Folk Music Masters The new Coen Brothers’ movie, Inside Llewyn Davis, won’t be released in the U.S. until Dec. 6th. When it does, the resurgence currently experienced by folk music will be brought into the forefront of the music scene. But you don’t have to wait until the soundtrack comes out to start catching up with the burgeoning folk music movement; here’s a list of some great bands to get you started. Mumford and Sons: Mumford and Sons are probably at the forefront of the folk music comeback. They’ve been nominated for three Grammy Awards, and Babel won the Grammy for Best Album in 2013. Mumford and Sons have effectively crossed over into “mainstream” music. However, they have a banjo and a standing bass, and they are openly enthusiastic about their roots in American and English folk tunes. They just announced a long hiatus, but there are two albums and plenty of side projects to enjoy in the meantime. Carolina Chocolate Drops: They are described as an old-time string band, but the Carolina Chocolate Drops have so much going on that the description almost seems like a disservice. Their songs are a mixture of folk, bluegrass, ragtime, traditional fiddling, jazz, and more, and run the gamut from beautifully tragic to rollicking good fun. Gillian Welch: Gillian Welch’s haunting voice is perfectly suited to the traditional ballads of folk music, and she excels at commanding an audience’s attention without vocal pyrotechnics or showboating. Her graceful, powerful songs embody modern Appalachia. The Head and the Heart: As are many of the bands on this list, the Head and the Heart fall into the alternative side of folk music, but they are no less enjoyable for that. Some of their songs (“Rivers and Roads” and “Down In the Valley”, particularly) are a bit more traditional. Their self-titled album has a theme of wandering and rootlessness running through it, which also seems particularly folky. Edie Brickell and Steve Martin: Their recent album, Love Has Come For You, is a lovely glimpse at the lighter side of folk music. Martin’s deft banjo picking and Brickell’s playful vocals bring in some rootsy bluegrass influence, but the lyrics are folk all the way. Their lively songs will get your feet tapping and put a smile on your face. Article source: classesncamps/folk-music-masters/
Posted on: Sat, 05 Apr 2014 12:40:25 +0000
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