5 Folk and Country Music Artists You Need to Know

In a crowded music scene, it can be hard to know who to listen to. But if you’re a fan of folk and country music, we’ve got five artists you need to know. From up-and-comers to legends, these five artists are sure to give you a great listening experience.

The Avett Brothers

Formed in 2000 in North Carolina, the Avett Brothers have released nine studio albums, four live albums, and five EPs. The group is made up of brothers Scott and Seth Avett, Bob Crawford, and Joe Kwon. Their music is a mix of folk, country, rock, and pop, and their lyrics often deal with personal themes such as love, family, and loss. The Avett Brothers have won two Grammy Awards and have been nominated for eight more.

Band history

The Avett Brothers are an American folk rock band formed in 2000 in Mount Pleasant, North Carolina. The band is made up of two brothers, Scott Avett and Seth Avett, who play guitar and banjo respectively. They are joined by Bob Crawford on bass and Mike Marsh on drums.

The Avett Brothers first gained prominence in North Carolina through their regular performances at the One Stop Deli & Bar in Asheville. They self-released their debut album, Country Was, in 2002. This was followed by a self-titled second album in 2003 and a live album entitled Live at the Double Door Inn in 2004.

The band signed with Ramseur Records in 2005 and released their third studio album, Emotionalism, the following year. Emotionalism peaked at number 4 on Billboard’s Top Heatseekers chart and number 36 on the Independent Albums chart. It was certified gold by the RIAA in November 2016.

The Avett Brothers’ fourth studio album, I and Love and You, was released in 2009 on American Recordings. The album peaked at number 16 on the Billboard 200 chart and was certified platinum by the RIAA in May 2014.

The group’s fifth studio album, The Carpenter, was released in 2012 on Universal Music Group’sRepublic Records. It peaked at number 4 on the Billboard 200 chart and was certified gold by the RIAA in November 2016.

Notable songs

“I and Love and You”
The Avett Brothers’ major label debut, I and Love and You was recorded in 2008 with producer Rick Rubin. The album peaked at No. 16 on the Billboard 200, No. 3 on Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart, and No. 2 on the Billboard Folk Albums chart.

“Live and Die”
The lead single from The Carpenter, “Live and Die” peaked at No. 3 on Billboard’s Adult Alternative Songs chart and No. 31 on the Hot 100 in 2012.

“Ain’t No Man”
The lead single from True Sadness, “Ain’t No Man” peaked at No. 1 on Billboard’s Adult Alternative Songs chart and spent 23 weeks on the chart in 2016. It was also nominated for a Grammy Award for Best American Roots Performance.

Bon Iver

Bon Iver is an American folk band started in 2006 by singer-songwriter Justin Vernon. The band’s debut album, For Emma, Forever Ago, was released in 2007 to critical acclaim. The album was recorded in a secluded cabin in Wisconsin over the course of three months.

Band history

Bon Iver is an American indie folk band founded in 2006 by singer-songwriter Justin Vernon. The band’s name derives from the French phrase bon hiver, meaning “good winter,” referring to a particularly harsh winter Vernon spent isolated in a cabin in northwestern Wisconsin. They released their debut album, For Emma, Forever Ago, independently in July 2007.

The album was commercially and critically successful, garnering plenty of attention from music publications and blogs. This led to Vernon signing with the independent label Jagjaguwar later that year. In 2009, the band released their second album, Blood Bank. The album was equally well received as their debut and garnered them even more attention.

In 2012,Bon Iver won Grammy Awards for Best New Artist and Best Alternative Music Album for their self-titled album Bon Iver, which was released in June 2011. The band has continued to tour and release new music since then, and they show no signs of slowing down any time soon.

Notable songs

“For Emma, Forever Ago”
“Skinny Love”
“The Wolves (Act I and II)”
“Flume”
“Lump Sum”
“Blood Bank”
“Beach Baby”

The Lumineers

The Lumineers are an American folk rock band from Denver, Colorado. The band’s debut album, The Lumineers, was released on April 3, 2012. The album peaked at number 2 on the Billboard 200 chart and has been certified platinum in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.

Band history

The Lumineers are an American folk rock band based in Denver, Colorado. The two main members are Wesley Schultz (lead vocals, guitar) and Jeremiah Fraites (drums, percussion). The band’s self-titled debut album was released on Dualtone Records in April 2012 and peaked at number 2 on the Billboard 200 chart in January 2013.

The Lumineers were founded in 2005 by Wesley Schultz (lead vocals, guitar) and Jeremiah Fraites (drums, percussion), who began writing songs together in New Jersey. The duo first moved to Denver in 2007 with the hope of finding Schultz’s older brother and musical inspiration Jerome. Shortly after arriving in Denver, they met Classified Records owner George Ivanyi who helped produce their first EP, “Flowers In Your Hair”, which was released digitally in May 2011.

Notable songs

The Lumineers are an American folk rock band based in Denver, Colorado. The two main members and songwriters are Wesley Schultz on guitar and lead vocals, and Jeremiah Fraites on drums, percussion, and vocals. The band’s third studio album, III, was released on September 13, 2019.

The Lumineers rose to fame in 2012 with their single “Ho Hey”, which peaked at number 3 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. The song “Stubborn Love” from their self-titled debut album also became a top 10 hit in several countries. Their follow-up album, Cleopatra, was released on April 8, 2016. It topped the US Folk Albums chart and also became a commercial success worldwide.

Mumford & Sons

Mumford & Sons is a British folk band that formed in 2007. The band consists of Marcus Mumford, Ben Lovett, Winston Marshall, and Ted Dwane. Mumford & Sons has released four studio albums, the most recent being Delta (2018). The band has won multiple awards, including four Grammy Awards, three Brit Awards, and one Juno Award.

Band history

Mumford & Sons are a British folk rock band from London, formed in 2007. The band consists of Marcus Mumford (lead vocals, guitar, drums, keyboard), Winston Marshall (banjo, guitar, backing vocals), Ben Lovett (keyboard, piano, backing vocals), and Ted Dwane (bass guitar, backing vocals). Mumford & Sons have released two studio albums: Sigh No More (2009) and Babel (2012). The band has also issued three live albums: Live at Shepherd’s Bush Empire (2011), The Road to Red Rocks (2012), and Live from South Africa: Dust and Thunder (2017).

In 2010, the band won the Brit Award for Best British Album for Sigh No More. In 2012, they received six Grammy Award nominations including Best New Artist and Album of the Year for Babel. At the 2013 Brit Awards they won the award for Best British Group. Mumford & Sons were nominated again for Best British Group at the 2015 Brit Awards. They also won the Grammy Award for Album of the Year that year.

The band performed on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon in 2014 and on Saturday Night Live in 2015. In 2016 they headlined several major music festivals including Coachella in Indio California, Glastonbury Festival in Somerset England, Lollapalooza in Chicago Illinois and Oh Yeah Music Centre in Belfast Northern Ireland.”

Notable songs

Some of Mumford & Sons’ most popular songs include “Little Lion Man,” “I Will Wait,” “The Cave,” and “Roll Away Your Stone.” The band has won numerous awards, including a Grammy Award for Best Album of the Year (Babel, 2012), Brit Awards for Best British Group and Best Live Act, and an Ivor Novello Award for Songwriters of the Year ( Mumford & Sons, 2010).

The Head and the Heart

The Head and the Heart are a Seattle-based band that has been making waves in the indie folk scene since their self-titled debut album in 2011. Comprised of Josiah Johnson (vocals, guitar, percussion), Charity Rose Thielen (vocals, violin, guitar), Chris Zasche (bass), Jonathan Russell (vocals, guitar, mandolin), and Tyler Williams (drums), the band has a unique sound that is rooted in Americana and influenced by the likes of Bob Dylan and Neil Young.

Band history

The Head and the Heart is an American indie folk band from Seattle, Washington. The band is comprised of Josiah Johnson (vocals, guitar, keyboards), Jon Russell (vocals, guitar, percussion), Charity Rose Thielen (violin, vocals), Chris Zasche (bass), Tyler Williams (drums), and Matt Gervais (guitar). The Head and the Heart rose to prominence in 2011 with the release of their self-titled debut album, which peaked at #3 on Billboard’s Alternative Albums chart and #10 on the Billboard 200. The album was certified Gold in the US and Silver in the UK. The band’s follow-up album, Let’s Be Still, was released in 2013 and reached #2 on Billboard’s Alternative Albums chart and #5 on the Billboard 200.

Notable songs

“The Head and the Heart” is a song by American folk rock band The Head and the Heart. It was released as the lead single from their self-titled debut album in 2011.

The song peaked at number 35 on the Billboard Adult Alternative Songs chart and number 11 on the Billboard Folk Songs chart.

“The Head and the Heart” has been featured in a number of advertisements and television shows, including an episode of NBC’s Parenthood.