R - S

The folk section covers a broad spectrum of mostly American folk (traditional and contemporary), folk-rock, singer-songwriter and indie recordings. Primarily, you can expect to find music which strikes at the heart of the folk tradition, where we spotlight innovative songwriters and performers who've laid the groundwork for the great folk tradition and who help to maintain that tradition today.

You'll find acoustic music here, as well as bands playing traditional music with electric guitars and bands playing new music on traditional instruments. Old-style folk meets rock 'n' roll, rockabilly and other stuff with its roots in folk traditions. Explore this section to find a tasty selection of musical possibilities.

While some people argue that "folk music" is by definition limited solely to traditional pieces, we have been reminded by others that songwriting itself is a proud tradition. If new music isn't being written and performed to expand the dog-eared playbook, those old songs are in danger of becoming hackneyed and worn-out cliches.

For folk music from the Canadian Maritimes, look here.

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Terry Radigan
• Radigan (2000)

Joel Rafael Band
• Woodyboye: Songs of Woody Guthrie (And Tales Worth Telling), Volume II (2005)

Raffi
• Raffi's Box of Sunshine (2000)
• Let's Play! (2002)

Craig Rafuse
• Promise Land (2001)

The Rainbow Chorus
• Beginnings (2000)

Dave Ramont
• Scrawny (2000)

Allen Ramsey
• Allen Ramsey (2004)

The Rankin Family
• The Rankin Family (1989)
• Fare Thee Well Love (1990)
• North Country (1993)
• Collection (1996)

Jimmy Rankin
• Song Dog (2001)
• Handmade (2003)

Raylene Rankin
• Lambs in Spring (2003)

The Rankins
• Uprooted (1999)

Rasa
• Devotion (2000)
• Neoprehistoric (2001)

Dale Rasmussen
• Raven's Wing (2004)

Joe Rathburn
• Rockwells & Picassos (2001)

Susan Raven
• Glittering Cities (1999)

Rawlins Cross
• Living River (1996)
• Make It On Time (1998)

Ray's Vast Basement
• By a River Burning Blue (2003)

The Reach Around Rodeo Clowns
• Whip It Out! (1997)

Rebel Voices
• A Piece of the Wall (1998)

Reckless Pedestrian
• Delirious Cocktail (1996)

Reclaiming & Friends (with Starhawk)
• Let It Begin Now (1992)

Redbird
• Redbird (2005)

Leon Redbone
• Red to Blue (1987)
• No Regrets (1988)
• Whistling in the Wind (1994)
• Christmas Island (2003)

Red Rooster
• Dose (2005)

Redshell
• Redshell (2003)

Dan Reeder
• Sweetheart (2006)

The Reel & Soul Association
• The Reel & Soul Association (2002)

Colin Reid
• Tilt (2001)

Harvey Reid
• In Person (1997)
• Fruit on the Vine (1998)
• Guitar Voyages (2000)

Robin Renee
• In Progress (2000)

Russ Rentler
• Acoustic Minstrel (2004)
• Scarecrow's Lament (2006)

The Revels
• The Christmas Revels (1998)
• The Washington Revels: Behold That Star! An American Song Quilt (2001)

Jessica Rhaye
• Jessica Rhaye (2000)

Lisa Richards
• Not Quite So Low (1997)

Kim Richey
• Glimmer (1999)

Jennifer Richman
• Flowers of Gold (2006)

Jonathan Richman
• Action Packed: The Best of Jonathan Richman (2002)

Richmond Fontaine
• Post to Wire (2003)
• The Fitzgerald (2005)

Riders in the Sky
• Christmas the Cowboy Way (1999)

Steve Riley & the Mamou Playboys
• Happytown (2001)
• Bon Reve (2003)

The Steve Riley Band
• Miles from Nowhere (2002)

Jim Ringer & Mary McCaslin
• The Bramble & the Rose (2000)

Jean Ritchie & Paul Clayton
• American Folk Tales & Songs (1956/2006)

A.J. Roach
• Revelation (2007)

The Robber Barons
• Kerosene Communion (2006)

Mae Robertson
• All Through the Night: Lullabies & Love Songs, with Don Jackson (1995)
• The Sun Upon the Lake is Low, with Don Jackson (1997)
• Sweet Dreams of Home, with Eric Garrison (1999)
• Stone by Stone (2000)
• Smile (2002)

Marie Roche
• Roomfull of Noise (2004)

Rockwell Church
• Rockwell Church (1998)

Carrie Rodriguez
• Seven Angels on a Bicycle (2006)

Garnet Rogers
• Off the Map, with Archie Fisher (1985)

Marti Rogers
• Plain & Fancy (2004)

Stan Rogers
• Fogarty's Cove (1977)
• From Fresh Water (1984)
• One Warm Line: The Legacy of Stan Rogers (1989)
• Home in Halifax (1992)
• From Coffee House to Concert Hall (1999)

Joe Rohan
• These Days (2005)

Ruben Romero & Robert Notkoff
• Christmas in Santa Fe (1999)

Linda Ronstadt & Ann Savoy
• Adieu False Heart (2006)

Biff Rose
• E-Stir Pa-Raid (2003)

Clarelynn Rose
• Elegant Tern (2002)
• Meadow Run (2004)

Stacie Rose
• This is Mine (2002)
• Shadow & Splendor (2005)

Tim Rose
• The London Sessions 1978-1998 (2003)

Phil Rosenthal
• This Land Is Your Land: Favorite American Folk Songs (1999)
• Folksongs & Bluegrass for Children (2000)
• A Folk Song Christmas (2001)
• Folk Song Lullabies (2001)

Don Ross
• Robot Monster (2003)

Joe Ross & Friends
• The Crazy Zoo: An Animal Songfest (2000)

Chris Rosser
• Hidden Everywhere (2006)

Adam Michael Rothberg
• All the Whispering (2001)

David Rovics
• Return (2003)

Xavier Rudd
• Food in the Belly (2007)

Brian Rudy & the Architects
• Divided Man (1999)

Tom Russell
• Borderland (2001)
• Modern Art (2003)

The Rusticators
• The Rusticators (2002)
• Talking with the Dead (2004)

Duane Rutter
• Waiting Room (2007)

Rich Ryan & Kat Del Rio
• Sol Feather (1993)

Janet Saadian
• Weather the Storm (2001)

Mando Saenz
• Watertown (2004)

Rachael Sage
• Ballads & Burlesque (2004)

Salamander Crossing
• Bottleneck Dreams (1998)

The Salt Miners
• Dressed for Excess (2006)

Les Sampou
• Les Sampou (1999)

Gordie Sampson
• Stones (1998)
• Sunburn (2004)

Lisa Sandell
• Little Reason (2003)

Laura Satterfield
• Walela, with Rita & Priscilla Coolidge (1997)
• Dirty Velvet Lie (2000)

Tom Savage
• Brand of Sympathy (2001)

Karen Savoca
• Here We Go (1999)

Tanya Savory
• Where We Live (2002)

Garrett Sawyer
• Anthem (2001)

Scarlett, Washington & Whiteley
• Sitting on a Rainbow (2003)

Andy Scheinman
• Make Amends (1999)

Bob Schneider
• Lonelyland (2000)

Steve Schuch
• Trees of Life: Songs of Friendship & the Earth (2002)

Eric Schwartz
• That's How It's Going to Be (1999)
• Pleading the First: Songs My Mother Hates (2000)

Gina Scipione
• Destino (2002)

The Scoldees
• Nightcap World (2003)

Darrell Scott
• Theatre of the Unheard (2003)

Shane Scott
• Gingerbread House (2004)

Zoe Scott
• Beautiful to Be Alive (2007)

The Sea Monkeys
• Waiting for the Flood (2001)

John Sebastian
• John B. Sebastian (1970/2006)

John Sebastian & David Grisman
• Satisfied (2007)

Secondsight
• Secondsight (2002)

Peggy Seeger
• Heading for Home (2003)
• Classic Scots Ballads, with Ewan MacColl (2005)
• Love Call Me Home (2005)
• Three Score & Ten (2007)

Pete Seeger
• Precious Friend, with Arlo Guthrie (1990)
• Where Have All the Flowers Gone: The Songs of Pete Seeger (1998)
• If I Had a Song: The Songs of Pete Seeger, Vol. 2 (2001)
• Seeds: The Songs of Pete Seeger, Vol. 3 (2003)

Sid Selvidge
• A Little Bit of Rain (2003)
• Live at Otherlands (2005)

Sensible Tom
• Acoustic Caravan (2003)

Serah
• Late Harvest (2002)

The Seventh Triangle
• TOWA (2003)

Charlie Sexton & Shannon McNally
• Southside Sessions (2006)

Colleen Sexton
• Greatest Find (2003)

Jason Shain
• Here I Am (2002)
• Sooner or Later (2004)

Eleanor Shanley
• Eleanor Shanley (2003)
• Another Day's Journey, with Ivan Leparr (2004)
• El Amor De Mi Vida (The Love of My Life), with Ronnie Drew (2006)

Pamela Wyn Shannon
• Nature's Bride (2001)

The Shards
• Beggar's Road (2001)

Christopher Shaw
• Adirondack Serenade (2000)

Lauren Sheehan
• Some Old Lonesome Day (2003)

Cosy Sheridan
• Live at CedarHouse (2006)

The Shiftless Rounders
• Places (2006)

Richard Shindell
• Somewhere Near Paterson (2000)
• South of Delia (2007)

Shirae
• Tiger's Island (2003)

Keri Shore
• Finally (2003)

Show of Hands
• Cold Frontier (2001)

Jane Siberry
• Hush (2000)
• City (2001)

Rob Siegel
• Voices from the Right Brain: Live at Club Passim (2004)

Arielle Silver
• 3 Minute Song (1999)

Elaine Silver
• Faerie Goddess (1997)
• Divine Favorites (1999)
• AH-Leluia (2004)
• Faeries are Gathering (2007)

Jerry Silverman & Wayne Ebersen
• Ballads & Songs of the Civil War (1993)

Silver, Wood & Ivory
• Autumn Air (2005)

Liz Simcock
• Seven Sisters Road (2001)

Lisa Simpson
• Steeping Orion (2001)

Martin Simpson
• The Bramble Briar (2001)
• Kind Letters (2006)
• Prodigal Son (2007)

Shane Simpson
• More Electric (2002)

Sirens
• Smilin' (2000)

Sisters Euclid
• Run Neil Run (2006)

Sheryl Skye
• Ripple (1999)

The Skylighters
• The Skylighters (2006)

The Slackers
• Close My Eyes (2003)

Vivian Slade
• Vivian Slade (1999)

Helen Slater
• One of These Days (2003)

Sarah Slean
• Universe (1998)
• Blue Parade (1999)

Langhorne Slim
• When the Sun's Gone Down (2005)

Tannis Slimmon
• Oak Lake (2001)

Judy Small
• Never Turning Back (1998)

Moira Smiley & VOCO
• Blink (2006)

Andrew Smith
• Escape Velocity (2005)

Christina Smith & Jean Hewson
• Like Ducks! (1998)
• August Gale (2006)

Christopher Smith
• Gravedigger's Boy (2007)

Darden Smith
• Sunflower (2002)
• Circo (2004)

Debi Smith
• More Than Once (1998)

Doug B. Smith
• Diving for Pearls (1998)
• A Slight Remove (2002)

Elliott Smith
• From a Basement on the Hill (2004)

Erica Smith
• Erica Smith (2001)

Gerard Smith
• Hamtramck: Heaven (2000)

Hobart Smith
• Blue Ridge Legacy (2001)

Hollie Smith
• Light from a Distant Shore (1999)

James Coberly Smith
• Cocomo (2001)

Laura Smith
• Laura Smith (1989/95)
• B'tween the Earth & My Soul (1994)
• It's a Personal Thing (1997)

Mindy Smith
• One Moment More (2004)
• My Holiday (2007)

Chris Smither
• Live As I'll Ever Be (2000)

Smithfield Fair
• Winds of Time (2004)
• Walking Through This World (2006)

Andy Smythe
• Love Unspoken (2002)
• Last Throes of Summer (2005)

Snakes in Exile
• Second Skin (1998)

Bob Snider
• Stealin' Home (2002)

The Snow Angels
• Holidays in Harmony (2001)

Sara Softich
• Pipe Dream (2006)

Charlie Sohmer
• The Kiss Before the Calm (2000)
• Dying to Have a Good Time (2007)

Solomon
• Not Life Threatening (2002)

Lenny Solomon
• Armando's Pie (2004)

Lenny Solomon Band
• Maybe Today (2007)

Jamie Solow
• Riddles (2002)

Naomi Sommers
• Flying Through (2002)

SONiA
• No Bomb is Smart (2004)

Sons of Maxwell
• The Neighbourhood (1998)
• Sailors Story (1999)
• Among the Living (2001)
• Instant Christmas (2001)

Sons of the Never Wrong
• One If By Hand (2000)

The Sorry Muthas
• Greatest Hits Vol. 3 (2007)

So's Your Mom
• Common Ground (2002)

Soulhat
• Experiment on a Flat Plane (2000)

Sour Grapes
• Divine Grind (2003)

Minton Sparks
• Middlin' Sisters (2001)
• This Dress (2002)
• Sin Sick (2005)

Amy Speace
• Fable (2002)
• Songs for Bright Street (2006)

The SpeedBoys
• That's What I Like (1981)
• Look What Love's Done to Me Now (1983)

Amilia K. Spicer
• Seamless (2003)

Spirit of the West
• Save This House (1990)
• Open Heart Symphony (1996)

Jen Spool
• Soul Threads (2006)

Rick Spreitzer
• Meanderthal (2003)

Bruce Springsteen
• Live in Dublin (2007)

Devon Sproule
• Keep Your Silver Shined (2007)

Squeezebox Stompers
• Squeezebox Stompers (2006)

Garrison Starr
• The Sound of You & Me (2006)

The Stationary Willberries
• Folk & Blues (2003)

Jennie Stearns
• Mourning Dove Songs (2000)

Adam Stemple
• 3 Solid Blows to the Head (1999)

Mark Stepakoff
• There Goes the Neighborhood (2006)

Al Stewart
• The First Album (1967)
• Love Chronicles (1969)
• A Beach Full of Shells (2005)

John Stewart
• The Day the River Sang (2006)

Stir Fried
• Last of the Blue Diamond Miners (2000)

Andy Stochansky
• Five Star Motel (2002)

Storyhill
• Storyhill (2007)

Mike Strasser
• Alienation Cafe (2004)

Strawbs
• Deja Fou (2004)
• Painted Sky (2005)

Terry Strongheart Band
• Tears (2001)

Suil
• L'annmoor (2006)

Jim Sulher & Monkey Beat
• Bad Juju (2001)
• Starvation Box: The Best of Jim Suhler & Monkey Beat (2003)

Derek Swain
• Simple Things (1998)

Kristin Sweetland
• Root, Heart & Crown (2002)

Ember Swift
• Disarming (2004)

Swill & the Swaggerband
• The Day After (2004)
• Doh, Ray, Me-Me-Me-Me-Me (2006)
• Elvis Lives Here (2006)

Swingin' Amiss
• Speakeasy (2005)

The Swing States Road Show
• Housecleaning (2006)