Richie Havens' two-hour performance had opened the Woodstock festival, and he had improvised his way into history singing "Freedom", which would become arguably the signature performance of the event. Forty years later, he was still just as dynamic and compelling onstage.

This month sees the appearance of a new constellation of neo-traditional stars in the Irish music firmament: the Teetotallers -- flute player Kevin Crawford of Lunasa; guitarist John Phillips, formerly of Solas; and fiddler Martin Hayes of the duo Hayes and Cahill.

Revisiting the stack of CDs I brought back from Folk Alliance 2013 reveals that there are more interesting Canadian acts I haven't shared with readers yet -- which is fitting, since the meeting was in Toronto.

I'm back with more reviews of material I picked up or heard about at the Folk Alliance International meeting. This time, I'm writing about Americans, so let's start with some real Americana, and one of the hottest bands in folk music, Spuyten Duyvil.

My taste runs towards traditional and roots music, but many at Folk Alliance favor singer-songwriters. My second rundown of folk recordings I picked up at this year's Folk Alliance meeting focuses on musicians from Britain, who were there in force this year.

Bob Dylan was smart enough to pull out an electric guitar at the Newport Folk Festival in 1965 and "rocktify" his folk music. Now, Jason Garriotte appears to be following in the steps of Dylan by reaching a different type of folk and changing the aspects of the experience.

Her lively, fleet-fingered playing has made her an icon in Irish music, though she has not played in the U.S. in recent years. However, as part of what has become a de facto "St. Patrick's Month," she is doing an American tour in March, as are several of the top names in Irish traditional music.

Every year in February, Folk Alliance International brings together folk musicians, promoters, labels, organizers, agents, managers, DJs, journalists, and other folk lovers, for a giant trade show and music showcase.

Tompkins Square's Josh Rosenthal flipped idly through the last-chance bin at a Berkley record shop until he recognized a name. Not the name on the front. A name on the back, in small print. The producer, Bob Johnston, once ran Columbia's Nashville operation.

I wonder how much time on average artists spend trying to be good at something else other than what they are destined to do? Matt Sucich is one of the exceptions who stays true to his talent and his desire to make great music.

In November, 1939, in East Calais, Vermont, two collectors recorded a rare ballad called "The Frozen Limb," sung by a lumberjack and sawyer named Elme...

What is a Mummers Play, you ask, and what is mumming? Mumming is a word for disguising oneself, going door to door, and performing songs, dances and plays in neighbors' homes and in public places.

I wandered about with my camcorder, and happened upon a lovely surprise: Celina Da Piedade was singing and playing accordion, and it was so good I had to videotape it.

t's no secret that music has a unique way of unifying people across cultures, geographies and communities. It takes exceptional artists and performers to build those stories to which many can relate. Nick Africano, whose music blends folk, soul, storytelling and rock, does just that.

Though they don't know if Emmylou Harris has heard "Emmylou" yet, they were pleased to get endorsements from Rosanne Cash and Polly Parsons, daughters of the legends. "To us that's pretty crazy," Klara said. "Nothing we ever expected."

This is the season for New Yorkers and all Americans to honor the 93-year old Seeger, who has devoted his life to educating Americans, and the world, about peace, social justice, the environment, and our country's folk tradition.

Ragnhild Furebotten has won just about every award that the Norwegian government can bestow, in recognition of both her talent on her instrument and her dedication to her musical heritage.

I wrote and recorded this song for freedom fighters everywhere. It was inspired by Woody Guthrie's "This Land Is Your Land" and the simple phrase -- "it's about time" -- uttered by NYC-based filmmaker/video director Ernie Fritz about the Occupy movement.

An overused description is nevertheless apt here: Knock Knock Get Up is an album that will challenge fans.