‘The Folk Box’ sought to trace the roots and branches of American music, and document the forging – and constant reinvention – of the national identity.
Articles on Folk music
Displaying 1 - 20 of 31 articles
A late-19th century campaign spearheaded by Foster’s brother sought to elevate him into the pantheon of American cultural heroes, even as his sympathies tended to lie with the pro-slavery South.
In his lyrics, the folksinger and herald of US postwar social struggles described his era. In some ways, it resembles our own.
Bob Dylan’s nonchalance and elusive nature is commendably portrayed by Timothée Chalamet with charm, vulnerability and authenticity.
At the height of their popularity, The Kingston Trio released an unexpected Christmas album. Instead of becoming a classic, it seemed to foreshadow the approaching end for the group’s dominance.
Just a few years into his career, Dylan decided he wanted to subvert the expectations of his fans – and rebel against industry forces intent on pigeonholing him and his work.
Wales has a rich musical heritage, and the next generation is ready to take centre stage.
Her new album, ‘Cowboy Carter,’ arrives at a moment when country music’s reputation as overwhelmingly white is finally starting to crack.
African artists with major US industry support have the advantage - now more than ever.
Jim Croce’s brief time in the national spotlight was enough to put a bevy of songs in heavy rotation on radio stations – and on stage in the hands of a lengthy A-list of fellow musicians.
After Gordon Lightfoot’s death, the musician was celebrated for his Canadian-ness. But his legacy is more complex than that, and his influence extends beyond Canada.
Folk singer and activist Woody Guthrie actually had thoughts about the national debt – and politicians in general. They’re remarkably apt today.
Canadian folk singer Gordon Lightfoot passed away on May 1. His legacy includes songs that memorialize tragic shipping disasters and the 1968 Detroit Uprising.
Critic Greil Marcus sees Bob Dylan as constantly rewriting the national songbook. And in his weird, funny new book, Dylan does just that.
Because Dylan draws from songs from the past, he has been accused of plagiarism. But this view has been colored by a distorted understanding of the creative process.
His songs about the rights of the Oromo people in Ethiopia lifted the spirits of a downtrodden people and his death shook the nation.
Joni Mitchell’s performance at Newport Folk Festival defied the ‘permissible’ ways older women ‘should’ behave.
It may seem counter-intuitive to turn to Leonard Cohen’s ‘depressing’ songs during times of grief and uncertainty. But he shows there is always a reason to keep on keeping on.
While some stereotype Alberta as a “conservative” province, the bucking and swift horses that typify the Calgary Stampede speak to a more complex spirit of risk seen in local musicians.
Woody Guthrie’s anthem has become a rallying cry for immigrants. But did he really have a ‘blind spot’ for Native Americans, as some have claimed?
Top contributors
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Professor of Appalachian Studies and Bluegrass, Old-Time and Roots Music Studies, East Tennessee State University
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Associate professor in music studies, Griffith University
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Professor of American Literature and Culture, University of Lancashire
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School of Humanities and Social Inquiry, University of Wollongong
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Professor of English, University of Maryland, Baltimore County
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Director of Studies, Design, Manchester Metropolitan University
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Adjunct Senior Research Fellow, Monash University
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Professor of Communication Studies, American University School of Communication
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Lecturer in Digital Media, Queen Mary University of London
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Senior Lecturer in Music Technology, Kingston University
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Professor of English, Middle Tennessee State University
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Professor of Music, Wesleyan University
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Associate Professor of History, University of South Carolina
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Professor in Popular Music Analysis, University of South Wales
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Distinguished Professor Emerita of Creative Practice, Faculty of Arts and Design, University of Canberra