International Folk Music Awards
35 years after Indigo Girls won a Grammy for best contemporary folk recording for their eponymous debut album, the duo will receive a lifetime achievement award at The International Folk Music Awards. The awards show will take place in Montreal on Feb. 19, the first night of the Folk Alliance International (FAI) Conference.
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The duo, consisting of Amy Ray and Emily Saliers, received a second Grammy nod 35 years ago – best new artist. They lost to a flashier duo, Milli Vanilli, whose award was later revoked on the grounds that they didn’t perform on their album, a charge never leveled against Indigo Girls, who went on to receive five more nods for best contemporary folk recording.
Lifetime achievement awards will also be granted to Lesley Riddle, the African-American musician who gathered songs for the Carter Family with patriarch A.P. Carter and taught Mother Maybelle Carter guitar techniques; and Songlines magazine which is celebrating 25 years of covering global roots music.
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Flamy Grant, Sarah Jarosz, Kaïa Kater, Nick Lowe, Crys Matthews and Allison Russell are competing for artist of the year. Kater is also in the running for album of the year for Strange Medicine, which features guest spots by Allison Russell, Aoife O’Donovan, and Taj Mahal.
Two of the other album of the year nominees, Aoife O’Donovan’s All My Friends and Sierra Ferrell’s Trail of Flowers, are current Grammy nominees. All My Friends is nominated for best folk album; Trail of Flowers for best Americana album. All My Friends was inspired by the passage of the 19th amendment and the evolving landscape of women’s rights in America over the past century.
New recordings released between Oct. 1, 2023 and Sept. 30, 2024 were eligible in the best-of-the-year categories (song, album, and artist).
The People’s Voice Award, which is presented to an individual who unabashedly embraces social and political commentary in their creative work and public careers, will be presented to Gina Chavez.
OKAN, the women-led, Afro-Cuban roots and jazz duo, will be honored with The Rising Tide Award.
The Spirit of Folk Awards will be presented to: Tom Power, Canadian musician and broadcaster, best known as the host of *Q* on CBC Radio One and a member of the folk band, The Dardanelles; Alice Randall, a songwriter whose songs have been recorded by Johnny Cash (among others) and founder of production company Midsummer Music; longtime Folk Alliance Region Midwest pillar Annie Capps; and Quebec’s Innu Nikamu festival, which has exemplified commitment to the promotion and preservation of Indigenous culture for more than 30 years.
The Clearwater Award is presented to a festival that prioritizes environmental stewardship and demonstrates public leadership in sustainable event production. This year’s award will go to the River Roads Festival in Easthampton, MA.
The Awards take place on the first night of FAI’s 37th annual conference, which takes place February 19-23, 2025. The conference will be held at Montreal’s Queen Elizabeth Hotel, site of John Lennon and Yoko Ono’s famous 1969 Bed-In for Peace. All conference attendees will have access to attend the IFMAs.
Here are the nominations in the three “Best of 2024” categories plus this year’s special award winners.
Artist of the Year
Flamy GrantSarah JaroszKaïa KaterNick LoweCrys MatthewsAllison Russell
Album of the Year
Sierra Ferrell, Trail of Flowers (Rounder Records)The Heart Collectors, The Space Between (Spins the Gold Records)Kaïa Kater, Strange Medicine (Free Dirt Records)Aoife O’Donovan, All My Friends (Yep Roc Records)Ordinary Elephant – Ordinary Elephant (Berkalin Records)Susan Werner, Halfway to Houston (self-released)
Song of the Year
“Tenzin Sings with Nightingales,” written by Tenzin Choegyal, performed by Tenzin Choegyal and Michael Askill“How I Long for Peace,” written by Abena Koomson-Davis, Peggy Seeger, Rhiannon Giddens, performed by Rhiannon Giddens, Crys Matthews, and the Resistance Revival Chorus“Woman Who Pays,” written and performed Connie Kaldor“$20 Bill (for George Floyd),” written by Tom Prasada-Rao, performed by Dan Navarro & Janiva Magness“Ukrainian Now,” written and performed by Tom Paxton & John McCutcheon“Love Letters,” written by Julian Taylor, Tyler James Ellis, performed by Julian Taylor
Lifetime Achievement Award – Living: Indigo Girls
Lifetime Achievement Award – Legacy: Leslie Riddle
Lifetime Achievement Award – Business: Songlines Magazine
People’s Voice: Gina Chavez
Rising Tide: OKAN
Clearwater Award: River Roads Festival (Easthampton, Mass.)
Spirit of Folk: Tom Powers, Alice Randall, Annie Capps, Innu Nikamu festival
Folk Radio DJ Hall of Fame Inductees: Archie Fisher (BBC Scotland), Mary Sue Twohy (SIRIUS XM), Taylor Caffrey (WRKF-FM, Baton Rouge, La.), Matthew Finch (posthumous, KUNM-FM, Albuquerque, N.M.), Chuck Wentworth (posthumous, WRIU-FM, Rhode Island)
Less than three weeks after winning the Grammy for best bluegrass album for City of Gold, Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway won album of the year for that same Nonesuch release at the 2024 International Folk Music Awards. The awards were presented at the Westin Crown Center Hotel in Kansas City, Missouri, on Wednesday (Feb. 21), which was the first day of the Folk Alliance International (FAI) Conference. The event, now in its 36th year, continues through Sunday (Feb. 25).
Tuttle, who won in the same category last year for Crooked Tree, accepted her award remotely, saying, “I feel so lucky to be part of this folk music community. I draw so much inspiration from the folk tradition when I was writing this album. I imagined these songs being played by folks around the campfire. Music really is my City of Gold.”
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Billy Strings won entertainer of the year. “I’m incredibly honored,” he said. “The fact that my name even comes up in conversation with the other nominees just blows my mind. I made so many great friends at FAI in 2013-14 when I was ripping showcases and pickin’ all up and down them hallways and hotel rooms. I’d like to say thanks to Folk Alliance for giving us artists a place to come together and make lifelong friends, showcase our music, bump elbows, meet the right people, and start to grow our careers in an organic and natural way.”
Strings, who won a Grammy for best bluegrass album three years ago, has spent nearly a year atop Billboard’s Bluegrass Albums chart combining the runs of three of his albums – Home (25 weeks at No. 1), Renewal (nine weeks) and Me/And/Dad (16 weeks). In addition, all three albums received Grammy nominations for best bluegrass album. Home won.
“Workin’ on a World,” written and performed by Iris Dement, won the International Folk Music Award for song of the year.
Tracy Chapman, whose 1988 song “Fast Car” became a pop and country smash in 2023 for Luke Combs, received a lifetime achievement award. Joy Clark performed Chapman’s “Give Me One Reason” in tribute.
Other lifetime achievement award recipients were the late Chilean songwriter and activist Víctor Jara and McCabe’s Guitar Shop in Santa Monica, California, which has been hosting concerts in Southern California for more than 50 years.
Alynda Segarra of Hurray for the Riff Raff received The People’s Voice Award, which is presented to an individual who “unabashedly embraces social and political commentary in their creative work and public careers.”
“I started writing songs as a way to have power in this world,” Segarra said in accepting the award. “I started a band to create a family. Since my first days playing music on the street in New Orleans, I’ve turned to the mysteries of songwriting to document, honor, and defend the people on the outskirts of society. Folk music drew me in because it tells the truth, it disgraces the warmongers, and it defends the innocent. It’s been enlivening to watch folk music become more visibly queer and radical.”
The Rising Tide Award went to Guatemalan songwriter, vocalist and activist Sara Curruchich, who is the first musician to use the Kaqchikel language of her people in popular music for an international audience.
“Being the first Maya singer-songwriter to be recognized with this prestigious award is a dream come true,” Curruchich said in accepting her award. “This award not only represents a personal achievement but is also a step and a testament to the diversity and richness that we, as indigenous artists, bring.”
The Clearwater Award, presented to a festival that prioritizes environmental stewardship and demonstrates public leadership in sustainable event production, went to LEAF Global Arts Festival.
The Spirit of Folk Awards went to Lead Belly Estate’s Terika Dean; Amanda Rheaume, an artist from the Métis Nation of Ontario, Canada; Jim Fleming, founder of the booking agency Fleming Artists; and FAI’s conference director Jerod Rivers.
Newly minted Folk Radio Hall of Famers include Folk Alley’s Linda Fahey; roots music and folk expert Jan Vanderhorst, host of “Just Us Folk,” Mountain Stage founder Larry Groce; Bob Sherman, whose “Woody’s Children” show graced New York City’s airwaves for nearly 55 years; and Celtic music ambassador Brian O’Donovan.
Other performances included The Steel Wheels (also the house band), Kaia Kater singing Odetta’s “Moving It On”; Latin Grammy winner Mireya Ramos singing Victor Jara’s “Manifiesto,” which was first released in 1974, shortly after Jara’s death; and Willie Watson and Malena Cadiz (McCabe’s tribute).
NPR Music and World Cafe live-streamed the awards show.
In a sad sign of the times, a moment of silence was observed at the outset of the evening to acknowledge the shooting that happened across the street at last week’s Super Bowl victory celebration event in Kansas City.
Folk Alliance International interim director Jennifer Roe announced from the stage that next year’s conference will take place Feb. 19-23, 2025, in Montreal, Quebec, Canada at the Queens Elizabeth Hotel, where John Lennon and Yoko Ono recorded “Give Peace a Chance.”
Here are the finalists for the Best of 2023 awards, with winners marked:
Album of the year
Amatssou – Tinariwen (Wedge Records)
WINNER: City of Gold – Molly Tuttle and Golden Highway (Nonesuch)
False Lankum – Lankum (Rough Trade)
Stand in the Joy – William Prince (Six Shooter Records)
Welcome to Whatever – Rainbow Girls (self-release)
Artist of the year
WINNER: Billy Strings
Digging Roots
Gaby Moreno
Nickel Creek
Madi Diaz
Song of the Year
“Changes,” written by Joy Oladokun & Dan Wilson, performed by Joy Oladokun
“Keep It on a Burner,” written and performed by Margo Cilker
“Tears Run Dry,” written by Abraham Alexander, Ian Barter, Leo Stannard, performed by Abraham Alexander
“The Returner,” written by Allison Russell, Drew Lindsay, & JT Nero, performed by Allison Russell
WINNER: “Workin’ on a World,” written and performed by Iris Dement
Tracy Chapman, whose 1988 song “Fast Car” became a pop and country smash in 2023 for Luke Combs, will receive a lifetime achievement award at the 2024 International Folk Music Awards on Feb. 21. The awards are held on the first day of the Folk Alliance International (FAI) Conference. The event, now in its 36th year, is set for Feb. 21-25 at the Westin Crown Center Hotel in Kansas City, Missouri.
Other lifetime achievement award recipients are the late Chilean songwriter and activist Víctor Jara and McCabe’s Guitar Shop in Santa Monica, California, which has been hosting concerts in Southern California for more than 50 years.
Alynda Segarra of Hurray for the Riff Raff will receive The People’s Voice Award, which is presented to an individual who “unabashedly embraces social and political commentary in their creative work and public careers.”
The Rising Tide Award will go to Guatemalan songwriter, vocalist and activist Sara Curruchich, who is the first musician to use the Kaqchikel language of her people in popular music for an international audience.
The Clearwater Award, presented to a festival that prioritizes environmental stewardship and demonstrates public leadership in sustainable event production, will go to LEAF Global Arts Festival.
The Spirit of Folk Awards will go to Lead Belly Estate’s Terika Dean; Amanda Rheaume, an artist from the Métis Nation of Ontario, Canada; Jim Fleming, founder of the booking agency Fleming Artists; and FAI’s conference director Jerod Rivers.
Newly minted Folk Radio Hall of Famers include Folk Alley’s Linda Fahey; roots music and folk expert Jan Vanderhorst, host of “Just Us Folk,” Mountain Stage founder Larry Groce; Bob Sherman, whose “Woody’s Children” show graced New York City’s airwaves for nearly 55 years; and Celtic music ambassador Brian O’Donovan.
Nominees for album, artist, and song of the year are compiled from U.S., Canadian, and international “best of” lists in addition to the year-end Folk DJ Charts. Winners will be determined by FAI’s voting membership and will be announced at the International Folk Music Awards on Feb. 21.
Here are the finalists for those marquee awards:
Album of the year
Amatssou – Tinariwen (Wedge Records)
City of Gold – Molly Tuttle and Golden Highway (Nonesuch)
False Lankum – Lankum (Rough Trade)
Stand in the Joy – William Prince (Six Shooter Records)
Welcome to Whatever – Rainbow Girls (self-release)
Artist of the year
Billy Strings
Digging Roots
Gaby Moreno
Nickel Creek
Madi Diaz
Song of the Year
“Changes” – Joy Oladokun
“Keep It on a Burner” – Margo Cilker
“Tears Run Dry” – Abraham Alexander
“The Returner” – Drew Lindsy, JT Nero, & Allison Russell
“Workin’ on a World” – Iris Dement
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