best folk music

[chrisr]

i'd like to know some outstanding folk music so i can get an idea of whats out their, i like stuff like early paul simon but don't really know what else is out their.

[renfrow]

What I consider folk music covers a wide range and takes in artists such as Woody Guthrie and Pete Seeger (perhaps the most traditional of American folk musicians) to English/Irish/Celtic musicians, such as Pentangle, Steeleye Span, The Chieftains, Clannad, to solo instrumentalists, such as Leo Kottke, David Bromberg, Stefan Grossman, John Renbourn, Bert Jansch, etc.

Depending on what you like, there are a lot of tie-ins that you might like, like old-timey country, bluegrass, gospel, blues, early rock and roll, newage, etc.

I separate my music into broad categories, Rock, Blues, Classical, Jazz, Christmas, but lump Bluegrass, Folk, Celtic, etc, into one folder :-)

Some things you might like:

Pete Seeger & Arlo Guthrie (traditional folk)
Together in Concert

Norman Blake (solo guitar folk)
Flower From The Fields Of Alabama

Early Bob Dylan (modern folk)
Blonde on Blonde
Highway 61 Revisited

Leo Kottke (solo guitar)
6 And 12 String Guitar

Bert Jansch (solo guitar)
When The Circus Comes To Town

Pentangle (English folk)
Early Classics

Notting Hillbillies (English/American folk)
Missing ... Presumed Having a Good Time

The Chieftains (Irish folk)
Irish Heartbeat (with Van Morrison)

John Lee Hooker (blues)
Chill Out

Bill Monroe (Traditional bluegrass)
Music of Bill Monroe From 1936-1994 (this may be a bit much, 4 discs, ~100 songs)

The Del McCoury Band (Modern bluegrass)
The Family

Bela Fleck (jazzy bluegrass)
Tales From The Acoustic Planet (Volume 1, there is a volume 2, also good :-)


I have (or had, on vinyl, in the case of the PS/AG album) all of these and can vouch for their tastiness :-). Sooo.... a bunch of folk and a taste of others.

Tom.

[Scottmoose]

Additional to the above:

Try June Tabour's album An Echo of Hooves for a start. Traditional songs / stories from the Scotish boarders, so it's, shall we say, a bit grim. OK, it's drenched with blood. But it's one of the best albums of its kind ever produced. There's also a wonderful 4 disc box-set available. Not too cheap, but it's a comprenesive look at her entire career (nearly 40 years), and well-worth the money -you won't be or feel short changed with this one!

If you want a bit of a more world-feel, try anything by Loreena McKennitt. The Visit, The book of Secrets or The Mask and Mirror are good albums to start on. I own everything she's ever done, which says it all, really.

Dr Faustus are also worth a look.

Best
Scott

[Ouroboros]

I much prefer June's earlier work, before she started to take herself quite so seriously. The album she did with Martin Simpson (can't remember the title, but it's the release with the wonderful track 'Unicorns' on), is my favourite.

[Havoc]

Traditional English/Irish: Dubliners, Chieftains (early stuff), Oisin, Dervish, Patrick Street, The Fureys

Less traditional but great classics: Steeleye Span, Fairport Convention, The Albion Band (earlier stuff), and most of the work of their members like Maddy Prior, Ashley Hutchings, John Kirkpatrick.

Recent: The Whisky Priests, The Pogues

Also good: Pepe Gambetta, Tallari, Boyce-Coope and Simpson, Mary Coughlan,

If you can find it: Konsta Jylha (very tradidional finnish fiddle)

[Ouroboros]

And don't forget the Scandinavian bands 'Garmarna', 'Hedningarna' and 'Gjallarhorn'.

[Fuling]

One of my favourites:
http://www.hovendroven.com/

[pinkmouse]

I have worked as a noise boy on many folk festivals, and it is just about impossible to recommend something without knowing what you mean by "Folk".

For instance, I would consider "Murder Ballads", by Nick Cave, one of the finest folk records ever made...

al/ once had June Tabor rehearsing in his bedroom...

[Ouroboros]

And it is always worth investigating the work of the French band 'Malicorne' from about 25 years ago. They produced innovative work of very high quality at the time.
(and their leader, Gabriel Yacoub, is still producing interesting material).

[Havoc]

And don't forget the Scandinavian bands 'Garmarna', 'Hedningarna' and 'Gjallarhorn'.

Never heard of them, but going to check them out.

Malicorne is indeed a very fine band. Have they come down from their "clouds"