Folk Music

Life in the Fest Lane

State of Grace

As a train-hopping folk artist in the '60s, U. Utah Phillips rode into the heart of America's working class. He's been singing its song ever since.

Ramblin' Man

Human tumbleweed Ramblin' Jack Elliott keeps on rollin'.

Andy Milne

Saturday, September 29, Dazzle, 303-839-5100.

I'm Not There

The elusive Bob Dylan, masterfully considered.

Like a Complete Unknown

I'm Not There and the changing face of Bob Dylan on film.

Richie Havens

Thursday, December 13, Boulder Theater, Boulder, 303-786-7030.

Steve Earle grabs top spot at Twist and Shout

Steve Earle, who performed songs from his new Townes Van Zandt tribute album at Twist & Shout last Friday, beat out Green Day for the top spot on the store's best seller list for the week of May 17. Bob Dylan, Ben Harper, Iron & Wine and Conor Oberst continue to hold down spots in the top te ... More >>

That's All Folk

The Swallow Hill HarvestFest redefines a musical genre.

Reid-ing Music

Multi-instrumentalist Harvey Reid proves that acoustic folk doesn't have to be boring.

In Black and White

Great photos by John Cohen at Singer, and quirky scratchboards by Jason Needham at Zip 37.

Colorado Shakespeare Festival gets patriotic in Woody Guthrie's American Song

Great photos by John Cohen at Singer, and quirky scratchboards by Jason Needham at Zip 37.

Free For All

Highlighting the week's greatest gratis event

Planetary Vibes

Swallow Hill celebrates world-fusion folk music.

For Pete's Sake

Swallow Hill celebrates world-fusion folk music.

Cat Power

Jukebox
Matador

Guggenheim Grotto

Sunday, August 19, Rocky Mountain Folks Festival, 1-800-624-2422.

The Hidden Cameras

Awoo (Arts & Crafts)

Jolie Holland

Friday, June 23, Boulder Theater, Boulder, 303-786-7030; Saturday, June 24, Bluebird Theater, 1-866-468-7621.

The Love Letter Band

Fear Not My Brothers, Fear Not My Sisters, For I Have Seen the Future... (Happy Happy Birthday to Me)

OCS

Monday, May 30, Monkey Mania, 303-292-4370.

Loudon Wainwright III

Friday, December 17, Lion's Lair, 303-320-9200.

Folk at Home

Swallow Hill fest highlights pickin' and grinnin'

War on War Songs

Iraq and roll don't go together well when rockers protest

That's a Wrap-Up

Backbeat writers sound off on a few of their favorite musical things from 2002.

Bringing It All Back Home

Take a peek inside the nation's unlikeliest Bob Dylan archive.

Songs of Old

An artist for the ages, Roz Brown works the Western world as well as the senior circuit.

The Band

The Last Waltz (Warner Bros./Rhino)

The Blue Bluegrass of Home

In Songcatcher, the music of Appalachia comes alive.

Turn, Turn, Turn

Former Byrd Roger McGuinn wants to keep folk aloft.

Lady, Sing the Blues

Odetta is happy to find trouble everywhere she goes.

A LaFave Rave

Jimmy LaFave upholds American musical tradition one song at a time.

Native Intelligence

Robbie Robertson digs into his past so he can move into the future.

Lord Knows

Mary Lou Lord is smarter than the average busker.

Etc.

Outstanding in His Field The recordings of Alan Lomax dig up the roots of American music.

A Blast From the Past

Onetime Blasters guitarist Dave Alvin makes tradition sound new again.

Media Dar-ling

Onetime Blasters guitarist Dave Alvin makes tradition sound new again.

ANI GET YOUR SONG

Onetime Blasters guitarist Dave Alvin makes tradition sound new again.

IS HE BLUE?

G. LOVE & SPECIAL SAUCE PLAY THE BLUES THE NEW-FASHIONED WAY.

The Rural Alberta Advantage

G. LOVE & SPECIAL SAUCE PLAY THE BLUES THE NEW-FASHIONED WAY.

Q&A with Bob Crawford of the Avett Brothers

Crackerfarm​Arena rock is making a comeback. Thanks to bands like My Morning Jacket, Wilco and North Carolina's the Avett Brothers, the spirit and tradition of the '70s is swelling and helping to conjure up images of rock and roll when it was at it's purest, most visceral and most likely bearded. ... More >>

Q&A with Frank Turner

​There is a long tradition of ex-punk rockers trading in their power chords and electric guitars for the idyllic green pastures of folk music. Frank Turner of Winchester, England made that very leap a few years ago after the breakup of his progressive hardcore band Million Dead had reached its ... More >>

Chella Negro

​There is a long tradition of ex-punk rockers trading in their power chords and electric guitars for the idyllic green pastures of folk music. Frank Turner of Winchester, England made that very leap a few years ago after the breakup of his progressive hardcore band Million Dead had reached its ... More >>

Q&A with Jonson Kuhn of Jonny Woodrose & the Broken Hearted Woodpeckers

​In the short time Jonny Woodrose & the Broken-Hearted Woodpeckers have been together, the outfit has grown from being a bit of a joke band vehicle for singer Jonson Kuhn's humorous storytelling into one of the most engaging and fun Americana bands in the scene. The project's early shows consi ... More >>

Grant Gordy's folk songs rely on a global palette of sounds

​In the short time Jonny Woodrose & the Broken-Hearted Woodpeckers have been together, the outfit has grown from being a bit of a joke band vehicle for singer Jonson Kuhn's humorous storytelling into one of the most engaging and fun Americana bands in the scene. The project's early shows consi ... More >>

Hot Rize was bluegrass before bluegrass was cool

​In the short time Jonny Woodrose & the Broken-Hearted Woodpeckers have been together, the outfit has grown from being a bit of a joke band vehicle for singer Jonson Kuhn's humorous storytelling into one of the most engaging and fun Americana bands in the scene. The project's early shows consi ... More >>

CU's Leigh Holman pays tribute to American opera with Susannah

​Leigh Holman has faith in the future of American opera. The director of opera at the University of Colorado has made the native art form a priority at the school, hosting American composers for workshops and offering American musical drama during summer seasons. The school's upcoming production o ... More >>

Bob Dylan turns 70 today (happy birthday, big guy!): A list of our favorite Bob Dylan albums

As you're probably already aware, Bob Dylan turns seventy today. We want to take this moment to thank Mrs. Zimmerman for giving birth to one of the most influential musicians of our time. We're hard-pressed to find a musician that is more versatile or as cool as Dylan. He has been called the voice o ... More >>

Suzy Bogguss on her American Folk Songbook and her fondness for playing smaller venues

​When Suzy Bogguss hits the Soiled Dove Underground tomorrow night, she'll be delving into her musical roots a little bit with songs from her latest release, American Folk Songbook, which spotlights standards from the American folk tradition. For an artist known more for her country success, t ... More >>

Harry Tuft on being inducted into the Colorado Music Hall of Fame

​Harry Tuft, slated to be inducted into the Colorado Music Hall of Fame this Sunday, February 12, opened the Denver Folklore Center in 1962 and started promoting concerts a few years later, bringing in Joan Baez to Denver for the first time in 1964 and later bringing her to Red Rocks. In the ... More >>