The Top Folk Music Artists of 2020

It’s been a big year for folk music! Here are some of the top artists that you should be listening to in 2020.

Introducing the Top Folk Music Artists of 2020

The folk music scene has been steadily growing in popularity in recent years, with more and more people becoming interested in this unique and charming genre. If you’re looking to get into folk music, or just want to know who the top artists are, then this list is for you. Here are the top folk music artists of 2020:

1. Billy Strings

2. Molly Tuttle

3. The Brother Brothers

4. The High Kings

5. Dervish

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 guitar and banjo respectively, as well as Bob Crawford who plays double bass. The Avetts released their debut album country wasp in 2001. In 2003, they released their second album a CAROLINA JAMBOREE which featured the song “Swept Away”, which has become a live staple for the band. The band’s fourth album, EMOTIONALISM, was released in 2007 and reached #16 on the Billboard 200 chart. In 2009, the Avett Brothers released their fifth album I AND LOVE AND YOU which debuted at #16 on the Billboard 200 and was named by Rolling Stone as one of the top 50 albums of the year. The band’s most recent album, MAGPIE AND THE DANDELION, was released in 2013 and debuted at #5 on the Billboard 200.

Bon Iver

Formed in 2006 by singer-songwriter Justin Vernon, Bon Iver’s first album, For Emma, Forever Ago, was released in 2007 to critical acclaim. The album was written and recorded during a particularly difficult period in Vernon’s life, after he’d spent three months isolated in a cabin in Wisconsin. The result was an intimate and introspective collection of songs that drew heavily from Vernon’s personal experiences.

In the years since, Bon Iver has become one of the most acclaimed indie folk bands in the world, winning two Grammy Awards and touring extensively. The band’s sound has evolved over time, incorporating elements of electronica and experimentalism into their trademark folksy sound. But at the heart of it all is Justin Vernon’s stirring songwriting, which has made Bon Iver one of the most beloved bands of the 21st century.

The Head and the Heart

The Head and the Heart is an American indie folk band from Seattle, Washington. The group is composed of Josiah Johnson (vocals, guitar, percussion), Jonathan Russell (vocals, guitar, harmonica), Charity Rose Thielen (violin, vocals), Chris Zasche (bass), Kenny Hensley (piano), and Tyler Williams (drums). The band’s self-titled debut album was released on Digital Beg Records in 2010, and they signed to Sub Pop Records in 2012. The group has released three studio albums, the most recent being Signs of Light in 2016.

Lake Street Dive

Lake Street Dive is an American band that formed in 2004 in Boston, Massachusetts. The group comprises Rachael Price (lead vocals), Michael “Mac” McCurdy (trumpet), Bridget Kearney (bass guitar, upright bass), and Mike “McDuck” Olson (guitar, banjo). The band’s name originates from a street with many dive bars in Minneapolis, where the band members used to play. They have released six studio albums: In my Neighborhood (2012), Bad Self Portraits (2014), Side Pony (2016), Free Yourself Up (2018) and obviously Lake Street Dive (2020).

The band is known for their lounge and soulful sound which has been praised by fans and critics alike. The group has toured extensively over the past few years, playing at venues and festivals across the United States and Europe.

Nathaniel Rateliff

Nathaniel Rateliff is an American singer and songwriter from Missouri. He has released three solo studio albums and is a founding member of the folk rock band Nathaniel Rateliff & the Nightsweats. His latest album, Tearing at the Seams, was released in 2018 to critical acclaim.

Passenger

Passenger is a British folk rock band formed in 2003. The band has released eight studio albums and three EPs, and their ninth studio album, Sometimes It’s Something, Sometimes It’s Nothing at All, is set for release in 2020. The band is currently composed of Mike Rosenberg (lead vocals, guitar), Andrew Phillips (bass), David Ryan (keyboards), Rich Ward (drums), and Josh Crowther-Green (mandolin).

Passenger first rose to prominence with the release of their second album, Whispers, in 2007. The album was a commercial success in Europe, reaching number one in the Netherlands and number two in both Belgium and Switzerland. It also peaked at number five on the UK Albums Chart. The lead single from the album, “Let Her Go”, became an international hit, reaching number one in several countries, including Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand and the United Kingdom.

Rodrigo y Gabriela

This Mexico-based acoustic guitar duo has been described as a “frenetic flamenco-meets-metal fusion.” Rodrigo and Gabriela met while playing in a heavy metal band in Mexico City, and they later toured as part of Shakira’s band. They released their first album in 2006, and they have since released five more studio albums. Their most recent album, “Mettavolution,” was released in 2019 and peaked at No. 1 on the Billboard World Music charts.

The War and Treaty

The War and Treaty are an American folk music duo from Yellow Spring, Ohio, United States. The group is composed of Michael and Tanya Trotter, who married in 2008. The couple met while Michael was serving in the Iraq War; they began writing songs together while he was on active duty. After his discharge, the couple moved to Tanya’s hometown of Yellow Springs, where they began performing as The War and Treaty. They have released two albums, Down to the River (2017) and Healing Tide (2018).

We Banjo 3

We Banjo 3 hail from Galway, Ireland, and if you close your eyes while listening to their music, you can almost imagine being transported to the Emerald Isle. The band is made up of two pairs of brothers – Enda and Fergus McPartland, and Martin and David Howley – who share a love of traditional Irish music.Their sound is a unique blend of traditional Irish, bluegrass, and old-time music, played on a variety of instruments including the banjo, fiddle, mandolin, guitar, and bodhran.

Founding member Enda McPartland says that the band’s goal is to bring the joy of traditional Irish music to as many people as possible. “It’s music that makes you happy,” he says. “It makes you want to get up and dance.”

And that’s exactly what We Banjo 3’s music does. It’s upbeat and fun, with just enough of a Celtic flavor to make you feel like you’re in Ireland – even if you’re not.

So if you’re looking for a dose of Irish happiness, give We Banjo 3 a listen. You won’t be disappointed.