The Woodstock Folk Festival will present a virtual tribute to Bill Staines, the revered New Hampshire-based traveling troubadour and prolific songwriter, on what would have been his 75th birthday -- Sunday, February 6, 2022 at 1 p.m. CST/2 p.m. EST via the festival’s website (woodstockfolkfestival.org). Featuring words and music in pre-recorded performances of his songs, the tribute will also be available to view on demand after the premiere.
Norma Waterson, a leading voice in British folk music, died January 30, 2022 at age 82. Waterson -- who performed and recorded with her siblings Mike and Lal, her husband Martin Carthy, and their daughter Eliza Carthy -- had recently been hospitalized with pneumonia.
The winner and finalists in the annual Songs for Social Change contest hosted by Renaissance Artists and Writers Association will perform and talk about their songs via a Saturday, February 5, 2022 livestream on the organization’s Facebook page beginning at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT/7 p.m. CT.
Tony Barrand, a traditional folk and sea chantey singer, folklorist, and Morris & clog dancer died on January 29, 2022. Barrand, 76, was half of the musical duo Roberts and Barrand, and also performed and recorded with Nowell Sing We Clear. Folk Music Notebook will honor his life and work today (January 30).
A wide array of female Irish musicians will participate in a free, online St. Brigid’s Day Concert on February 1, 2022 at 8 p.m. EST, in celebration of the Irish patron saint and Celtic goddess. Presented by the Association of Irish & Celtic Festivals, with support from the Embassy and Consulates of Ireland in the U.S., the concert will be co-hosted by noted artists Eileen Ivers and Joanie Madden.
Kathy Sands-Boehmer’s Harbortown Music and Michael Kornfeld’s AcousticMusicScene.com team up to present Folk from the North Country – a livestream concert featuring Ontario, Canada-based artists Benjamin Dakota Rogers, Angela Saini and The Young Novelists – on Wednesday , January 26, at 7:30 p.m. EST. Featuring songs and conversation, the show can be viewed online at Harbortown Music’s Facebook page or YouTube channel . It may also be shared via the AcousticMusicScene.com group on Facebook. Although there is no set fee to view the livestream, tips for the artists would be most appreciated (suggested donation: $20) and may be made via paypalme.com/harbortownmusic. [Click on the headline to continue reading this article, which also includes audio and video links.]
Tim Grimm, a southern Indiana-based folk-Americana singer-songwriter, had the top album (Gone) on folk radio during 2021, edging out upstate New York-based singer-songwriter Reggie Harris’ Solid Ground. The Accidentals, a Michigan-based band, had the year’s most-played song (“Wildfire”), while the late Nanci Griffith was 2021’s most-played artist. 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 FAI Folk Charts are posted with permission. Click on the headline to read an accompanying article, view the charts, and hear some music.]
Raise the Roof by Robert Plant and Alison Krauss was the most-played album on folk radio during December 2021, while “The Turning Year: A New Year’s Toast” by Jennifer Cutting’s Ocean Orchestra was the month’s most-played song. Bill Staines, the New Hampshire-based traveling troubadour and prolific songwriter who died last month, was December’s top artist. 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 monthly top albums, songs and artists charts are posted with permission. Click on the headline to view them.]
J.D. Crowe, an influential and visionary bluegrass banjo player, who plied his craft for more than 60 years, died on Dec. 24. The Lexington, Kentucky native and Grammy Award-winning artist was 84.
Chinook Waltz by Over the Moon was the most-played album on folk radio during November 2021, while the southwestern Alberta, Canada-based acoustic roots duo was the month’s most-played artist. Topping the song charts were “Ragged Queen” and “Roses in November” by singer-songwriters Mala Oreen and Tret Fure, respectively, while Over the Moon also had three of the top 10 songs. 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 monthly top albums, songs and artists charts are posted with permission. Click on the headline to view them, along with a few video links.]
Scott Alarik, Bill Staines and Joe Virga — each of whom made important contributions to the folk music community in the U.S. — passed away in early December 2021 and will be greatly missed. Ethan Baird, executive director of Northeast Regional Folk Alliance (NERFA), pays tribute to them below. [Click on the headline to read Ethan's reflections and an extended editor's note with more information about Scott, Bill and Joe -- along with video links.]
Nominees in 86 categories have been named for the 64th annual Grammy Awards to be presented by the Recording Academy on Monday, January 31, 2022. Allison Russell leads the nominees in the American Roots Music Field with three nominations, while Jon Batiste, Béla Fleck, Rhiannon Giddens, Billy Strings, and Yola each received two. Click on the headline to continue reading this article and to see the complete list of nominees in the American Roots Music Field.
