The Best Electric Folk Music of 2020

We rounded up the best electric folk music of 2020, including artists like Bon Iver, Fleet Foxes, and The National.

The Revivalists – All My Friends

The Revivalists are an American rock band from New Orleans, Louisiana, United States, formed in 2007. The band consists of Ed William Leger (lead vocals), Zack Feinberg (guitar), George Gekas (bass guitar), Michael Girardot (keyboards, trumpet), Rob Ingraham (saxophone), Andrew Campanelli (drums) and David Shaw (lead vocals).

Their sound has been described as a mix of southern rock, blues, jazz, soul and funk. The band has released six studio albums: ‘Take Good Care’ (2018), ‘Men Amongst Mountains’ (2015), ‘City of Sound’ (2013), ‘Voodoo Shoppe’ (2012) and ‘Fuel’s Guitar Town’ (2011). In 2019, the band was inducted into the Hollywood Bowl Hall of Fame.

The Head and the Heart – Missed Connection

The Head and the Heart’s “Missed Connection” is a beautifully written song about, well, a missed connection. The lyrics are honest and emotive, and the delivery is absolutely perfect. The song perfectly encapsulates the feeling of looking back on a relationship that didn’t work out, and wondering what could have been.

The Lumineers – Gloria

The Lumineers – Gloria: The group’s third album, Gloria, finds them expanding their sound with electric guitars and synthesizers while still staying true to their acoustic roots. The result is a more cinematic sound that suits their narrative songs about love, loss, and hope.

Of Monsters and Men – Alligator

Icelandic band Of Monsters and Men broke onto the scene in 2011 with their feel-good smash hit “Little Talks” from their debut album, My Head Is an Animal. The song was inescapable that summer, and the band’s anthemic, earnest brand of indie folk won them a devoted fanbase.

Alligator, the band’s fourth studio album, is a departure from their rootsier sound of earlier albums. Instead, it finds the band exploring a more electronic soundscape, while still keeping the same heart and energy that made them so successful in the first place.

The album’s lead single, “Alligator,” is a perfect example of the band’s new direction. The song starts with a slow build of layers of piano and synths before exploding into a dizzying chorus driven by driving drums and frontman Nanna Bryndís Hilmarsdóttir’s soaring vocals.

Of Monsters and Men are not afraid to experiment on Alligator, and the result is an electrifying album that will satisfy both longtime fans and newcomers alike.

Mumford & Sons – Blind Leading the Blind

Mumford & Sons’ third album, Wilder Mind, was released in 2015 to great acclaim. It debuted at #1 in the UK and the US, and won the Grammy Award for Album of the Year. The band’s sound had evolved from the traditional folk music of their debut album, Sigh No More, to a more rock-influenced sound on Wilder Mind.

The lead single from Wilder Mind, “Believe”, is a perfect example of this new sound. The song is an anthemic call to arms, with Mumford & Sons urging us to “stand up for what you believe in”. The lyrics are uplifting and empowering, and the song’s soaring chorus is sure to get stuck in your head.

If you’re looking for more of Mumford & Sons’ new sound, be sure to check out “The Wolf” and “Ditmas”. Both songs are electric folk classics that are sure to get your feet moving.

The Paper Kites – Bloom

The Paper Kites are an Australian indie folk band from Melbourne, Victoria. The band consists of Sam Bentley, Christina Lacy, David Powys, Sam Rasmussen and Jonathan Sherman. The band’s debut album, States, was released in 2012 to critical acclaim. The album peaked at No. 2 on the ARIA Albums Chart and was certified platinum in 2014.

The band’s follow-up album, twelvefour, was released in August 2015 and debuted at No. 1 on the ARIA Albums Chart. The lead single from the album, “Bloom”, peaked at No. 8 on the ARIA Singles Chart and was certified platinum in 2016.

The Paper Kites have won two ARIA Music Awards and have been nominated for five others.

The Avett Brothers – Neapolitan Sky

The Avett Brothers’ Neapolitan Sky is a beautiful album of electric folk music. It’s the perfect album to relax to after a long day, or to enjoy on a lazy Sunday afternoon. The Avett Brothers have a unique sound that is both modern and traditional, and their lyrics are both poetic and down-to-earth. If you’re looking for an album of electric folk music that is both beautiful and relaxing, then Neapolitan Sky is the perfect choice.

The Head and the Heart – Living Mirage

The Head and the Heart’s album Living Mirage is a return to form for the group. After exploring different musical genres on their last album, Signs of Light, they have come back to their roots in folk music. This time, they have added electric instruments and a more pop-influenced sound to their traditional acoustic folk sound. The result is an album that is both fresh and familiar, and which should please fans of both The Head and the Heart and folk music in general.

Standout tracks on the album include “All We Ever Knew,” “Missed Connection,” and “Honeybee.”

The Revivalists – Change

The Revivalists are an American rock band formed in 2007 in New Orleans, Louisiana. The band currently consists of eight members: David Shaw (lead vocals, guitar), Zack Feinberg (guitar), Ed Williamston (keyboard, trumpet), Rob Ingraham (saxophone), George Gekas (bass guitar), Andrewcampanelli (drums), Michael Girardot (trombone) and PJ Morton (percussion).

Their sound has been described as a mix of southern rock, swamp pop and New Orleans R&B. They have released five studio albums: Take Good Care (2018), Men Amongst Mountains (2015), City of Sound (2013), The Revivalists EP
(2010) and Vital Signs EP (2009). Their single “Wish I Knew You” topped the US Adult Alternative Songs chart in 2016.

The Paper Kites – On the Train

The Paper Kites are an Australian band who had their breakout moment with the song “On the Train” in 2012. The track is a beautiful, wistful folk song with country and rockabilly influences. It’s the kind of song that makes you feel like you’re on a long journey, looking out the window at the passing scenery. The band has continued to releasing excellent music, and their latest album, On the Line, is one of the best electric folk albums of 2020.