Alice Howe and Freebo had the top album (Live) and four of the month’s most-played songs on folk radio during February 2025, while Alison Krauss and Union Station’s “Looks Like the End of the Road” edged them out for top song and John McCutcheon was the most-played artist for a second consecutive month. 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 February 2025 top albums, songs and artists charts are based on 9, 809 airplays reported on 383 playlists submitted by 98 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 2025
1. Live by Alice Howe and Freebo (90)
2. Field of Stars by John McCutcheon (83)
3. Reclamation by Crys Matthews (78)
4. Looking for the Thread by Mary Chapin Carpenter, Julie Fowlis,
Karine Polwart (54)
4. The Wind Will Change Again by The Twangtown Paramours (54)
6. Beneath Your Skin by Kim Beggs (40)
7. We Were Wood by Barry Oreck and Friends (34)
8. Gold in Your Pocket by Caleb Klauder and Reeb Willms (32)
9. Look Up by Ringo Starr (31)
10. Glimmer by Carol Crittenden (27)
11. Be Real With Me by Chatham Rabbits (24)
12. If the Sky Fell by Michael Henchman (23)
13. Songs to a Wild God by Mallory Chipman (22)
13. Woodland by Gillian Welch and David Rawlings (22)
15. Remains to Be Scene by The Seldom Scene (21)
16. Union Station by Collide (20)
17. Beacons by Nefesh Mountain (19)
17. The Lucy Story: Unreleased and Rare Tracks 1976-2023 [Disc 1] by
Lucy Kaplansky (19)
19. Exploding Star by Heather Maloney (18)
19. Ride in the Light by Cindy Kallet (18)
21. Earl Jam by Tony Trischka (17)
21. Trail of Flowers by Sierra Ferrell (17)
21. Now, O Now by Rakish (17)
21. Life Is a Wonder by Kevin Whalen (17)
25. The American Dream by Amy Speace (16)
25. Hear My Call by Cristina Vane (16)
25. Manos Pan Americanos by Larry and Joe (16)
28. Things Done Changed by Jerron Paxton (15)
28. Arcadia by Alison Krauss and Union Station (15)
28. Dark Moon by Holly Cole (15)
31. Quiet Town by Mindy Smith (13)
32. Take It Easy Greasy by Jim Brewer (12)
32. Flee Though None Pursue by Ed Alstrom (12)
32. All Hat No Cattle by The Doohickeys (12)
32. On Solid Ground by Reggie Harris (12)
32. Let the Longing Run Wild and Free by Robert Sarazin Blake (12)
32. Girl Dinner by Big Richard (12)
32. Up From the Mud by Diane Coll (12)
39. Waiting for Inspiration by Socks in the Frying Pan (11)
39. The Legend of Sugarbelly by Guy Davis (11)
39. Edge of America by Crowes Pasture (11)
39. Winterbirds by Boreal (11)
39. Loudon Live in London by Loudon Wainwright Iii (11)
39. Cher Reve by Miss Tess (11)
45. Presidential Campaign Songs 1789 – 1996 by Oscar Brand (10)
45. In the Real World by Eric Bibb (10)
45. A Complete Unknown (Original Motion Picture Sound Track) by
Timothee Chalamet (10)
45. The Purple Bird by Bonnie Prince Billy (10)
45. Mileage by Ruthie Foster (10)
45. Anything but Ordinary by Jan Aldridge Clark (10)
45. Daggomit! by Max Wareham (10)
45. Lonely as It Gets by Wilson Banjo Co (10)
45. Don’t Play Guitar Boy by Geoff Achison (10)
45. Into the Wild by Golden Highway and Molly Tuttle (10)
Top Songs of February 2025
[Here’s a link to view the official lyric video for “Looks Like the End of the Road” by Allison Krauss and Union Station: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oQNPvSNMEyo.]
1. “Looks Like the End of the Road” by Alison Krauss and Union Station (15)
2. “Twilight” by Alice Howe and Freebo (14)
3. “Field of Stars” by John McCutcheon (13)
3. “Angel From Montgomery” by Alice Howe and Freebo (13)
5. “Oklahoma Sunset” by Crys Matthews (12)
5. “Travelin’ Soul” by Alice Howe and Freebo (12)
5. “A Heart That Never Closes” by Mary Chapin Carpenter, Julie Fowlis,
Karine Polwart (12)
8. “Farewell Angelina” by The Seldom Scene (11)
8. “Catch the Wind” by Crowes Pasture (11)
8. “A Case of You” by Alice Howe and Freebo (11)
8. “At the End of the Day” by John McCutcheon (11)
8. “Like Jesus Would” by Crys Matthews (11)
13. “We Were Wood” by Barry Oreck and Friends (9)
13. “Old Friends” by The Twangtown Paramours (9)
13. “Last of the Steam Powered Trains” by The Seldom Scene (9)
16. “Somebody’s New Lover Now” by Alice Howe and Freebo (8)
16. “Send Love” by Mary Chapin Carpenter, Julie Fowlis, Karine Polwart (8)
16. “Only Ones Dancing” by John McCutcheon (8)
16. “American Dreaming” by Sierra Ferrell (8)
16. “Build Me a City: The Ballad of Robert Moses” by Barry Oreck and Friends (8)
16. “$20 Bill (For George Floyd)” by Kim Moberg (8)
16. “Ms St. Louis” by John McCutcheon (8)
16. “Rebecca” by Mary Chapin Carpenter, Julie Fowlis, Karine Polwart (8)
16. “Winter Birds” by Heather Hurlock (8)
16. “The Genius Bar” by Julie Gold (8)
16. “Bury Me Inside Your Heart” by Kim Beggs (8)
16. “The Difference Between” by Crys Matthews (8)
16. “Cancel Culture” by Crys Matthews (8)
Top Artists of February 2025
1. John McCutcheon (94)
2. Crys Matthews (92)
3. Alice Howe and Freebo (90)
4. The Twangtown Paramours (55)
5. Mary Chapin Carpenter, Julie Fowlis, Karine Polwart (54)
6. Kim Beggs (41)
7. Barry Oreck and Friends (34)
8. Caleb Klauder and Reeb Willms (33)
9. Ringo Starr (31)
10. Pete Seeger (30)
10. Paul and Mary Peter (30)
12. Bob Dylan (29)
12. Lucy Kaplansky (29)
12. The Band (29)
15. Rhiannon Giddens (28)
16. Carol Crittenden (27)
16. Tony Trischka (27)
18. Cindy Kallet (25)
19. Chatham Rabbits (24)
19. The Seldom Scene (24)
21. Michael Henchman (23)
22. Reggie Harris (22)
22. Nina Simone (22)
22. Billy Strings (22)
22. John Roberts and Tony Barrand (22)
22. Mallory Chipman (22)
22. Gillian Welch and David Rawlings (22)
22. Highwaymen (22)
29. Larry and Joe (21)
30. Amy Speace (20)
30. Guy Davis (20)
30. Collide (20)
30. Marianne Faithfull (20)
34. Ruthie Foster (19)
34. Nefesh Mountain (19)
34. Alison Krauss and Union Station (19)
34. Tim Grimm (19)
34. Sierra Ferrell (19)
39. Heather Maloney (18)
39. Willie Nelson (18)
39. Mary Chapin Carpenter (18)
39. Rakish (18)
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