5 Country Folk Music Artists You Need to Know
If you’re a fan of country music, you’ll want to check out these 5 up-and-coming folk music artists. You’re sure to enjoy their unique sound and heartfelt lyrics.
The Stray Birds
Who they are
The Stray Birds are an Americana Folk trio consisting of Maya de Vitry on lead vocals and guitar, Oliver Craven on fiddle, guitar, and mandolin, and Charlie Muench on double bass. The band formed in 2011 in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, United States. Their debut album was released in 2012, followed by their second album in 2014. The group’s sound has been described as “country-tinged folk music with beautiful vocal harmonies”.
The Stray Birds have been compared to other folk music acts such as The Lumineers, Fleet Foxes, and Mumford & Sons. The group has toured extensively in the United States and Europe. In 2014, they were named one of NPR’s “50 Great Voices” in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the organization’s founding.
What they sound like
The Birds have been described as a cross between country and rock with a touch of blues. Fans of The Stray Birds say that what sets the band apart is their use of three-part harmonies. Critics have lauded the group for their songwriting, which often tells stories of love, heartbreak, and loss.
If you’re a fan of country music, or even if you’re just looking to explore a new genre, The Stray Birds are definitely worth checking out.
Why they’re worth your time
The Stray Birds are a country folk music band from Lancaster, Pennsylvania, United States. The band members are Maya de Vitry (vocals, guitar, fiddle), Oliver Craven (vocals, guitar, mandolin), and Charlie Muench (bass). They have released three albums: a self-titled album in 2012, Best Medicine in 2014, and Let it Pass in 2016.
The Stray Birds’ music has been described as “heartfelt and deeply emotive”, with de Vitry’s lyrics being praised for their “poetic sensibility”. The band has been praised for their “wonderfully understated” musical arrangements. Reviewers have also noted the influence of traditional folk music on the band’s sound. The Stray Birds have been compared to Simon & Garfunkel, Neil Young, and Gillian Welch.
The Stray Birds are worth your time because they are a talented and original country folk band. If you enjoy heart-felt lyrics and beautiful musical arrangements, then you will enjoy the music of The Stray Birds.
The Secret Sisters
The Secret Sisters are an Americana duo consisting of sisters Laura and Lydia Rogers. The band is based in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, and their music draws from country, folk, and pop influences. They have released three albums, the most recent being 2019’s Saturn Return.
Who they are
The Secret Sisters are a country music duo from Alabama, United States. The group is composed of sisters Laura and Lydia Rogers. They have released three albums, including a self-titled album in 2010, Put Your Needle Down in 2014, and Saturn Return in 2020. Their music has been featured in numerous television shows and films.
The sisters grew up in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, where they were exposed to country, bluegrass, and gospel music. They began singing together as children and eventually started performing at local events. In 2009, they were discovered by producer T Bone Burnett while playing at a club in Nashville. He invited them to sing on an album he was working on, which led to their signing with Universal Republic Records.
The Secret Sisters released their debut album in 2010, which received critical acclaim. Their second album, Put Your Needle Down, was released in 2014 to positive reviews. Their third album, Saturn Return, was released in 2020.
The Secret Sisters have toured with a number of artists over the years, including Emmylou Harris, Willie Nelson, Mark Knopfler, and Kris Kristofferson. They have also appeared on several television shows, including The Late Show with David Letterman and The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.
The group has been nominated for two Grammy Awards and have won numerous other awards throughout their career.
What they sound like
There is no mistaking the music of The Secret Sisters when you hear it. The sisterly duo of Laura and Lydia Rogers have a truly unique sound that is steeped in the close harmony tradition of country music sister acts like The Carter Family and The Watson Twins. While their music includes elements of folk, bluegrass, gospel, and rockabilly, at its core it is country music through and through.
The Rogers sisters grew up in Florence, Alabama, and were influenced by the music of their parents and grandparents. They began singing together as children and eventually caught the attention of producer T-Bone Burnett. He helped them hone their sound and signed them to his record label, Universal Republic.
Their self-titled debut album was released in 2010 to critical acclaim. The album showcased the sisters’ beautiful close harmonies and featured covers of country classics like “I’ve Been Loving You Too Long” and “Why Don’t You Love Me Like You Used To Do?” It also included original songs written by the sisters and Burnett.
The Secret Sisters’ follow-up album, Put Your Needle Down, was released in 2014. This album found the sisters exploring a more rockabilly sound, with a few forays into folk territory as well. Highlights include the heartbreak ballad “All About My Heart” and the rollicking “Bad Habit.”
If you’re a fan of country music or close harmony singing, you need to check out The Secret Sisters. These talented sisters are keeping the traditions of country music alive and creating beautiful new music in the process.
Why they’re worth your time
The Secret Sisters are an Americana music duo from Florence, Alabama, United States. The group is composed of sisters Laura and Lydia Rogers. They have released three albums on Republic Records. The duo’s first album, 2010’s The Secret Sisters, produced by T Bone Burnett, was nominated for Best Folk Album at the 54th Grammy Awards.
The sisters have been praised for their “old-fashioned country-folk sound” by music critics and have toured with Adele, Willie Nelson, Levon Helm, and Vince Gill. They have also appeared on a number of television shows, including The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and Late Night with Jimmy Fallon. In 2016, they were featured as part of the 7th International Folk Alliance Conference in Kansas City, Missouri.
The Secret Sisters’ musical style has been described as “retro”, “country-folk”, and “Americana”. Their influences include The Everly Brothers, The Andrews Sisters, Patsy Cline, Emmylou Harris, Loretta Lynn, and Dolly Parton.
Della Mae
Della Mae is a all-female bluegrass band from Boston, MA. The band won the IBMA award for Best Bluegrass Album in 2013 for their self-titled album. They were also nominated for a Grammy in 2016. Della Mae has been described as “one of the best bluegrass bands around today”.
Who they are
Della Mae is an all-female bluegrass band formed in 2010. The band is composed of five members: lead vocalist and fiddle player Kimberley Dahme, guitarist and mandolin player Jenni Lyn Gardner, bassist Shelby Means, banjo player Zan McLeod, and Dobro player Celia Woodsmith.
The band has released three studio albums: Della Mae (2013), This World Oft Can Be (2016), and Headlight (2019). They have also released one live album, Live from the Milk Carton Kids World Cafe (2017).
Della Mae has toured extensively throughout the United States, Canada, Europe, and Asia. In 2016, they became the first all-female group to win the International Bluegrass Music Association’s Entertainer of the Year award.
What they sound like
Della Mae is a Boston-based bluegrass band that formed in 2009. The band has won multiple awards and nominations, including a Grammy Award for Best Bluegrass Album. Della Mae’s sound is unique in that it incorporates elements of folk, country, rock, and pop into its music. The band has been praised for its strong vocal harmonies and instrumental abilities.
Why they’re worth your time
Della Mae is an all-female bluegrass band from Boston, MA that is quickly gaining popularity in the music industry. Their unique style and energetic performances have won them many fans, and they have even been featured on NPR’s “All Things Considered.” If you’re a fan of country music or bluegrass, then Della Mae is definitely worth checking out.
The Milk Carton Kids
The Milk Carton Kids are an Americana duo from Los Angeles, California, consisting of acoustic guitarists and vocalists Kenneth Pattengale and Joey Ryan. Signing to Anti- in early 2012, the duo have released four studio albums, The Ash & Clay (2013), Monterey (2015), Prologue (2016), and All the Things That I Did and All the Things That I Didn’t Do (2018). The Milk Carton Kids have been heralded as one of the most successful duos in recent memory.
Who they are
The Milk Carton Kids are a country folk music duo from Los Angeles, California, consisting of singers and songwriters Kenneth Pattengale and Joey Ryan. The duo’s close vocal harmonies and use of vintage acoustic instruments have drawn comparisons to Simon & Garfunkel, the Everly Brothers, and other close harmony groups from the early to mid-20th century.
The Milk Carton Kids began performing together in 2011, and released their debut album Retrospect that same year. They have since released three more albums: The Ash & Clay (2013), Monterey (2015), and All the Things That I Did and All the Things That I Didn’t Do (2017). The duo has toured extensively throughout the United States, Europe, and Australia, both as headliners and as opening act for artists such as Neil Young, Emmylou Harris, Punch Brothers, and Josh Ritter.
What they sound like
With intricate two-part harmonies, The Milk Carton Kids wear their classic influences on their collective sleeve. Comprised of Kenneth Pattengale and Joey Ryan, the LA-based duo hearken back to musical greats like Simon & Garfunkel and The Everly Brothers, while still managing to sound fresh and new. If you’re a fan of tight vocal harmonies and stripped down acoustic guitar playing, The Milk Carton Kids should definitely be on your radar.
Why they’re worth your time
The Milk Carton Kids are an LA-based acoustic duo composed of Kenneth Pattengale and Joey Ryan. The two first met in 2009 and officially formed the group in 2011. They released their debut album, Prologue, the following year.
Since then, they’ve released three more albums, including two on anti folk label ANTI- – The Ash & Clay (2013) and Monterey (2015). Their latest album, All the Things That I Did and All the Things That I Didn’t Do, was released in 2018.
The Milk Carton Kids have been praised for their intricate guitar work and close harmonies. Pattengale and Ryan draw from a variety of influences, including country, folk, bluegrass, and rock. They are known for their stripped-down approach to songwriting and performing.
If you’re a fan of country or folk music, or if you’re just looking for something new to check out, The Milk Carton Kids are definitely worth your time.
The Lone Bellow
The Lone Bellow is an American folk music trio from Brooklyn, New York. The group is composed of Zach Williams, Kanene Donehey Pipkin, and Brian Elmquist. The band’s self-titled debut album was released in 2013, and their second album, Then Came the Morning, was released in 2015. The group’s music has been featured in television and film, including the NBC drama This Is Us.
Who they are
The Lone Bellow is an Americana trio from Brooklyn, NY who met while attending college in Georgia. They released their debut album in 2013, and have since toured with Mumford & Sons, The Civil Wars, and Greg allen. Their music has been featured on Grey’s Anatomy, Parenthood, and Nashville.
What they sound like
The Lone Bellow is an American country folk music group from Brooklyn, New York City. The group’s sound has been described as “a blend of classic country, Southern rock, and gospel.”
The band was formed in 2011 by singer-songwriter Kanene Pipkin and guitarist Brian Elmquist. The two had met while Pipkin was living in Nashville, Tennessee and working as a songwriter for other artists. After moving to Brooklyn, the pair met singer-songwriter Zach Williams. The three began writing songs together and soon added fiddle player Tyler Burleyson to the lineup.
The band’s debut album, Then Came the Morning, was released in 2013 to critical acclaim. The album peaked at number 24 on the Billboard Folk Albums chart and received a Grammy Award nomination for Best Americana Album. The band’s follow-up album, Walk into a Storm, was released in 2017.
The Lone Bellow has been praised for their live performances, which often feature harmonies and tight vocal arrangements. In addition to their own headlining tours, the band has opened for acts such as Dave Matthews Band, John Legend, Phil Vassar, and LeAnn Rimes.
Why they’re worth your time
The 5 Country Folk Music Artists You Need to Know are The Lone Bellow, Mount Eerie, The Ghost of a Saber Tooth Tiger, The Head and the Heart, and First Aid Kit.
The Lone Bellow is a Brooklyn-based trio who combine southern rock, gospel, and folk to create a sound that is both nostalgic and modern. Their debut album was named one of the best of 2013 by The Wall Street Journal, Paste Magazine, and American Songwriter.
Mount Eerie is the solo project of Phil Elverum, who is best known for his work with the indie-rock band The Microphones. Mount Eerie’s music is sparse and introspective, with lyrics that explore themes of death, loss, and nature.
The Ghost of a Saber Tooth Tiger is a project of Sean Lennon (son of John Lennon) and Charlotte Kemp Muhl. They make dreamy folk-pop with vintage keyboards and tape loops.
The Head and the Heart is a Seattle-based band whose music blends indie-rock with folk and Americana. They have been featured on NPR’s All Songs Considered and their song “Lost in My Mind” was used in an episode of Grey’s Anatomy.
First Aid Kit is a Swedish sister duo whose music has been described as “darkly twangy Americana.” Their song “My Silver Lining” was used in an episode of Sons of Anarchy.
