Who are great current folk artists (likely in the US and UK)? I'm a big fan but

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   NonCopyBookposted 9 years ago

   Who are great current folk artists (likely in the US and UK)? I'm a big fan but know only so much...

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   adagio4639posted 9 years ago

   Wow....great question. Tops on my list is Chris Smither. He's from Mass. Great songwriter, and guitar player. Gruff voice.
   The term "folk" artist has become kind of ambiguous these days, Folk/Americana/ Singer-songwriter, all kind of blend into each other.
   
   John Prine is sort of folk but sort of country and very Americana.
   Amos Lee is sort of folk, kind of R&B and Americana
   Ray LaMontagne  is new folk/Americana
   
   You're really looking at contemporary singer/songwriters that do their thing in the acoustic folk tradition. They may use a band, but they can, and do perform solo with an acoustic guitar just as often. There are websites such as No Depression, that feature everybody in this field. You could check out Folk Alley as well.
   
   enjoy

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      NonCopyBookposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Thanks very much for the detail - I'll follow these up tomorrow on my home computer.. Cheers, Nick

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   Greensleeves Hubsposted 9 years ago

   It depends I guess on what kind of folk you are interested in Nicholas. My love is traditional folk but there is an American artist today who sings both traditional American, Irish and Scottish folk, plus more recent folk and some of her own modern compositions. Her name is Connie Dover, and I love pretty much everything she does, including the style in which the songs are arranged.
   
   If you will permit, I have included a link to a hub I wrote about her some years ago which includes 6 videos of selected songs from varied eras, including an instrumental track of her own composition. You may like to hear her. Best wishes, Alun
   
   http://greensleeves-hubs.hubpages.com/h … eensleeves

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      NonCopyBookposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Thanks Alun for the information on Connie - I enjoyed the music. As she says in the interview, she does a lot of traditional songs, and partly that and her voice remind me of Judith Durham and The Seekers a bit.. (who I love). Cheers, Nick

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      Greensleeves Hubsposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      You must be right Nicholas, because The Seekers are also one of my all-time favourite groups (and all still in good health, and touring I believe)

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      NonCopyBookposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      I can't vouch for their health or touring (though a quick search would suffice!) but if I hear they're touring Australia again, I'll go

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   NonCopyBookposted 9 years ago

   Since I made your comment Best answer Adagio4639 it won't let me comment/reply on it further, so this is a separate comment.. I liked all of the examples you provided, in particular the very true, direct and deep lyrics of Chris Smither and John Prine- I'll listen to more than a few songs in the near future.. Amos Lee's sound actually reminded me a little of Norah Jones so it was no surprise that they have collaborated together; Ray La Montagne has a great voice and it's good how he combines different musical styles.. I think I am a big fan of those folk (or country) songwriters who blow your hair back by getting right to the truth, however dark or sad or unusual it might be- I think Smither and Prine must have some very interesting things to say in their back-log of music! Cheers, Nick

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