The International Folk Music Awards You Need to Know About
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The International Folk Music Awards are a great way to get your music noticed on a global scale. Here’s everything you need to know about them!
The Awards
The International Folk Music Awards were created in 2001 by the Folk Alliance International. The awards are given to musicians who have made a significant contribution to the genre of folk music. There are many different categories of awards, and the nominees are voted on by a panel of experts.
What is the International Folk Music Awards?
Presented annually by the Folk Alliance International, the International Folk Music Awards honor achievement in folk, roots and world music. The awards are voted on by a community of folk music professionals from around the world and are given in 14 categories, including Artist, Album and Song of the Year. Additionally, a Lifetime Achievement Award is presented to an individual or group who has made significant contributions to the genre throughout their career.
Who is eligible to vote?
The rules for eligibility are as follows:
-To be eligible to vote, a person must have been actively involved in the international folk music community for at least two years.
-Active involvement is defined as having performed, taught, organized or presented international folk music on a professional or semiprofessional basis during the two years preceding the year of the awards.
-Voting is limited to one vote per person.
-Only those ballots postmarked by the deadline will be accepted.
What are the categories?
The Folk Alliance International Folk Music Awards are presented every year to honor artists, albums, radio programs, venues, and individuals who have made significant contributions to the folk music world. The awards are given in a variety of categories, including:
-Artist of the Year
-Album of the Year
-Song of the Year
-New Artist of the Year
-Traditional Artist of the Year
-Instrumentalist of the Year
-Ensemble of the Year
-Record Label of the Year
-Producer of the Year
Program Director/DJ of the Year
Radio Station of the Year
The Winners
The annual International Folk Music Awards, also known as the Folkies, were created in 1967 to recognize the best in folk music. This year’s winners were announced at a ceremony in New York City on February 15, 2019. The nominees are chosen by a panel of folk music experts, and the winners are voted on by the general public. This year’s winners included some familiar faces and some new voices in the folk music world.
Best Album
Each year, the International Folk Music Awards are presented to honor the best of the best in folk music. From Album of the Year to Best Traditional Folk Album, these awards celebrate the genre and its many talented artists.
This year, the awards were presented at a ceremony in Nashville, Tennessee. Below are some of the winners in key categories.
Best Album: California Native by Ten Francs
Best Traditional Folk Album: The World is a Great Big Ball by Dolly Parton
Best Song: “Rise Up” by Ten Francs
Best Contemporary Folk Album: My Love Will Keep by Kathy Mattea
Best Artist
The International Folk Music Awards recognize the best in folk music from around the world. This year’s winners were announced at a ceremony in Kansas City, Missouri, on February 15, 2020.
The award for Best Artist went to Irish singer-songwriter Dermot Kennedy. Kennedy is best known for his hit single “Outnumbered,” which was released in 2019. He has been described as “one of the most promising new voices in folk music.”
The award for Best Album went to The Secret Sisters for their self-titled album. The Secret Sisters are an American country music duo consisting of sisters Laura and Lydia Rogers. Their self-titled album was released in September 2019.
The award for Best Song went to “I Will Follow You” by Canadian singer-songwriter Danny Michel. Michel is a Juno Award-winning singer-songwriter who has released thirteen albums over the course of his career. “I Will Follow You” is from his most recent album,khōrākhōē, which was released in 2019.
Best Song
The best song was evaluated on the criteria of originality, composition, rhythm, and melody. The winner is “I Can’t Stop Loving You” by Jackson Browne.
