Hear the Best New Folk Music with Fresh Cuts Friday
Discover the Best New Music of the Week!
We’ve pulled together some of the best new music we’ve heard lately — and you can hear it all on Fresh Cuts, my weekly radio hour. Tune in every Friday at 2pm ET / 11am PT on Folk Alley’s 24/7 stream — available on our website, mobile app, or your smart speaker too.
Prefer to listen on your own time? Just click on the Fresh Cuts stream whenever it works for you.
In the meantime, here’s a sneak peek at some exciting new music that’s caught our ears this week!
Abigail Lapell, “Hazel” (feat. Jill Barber)
Toronto singer-songwriter Abigail Lapell’s latest album is a reflection on motherhood. There are nine songs on her album Shadow Child (out 5/8/2026), one for each month of gestation. “Hazel” is a gentle love letter to an unborn or future child, or one that may never be.
Ben Sollee, “Steeples”
Ben Sollee’s new album, Time on Hold, surprises fans with a country sound, featuring two new songs alongside fresh interpretations of his most requested works. While Sollee is known for his distinctive cello playing and diverse musical influences, this album showcases a more relaxed approach. Time on Hold draws inspiration from the soul-infused country music of the early seventies, reminiscent of artists like James Taylor and Phoebe Snow, yet it remains distinctly contemporary and full of human spirit.
Jesca Hoop, “Designer Citizen”
Jesca Hoop’s latest LP is called Long Wave Home (due out May 1st), and it is the first album for which she is the sole producer. “When I was faced with the challenge of writing and recording a new album I had the choice to stay where I was comfortable, under the sage guidance of a producer or step out into the dark and produce it myself,” Hoop says. “It became clear, that if I was going to grow in the craft, I needed to become my own lighthouse. So I made the commitment to take on the producer role.”
The Milk Carton Kids, “Blue Water”
Los Angeles–based singer-songwriters Kenneth Pattengale and Joey Ryan are back with Lost Cause Lover Fool (out 4/24/2026), The Milk Carton Kids’ seventh studio album. Recently released song “Blue Water” captures a fleeting image: a man walking along a river, thinking about the child who once lay on his chest and now shares his worried mind.
More this week on Fresh Cuts!
Buck Meek – “Gasoline”
Grace Givertz – “Black Belt”
Hrishikesh Hirway – “Stray Dogs” (feat. Iron & Wine)
Iron & Wine – “Roses”
Lonesome River Band – “There Where The River Rolls Around”
Paper Wings – “River Stones”
The Lonesome Ace Stringband – “Honey Babe Blues”
The Travelin’ McCourys – “Gas & Oil”
Tony Trischka – “Gentle On My Mind” (feat. Billy Strings)
