Last night, Folk Alliance International presented the International Folk Music Awards on the first evening of their 37th annual conference, held this year in Montréal, Quebec, Canada. The awards show included a variety of recognitions, inductions, and trophies handed out: the Spirit of Folk Awards, Lifetime Achievement Awards, People’s Voice Award, and the Clearwater Award as well as Folk Radio Hall of Fame inductions, The Rising Tide Awards, and the nail-biting and exciting Best of 2024 categories. (Find a full list of winners and recipients below.)
Two-time JUNO Award-winner Rose Cousins and the The Brother Brothers opened the IFMAs with a rendition of Robert Earl Keen’s “Feeling Good Again.” The night’s house band included Cousins, The Brother Brothers (Adam and David Moss), and Dean Drouillard. Cousins returned to the stage with Mary Bragg, together performing the Indigo Girls’ “Galileo,” paying tribute to the iconic lesbian folk duo to mark their Lifetime Achievement Award honor. Black-indigenous-Canadian country singer-songwriter Julian Taylor paid tribute to another Lifetime Achievement recipient, the seminal guitar picker and singer Lesley Riddle, with “Red River Blues.” Le Vent Du Nord closed the show with a live performance nodding to Songlines, an important music magazine that was also recognized with a Lifetime Achievement Award. (Stream the full awards show via FAI’s YouTube channel below.)
In the Best of 2024 categories, Susan Werner walked away with the award for Album of the Year for Halfway to Houston. Song of the Year was awarded to “$20 Bill (for George Floyd),” written by Tom Prasada-Rao and performed by Dan Navarro. Crys Matthews won the Artist of the Year Award, racking up her second IFMA.
Tom Power, host of CBC’s Q and a contributor to the BGS Podcast Network, was awarded a Spirit of Folk Award alongside fellow recipients Quebec’s Innu Nikamu festival, longtime Folk Alliance Region Midwest community builder Annie Capps, and singer, songwriter, and My Black Country author Alice Randall.
Randall shared during her acceptance speech, “In My Black Country, I tell the story of climbing out of the hell of being raped by holding on to the sound of John Prine singing ‘Angel from Montgomery.’ I write about discovering the Joan Baez Ballad Book, a double-album set of English, Irish and Scottish folk songs that became my stepping stones to joy after trauma. I owe my sanity to folk music. … On the new album, country-charting songs were stripped of pop productions that erased Black characters and muted political intent. My songs were restored to their folk roots. My book My Black Country is about the Black folk, including Black folk musicians, who made country, country…”
Tom Power poses with his Spirit of Folk Award backstage at the IFMAs. Photo by Indie Montreal.
Elsewhere in the evening’s stacked run of show, Gina Chavez was awarded the People’s Voice Award and DJs and radio personalities Archie Fisher, MarySue Twohy, Taylor Caffery, Matthew Finch, and Chuck Wentworth were inducted into the Folk Radio Hall of Fame.
The IFMAs once again spotlit the important community-building, tradition-preserving, and progress-advancing creativity of the folk music scene the world over, from artists, songwriters, and storytellers to the industry insiders and professionals who make all of this possible. See the full list of winners (in bold), nominees, and recipients below.
Artist of the Year
Flamy Grant Sarah Jarosz Kaïa Kater Nick Lowe Crys Matthews Allison Russell
Album of the Year
Trail Of Flowers by Sierra Ferrell The Space Between by The Heart Collectors Strange Medicine by Kaïa Kater All My Friends by Aoife O’Donovan Ordinary Elephant by Ordinary Elephant Halfway to Houston by Susan Werner
Song of the Year
“Tenzin Sings with Nightingales,” written by Tenzin Choegyal, performed by Tenzin Choegyal and Michael Askill “Woman Who Pays,” written and performed by Connie Kaldor “How I Long for Peace,” written by Abena Koomson-Davis, Peggy Seeger, and Rhiannon Giddens, performed by Rhiannon Giddens “Ukrainian Now,” written and performed by Tom Paxton “$20 Bill (for George Floyd),” written by Tom Prasada-Rao, performed by Dan Navarro
Lifetime Achievement Awards
Indigo Girls Lesley Riddle Songlines magazine
Julian Taylor performs a tribute to Lesley Riddle at the 2025 IFMAs. Photo by Indie Montreal.
The Clearwater Award
River Roads Festival, presented by Dar Williams, Laudable Productions, the Connecticut River Conservancy
The Spirit of Folk Awards
Tom Power Alice Randall Annie Capps Innu Nikamu festival
The People’s Voice Award
Gina Chavez
The Rising Tide Award
OKAN
Folk Radio Hall of Fame Inductees
Archie Fisher MarySue Twohy Taylor Caffery Matthew Finch (posthumous) Chuck Wentworth (posthumous)
All photos courtesy of Folk Alliance International, shot by Indie Montreal. Lead image: Crys Matthews, L; Alice Randall, R.
From February 21 to 25 the global folk music community will descend on Kansas City for Folk Alliance International’s 36th annual conference. This year, the event’s theme is Alchemy: A Transformative Force, as the non-profit organization puts it: “Showcasing the power of music to provide the change needed in the world.”
“The power of alchemy can manifest, for example, when an artist processes their individual pain into words and vibrations that connect and comfort listeners,” FAI continued via press release. “The alchemy theme invites us to lean into processes of discovery and experimentation and to think about how we nurture the sparks of creativity that light fires of change…”
Over five days at the Westin Kansas City at Crown Center the conference will feature a variety of panels, keynote addresses, networking events, education, and – of course – limitless music. Between official and private showcases there will be reportedly more than 2,000 performances by folk musicians from across the genre spectrum. This year, there will also be a handful of summits held during the conference including a wellness summit, a legal summit, The Black American Music Summit, and the Indigenous Music Summit. The event’s keynote speakers include Noel Paul Stookey (of Peter, Paul and Mary), singer/composer and Grammy-winner Lucy Kalantari, and David Israelite (President and CEO of the National Music Publishers Association).
BGS will be on hand for FAI 2024, as well! With our friends from Good Folk we’ll be hosting “The Good Room” (#717 at the Westin) featuring three nights of music celebrating Good Folk, BGS, and Good Country. See artists and performers like Nat Myers, Willi Carlisle, Kyshona, AJ Lee & Blue Summit, Humbird, and many more Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights at the conference. (Full schedule below.)
To prepare for the big week, we want to share a few events, artists, showcases, and highlights we’ve got on our schedule for next week’s Folk Alliance International in Kansas City. You can still register for the conference and join us as we celebrate and learn from folk music alchemy!
The International Folk Music Awards
On Wednesday, February 21, the opening day of the conference, the International Folk Music Awards will be handed out in an evening ceremony. Based on members’ votes, the organization will hand out awards for Album of the Year, Artist of the Year, and Song of the Year, as well as a handful of Spirit of Folk awards, several Lifetime Achievement honors, and inductions into the Folk Radio Hall of Fame. Plus, FAI hands out three very special, activism- and impact-geared recognitions as well: the Rising Tide Award (recipient Sara Curruchich), the People’s Voice Award (recipient Alynda Segarra), and the Clearwater Award (recipient LEAF Global Arts Festival).
Not attending FAI or able to make the IFMAs on Wednesday night? Do not worry! Like years prior, you will be able to stream the awards via Folk Alliance’s YouTube Channel.
For the first time since FAI 2020, the Indigenous Music Summit will return to the conference for an Indigenous Community Gathering. It’s something of a precursor of the organization’s banner 2024 event, to be held in what’s now called Toronto at the beginning of June. Though the gathering on Friday at Folk Alliance 2024 is open only to Indigenous delegates, there will be an IMS showcase also on Friday from 11:30pm to 2:30am in the Pershing Place ballroom that’s open to all attendees. Be sure to catch showcase performances by Mikhail Laxton, Ila Barker, Nimkii and the Niniis, Andrina Turenne, Olivia Komahcheet, and Shauit.
The Good Room
Good Folk LA, BGS, and Good Country combine to bring you three evenings of excellent roots music in room 717 at the Westin Kansas City at Crown Center. See the full schedule for our private showcase above. The first night, programmed in partnership with Abby Litman of Good Folk LA, will feature Humbird, Hannah Connolly, and many more. Our BGS geared night will include bluegrass (AJ Lee & Blue Summit), country (Mary Bragg), blues (Nat Myers), and so many more styles and sounds. The final night, celebrating our new brand and email newsletter Good Country, will culminate with a rowdy and fun Hootenanny Jam, preceded by our current Artist of the Month Willi Carlisle, Kaïa Kater, Malachi Graham, and more.
We hope you’ll stop by room 717 while you’re at Folk Alliance to say hey, have a beer or seltzer, and enjoy some first class folk, bluegrass, country, and beyond.
Keynote Addresses
Folk Alliance always boasts a jaw-dropping slate of keynote addresses – as well as panels, discussions, affinity groups, and more. This year’s conference will continue that excellent track record with keynote addresses and conversations that feature five-time Grammy Award-winner Noel Paul Stookey of Peter, Paul and Mary; two-time Grammy Award-winner and Latin Grammy nominee, Lucy Kalantari; and President and CEO of the National Music Publishers Association (NMPA), David Israelite.
Hear Stookey in conversation with Deana McCloud on Thursday, February 22 at 2:00pm, as the pair chat about “Alchemy Through the Years.” Folk Alliance had this to say about the session in their official schedule: “Noel Paul Stookey has been altering both the musical and ethical landscape of this country and the world for decades – both as the ‘Paul’ of the legendary Peter, Paul and Mary and as an independent musician who passionately believes in bringing the spiritual into the practice of daily life.”
David Israelite will speak on the Value and Creativity of Creators on Friday, February 23 at 3:30pm, “[speaking] on the value to society of creativity and creators, addressing the needs of those benefiting from the use of music to support and respect the contributions of the folks making music.” The event description continues: “The importance of staying vigilant in the protection of our cultural contribution and providing for sustainability is key. We can’t allow for a ‘scorched earth policy’ that has become of the approach of certain music users because songwriters and music publishers, many of which are small businesses, need certainty and reliability on knowing what their income is and will be, in order to keep creating and providing society with the impactful alchemic process that it advances in communities globally.”
Finally on Saturday at 10:30am, Lucy Kalantari will speak on “Producing Alchemy” with Austin-based musician and activist SaulPaul facilitating the conversation. “Lucy Kalintari [will speak] on transforming creativity while helping artists transform stories and sounds. Explore the alchemy of an idea transmitted to an audience. She will [be] discussing the alchemy of collaboration, when artists work within a genre to push its conventions, and when artists cross ‘genres’ to collaborate.”
Folk Alliance proudly advertises their conference as gathering more than 2,000 showcases under one roof and, in the pantheon of music festivals, conferences, and the like they certainly stand out in the quality and efficacy of their showcases. Whether official or private, there are truly countless opportunities to hear the most buzzed about newcomers, true living legends, and newly discovered talents, too. Besides our own lineup for our private showcase in room 717 (see the schedule above), here are a few official and private showcasing artists we’re excited to catch at Folk Alliance.
We love Liv Greene’s music, especially this almost four-year-old number, and are really looking forward to their upcoming, yet-to-be-announced album. We’re hoping to catch some of that new material during Folk Alliance, so when you encounter this heartfelt, poetic songwriter during the conference, keep your ears open for new songs – we hear they are coming. (Read more about Liv in a recent Out Now interview.)
ISMAY
ISMAY’s pastoral, Northern California country is effortlessly raw and real – they did make it onto our “Three Chords and… Authenticity” Good Country playlist, after all. We’re excited to hear some of their just released album, Desert Pavement, at their Folk Alliance showcases as well as catching the screening of their new film, Finding Lucinda, on Friday at 3:30pm. Our own managing editor, Justin Hiltner, will lead the Q&A following the screening of the film, which tells a story of Lucinda’s remarkable path as a legendary artist through the eyes of ISMAY (AKA Avery Hellman.)
Mikhail Laxton
From Australia via Ottawa, soul-folk singer-songwriter Mikhail Laxton is a don’t miss showcase artist at this year’s conference. We already mentioned his set as part of the Indigenous Music Summit showcase, but he’s posted his full FAI schedule for addition to your day planner, as well.
Nat Myers
Have you heard modern bluesman Nat Myers’ music? This PBS News Hour episode is the perfect introduction to this Easy Eye Sound recording artist. (That’s Dan Auerbach’s label, by the way.) Myers’ brand of timeless, gristly, warm, and charming blues will be on perfect display in the halls of Folk Alliance, for sure.
Rainbow Girls
Fresh off their brand new album release late last year, folk-rock trio Rainbow Girls will be ready to welcome you to whatever in Kansas City. They’re a chosen family band that’s as charming as they are biting, sharp musicians and songwriters. Check out Rachel Baiman’s interview with the group ahead of their FAI appearances.
Viv & Riley
Viv & Riley are true old-time musicians, but their songs are always forward-looking, too. They’ve been a notable old-time, bluegrassy, string band duo for more than a few years, but we recently featured them on our column One to Watch because, well – you oughta be keeping an eye on ’em! Do so at Folk Alliance, you’ll thank us. Want more? We had them on Basic Folk recently, too!
Willie Watson
Our old pal Willie Watson will be at FAI this year!? Sign us up!! How is this iconic session nearly 10 years old, already? Good memories with Watson, for sure, and we’re just about ready to make some new ones in Kansas City.
Northern California folk-rock trio Rainbow Girls have always been committed to a grassroots approach to their band. Despite amassing a large community of fans, they remain an entirely independent and self-described mom-and-pop shop. Their new album, Welcome to Whatever (released in early December), spans a broad range of genre references and topics, but is rooted in the trio’s attitude of stubborn tenacity and joyful resilience – in the face of gentrification, capitalism, racism, and a generally challenging world.
In an industry which largely favors solo professional efforts over more complex group dynamics, Rainbow Girls have flourished over more than a decade of playing together and they remain a close-knit family. Most recently, the band has been nominated for Folk Alliance International’s Album of the Year award.
Curious to know more about how they have been able to make their collaboration work for so long and to such a beautiful end, BGS reached Vanessa Wilbourn, Erin Chapin, and Caitlin Gowdey via email to chat about the new album and how they feel about being a hold-out band in Northern California, when a lot of the region’s artistic class has been pushed out due to expense.
I loved reading about how you formed as a band and how long you’ve been playing together. Now that you’ve established yourself as a professional unit, how do you see your different roles in the band musically and personally? Who does what?
Vanessa Wilbourn: In terms of music, for the last few years we have tended to write individually. Once the idea has taken its initial form, its writer will bring the bare song to the collective. At times, the songwriter will have a clear idea for some or all of the vocal and/or instrumental parts. Other times, the song will be shared in its raw form and we as a collective will work to compose instrumental and vocal parts and arrange the song.
In terms of our business, we all play our parts. Our band is in every way a mom-and-pop shop. Mom, who is our best friend/live-in manager [Hannah Spero], keeps all of it together. She does the hard work of making sure we can keep the doors open. Dad, who is Erin, along with the support of mom, makes sure people know that we’re the best place in town for a good laugh and cry. He does Everything Internet plus a billion other things. Sis, Caitlin, does all of the design work; the albums, the merch, the promo material. Bro, Vanessa, runs our store. She makes sure that all of Caitlin’s designs make it on to shirts, hats and LPs so that our fans can have a piece of the pie.
In terms of interpersonal dynamics, we’re a family – so you know how that goes.
Friendships shared over formative years are special. How do you feel that you’ve seen one another grow and change since being students at college together? How has the band unit been there for you as people?
Our sweater game has immensely improved, because we live further north now.
We’re all better at putting on lipstick and I guess we’re also better at writing songs.
Erin used to be the blind one, but now it’s Caitlin.
I read that you have done extensive traveling and touring in Europe. What are some of the main differences you’ve found between touring in Europe versus the U.S.?
Caitlin Gowdey: We love where we come from, but boy howdy it’s wild how much better touring in Europe is. First of all, you can confidently eat any sandwich at any gas station and it’ll be a solidly good sandwich. Secondly, most major cities in Europe have bigger budgets for music and art, because it’s a larger, more embedded part of the culture.
Artists just generally get paid more, no matter where you’re playing. If you play a show at a venue they feed you and give you somewhere to stay as a part of the deal. If you’re a busker playing on the street (which we were for many years), there’s an understanding that you’re adding to the romantic atmosphere for tourists, and a respect that comes with that. More cities are designed for foot traffic, and people are just wandering around looking at giant clocks and waiting to be serenaded. We’ve met dozens of full-time buskers who sign up and clock in to the same couple spots every day and make a good amount of money. It’s kind of mind boggling.
So far, the only thing we’ve found about being a musician in Europe that’s worse is having to pay to use the toilets at a highway rest stop. Outrageous.
The album’s title, Welcome to Whatever, evokes a kind of slacker rock apathy, but there is a lot of thought and compassion behind the songwriting. What do you feel that the album’s title is getting at?
CG: [Laughs] Well, slacker rock is near and dear to my heart after years in the suburbs spent quoting Dazed and Confused and getting high in the Safeway parking lot, but the title is definitely not about apathy. The “whatever” is more an acknowledgement that the world is complicated and messy and we’re here for it. Nothing is guaranteed and nothing is constant, but we have each other and we’re ready to take on whatever might be coming next. Also the songs are definitely heartfelt, but they’re also all over the place in terms of vibe/genre.
I’m glad the rest of the girls liked the name, because the other album title idea I had written down in my notes – which I was gonna go to bat for – was “EAT PREY LOVE” with a bad drawing of a T-Rex.
On “City Slickers,” you sing about your nostalgic love for San Francisco. What is it like being a musician in the Bay Area these days? Are there things you still love about the place?
CG: It’s tough. It’s expensive. A lot of favorite venues have shut down, a lot of friends have moved away. It’s gentrification and technology and capitalism. Rich white people and oat milk and AirBnB are ruining Oakland. Tech companies and tech money could help homelessness, but they don’t because they don’t have to. I don’t even know what to say about it, it’s not a new story.
But cities are made of so many different types of people, shitty and amazing both, you can’t just claim it’s ruined. There’s a cool new punk club called Kilowatt. Hopefully it stays. People are still being weird and funny and queer and proud and making art, hanging on, and working their asses off to stay. There’s still an old guy named “The Professor” who rides around on his bike and hangs out when the shows get out to tell you about what he did yesterday. Scary Gary is working the door at Cornerstone and will buy you Doritos from across the street when the venue doesn’t provide food in the greenroom. At least we can still have abortions.
Four of the most accomplished women in roots music were announced as winners at the International Folk Music Awards in Kansas City, Missouri, on Wednesday, February 1. The ceremony served as an opening night celebration for Folk Alliance International, the annual conference that runs through Sunday, February 5.
Janis Ian, a longtime folk favorite, earned Artist of the Year honors, while Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway’s Crooked Tree was named Album of the Year. There was a tie in the Song of the Year category, with Aoife O’Donovan’s “B61” and Anaïs Mitchell’s “Bright Star” sharing the award.
In addition, the Elaine Weissman Lifetime Achievement Awards were presented to honor the cultural impact of legendary folk music figures: one Living, one Legacy, and one Business/Academic. As previously reported, this year’s honorees are Janis Ian; the late folk and blues singer Josh White; and Oh Boy Records, the independent record label co-founded by John Prine in 1981.
For more about Folk Alliance, check out our BGS preview about the 2023 event.
This week in Kansas City, Folk Alliance International beckons to those people who love intimate songwriting, intentional activism, and interesting interactions at every turn. The Bluegrass Situation will be on the ground with hundreds of other music fans and performers, seeking out new talent and engaging with the legends. Here are some of the moments we’re most looking forward to.
First-Timers Orientation Wednesday, February 1 at 3 pm
Pretty much everything related to this conference–from the trade show to the showcases–takes place inside the Westin Hotel, so you’ll find yourself squishing into elevators with the same faces throughout the five-day event. The inevitable question is, “What are you going to see next?” That’s up to you, of course, but this mixer will help you make a game plan to maximize your time at Folk Alliance. Sure, it can be intimidating at first. But once you get used to it, it’s also one of the most welcoming events in the music industry.
International Folk Music Awards Wednesday, February 1 at 8 pm
One of the most popular gatherings of the week, the International Folk Music Awards recognize the achievements of the past year as well as the accomplishments of the genre’s icons. Leyla McCalla and the Milk Carton Kids are among the confirmed performers. Take a look at the nominees and special award recipients and enjoy an evening of wonderful speeches and song.
Black American Music Summit Wednesday, February 1 at 4 pm Thursday, February 2 at 11:30 am Friday, February 3 at 12 pm Saturday, February 4 at 12 pm
Black artists and industry members will confer about ways to empower one another with daily conversations during this four-day summit. The first session on Wednesday is subtitled “Setting the Tone,” while Thursday tackles the theme of “It Takes a Village,” which helps leaders learn how to lean on others to grow their business. On Friday, the topic is “Money Matters,” with tips on identifying revenue streams and best practices for touring, applicable to artists and industry alike. The final installment on Saturday explores the vast and ever-changing modern landscape of Black Music with a two-hour program subtitled “Lifting the Gaze.”
Valerie June Keynote Address and Artist in Residence Thursday, February 2 at 1:30 pm
Tennessee native Valerie June is one of the most versatile figures in roots music, with her creative output ranging from Grammy-nominated albums to a new children’s book. Her afternoon keynote address is likely to touch on some of her favorite themes, such as finding joy, mindfulness, and communing with Mother Nature. Prior to her appearance, the conference will host a presentation from its Artist in Residence. Cary Morin will speak about his experiences with Friends of the Kaw, a grassroots organization dedicated to protecting the Kaw River (also known as the Kansas River). He will also sing a song written about the experience.
The Queer Pulse of Society: A Conversation About Community and Social Sustainability Friday, February 3 at 10 am
This conversation presented by Bluegrass Pride will offer insight from performers and industry professionals about their interactions in the music community. Topics include intersectionality, identity politics, and socially sustainable models of business. The discussion will be led by Lillian Werbin (president and co-owner of Elderly Instruments), Marcy Marxer (a prolific recording artist in children’s music), and Sara Gougeon (founder of Queerfest and part of the FAI social media and marketing team).
Mary Gauthier: Saved by a Song Friday, February 3 at 2 pm
Mary Gauthier shared her highs and lows of her path in her thought-provoking memoir, Saved by a Song: The Art and Healing Power of Songwriting. In this special interview session at Folk Alliance, she will describe how songwriting can bring people together, even when it seems that they have nothing in common. If you’re looking for wisdom and insight from one of our most masterful artists, don’t miss this one. The interview will be conducted by folk radio personality Marilyn Rea Breyer.
CommUNITY Gathering: Meet the Team Saturday, February 4 at 9:30 am
It should be clear by now that Folk Alliance has an approachable vibe. That extends all the way to the organization’s leadership. All delegates at the conference are invited to this gathering that features new executive director Neeta Ragoowansi and new board president Ashley Shabanakareh. After a few remarks, there’s a casual meet-and-greet. BGS executive director Amy Reitnouer Jacobs will also be on hand, alongside Folk Alliance deputy director Jennifer Roe. Yes, we know it’s early, but there’s coffee!
Janis Ian: In Her Own Words Saturday, February 4 at 10:45 am
The enduring singer-songwriter known for “Society’s Child” and “At Seventeen” is now in the twilight of her career. An unusual case of laryngitis forced her to cancel her farewell tour but it hasn’t dimmed her status in the folk community. She’s revered for her way with words and her honesty, not to mention six decades on stages around the world. Her final album, The Light at the End of the Line, is a proper coda to her recording career but you can expect this informal chat to survey her full career. Stick around for a Q&A after the talk.
Songs of Hope, Songs of Change Sunday, February 5 at 10 am
By now, you’ve made new friends, discovered amazing artists, and stayed up waaay later than usual. Congrats! Close out the event with this grassroots multi-artist concert featuring songs written about climate and social justice written by FAI artists. Hosted by the People’s Music Network, the event is intended to rally the activist in all of us. As the (highly recommended) Folk Alliance 2023 app says, “Come lend your ear and lift your voice at this Sunday morning event, as our community collectively and creatively engages with messaging and meaning that will inspire us all.”
Folk Alliance International (FAI), the foremost global nonprofit for folk music and the producers of the International Folk Music Awards, have announced the recipients of numerous honorary awards as well as nominees for Album, Artist and Song of the Year.
The Elaine Weissman Lifetime Achievement Awards are presented each year to honor the cultural impact of legendary folk music figures: one Living, one Legacy, and one Business/Academic. This year’s honorees are lauded songwriter and performer Janis Ian; the late folk and blues singer Josh White; and Oh Boy Records, the independent record label co-founded by John Prine in 1981.
The awards show will be held February 1 in Kansas City, Missouri, on the opening night of FAI’s 35th annual conference, and will be broadcast online. Appearances are confirmed by Folk Alliance International Conference keynote speaker Valerie June; The Milk Carton Kids; IFMA honoree Leyla McCalla; and Sam Lee.
ALBUM OF THE YEAR (sponsored by Rounder Records)
Get on Board: The Songs of Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee by Taj Mahal & Ry Cooder Marchita by Silvana Estrada Queen of Sheba by Angélique Kidjo & Ibrahim Maalouf Anaïs Mitchell by Anaïs Mitchell Crooked Tree by Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway
ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Aoife O’Donovan Jake Blount Janis Ian Leyla McCalla Prateek Kuhad
SONG OF THE YEAR
“Udhero Na” written by Arooj Aftab, performed by Arooj Aftab featuring Anoushka Shankar “Vini Wè” written and performed by Leyla McCalla “Bright Star” written and performed by Anaïs Mitchell “How” written by Marcus Mumford and Brandi Carlile, performed by Marcus Mumford featuring Brandi Carlile “B61” written and performed by Aoife O’Donovan
The People’s Voice Award is presented to an individual who unabashedly embraces social and political commentary in their creative work and public careers. As an artist, Leyla McCalla has always traveled through time and space, opening the channels between lost or hidden touchstones of roots music and the present day. As a member of the Carolina Chocolate Drops and Our Native Daughters and in her solo work, the multi-instrumentalist and composer brings immediacy to long lost stories and shows how they survive and adapt through the flexible agents of rhythm, language, and intimate human connection. Her work is political and warmly welcoming, cerebral, and highly danceable. Based in New Orleans after growing up in a Haitian family in New York, McCalla makes music that adds detail to music’s maps and gives voice to people whose struggles and triumphs define its diasporic evolution. In 2022 she released the album Breaking the Thermometer, the culmination of her most complex project yet — a multimedia performance telling the story of the first independent radio station in Haiti. Breaking the Thermometer made Best of 2022 lists at NPR Music, PopMatters, and Mojo, in addition to former President Barack Obama’s list of favorite music for 2022.
The Rising Tide Award was launched in 2021 to celebrate a new generation (under 30) artist who inspires others by embodying the values and ideals of the folk community through their creative work, community role, and public voice. Award recipient Alisa Amador points folk music toward its future — a future that’s cosmopolitan, multifaceted, and multilingual; qualities that have in fact been at the community’s heart all along. Amador, who comes from a folk music family, grew up in Boston, Maine, Puerto Rico, and Argentina, and her songs show the influence of all of those places. A native Spanish speaker who’s spent most of her life in the States, Amador moves easefully between the two languages in her songwriting. As a high schooler, she studied jazz, and is known for sometimes scatting during performances. Amador’s ability to blend all of these influences within sharply rendered yet gently flowing songs helped her win NPR Music’s prestigious Tiny Desk Contest and Folk Artist of the Year at the Boston Music Awards.
Shambala Festival will receive the Clearwater Award, presented to a festival that prioritizes environmental stewardship and demonstrates public leadership in sustainable event production. Shambala Festival is a four-day contemporary performing arts festival in Northamptonshire, England. The festival is completely and utterly committed to being sustainable, circular, regenerative, net positive, earth and life respecting, and future thinking. They have reduced the festival’s carbon footprint by over 90%; achieved 100% renewable electricity; became meat, fish, and dairy-milk free; and eradicated single-use plastics. They’ve received many awards for their sustainability work, including the Innovation Award at the 2018 UK Festival Awards, the International A Greener Festival Award, the Outstanding Achievement Award at the Creative Green Awards in 2017, and more. The festival is Creative Green Certified and has committed to measuring and transparently reporting all of their impacts to provide an honest evaluation of their efforts. They work with independent third parties like Julie’s Bicycle to assess their performance and carbon footprint. The Clearwater Award is sponsored by Levitt Foundation.
The Spirit of Folk Awards are presented to honor and celebrate people and organizations actively involved in the promotion and preservation of folk music through their creative work, their community building, and their demonstrated leadership. This year’s recipients are as follows:
Steve Edge has been presenting folk music in Vancouver as a DJ on CiRT since 1985, and concerts and festivals throughout the city since 1986, initially independently, and then as a co-founder of The Rogue Folk Club in 1987 where he continues to present Celtic, folk, and roots music as its artistic director. Steve was an inaugural member of FAI in 1989, is an inductee into the British Columbia Entertainment Hall of Fame, and a recipient of the Unsung Hero award from the Canadian Folk Music Awards.
Amy Reitnouer Jacobs is a founder and the executive director of L.A.-based the Bluegrass Situation, an online music destination and promoter of roots, folk, and Americana music and culture. She joined the board of FAI in 2015 and was instrumental in refining and codifying the recruitment process for board elections as chair of the Nominations Committee. Amy served as board president through the pandemic and supported FAI’s recent strategic plan and executive director transition.
Marcy Marxer is the creator of All Wigged Out, a poignant and witty musical theatre production (and now film) recounting her harrowing triumph over breast cancer. Painfully funny, it is an example of the power of music and humor to inform and heal. Marxer, along with her partner Cathy Fink, is a multi-Grammy Award nominee and recipient, and together they have been recognized with over 60 Washington Area Music Association Awards for their folk, bluegrass, and children’s music recordings.
Adrian Sabogal is an acclaimed musician, producer, and researcher who founded Marimbea, an organization dedicated to the well-being of the Afro-Colombian communities from the country’s South Pacific coast. By arranging music-centered cultural tourism excursions, Marimbea strives to generate alternative sources of income, knowledge exchanges, and support networks for artists in marginalized and remote communities. Adrian’s work has had an impact on the economic development in the region, and the preservation of a vibrant and unique musical tradition.
Pat Mitchell Worley is the President and CEO of the Memphis-based Soulsville Foundation, which oversees the Stax Museum of American Soul Music, Stax Music Academy, and The Soulsville Charter School, all with a mission to perpetuate the soul of Stax Records. She is the longtime co-host of Beale Street Caravan, a syndicated roots radio show broadcast, and she regularly hosts artist Q&As for the Grammy Museum Mississippi and Oxford American. She is a former development director for the Memphis Music Foundation, and a past employee of the Blues Foundation.
The Folk DJ Hall of Fame was established to recognize radio DJs who have made an outstanding contribution to the preservation, promotion, and presentation of folk music, and who have demonstrated and inspired leadership in the broadcast field. Inducted DJs include the following:
Robert Resnik has been the host of All the Traditions, Vermont Public Radio’s folk and world music program, since 1996. Hooked on music since the 1960s, Robert previously spent many years on-air at WRUV at the University of Vermont. All the Traditions is as eclectic as Robert’s musical taste, but is dedicated to promoting music created by people living in the VPR broadcast area, which includes all of Vermont and parts of New Hampshire, New York, and Quebec. Robert also plays more than 25 instruments, and has performed and recorded CDs with a variety of musical combos for kids and adults.
Marilyn Rea Beyer hosted her first concert in junior high as the school band emcee. She got on board The Midnight Special listening to WFMT as a Chicago teenager. She has had careers in education, PR, and high tech. In 1995, Marilyn became on-air host and music director at Boston’s premiere folk station, WUMB-FM, and served on the board of the legendary Club Passim. Returning to Chicago, Marilyn joined WFMT in 2020, hosting The Midnight Special and now Folkstage. The Midnight Special launched in 1953 and maintained legendary status under Rich Warren’s stewardship. She says that judicious risk-taking, nurturing artists, and falling in love with new music make the job fun.
John Platt has hosted the Sunday Supper (formerly Sunday Breakfast) for 25 years at WFUV, New York, and has curated On Your Radar, a monthly showcase for emerging artists at Rockwood Music Hall in New York City for 17 years. He has founded the not-for-profit New Folk Initiative, which has extensive resources for the folk community at newfolk.org. He began his career at WMMR Philadelphia in 1969, programmed WXRT Chicago and WRVR New York, worked at WNEW-FM and WNYC, and produced national radio programs.
Harry B. Soria Jr. was known as a radio personality and walking encyclopedia of Hawaiian music history. The musicologist, award-winning liner notes writer, and record producer was the son of prominent local broadcaster and songwriter Harry B. Soria Sr. Ironically, Harry B.’s interest in Hawaiian music was sparked by hearing “cool” old records far from Hawaiian shores while at college in San Francisco. Upon returning to Hawai’i, he bonded with his dad over his vintage Hawaiian records. Harry B.’s passion for music from this period led to guest spots on KCCN in 1976 and his weekly Territorial Airwaves radio show of recordings from his personal collection. In 2019, Territorial Airwaves became the longest-running Hawaiian music show in radio history. Soria’s record collection and archives are being donated to the Hawaii State Archives.
Pictured, top row: Leyla McCalla, Molly Tuttle, Taj Mahal, Prateek Kuhad, Anaïs Mitchell. Bottom row: Jake Blount, Janis Ian, Angélique Kidjo & Ibrahim Maalouf, Aoife O’Donovan, Anoushka Shankar.
Grammy-nominated singer/songwriter Amythyst Kiah holds a direct line to the heart of emotion in each note she plays and every word she sings. Her powerful song, “Black Myself,” was the opening track on her latest release with Our Native Daughters, a collaboration that also features Rhiannon Giddens, Leyla McCalla, and Allison Russell. The lyrics’ unapologetic tone and fierce in-your-face quality earned Kiah a nod at the 2020 Grammy Awards, as well as Song of the Year honors at the International Folk Music Awards at Folk Alliance’s conference in January. Though maintaining a quite busy performing calendar, a full-length solo record is slated for release sometime this year. Until then, audiences will have to indulge in Songs of Our Native Daughters as well as this new video from the museum at Martin Guitars. Watch as Amythyst Kiah sings “Black Myself” behind a 1942 Martin D-45.
This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish.AcceptRead More
Privacy & Cookies Policy
Privacy Overview
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
