Folk Alley Radio Show

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Join Cindy Howes this week as we dive into some recent spring releases, including a couple of Hank Williams covers from Kacey Musgraves and Muireann Bradley, along with a lost Bruce Springsteen album, and new music from Eliza Gilkyson, Kieran Kane & Rayna Gellert, Lonesome Ace Stringband, and Peggy Seeger—who shares her wish to meet Paul Simon. Plus, favorites from Yasmin Williams with Darlingside, the Resistance Revival Chorus, Morgan Toney, Rose Cousins, and much more!

This week on Folk Alley, we're celebrating Moms in honor of Mothers Day! Tune in for songs from Brandi Carlile, Layla McCall, Lucy Kaplansky, John Gorka, Iris DeMent, Dolly Parton, Bill Withers, Lori McKenna, Sierra Hull, and more. In hour two, hear from some of our favorite new releases with song from Hayes Carll, Leftover Salmon, Jason Carter & Micheal Cleveland, Mary Chapin Carpenter, along with favorites from Jeffrey Foucault, Leo Kottke, Kate Wolf, and Annabelle Chvostek and an interview excerpt from the latest Basic Folk podccast episode featuring Sara Watkins of I'm With Her.

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.