Folk Singer-Songwriter

History

A durable bridge between classic singer-songwriter pop and more tradition-conscious folk, this lane has sheltered artists whose songs feel handmade, durable, and conversational. Townes Van Zandt, John Prine, Patty Griffin, Dar Williams, Lori McKenna, and Anaïs Mitchell represent different corners of the tradition, from hushed reflection to narrative, community-minded, and literate modern writing.

Defining artists

• Townes Van ZandtSpotifyYouTube
• John PrineSpotifyYouTube
• Patty GriffinSpotifyYouTube
• Dar WilliamsSpotifyYouTube
• Lori McKennaSpotifyYouTube
• Anaïs MitchellSpotifyYouTube

Essential listening

• If I Needed You — Townes Van ZandtSpotifyYouTube
• Hello in There — John PrineSpotifyYouTube
• Mary — Patty GriffinSpotifyYouTube
• The Christians and the Pagans — Dar WilliamsSpotifyYouTube
• People Get Old — Lori McKennaSpotifyYouTube
• Young Man in America — Anaïs MitchellSpotifyYouTube

Sources

• Encyclopaedia Britannica, "Folk music"
• Encyclopaedia Britannica, "Singer-songwriters"
• Library of Congress, "Coffeehouses: Folk Music, Culture, and Counterculture"
• MasterClass, "Folk Music Artists: A Brief History of Folk Music." citeturn0search0turn1search0turn0search2turn2search0