Folk Alley Radio Show

This week on Folk Alley, Cindy Howes celebrates what would have been Pete Seeger's 106th birthday with a special hour of songs written or popularized by the legendary folk icon and activist, featuring performances by Bruce Springsteen, The Staple Singers, Natalie Merchant, The Byrds, Kronos Quartet, Billy Bragg, Richard Shindell, John Gorka—and Pete Seeger himself. In the second hour, enjoy new music from Willie Nelson, The Mallett Brothers, Billy Strings & Bryan Sutton, The Milk Carton Kids, Maya de Vitry, Shelby Means, Julien Baker & Torres, Olive Klug, and Paul Brady, along with favorites from Emmylou Harris, Andrew Marlin, Blaze Foley, and an excerpt from a Basic Folk interview with Mary Gauthier and Jaimee Harris, recorded aboard the 2025 Cayamo Cruise.

This week on Folk Alley, Cindy Howes showcases a vibrant blend of new spring releases and enduring classics. Hear fresh tracks from Peggy Seeger, Jim Kweskin, Nat Myers, Joe K. Walsh, Tony Kamel, Mark Erelli (live), Tami Neilson, Tim O'Brien & Jan Fabricius, Rhiannon Giddens & Justin Robinson, Julien Baker & Torres, The Steeldrivers, Alison Krauss & Union Station, Billy Strings & Bryan Sutton, and Willi Carlisle. Timeless classics come from Muddy Waters, Townes Van Zandt, Doc Watson, John Prine, and Gillian Welch along with favorites by case/lang/veirs, Elvis Costello, Maria Muldaur with Tuba Skinny, Laurie Lewis & Tom Rozum, Johnny Blue Skies, and more.

This week on Folk Alley, we’re celebrating Earth Day with songs rooted in nature and a deep love for our planet. Enjoy music from Pete Seeger, The Mammals, Tom Rush, Joni Mitchell, Neko Case, Steve Forbert, John Prine, The High Hawks, and Kacey Musgraves. In hour two, we continue our celebration of the natural world with songs for Arbor Day (April 25). Tune in for music from Nomos, Baka Beyond, Kate Wolf, Ben Winship, Grant Dermody & Frank Fotusky, Molly Tuttle, Adia Victoria, Laurie Lewis, a classic from Odetta, a favorite from John Gorka, and much more.

This week on Folk Alley, Cindy Howes shares a vibrant mix of fresh spring folk and Americana, featuring new music from Olive Klug, The Swell Season, The Mallett Brothers Band, The Shootouts, Jason Isbell, and a stunning duet from Allison Russell and Annie Lennox. You'll also hear longtime favorites like Chris Smither, AJ Lee & Blue Summit, Over the Rhine, and Anna Tivel, plus new tracks from Kieran Kane & Rayna Gellert, Alison Krauss & Union Station, and a special look at the 30th anniversary edition of Guy Clark’s 'Dublin Blues'. Don’t miss an excerpt from the Basic Folk podcast with Ani DiFranco and Carsie Blanton, and more gems from Neko Case, Uncle Earl, Valerie Smith, and others.

This week on Folk Alley, join Cindy Howes as we kick off April with music from Simon & Garfunkel, Aubrey Haynie, and Johnny Cash. Enjoy fresh tracks from Alison Brown & Steve Martin (with Tim O’Brien), Jake Xerxes Fussell, Special Consensus, Andy Leftwich, Jason Isbell, The Faux Paws, Watchhouse, Olivia Ellen Lloyd, and Kieran Kane & Rayna Gellert. We’ll also celebrate Kaia Kater’s recent Juno Award win and remember the legendary John Prine. Plus, hear an excerpt from Basic Folk featuring Loudon Wainwright III—and more!

This week on Folk Alley, Cindy Howes kicks off baseball season with songs from Steve Goodman, Sam Bush, and Mark Erelli, alongside new releases from Alison Krauss & Union Station, Jason Isbell, Morgan Toney, Lonesome Ace Stringband, and Willie Nelson. You'll also hear favorites from Allison Russell, Lemon Bucket Orkestra, and The Wailin’ Jennys. In hour two, enjoy fresh spring releases from Rhiannon Giddens & Justin Robinson, Charles Wesley Godwin, Lucy Kaplansky, Jason Carter & Michael Cleveland, and Muireann Bradley, plus favorites from Mighty Poplar and Kacey Musgraves, classics from Doc Watson, Townes Van Zandt, and Bob Dylan, and an excerpt from Basic Folk featuring singer/songwriter Olivia Ellen Lloyd.

This week on Folk Alley, Cindy Howes welcomes spring with music from Gillian Welch, Chris Coole, David Francey, The Early Mays, and Richard Shindell, alongside new releases from Valerie June, I'm With Her, Alison Krauss & Union Station, and more. In hour two, enjoy more fresh tracks from Sierra Hull, Steve Tilston, Caroline Spence, The Seldom Scene, and Nathaniel Rateliff & Gregory Alan Isakov, plus favorites from John Renbourn, Leyla McCalla, along with an excerpt from the latest *Basic Folk* interview featuring Bonnie "Prince" Billy.

This week on Folk Alley, join Cindy Howes to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with a special focus on Irish music, featuring Muireann Bradley, The Henry Girls, Clare Sands, Fionn Regan, Niamh Regan, Anna B Savage, Lisa Hannigan, Glen Hansard, and more. In the second hour, discover new music from Caamp, Sister Sadie, Sierra Hull, Lucy Kaplansky, and Taj Mahal & Keb’ Mo’, plus a special Basic Folk interview with Edie Carey and Rose Cousins. All this, plus favorites from The Decemberists, Alison Brown & Steve Martin, Darrell Scott, and Lyle Lovett.

This week on Folk Alley, we're excited to welcome Cindy Howes as our new host! Tune in for new music from Jason Isbell, The Lonesome Ace Stringband, Kris Delmhorst, Morgan Toney, Rose Cousins, and others, plus favorites from William Prince, Bruce Cockburn, and Taj Mahal—including a set of Irish tunes in anticipation of St. Patrick's Day. In hour two, we'll feature winners of the 2025 International Folk Music Awards like Crys Matthews, Susan Werner, and the Indigo Girls, along with new tracks from Jason Carter & Michael Cleveland, Loudon Wainwright III, and Waxahatchee, plus a Basic Folk interview excerpt with Sierra Hull.

This week on Folk Alley, we kick off Women's History Month by celebrating iconic women—both past and present—who have shaped folk, roots, and Americana music. Tune in for music from legends like Joan Baez, Joni Mitchell, Odetta, Judy Collins, Nina Simone, Mavis Staples, Linda Ronstadt, Dolly Parton, Emmylou Harris, Bonnie Raitt, The Roches, Tracy Chapman, Rosanne Cash, and many more.

This week on Folk Alley, we wrap up Black History Month by celebrating influential folk and blues artists like Robert Johnson, Nina Simone, Sleepy John Estes, Jesse Fuller, the Staple Singers, and Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee, along with the contemporary musicians they inspired. In the second hour, it's all about new releases, featuring Jason Isbell, The Devil Makes Three, Mdou Moctar, Them Coulee Boys, Chatham Rabbits, The Travelin' McCourys, and a power trio of Mary Chapin Carpenter, Julie Fowlis, and Karine Polwart—plus favorites from Bruce Cockburn, John Fullbright, Spell Songs, Iris Dement, and John Prine.

{The audio for this episode is no longer available.} This week on Folk Alley, enjoy new music from Nefesh Mountain, Denison Witmer, Jesse Welles, Mi’kmaq fiddler Morgan Toney, Alison Krauss & Union Station, I'm With Her, Cristina Vane, and Loudon Wainwright III, live from London. We celebrate Black History Month with a spotlight on blues and gospel legends Memphis Minnie and Sister Rosetta Tharpe. Plus, hear an interview excerpt from Basic Folk featuring Sam Moss, along with favorites from Sam Bush, Leo Kottke, Darlingside, Langhorne Slim, Greg Brown, Rodney Crowell & Emmylou Harris, and more.