Folk Alley Radio Show

This week on Folk Alley, we’re spinning the clock back to 1975 — a year packed with unforgettable folk, bluegrass, and country sounds from Bob Dylan, Janis Ian, Paul Simon, Emmylou Harris, John Prine, Bonnie Raitt, Steeleye Span, Richard & Linda Thompson, and plenty more from that incredible year.

This week on Folk Alley, Cindy Howes takes you back to 1965 for our annual 60-Year Throwback episode. It was the year Dylan went electric and the Greenwich Village folk scene was buzzing with change. You’ll hear classics from Joan Baez, Odetta, Johnny Cash, Phil Ochs, Bert Jansch, Donovan, Jim Kweskin & The Jug Band, Koerner, Ray & Glover, The Holy Modal Rounders, Bob Dylan (of course), and plenty more. It's a snapshot of folk music on the edge of revolution—don’t miss it.

This week on Folk Alley, join Cindy Howes for new releases from Patty Griffin, Tyler Childers, Caitlin Canty, Ethan Setiawan, and Tami Neilson, along with an alternate acoustic take on a recent Molly Tuttle single, newly unearthed archival recordings of Nick Drake from 1968-1969, a birthday nod to Mick Jagger—and much more!

This week on Folk Alley, it's '2025, Where We Are so Far!' Join Cindy Howes as we celebrate our favorite music from the first half of the year. Tune in for fresh tracks from Alison Krauss & Union Station, Billy Strings & Bryan Sutton, Jason Carter & Michael Cleveland, I'm With Her, Eliza Gilkyson, Jesse Welles, Alex Cuba, Mon Rovia, Bruce Springsteen—and so much more!

This week on Folk Alley we're celebrating the Father of American Folk Music, Woody Guthrie, and the many projects his daughter Nora Guthrie spearheaded over the decades to share unrecorded Woody Guthrie lyrics with a wider audience. Hear from Billy Bragg & Wilco, Wenzel, The Klezmatics, Jonatha Brooks, Jackson Browne, and The Dropkick Murphys; plus, a belated happy birthday to Arlo Guthrie.

This week on Folk Alley, it’s all about collaboration. Join Cindy Howes for some of our favorite musical collabs with songs from I’m With Her, Our Native Daughters, Cry Cry Cry, Red Horse, Greg Brown & Bill Morrissey, Emmylou Harris, Dolly Parton & Linda Ronstadt, Taj Mahal & Keb’ Mo’, John Prine & Iris DeMent, and much more!

{The audio for this episode is no longer available.} Our friends to the North are celebrating Canada Day on July 1—and this week on Folk Alley, we're joining the celebration with a tribute to the rich tradition of Canadian folk, roots, and Canadiana music. Tune in to hear timeless songs from legends like Joni Mitchell, Leonard Cohen, Ferron, Kate & Anna McGarrigle, Stan Rogers, and Ian & Sylvia, alongside some of our favorite contemporary voices including William Prince, Morgan Toney, Rose Cousins, David Francey, Pharis & Jason Romero, and many more!

{The audio for this episode is no longer available.} This week on Folk Alley, join Cindy Howes for show that's for the birds. Celebrate summer and our feathered friends with music from Pete Seeger, Harvey Reid, The Grateful Dead, Jesse Winchester, Emmylou Harris, Karine Polwart, Viv & Riley, Special Consensus, Amy Ray, David Olney, Greg Brown, Kate Wolf, Eliza Gilkyson, John Gorka, Bonny Light Horseman, Steve Martin & Steep Canyon Rangers, and much more.

{The audio for this episode is no longer available.} This week on Folk Alley, join Cindy Howes for a special show dedicated to dads of folk, roots, and Americana music and their musical kids. Hear songs from “the Father of Folk,” Woody Guthrie along with Arlo and Sarah Lee Guthrie; Greg Brown and daughters Pieta, Constie, and Zoe; Loudon Wainwright III and Rufus and Martha Wainwright; Johnny and Rosanne Cash; The Thompsons; Darrell and Wayne Scott, Bob and Jakob Dylan, The McCourys, Levon and Amy Helm, and much more.

{The audio for this episode is no longer available.} This week on Folk Alley, join Cindy Howes for fresh new music from Watchhouse, James McMurtry, Leftover Salmon, Brad Kolodner, and Caroline Spence. We'll also share some news from Mipso, plus a set celebrating the start of June with tracks by The Decemberists, The Fretless, and Luther Dickinson & Sisters of the Strawberry Moon. In hour two, enjoy more new music from Shelby Means, East Nash Grass, Kissing Other ppl, Missy Raines & Allegheny, Susie Ungerleider, Grant-Lee Phillips, and The Wood Brothers—along with favorites by Emmylou Harris, Darrell Scott, Yasmin Williams, The Milk Carton Kids, and more.

{The audio for this episode is no longer available.} This week on Folk Alley, Cindy Howes shares new music from Caitlin Canty, Taj Mahal & Keb’ Mo’, Eliza Gilkyson, Cole Quest & the City Pickers, Kieran Kane & Rayna Gellert, and Brad Kolodner, along with favorites from The Suitcase Junket, Bonnie Raitt, Greg Brown, and Leyla McCalla—and a special lilac-inspired set. In hour two, hear more fresh tracks from I’m With Her, Willi Carlisle, Parker Millsap with Lockeland Strings, Kelsey Waldon, Billy Strings & Bryan Sutton, and Miko Marks, plus a Basic Folk interview segment with Morgan Toney and music from Elephant Revival, Norman Blake, Amos Lee, and more.

{The audio for this episode is no longer available.} This week on Folk Alley, join Cindy Howes for a special show to celebrate Bob Dylan’s 84th birthday (on May 24) with versions of Dylan favorites from Cat Power, Gabby Moreno, Valerie June, Aoife O'Donovan, and Sunny Sweeney, Miko Marks, Rissi Palmer, and Tami Neilson; plus some songs co-written with Old Crow Medicine Show, The Secret Sisters, and Buddy & Julie Miller; faves from Tim O'Brien, Joan Baez, Dolly Parton, Jerry Garcia Band, and Arlo Guthrie; classics from Bob Dylan's 1962 debut; and much more.