Top Folk Music Bands of 2013
Discover the top folk music bands of 2013, according to NPR. From The Lumineers to Mumford & Sons, find out which bands are making waves in the folk music scene.
The Lumineers
The Lumineers are an American folk rock band based in Denver, Colorado. The band’s members are Wesley Schultz on guitar and lead vocals, Jeremiah Fraites on drums and Neyla Pekarek on cello and vocals. The Lumineers formed in 2005 in Ramsey, New Jersey. Fraites and Schultz first met as honor students at Wesleyan University. Pekarek was later recruited after posting a Craigslist ad seeking a cellist for the band in 2010.
The band released their self-titled debut album in 2012. The album peaked at number 2 on the Billboard 200 chart in the United States and was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). It included the single “Ho Hey”, which charted at number 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, and “Stubborn Love”, which peaked at number 2 on the Alternative Songs chart.
In 2013, The Lumineers won two Grammy Awards for Best Americana Album and Best American Roots Song for “Ho Hey”.
Mumford and Sons
Mumford and Sons is a British folk rock band. The band consists of Marcus Mumford, Ben Lovett, Winston Marshall and Ted Dwane. The band’s debut album, Sigh No More, was released in 2009 and peaked at number two on the UK Albums Chart and has been certified triple platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America. The album entered the Billboard 200 at number 16 in February 2010 and peaked at number two a year later.
The group’s second album, Babel, was released in 2012 to similar success; it topped the charts in several countries (including the US and UK) and was nominated for the Album of the Year Grammy Award. Mumford & Sons have won several awards throughout their career, including four Grammy Awards (Glastonbury 2011), a Brit Award for Best British Group (2013), an American Music Award for Favorite Alternative Artist (2013) as well as many others.
The Avett Brothers
The Avett Brothers are an American folk rock band formed in 2000 in Concord, North Carolina. The band is made up of two brothers, Scott Avett and Seth Avett, who play the guitar and banjo respectively. The Avett Brothers are known for their unique blend of folk, bluegrass, country, pop, and rock music. In 2013, the Avett Brothers released their seventh studio album, “Magpie and the Dandelion,” which peaked at #5 on the Billboard 200 chart.
The Head and the Heart
The Head and the Heart is an American indie folk band from Seattle, Washington. The band was formed in the summer of 2009 by Josiah Johnson (vocals, guitar, percussion) and Jonathan Russell (vocals, guitar, percussion). The group also includes charity rose Thielen (violin, vocals), Chris Zasche (bass), Tyler Williams (drums), and Kenny Hensley (piano).
The Civil Wars
The Civil Wars were an American musical duo composed of singer-songwriters Joy Williams and John Paul White. The duo’s debut album, Barton Hollow, released in 2011, reached number twelve on the Billboard 200, and won the Grammy Award for Best Folk Album at the 54th Grammy Awards. Their second album, Unruly Mess, was released in 2013.
