Cynthia Marchant

Cynthia Marchant is a Chicago singer-songwriter who writes poingant songs about love, life, and journeys. She has a distinctive rhythm all her own. She recently did a full 90-minute show at the Heartland Cafe in Chicago and did a great job showing off her material.

Her Myspace page has several tunes she has written and recorded with some professional backup; check out "The Long Rider" for her folk-rock sound.

http://www.myspace.com/cynthiamarchant

Tim Wais

Tim is a Chicago musician who writes very topical political songs and touching love ballads. He has a Dylanesque style with a bit of Weavers and Phil Ochs thrown in. He has some free MP3s available on his website; a good example of his protest style is "Tug of War".

Fair and Tender Ladies

Roger McGuinn has recently released a free version of himself and Gene Clark of the Byrds doing "Fair and Tender Ladies" live in New York City in 1977. Gene is playing a Martin D-45 acoustic, and McGuinn is on his trademark electric 12-string Rickenbacker. As he himself states on the Folk Den, this "could have been on a 1965 Byrds record". Pretty stuff.

Radio Shows at eFolkMusic

eFolkMusic has a very comprehensive list of folk radio shows, including station information, schedule, and links to station websites.

http://www.efolkmusic.org/Resources/FolkRadio.aspx

Also, you can stream a radio broadcast of their own artists directly from http://www.live365.com/stations/tubaboy

Minstrel's Song Album

Ula Kapalta's band posts a variety of free MP3s samples online at:

http://ula-kapala.art.pl/nagrania/

I recommend downloading the entire Minstrel's Song album. This Polish artist does beautiful versions of several old English folk tunes on this album, in including Scarborough Fair and Hangman.

Alice Stuart

Alice Stuart has a beautiful plaintive voice in the tradition of early Joan Baez, exemplified on the free MP3 "Once I Had a Sweetheart".

Her main website is at http://www.alicestuart.com

Laura Cantrell

I've been listening alot lately to Laura Cantrell. A real pure clear folkie sound, and she has a great page of free MP3 downloads. She is one of the legendary BBC critic John Peel's favorite artists. Check out her cover of the Johnny Rivers hit Poor Side of Town; also the poignant Civil War era song When The Roses Bloom Again


http://www.lauracantrell.com/

Indigio Girls Podcasts

I just returned from the Austin City Limits Music festival and had the chance to see the Indigo Girls live on Sat. night. I think their concert was the best of the weekend, every song sounded great, with pristine harmonies. Emily Saliers is becoming quite an accomplished guitarist on both acoustic and electric.

On their website they post some free podcasts of themselves and guest artists just jamming and talking. Here's a link to the podcast site. The podcast with Girlyman has a nice version of "Pendulum Swinger" from their latest album "Despite Our Differences". Also nice is the podcast with Brandi Carlile doing a cover of the Dylan classic "Don't Think Twice Its All Right".