Folk Alley Radio Show

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.

{The audio for this episode is no longer available.} This week on Folk Alley, love is in the air as we celebrate Valentine’s Day with songs about romance and “matters of the heart" from some of our favorite folk, roots, and Americana couples, including Buddy & Julie Miller, The War and Treaty, Pharis & Jason Romero, Drew & Ellie Holcomb, Hayes Carll & Allison Moorer, Larry Campbell & Teresa Williams, Jeffrey Foucault & Kris Delmhorst, The Honey Dewdrops, and Johnny & June. In hour two, the celebration continues with music from Iris DeMent, Greg Brown, Kate Wolf, Emmylou Harris & Mark Knopfler, Nanci Griffith, Lucinda Williams, Lyle Lovett, David Francey, Rose Cousins, and more.

{The audio for this episode is no longer available.} This week on Folk Alley, enjoy new music from Mumford & Sons, Humbird, Ringo Starr, Jordan Tice, Eliza Gilkyson, Joel Timmons, Sunny War, Mon Rovia, Arny Margaret, and The Seldom Scene. You'll also hear favorites from Abigail Washburn, Jake Blount, Ruthie Foster, Bonnie Raitt, Gretchen Peters, Ondara, Old & In the Way, Pharis & Jason Romero, Mary Gauthier, and Dave Alvin & Jimmie Dale Gilmore, plus a special nod to Bob Dylan in celebration of the 50th anniversary of 'Blood on the Tracks.'

{The audio for this episode is no longer available.} This week on Folk Alley, enjoy new music from Devish featuring Indigo Girls, Jason Isbell, Them Coulee Boys, and Denison Witmer, along with an exclusive in-studio performance by Darrell Scott and favorites from the Jon Stickley Trio, Amanda Anne Platt & The Honeycutters, and case/lang/veirs. Celebrate the birthdays of Dolly Parton and Lucinda Williams, and discover even more new releases in the second hour from Sam Moss, Sierra Hill, Becky Buller, Chatham Rabbits, Josh Kaufman, the new power-trio of Mary Chapin Carpenter, Julie Fowlis, & Karine Polwart, and more!

{The audio for this episode is no longer available.} This week on the Folk Alley Radio Show, join Elena See honor the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the struggles of the Civil Rights Movement. Hear songs from Nina Simone, Richie Havens, Ruthie Foster, Mavis Staples and the Staple Singers, Odetta, Resistance Revival Chorus, Rhiannon Giddens, Patty Griffin, and more.

{The audio for this episode is no longer available.} This week on Folk Alley, join Elena See to celebrate the life and music of beloved Maine folk musician David Mallett, who passed away in December. Enjoy newly released archival recordings from David Grisman and Jerry Garcia, new music from Sierra Ferrell, Anna B Savage, Ringo Starr, Mdou Moctar, and Todd Snider, along with classics from Willie Nelson and John Prine. Plus, hear an interview excerpt with Jerry Douglas from the latest Basic Folk podcast and favorites from Joy Oladokun, Johnny Blue Skies, Eliza Gilkyson, Ana Egge, Iris DeMent, and more.

{The audio for this episode is no longer available.} This week on Folk Alley, join Elena See for the first show of 2025 as we take a deep dive into the vibrant Greenwich Village folk scene of the early 1960s. Enjoy music from debut and early albums by young artists who went on to become icons of folk music, including Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, Fred Neil, Karen Dalton, Phil Ochs, Tom Paxton, Eric Andersen, Judy Collins, and Koerner, Ray & Glover, and more.

{The audio for this episode is no longer available.} This week on Folk Alley, join Elena See as we count down our Best of 2024! Explore the folk, roots, and Americana artists and songs that struck a chord and defined the past year.

{The audio for this episode is no longer available.} This week on Folk Alley, join Elena See as we celebrate the December holiday season and the arrival of winter. Enjoy festive music from Josh Ritter, Bill Staines, Laurie Lewis & Tom Rozum, David Grisman, and David Francey. Plus, holiday favorites for Christmastime and Hanukkah from JD McPherson, Sierra Ferrell, Joni Mitchell, David Myles, Kacey Musgraves with Willie Nelson, Leon Redbone, Indigo Girls, Béla Fleck, The Jay Ungar & Molly Mason Band, Dan Hicks & the Hot Licks, Joy Clark, The Sweetback Sisters, Woody Phillips, Los Lobos, Dolly Parton, and more!