Folk Music Record Labels You Should Check Out

Folk music has seen a resurgence in popularity in recent years. Here are some great folk music record labels you should check out.

Smithsonian Folkways Recordings

Smithsonian Folkways Recordings is the nonprofit record label of the Smithsonian Institution. They are dedicated to supporting cultural diversity and sustainable musical traditions. They have an amazing collection of folk music from around the world. If you’re a fan of folk music, you should definitely check out their label.

Label History

Smithsonian Folkways is the nonprofit record label of the Smithsonian Institution. It was founded in 1987 after the Smithsonian acquired Folkways Records from Moses Asch. The label’s mission is to preserve folk and world music traditions, and to support contemporary artists who are performing these genres.

The majority of Folkways’ releases are field recordings of traditional music from around the world, including American folk and blues, international folk music, children’s songs, holiday music, protest songs, and more. The label also releases studio albums by contemporary folk musicians such as Pete Seeger, Woody Guthrie, Odetta, Bernice Johnson Reagon, Sweet Honey in the Rock, Tim O’Brien, Si Kahn, Tom Paxton, Harvey Reid, Will Taylor & Strings Attached.

In addition to music releases, Folkways also Putumayo World Music compilations and award-winning films such as The Windrush Generation and The Soul of a Man.

Types of Music

Folkways Records was a record label founded by Moses Asch that documented folk, world, and children’s music. It was acquired by the Smithsonian Institution in 1987 and is now part of Smithsonian Folkways. The label was founded in 1948. Folkways recordings were notable for being catalogued comprehensively, including field recordings, works by traditional artists, poetry readings, and music of other cultures.

Asch sought to preserve and document the great diversity of musical expression from all over the world, rather than produce commercial recordings. His mission resulted in the collection and preservation of unique recordings that would otherwise likely have been lost. Folkways allowed Asch to pursue his mission without regard for commercial success or artistic notoriety.

The label was acquired by the Smithsonian Institution in1987, ensuring that its extensive and eclectic catalogue would be preserved for future generations. The Smithsonian Folkways website now offers many of these recordings online as part of its mission to make the label’s catalogue “accessible to as many people as possible”.

Folkways’ extensive catalogue includes folk music from around the world, poetry readings, field recordings of various kinds, children’s music, and more. The website allows users to browse the catalogue by genre, artist, album, or topic. Many of the recordings are available to listen to or download for free.

Notable Artists

Since it’s inception in 1948, Smithsonian Folkways Recordings has been committed to preserving and celebrating the diversity of culture and music around the world. The brainchild of legendary ethnomusicologist Moses Asch, the label has released over 3,000 albums by some of the most influential folk, blues, jazz, world music, and Americana artists of the last century.

Some notable artists featured on Smithsonian Folkways recordings include:

Lead Belly: One of the most iconic American folk musicians of all time, Lead Belly’s influence can be heard in the work of Bob Dylan, Nirvana, and countless other artists. His recordings for Folkways are some of the most essential in the label’s catalog.

Pete Seeger: A lifelong activist and one of the most important figures in 20th century folk music, Pete Seeger was a close friend and collaborator of Folkways founder Moses Asch. His recordings for the label are some of the most definitive documents of American folk music.

Woody Guthrie: Another close friend of Moses Asch, Woody Guthrie is considered one of the fathers of American folk music. His legendary album “Dust Bowl Ballads” is one of Folkways’ best-selling releases.

Merle Travis: A giant of country music and one of the most influential guitarists of all time, Merle Travis made some Of his greatest recordings for Folkways in the 1940s and 50s. These albums are essential listening for any fan of country or blues guitar.

Folkways Records

Folkways Records was founded in 1948 by Moses Asch and it is now a part of the Smithsonian Institution. Folkways Records has released recordings of Lead Belly, Woody Guthrie, Pete Seeger, and many other influential folk musicians. The label is also responsible for releasing the first album of international folk music. If you’re looking for some great folk music, then be sure to check out Folkways Records.

Label History

Folkways Records was founded in 1948 by Moses Asch with the mission of “preserving and disseminating the world’s recorded heritage.” Over the next four decades, Folkways released over two thousand albums of music, spoken word, and sound effects from around the globe. Asch believed that all music deserved to be heard, regardless of commercial appeal, and his label became known for “ folk music, world music, children’s music, indigenous music, experimental music, comedy, and poetry.”

In 1987, the Smithsonian Institution acquired Folkways from Asch’s widow Stella, and continues to release new recordings as well as reissues of classic albums. The Smithsonian Folkways website includes an online store, streaming audio and video, educational resources, and a blog celebrating the label’s history.

Types of Music

Folkways Records was established in 1948 by Moses Asch with the mission of “documenting” and “preserving the voice of the people.” Folkways released recordings of everything from blind Louisiana guitarists to Tibetan monks, and is perhaps best known for its influential work in the field of folk music. The label was acquired by the Smithsonian Institution in 1987 and continues to release new recordings to this day.

Asch was a strong believer in field recording, and much of Folkways’ early output consisted of music captured in its natural environment. This technique created a feeling of authenticity that was often lacking in studio recordings, and helped to ensure that the cultural context of the music was not lost. Folkways also released many seminal records of traditional music from around the world, including albums by Lead Belly, Woody Guthrie, Pete Seeger, and Burl Ives.

In addition to its work in folk music, Folkways also documented other genres such as jazz, blues, world music, children’s music, political speeches, and poetry. The label’s output was always eclectic, and Asch was never afraid to take risks or challenge societal norms. This spirit of experimentation led to some truly unique and groundbreaking records being released on Folkways.

Notable Artists

Folkways Records was founded in 1948 by renowned ethnomusicologist Moses Asch. The label was originally conceived as a way to document and preserve the sounds of American folk music and culture. Over the years, Folkways expanded its mission to include music from all over the world, and today the label’s catalogue includes recordings of traditional folk, blues, jazz, world music, and more.

Some of the most notable artists who have released albums on Folkways include Woody Guthrie, Lead Belly, Pete Seeger, Ella Jenkins, Cisco Houston, Josh White, Ramblin’ Jack Elliott, Burl Ives, Odetta, Miriam Makeba, and Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee.

Vanguard Records

Vanguard Records was founded in 1950 byAndré Schiffrin and his father, Daniel Schiffrin. They started out as a classical music label, but later expanded to include folk, jazz, and world music. Vanguard has released albums by some of the most iconic folk musicians, including Joan Baez, John Fahey, and Odetta.

Label History

Vanguard Records is a record label set up in 1950 by brothers Maynard and Seymour Solomon in New York City. Vanguard was one of the first companies to record and release folk music, and it played an important role in the American folk music revival of the 1950s and 1960s. The Solomons were passionate about music and committed to giving their artists creative freedom, which attracted many talented musicians to the label.

Among Vanguard’s most successful and influential artists were Pete Seeger, Joan Baez, The Weavers, Odetta, Dave Van Ronk, and Phil Ochs. Vanguard also released early recordings by Bob Dylan, who would go on to achieve great fame and success with other labels. The quality of Vanguard’s recordings was consistently high, and the label was honored with several Grammy Awards over the years.

In recent years, Vanguard has continued to seek out and sign talented new artists, while also reissuing classic recordings from its illustrious history. Folk music is as vital as ever, and Vanguard remains one of the most respected labels in the genre.

Types of Music

Folk music is a genre of music that is traditionally passed down from generation to generation. It is typically characterized by its use of traditional instruments, its focus on oral tradition, and its emphasis on personal expression.

There are many different types of folk music, each with its own unique history and tradition. Some of the most popular types of folk music include Celtic, Appalachian, and British Isles folk music.

Celtic folk music is a type of folk music that originated in the Celtic countries of Europe. It is characterized by its use of traditional Celtic instruments, such as the fiddle, tin whistle, and accordion. Celtic folk music has been hugely influential in the development of other genres of music, such as country and bluegrass.

Appalachian folk music is a type of folk music that originated in the Appalachian Mountains region of the United States. It is characterized by its use of string instruments, such as the banjo and fiddle, and its focus on storytelling. Appalachian folk music has been hugely influential in the development of other genres of music, such as country and bluegrass.

British Isles folk music is a type of folk music that originated in the British Isles region of Europe. It is characterized by its use of traditional British and Irish instruments, such as the bodhran and penny whistle, and its focus on dance tunes and ballads. British Isles folklore has also been hugely influential in the development of other genres of music, such as rock and roll.

Notable Artists

Vanguard Records is a respected name in the folk music world, having launched the careers of some of the most iconic artists in the genre. Founded in 1950, Vanguard was originally conceived as a classical music label, but soon began to sign folk and jazz artists who were outside the mainstream. The label’s roster included Odetta, Joan Baez, Nina Simone, and The Weavers, all of whom went on to have highly successful careers. Vanguard also released seminal recordings by Woody Guthrie and Lead Belly, which are now considered essential documents of American folk music. In recent years, Vanguard has continued to sign and release albums by contemporary artists such as Emmylou Harris, Richard Thompson, and Gillian Welch.

Appleseed Recordings

Founded in 1992, Appleseed Recordings has been one of the most consistent and prolific folk music record labels of the past two decades. With a roster that includes some of the biggest names in the genre, as well as a commitment to working with up-and-coming artists, Appleseed has something for everyone.

Label History

After 30 years of releasing vital Americana, alt-country and folk music, Appleseed Recordings remains as enthusiastic and artistically adventurous as ever.

Founded by Jim Musselman in Nepera Park, New York in 1996, Appleseed began as an indie-minded response to the state of the music business. Labels were consolidating and the major companies were less interested than ever in niche genres like roots music. So, with a focus on quality over quantity, Appleseed set out to release the best Americana music it could find.

Three decades later, we’re proud to say that Appleseed has more than accomplished its mission. We’ve released hundreds of great albums by artists like Pete Seeger, Steve Earle, John Prine, Loudon Wainwright III, Billy Bragg and Ani DiFranco. We’ve helped build careers and fostered collaboration between artists who might never have met otherwise. We’ve put out records that have changed lives and launched social movements. In short, we’ve stuck to our guns and released the music we love – regardless of commercial considerations.

Looking to the future, we remain committed to working with artists who make a difference – whether they’re young upstarts or veteran troubadours. So check out our catalogue, subscribe to our e-newsletter (The Lowdown), follow us on social media and come see us live when we hit the road. Thanks for supporting independent music!

Types of Music

Appleseed Recordings is an independent record label based in Red Hook, Brooklyn, New York. The label specializes in folk music, with a particular focus on contemporary folk, roots music, and singer-songwriters.

Folk music is a genre of music that typically uses acoustic instruments and focuses on traditional songs and dances. Folk music is often influenced by the culture of the region where it originates, and can be divided into various subgenres.

Contemporary folk music is a genre that emerged in the mid-20th century and is influenced by traditional folk music as well as by contemporary pop culture.

Roots music is a genre that includes various forms of traditional music from around the world, including country, blues, gospel, and others.

Singer-songwriters are musicians who write and perform their own songs.

Notable Artists

Appleseed Recordings is a folk music record label that has been around since the early 1990s. The label was founded by Jim Kuha and is currently run by his son, Justin. Appleseed specializes in releasing albums by folk, roots, and Americana artists. The label has released albums by some notable artists, including:

-John Prine
-Joan Baez
-Natalie Merchant
-Willie Nelson
-The Byrds
-Steve Earle
-Loudon Wainwright III
-The Weavers