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Description of Modern Folk

 
Modern Folk describes music influenced both by Traditional Folk and Punk -- call it Punk unplugged, or Punk for grownups. Artists like Billy Bragg and Ani DiFranco blend the rawness of Punk -- often using electric as well as acoustic guitars -- with folk-oriented songwriting. On the other side of the Modern Folk spectrum, bands like 10,000 Maniacs and Poi Dog Pondering incorporate folk sounds and attitudes into lighter, adult-oriented rock.
 

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Modern Folk Key Artists

 
Ani DiFranco

RS Bio

Bruce Cockburn

Canadian singer-songwriter
Bruce Cockburn is known
for his politically
uncompromising songs and
open spirituality.

Disappear Fear

Hard-line feminist folk from
siblings Sonia Rutstein and
Cindy Franks.

Freedy Johnston

One of the key artists of the
1990s, Johnston helped
return sensitive, melodic
songwriting to pop music.
Johnston wrote the scor...

Indigo Girls

Their pristine and luminary
vocal harmonies make
crowds hoot and holler.
Each song has a totally
different energy. The Indi...

John Gorka

New folk scene big shot
John Gorka has a voice as
deep and warmhearted as
his beard suggests.

Michelle Shocked

One of the first Adult
Alternative
singer-songwriters,
Shocked got airplay all over
America with her single "...

Peter Case

In 1986, Peter Case left his
band, the Plimsouls, and
released a solo album. He
has since remained a
respected songwriter.

Phranc

This modern folksinger
found her way into the
singer-songwriter scene via
the L.A. hardcore scene of
the 1980s.

Poi Dog Pondering

Poi Dog Pondering's music
combines rhythmic
Worldbeat with classic
Folk-Rock. Poi Dog
Pondering are an ever-re...

Tracy Chapman

With sensitive, well-crafted
narratives and a rich voice,
she re-introduced nuanced
social commentary into
(folk) pop music. As a stu...

Electronics

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