Hear the Best New Folk Music with Fresh Cuts Friday
Ready for some of the best new music we’ve heard this week? It’s a great list—as you’ll see below—and as you’ll HEAR when you join me for my ‘Fresh Cuts’ radio hour! Listen every Friday at 2pm ET/11am PT via Folk Alley’s 24/7 stream on our website, mobile app, or your smart speaker.
Or, just click on the Fresh Cuts stream whenever it’s convenient for you.
In the meantime, check out some of the best new music we’ve been listening to this week.
Taj Mahal and Keith Frank – “Hey ‘Tite Fille”
There’s a new compilation coming out soon (6/27/2025) that pays tribute to The King Of Zydeco, Clifton Chenier. Just in time for Chenier’s 100th birthday, the comp features The Rolling Stones, Lucinda Williams, Steve Earle, John Hiatt, CJ Chenier (Clifton’s son) and Taj Mahal.
Crowe Boys, “Where Did I Go Wrong”
The New Orleans-based brother duo’s Crowe Boys’ (Ocie Crowe on acoustic guitar and Wes Crowe on mandolin) debut album Made To Wander is out today. Ocie notes, “Writing the song ‘Where Did I Go Wrong’ was me getting that part of myself out, like, ‘All right, I’m done trying to write music about a life that doesn’t exist.’ This is who I am. These are the things I struggle with. I’m really confused about where I should go, and who I should be, and I don’t know what I should believe. And I just want to mean something to myself, but everything is so confusing.”
Jack Barksdale, “Martyrs” (feat. Sarah Jarosz)
Jack Barksdale is a 17-year-old folk/Americana singer-songwriter from Fort Worth,Texas with his sophomore album out on 6/13/2025. In 2024, Jack signed with Truly Handmade Records, a label formed by the estate of Guy Clark.“My goal in writing ‘Martyrs’ was to treat the topic of small town Southern [and] Western life with nuance and sincerity,” said Barksdale.
Mary Chapin Carpenter, “Home is a Song” (feat. Anaïs Mitchell)
Out today, Personal History is Mary Chapin Carpenter’s 17th album. The songs were recorded live at Peter Gabriel’s Real World Studios in Bath, England with producer Josh Kaufman (Bonny Light Horseman.)
More this week on FreshCuts
Alan Sparhawk – “Too High” (feat. Trampled by Turtles)
Bruce Springsteen – “Adelita”
Caamp Fairview – “Feeling”
Caitlin Canty – “Strangers/Lovers”
Kelsey Waldon – “Falling Down”
Mason Jennings – “Castles”
Rodney Crowell – “Taking Flight” (feat. Ashley McBryde)
Watchhouse – “Firelight”
Wayne Scott – “Doctor”
