Dylan (39)
17 Kaia Kater (38)
17 Kim Richey (38)
19 Guy Clark (37)
20 Jubal Lee Young (36)
21 Tom Rush (35)
21 Joan Baez (35)
23 Dana Cooper (33)
23 Johnsmith (33)
23 The Honey Badgers (33)
26 Cris Jacobs (31)
26 Lynn Hollyfield (31)
28 Erin Ash Sullivan (29)
28 Heather Anne Lomax and Michael Doman (29)
30 Brooks Williams (28)
30 Brittany Jean (28)
32 Ordinary Elephant (27)
33 Stephanie Sammons (26)
33 Marc Douglas Berardo (26)
33 Rubyjoyful (26)
33 Crow and Gazelle (26)
33 Becky Buller (26)
38 Hungrytown (25)
38 Stella Prince (25)
40 Pete Seeger (24)
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