This Washington Post article on ipod dj-ing started me thinking about the future of folk. No, not whether the genre will survive, but about how we will listen, how we will share new music. Instead of house concerts, ipod Folk nights?
Do you have an ipod? I don't. But I do listen to new music online, through AOL Radio, iTunes radio, 3hive, artists' web sites. Does your favorite singer/songwriter provide mp3s? Can you buy individual songs? Probably not. With the decline of CD sales, maybe singer/songwriters should think about that.
Do you listen to folk podcasts? Do you know what podcasts are? (more background) The first companies developing podcasting software are emerging. Podcast directories are springing up to capture lists of sites podcasting on different subjects. Here's a Folk directory Guess what! Podcasting isn't just for the young and fresh faced. Roger McGuinn podcasts folk songs
I have not chronicled the many Native American singer/songwriters -- of which there are many. Joanne Shenandoah comes to mind, of course, but also John Trudell. But I did hear one tonight, a nice antidote to the debates, that reminded me of the power of politics in song: Annie Humphrey. Her voice, guitar, and lyrics strong and clear - unlike one of the debaters and and more like the other. How's that for enigmatic? Humphrey is not. Humphrey is a member of the Leech Lake Ojibwe, based in Minnesota
Annie Humphrey's music is on the
(Makoché (makochay) Music which looks like a great resource for Native music)
Her recordings: The Heron Smiled, Edge of America
The Whispering Tree (with others such as John Trudell)
Just missed it this year, but New Song Festival looks like a great way to find new singer/songwriters. Not all of them are young, not all of them are "new" (as in new to recodrding/playing).
While you're at it, check out the Country Roads Music Festival, also in West Virginia. What a line up!
When I stumbled across the link during my Po' Girl foray, I could tell by the name, Little Red Hen Music Collective was gonna be good. Based in Brooklyn, NY, Little Red Hen looks like focuses on support, a record label, and concert production of singer/songwriters in the collective, such as the Be Good Tanyas, Libby Kirkpatrick, and Kristin Sweetland. Not familiar with any of them, though I have heard of the Be Good Tanyas.
Plenty of new music to taste this weekend.!
Folk Alley is an online radio show that plays, amazingly enough, only Folk music! It was created by WKSU, which plays a lot of folk music on the radio. You have to register to listen, but that's it.
More independent singer/songwriters at CDFreedom, including music samples. Reminded me that I haven't heard Carrie Newcomer in a long, long time.
Public radio music source lists all the music played on a public radio programs. There's also a (meager) section with mp3s. Public radio -- take a page from 3hive. A better bet is to go to the program's website and find music samples there.
I unearthed two treasures, Canadian treasures:
New Canadian Music posts full length songs. Both new and old Canadian singer/songwriters.
and
RootsMusicCanada does the same for folk, Celtic, Latin American, African, and just about every genre of roots music (except blues! I wonder what my friend Johnny V thinks about that!).
Aren't you curious what Canadians do with bluegrass and "Latin American" music? Doesn't a singer named A Girl Named Sue singing A Homicidal Love Song intrigue you?
I listened to Dios this morning on 3hive, a new mp3 web site.
3hive is another source for new folk. No need to worry: this site links only to mp3 available on label or official artist web sites.
I often want to buy a cd by someone I don't already know. How to find new singer/songwriters? Check out WXPN's list of featured albums.
Another place to browse is CD Baby, where independent artists sell their wares. Lots of sound clips and links to artist web sites. Here are the different types of new folk:
During one browse on CD Baby, I found Michelle Greene. I love to listen songs in Spanish, even Gloria Estefan, even if I don't understand all the Spanish.
Record labels are great sources too, but you have to know the labels first.
Of course, festivals, where lots of artists play are a way to hear artists you already know and hear new ones with relatively low risk.