folk
what it is
Folk music can have a number of different meanings, including: Traditional music: The original meaning of the term "folk music" was synonymous with the term "Traditional music", also often including Roots music; the term "Traditional music" was given its more specific meaning to distinguish it from the other definitions that "Folk music" is now considered to encompass. Folk music can also describe a particular kind of popular music which is based on traditional music. In contemporary times, this kind of folk music is often performed by professional musicians.
✦ start here: albums
✦ who's making it, level by level
level 1 · mainstream
the pop everyone knows
level 2 · the door
big names with a sharper edge
level 3 · one step out
cult favorites and indie darlings
level 4 · further
art pop, hyperpop, and the underground
✦ make folk a playlist
turn these 40 artists into something you can press play on.
✦ nearby genres
questions
What is folk?
Folk music can have a number of different meanings, including: Traditional music: The original meaning of the term "folk music" was synonymous with the term "Traditional music", also often including Roots music; the term "Traditional music" was given its more specific meaning to distinguish it from the other definitions that "Folk music" is now considered to encompass. Folk music can also describe a particular kind of popular music which is based on traditional music. In contemporary times, this kind of folk music is often performed by professional musicians.
What are good folk albums to start with?
Try Another Side of Bob Dylan by Bob Dylan, The Shepherd's Dog by Iron & Wine, Peaceful, The World Lays Me Down by Noah and the Whale, and Colour Green by Sibylle Baier.
Who are some women making folk?
musicisforgirls.com/genres/folk/girls lists women, non-binary artists, and bands with women making folk, from mainstream to underground.
genre notes from last.fm listeners · artists and albums from last.fm, updated 2026-10-19