Emily Scott Robinson, a Carolina-born & bred and Colorado-based singer-songwriter, had the top album (Appalachia) and was the most-played artist on folk radio during February 2026, while Bruce Springsteen’s “Streets of Minneapolis“ — an anti-ICE protest song inspired by the fatal shootings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti by federal immigration agents in the Minnesota city — was the most-played 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.
Here’s a link to enjoy the official video for the title track of Emily Scott Robinson’s new album, Appalachia:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K3aXlQxR8CY
And here’s a link to official audio for Bruce Springsteen’s “Streets of Minneapolis”:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wWKSoxG1K7w
The February 2026 top albums, songs and artists charts are based on 10,401 airplays reported on 364 playlists submitted by 101 different folk DJs. The number of reported spins is shown below in parentheses.
Folk Alliance International (https://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 2026
1. Appalachia by Emily Scott Robinson (102)
2. All Tied Together by Ye Vagabonds (67)
3. King of Hearts by Paul Kaplan (65)
4. Together Again by Tom Paxton & John McCutcheon (63)
5. Songs of Hope by Tom Chapin (53)
6. Business Unusual by Goodnight Moonshine (49)
7. Flight of the Robin by Debi Smith (43)
8. All That Really Matters by Kim Moberg (41)
9. Magic Accident by Della Mae (37)
9. World’s Gone Wrong by Lucinda Williams (37)
11. Questioning the Forty by Kevin Neidig (36)
12. Driftwood by Weary Ramblers (35)
13. Pet by Big Richard (31)
14. Maggie’s Journal by Valerie Smith (30)
15. Here and Gone by Sara Thomsen (29)
16. Unentitled by John Gorka (27)
17. Empire by Kray Van Kirk (26)
18. Circle and Square by Eric Brace and Thomm Jutz (25)
18. Where We Go by Jesse Appelman (25)
20. Wild and Clear and Blue by I’m With Her (24)
21. Fish Crow by M Sparks (23)
22. Bones of Trees by Tim Grimm (22)
22. Strangely in Tune by Diane Coll (22)
24. The Blue Rock Session by Amy Speace (21)
24. Since You Asked Me by Jan Krist (21)
26. The Work, the Hope, the Promise by Wes Weddell (20)
26. Ivyland by James O’Malley (20)
28. O California! by Laurie Lewis & the Right Hands (19)
28. Sad and Beautiful World by Mavis Staples (19)
28. Safe, Sensible and Sane by Alison Brown and Steve Martin (19)
31. Fallen Angel by The Unfaithful Servants (17)
32. Valentine by Courtney Marie Andrews (16)
32. Havin’ a Talk by Melissa Carper and Theo Lawrence (16)
34. Field Notes by Dave Gunning (15)
34. Act 1 by Kashus Culpepper (15)
34. Don’t Drink the Poison by Linda Sussman (15)
37. Voisinages by Le Vent Du Nord (14)
37. The Ground Is Changing by Andi Jane (14)
37. Keep Going by Ken Whiteley (14)
37. Avec Elodie by Eloise & Co (14)
37. Bringing the Light by Hot Tamale (14)
37. One Mississippi by Eric Bibb (14)
43. You Climb the Mountain by The Onlies (13)
43. Dark Ages by Eliza Gilkyson (13)
43. Code to Live By by Grant Peeples (13)
43. Black Banjo by Tray Wellington (13)
43. Spring Green by Mark Erelli (13)
48. Shelter From the Storms by Lennie Gallant (12)
48. A Tip Toe High Wire by Sierra Hull (12)
50. Feather and the Starry Crown: Sons of the Never Wrong by Sons of
the Never Wrong (11)
50. The Knot by The Waymores (11)
50. Together on a Rock by The Pairs (11)
50. Carolina Mountains by Sparrow Smith (11)
50. Passages by Eric Kilburn (11)
Top Songs of February 2026
1. “Streets of Minneapolis” by Bruce Springsteen (34)
2. “The Ballad of Husker Scruggs” by Hana Zara (31)
3. “Appalachia” by Emily Scott Robinson (21)
4. “A Song for Minnesota” by Katie Dahl (19)
4. “I Lie” by Joe Jencks (19)
6. “It’s Not for Sale” by Joe Jencks (17)
7. “The Flood” by Ye Vagabonds (15)
8. “Millionaire” by Big Richard (14)
8. “I Will Keep You Warm” by Paul Kaplan (14)
10. “The Time for Flowers” by Emily Scott Robinson (13)
11. “Sleeves Up” by Crys Matthews (12)
11. “Full Tank and Good Fried Chicken” by M Sparks (12)
11. “America’s Game” by John Flynn (12)
11. “Hymn for the Unholy” by Emily Scott Robinson (12)
11. “Cast Iron Heart” by Emily Scott Robinson (12)
16. “Quite Early Morning” by Tom Chapin (11)
16. “The Water Is Wide” by Emily Scott Robinson (11)
16. “The King of Hearts” by Paul Kaplan (11)
16. “Dirtbag Saloon” by Emily Scott Robinson (11)
16. “Ancient Light” by I’m With Her (11)
21. “At the End of the Day” by Ken Whiteley (10)
21. “Hold On” by Jillian Matundan (10)
21. “No Time to Cry” by John Gorka (10)
21. “Hold Our Ground Forever” by Tom Chapin (10)
21. “If I Were Free” by Naomi Sommers (10)
Top Artists of February 2026
1. Emily Scott Robinson (107)
2. Ye Vagabonds (71)
3. Paul Kaplan (66)
4. Tom Paxton & John McCutcheon (63)
5. Tom Chapin (53)
6. Joe Jencks (52)
7. Goodnight Moonshine (49)
8. Bruce Springsteen (46)
9. Debi Smith (44)
10. Lucinda Williams (43)
11. Kim Moberg (42)
12. Della Mae (41)
13. John Gorka (36)
13. Kevin Neidig (36)
13. Weary Ramblers (36)
16. Bob Dylan (34)
17. Hana Zara (32)
18. Valerie Smith (31)
18. Big Richard (31)
20. Sara Thomsen (30)
21. John Prine (28)
21. Tim Grimm (28)
23. I’m With Her (27)
24. Willie Nelson (26)
24. Kray Van Kirk (26)
24. Amy Speace (26)
27. Eliza Gilkyson (25)
27. Pete Seeger (25)
27. Eric Brace and Thomm Jutz (25)
27. Jesse Appelman (25)
31. Mavis Staples (24)
32. M Sparks (23)
32. Eric Bibb (23)
32. Highwaymen (23)
35. Diane Coll (22)
36. Jan Krist (21)
36. Dave Gunning (21)
36. Crys Matthews (21)
36. Wes Weddell (21)
36. Woody Guthrie (21)
36. Joni Mitchell (21)
