Folk Alley Radio Show

{Audio for this episode is no longer available.} This week on Folk Alley, we continue our Black History Month celebration, highlighting iconic Black folk and blues musicians—alongside the artists they’ve influenced. Hear music from Muddy Waters, Son House, Blind Willie Johnson, Blind Willie McTell, Mississippi Fred McDowell, and more.

{Audio for this episode is no longer available.} This week on Folk Alley, join Cindy Howes to celebrate of Black History Month as we spotlight legends Robert Johnson, Nina Simone, Sleepy John Estes, Jesse Fuller, The Staple Singers, Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee and contemporary artists they have influenced including Cassandra Wilson, Taj Mahal, Keb’ Mo’, Hot Tuna, Rhiannon Giddens, Guy Davis, and more. In hour two, enjoy new music from Ye Vagabonds, Jesse Appelman, Aysanabee, Mon Rovîa, Melissa Carper & Theo Lawrence, Laurie Lewis, along with many other faves.

{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, Larry Campbell & Teresa Williams, Jeffrey Foucault & Kris Delmhorst, The Honey Dewdrops, Johnny & June, and much more!

{Audio for this episode is no longer available.} This week on Folk Alley, we celebrate the winners of this year’s International Folk Music Awards, presented January 21 in New Orleans. Hear music from Carsie Blanton, I’m With Her, Crys Matthews, and The Baltic Sisters, along with new releases from Steve Poltz, Ye Vagabonds, and Emily Scott Robinson, plus a classic from John Prine and much more.

{Audio for this episode is no longer available.} This week on Folk Alley, we remember and honor Grateful Dead founding member Bob Weir, who passed away on January 10. You’ll also hear new January releases from Della Mae, Langhorne Slim, and Lonesome Ace Stringband, an advance single from Mark Erelli’s forthcoming March album, and a birthday shoutout to the ever-inspiring Lucinda Williams. Stick around for hour two for more new music from Melissa Carper & Theo Lawrence, David Huckfelt, Eric Brace & Thomm Jutz, Boy Golden, Tyler Ramsey & Carl Broemel, Anna Tivel, and Bywater Call, along with favorites from Sierra Hull, Greg Brown, Dan Hicks & the Hot Lick, and more.

{Audio for this episode is no longer available.} This week on the Folk Alley Radio Show, join Cindy Howes to 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. In hour two, enjoy new music from The Lowest Pair, Courtney Marie Andrews, Jenna Nicholls, and Carsie Blanton; along with a Basic Folk interview excerpt with Mary Chapin Carpenter, plus a birthday salute to Dolly Parton in honor of her 80th trip around the sun on January 19th.

{Audio for this episode is no longer available.} This week on Folk Alley, join Cindy Howes for music to welcome January, featuring songs from Bill Staines, Al Petteway, and Erica Wheeler, plus a great lineup of new releases from Tom Paxton & John McCutcheon, The McDades, Langhorne Slim, Courtney Marie Andrews, Lucinda Williams, The Foreign Landers, The Lowest Pair, Steve Poltz, Emily Scott Robinson, Ye Vagabonds, and Eric Bibb. You’ll also hear favorites from Kris Drever, The Decemberists, and Kathy Mattea, classic tracks from Kate Wolf and Muddy Waters, and a special Happy Birthday salute to folk icon Joan Baez on her 85th birthday.

{Audio for this episode is no longer available.} This week on Folk Alley, join Cindy Howes for our first show of 2026, featuring music to welcome the new year from Over the Rhine, Al Petteway, and Arny Margaret. We’ll also spotlight exciting new debut albums from Mon Rovia and Kat Wallace, then take a deep dive into the vibrant Greenwich Village folk scene as it blossomed in the early 1960s. Enjoy debut and early recordings by artists who would go on to become folk icons—Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, Fred Neil, Karen Dalton, Phil Ochs, Tom Paxton, Eric Andersen, Judy Collins, Koerner, Ray & Glover, and much more.

{Audio for this episode is no longer available.} This week on Folk Alley, enjoy an encore broadcast of our 50-Year Throwback show! We’re turning the clock back to 1975—a landmark year filled 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 many more.

{Audio for this episode is no longer available.} This week on Folk Alley, join Cindy Howes for a look back at the year in music, featuring the songs that received the most airplay on Folk Alley. Hear music from Jesse Welles, Rose Cousins, Eliza Gilkyson, Jason Isbell, Morgan Toney, and Mdou Moctar—plus more of Folk Alley’s picks for Best of 2025 including William Prince, Kathleen Edwards, Robert Plant, Hayes Carll, Billy Strings & Bryan Sutton, and much more.

{Audio for this episode is no longer available.} This week on Folk Alley, join Cindy Howes for fresh new holiday tracks from Sara Milonovich & Daisycutter, Drew & Ellie Holcomb, Jake Shimabukuro, The Klezmatics, and The Doohickeys, along with seasonal favorites from the Indigo Girls, JD McPherson, Sierra Ferrell, and Mary Chapin Carpenter. Plus, we remember the late Raúl Malo of The Mavericks, who passed away on December 8th. In Hour Two, we dive into the results of our Best of 2025 Folk Alley Listener Poll. Enjoy an hour of music that resonated the strongest with Folk Alley listeners this year including songs from Alison Krauss & Union Station, Jason Isbell, Mavis Staples, and much more.

{Audio for this episode is no longer available.} This week on Folk Alley, we kick off Holiday Music Season with seasonal favorites from Margo Price, Andrew Bird, and Willie Nelson, along with new holiday tunes from Melissa Carper and Old Crow Medicine Show. We’ll also feature the latest from AJ Lee & Blue Summit, Balsam Range, Eric Bibb, Muireann Bradley, and Robert Plant with Suzi Dian, plus favorites from The Low Anthem, Martin Sexton, and Gillian Welch. In hour two, it's more new music from Jeff Tweedy, Robbie Faulks, Courtney Marie Andrews, Lonesome Ace Stringband, and Tony Trishka, along with a Basic Folk interview excerpt with Madison Cunningham, and more!