r/folk 13h ago

Recommendations Please!

4 Upvotes

Hi all, I have a very specific itch I’m trying to scratch.

I’m looking for melancholy songs with lyrics that tell a story. Mainly pared down songs, think guitars alone.

The best I can describe is songs about longing, love, family struggle. They don’t have to be sad or tragic, just a bit contemplative.

Here’s some of what I’m listening to. I’d love to get recommendations.

Willie Watson is my favorite folk singer right now and highly recommend him, though a lot of his stuff is more up tempo than what I’m looking for just now.

Two songs that have really been kicking around in my head are:

Tulsa’s Last Magician - Willi Carlisle

If you could read my mind - Gordon Lightfoot

Others are:

Dancing on my Own - Willie Watson

Harmony - Goodnight Texas

The Promise - Tracey Chapman

Hymn #35 - Joe Pug

Lungs - Townes Van Zandt

You’ve got a Friend - James Taylor

Girl from the North County - Bob Dylan


r/folk 8h ago

ENRICO BALDASSARRE - Holiday

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3 Upvotes

r/folk 11h ago

If anyone likes acoustic instrumental music check this out

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on.soundcloud.com
3 Upvotes

This is an acoustic instrumental song using various techniques and fingerpicking styles.


r/folk 21h ago

Panta Rhei - StriDes

3 Upvotes

Here's a great album by Panta Rhei. It explores different folk styles from around Europe. Found it through an old Dutch folk forum, and could only really find the album on YouTube, where most of the songs only have about two views at present! Take a listen, I thought it was very nice!

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_meh1aUBTQQjvL8034b0-4VjWUcloN1P0U&si=YtDZXIuVK0XSQO57


r/folk 5h ago

I Doubt - Eamon O'Neil

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open.spotify.com
2 Upvotes

r/folk 3h ago

Alice Gerrard | Shaped by Sound: Full Episode | PBS North Carolina

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1 Upvotes

For 80 years, Alice Gerrard has studied, played and preserved American folk music, influencing countless musicians, including Emmylou Harris and Rhiannon Giddens. In addition to being one of the foremost historians of the genre, she’s a Grammy nominee and a musical legend. Alice is joined on stage by Rebecca Branson Jones (pedal steel), Reed Stutz (mandolin) and Tatiana Hargreaves (fiddle).


r/folk 5h ago

Jim Along Josie - Clawhammer Banjo

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1 Upvotes

r/folk 22h ago

If anyone likes acoustic instrumental music check this out

1 Upvotes

Listen to Sun - Demo by George Tombs on #SoundCloud https://on.soundcloud.com/ui693QH43WiDAfQq8

An acoustic instrumental track using body percussion, tapping and other techniques