List of folk musicians
This is a list of folk musicians.
- This is an incomplete list that may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by expanding it with reliably sourced entries.
Albania
Andean
Argentina
Armenia
- Djivan Gasparyan
- Udi Hrant (lived in Turkey)
- Gor Mkhitarian
Australia
- Paul Kelly
- Blue King Brown
- Eric Bogle
- Kasey Chambers
- Roaring Jack
- Judy Small
- The Waifs
- Sarah Blasko
- The Seekers
- Boy And Bear
- Angus & Julia Stone
Indigenous Australians
Azerbaijan
Ashik
- Ali Ekber Çiçek
- Aşık Mahzuni Şerif
- Aşık Khanlar
- Aşık Veysel
- Neşet Ertaş
- Aşiq Ələsgər
- Jivani
- Sayat-Nova
- Karacaoğlan
- Kul Nesîmî
- Pir Sultan Abdal
Brazil
Canada
A–M
- Susan Aglukark (born 1967)
- The Band
- Kim Barlow
- Be Good Tanyas
- Heather Bishop
- Oscar Brand (born 1920)
- Bruce Cockburn
- Leonard Cohen (born 1934)
- The Cottars
- Crash Vegas
- Bonnie Dobson (born 1940)
- Luke Doucet
- The Duhks
- Fred Eaglesmith
- Kathleen Edwards (born 1978)
- Stephen Fearing
- Ferron
- Jeremy Fisher
- Flying Bulgar Klezmer Band
- David Francey (born 1954)
- Great Big Sea
- Great Lake Swimmers
- Norm Hacking
- Sarah Harmer (born 1970)
- Hart-Rouge
- Wade Hemsworth
- The Hidden Cameras
- Veda Hille (born 1968)
- Ian & Sylvia
- Reid Jamieson
- James Keelaghan
- Mary Jane Lamond
- Gordon Lightfoot (born 1938)
- Old Man Luedecke
- Ashley MacIsaac (born 1975)
- Buddy MacMaster
- Natalie MacMaster
- Rita MacNeil (born 1944)
- Kate and Anna McGarrigle
- Loreena McKennitt
- Murray McLauchlan
- Lynn Miles
- Alan Mills (1933–1977)
- Trevor Mills
- Joni Mitchell (born 1943)
N–Z
- Jory Nash
- Faith Nolan
- The Paperboys
- Evalyn Parry
- Po' Girl
- Garnet Rogers (born 1951)
- Nathan Rogers (born 1979)
- Stan Rogers (1949–1983)
- Buffy Sainte-Marie
- Jonathan Seet
- Ron Sexsmith
- Rae Spoon
- Lucie Blue Tremblay
- Valdy
- The Wailin' Jennys
- Loudon Wainwright III (American expatriate)
- Jesse Winchester (American expatriate)
- Neil Young (born 1945)
- La Bolduc (1894–1941)
- La Bottine Souriante
- Serge Fiori
- Harmonium
- Le Rêve du Diable
- Le Vent du Nord
- The Travellers
- Tim Chaisson
Chile
China
Czech Republic
Moravia
Finland
- Angelit
- Timo Alakotila
- Frigg
- Gjallarhorn
- Islaja
- JPP
- Konsta Jylhä
- Arto Järvelä
- Mauno Järvelä
- Sari Kaasinen
- Maria Kalaniemi
- Sanna Kurki-Suonio
- Loituma
- Jenny Wilhelms
- Wimme
- Värttinä
France
Brittany
Greece
Byzantine psalmody
Paleá dhimotiká
Old traditional songs (Παλαιά δημοτικά) from mainland Greece (Peloponnese and Thessaly):
- Aristidis Moschos ([ˈmosxos]; sandouri player)
- Chronis Aidonidis
- Haris Alexiou
- Rosa Eskenazi
- Marika Papagika
- Giorgos Papasideris
- Vassilis Tsitsanis
- Markos Vamvakaris (1905–1972)
Greek Macedonian (Makedhonítika - Μακεδονίτικα) and Thracian (Thrakiótika - Θρακιώτικα) songs:
Nisiótika
Greek Islands' songs (Νησιώτικα):
Hungary
Ireland
- ALT (Ireland/New Zealand)
- Altan
- Paul Brady
- Mary Black
- Luka Bloom
- The Bothy Band
- Kevin Burke
- Karan Casey
- The Chieftains
- The Clancy Brothers
- Liam Clancy
- Clannad
- The Corrs
- De Danann
- Dervish
- Cara Dillon
- The Dubliners
- Seamus Egan
- Energy Orchard
- Seamus Ennis
- Brian Finnegan
- Goats Don't Shave
- Lisa Hannigan
- Martin Hayes
- Micho Russell
- The Johnstons
- Dolores Keane
- Frankie Kennedy
- Lúnasa
- Sinéad Lohan
- Tommy Makem
- Michael McGoldrick
- Christy Moore
- Máire Ní Chathasaigh
- Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh
- Maura O'Connell
- Sinéad O'Connor
- Sally Oldfield
- Planxty
- The Pogues
- Fionn Regan
- Damien Rice
- Sharon Shannon
- Davy Spillane
- Patrick Street
- The Waterboys (Ireland/Scotland)
- The Wolfe Tones
- Van Morrison
- Andy White (born 1930)
Israel
Italy
- Adamo (born 1943)
- Carlo Buti
- Francesco Guccini
Japan
Mexico
Netherlands
New Zealand
- Martin Curtis
- Flight of the Conchords
- Luke Hurley
- Bic Runga
- Mahinarangi Tocker
- Marcus Turner
Norway
Peru
- Wayno
Russia
- Sasha Lazard
- Terem Quartet
- Jeanne Bichevskaya
- Ivan Rebroff
Slovenia
South Africa
Spain
- La Musgaña
- Llan de Cubel
- Hevia
- Luar Na Lubre
- Jorge Pardo
- Carlos Núñez
- Radio Tarifa
- Narciso Yepes
Sweden
Tibet
Turkey
- Neşet Ertaş
- Erkan Oğur
- Musa Eroğlu
- Arif Sağ
- Belkis Akkale
- Hasret Gültekin
- Ali Ekber Cicek
- Baba Zula
- Lalezar Ensemble
- Selda Bağcan
- Udi Hrant
Tuva
United Kingdom
England
A–M
- Mike Absalom
- Harvey Andrews
- Bombay Bicycle Club
- Joan Armatrading
- Frankie Armstrong
- Badly Drawn Boy
- Roy Bailey
- Peter Bellamy
- Birdy
- Blowzabella
- Jon Boden
- Billy Bragg
- Anne Briggs
- Vashti Bunyan
- Eliza Carthy
- Martin Carthy
- Ian Carter
- Stornoway (band)
- Dolly Collins
- Shirley Collins
- Christine Collister
- Coope Boyes and Simpson
- Pete Cooper
- Copper family
- Harry Cox
- Andy Cutting
- Sandy Denny
- Lonnie Donegan
- Nick Drake
- Barry Dransfield
- Nigel Eaton
- Edward II
- Emmy the Great
- George Ezra
- Fairport Convention
- Flook
- Jo Freya
- Vin Garbutt
- Davey Graham
- David Gray
- Clive Gregson
- John Wesley Harding
- Bella Hardy
- Roy Harper
- Boo Hewerdine
- Robyn Hitchcock
- Ashley Hutchings
- Slow Club
- Joe Hutton
- Bert Jansch
- Nic Jones
- Wizz Jones
- Fred Jordan
- William Kimber
- John Kirkpatrick
- Chris Leslie
- Bert Lloyd
- Jez Lowe
- Kirsty MacColl
- Laura Marling
- John Martyn
- Iain Matthews
- Kirsty McGee
- Ralph McTell
- Pete Morton
N–Z
- Simon Nicol
- Old Swan Band
- Beth Orton
- Oysterband
- Brian Peters
- Maddy Prior
- Mumford and Sons
- John Renbourn
- Saul Rose
- Kate Rusby
- Ed Sheeran
- Martin Simpson
- Steeleye Span
- John Spiers
- Cat Stevens
- Joe Summers
- Dave Swarbrick
- Sam Sweeney
- June Tabor
- John Tams
- Scan Tester
- Richard Thompson
- Teddy Thompson
- Karen Tweed
- Uiscedwr
- Lal Waterson
- Norma Waterson
- The Watersons
- Lewis Watson
- Whippersnapper
- Roger Wilson
- Chris Wood
- The Young Tradition
Northumberland
- Jack Armstrong
- John Armstrong (of Carrick)
- Tommy Armstrong
- Will Atkinson
- Tom Clough
- Johnny Handle
- George Hepple
- Joe Hutton
- Jack the Lad
- James Hill
- Nancy Kerr
- Sandra Kerr
- Billy Pigg
- Jock Purdon (1925–1998)
- Colin Ross
- Kathryn Tickell
- Robert Whinham (fiddler)
- The Witches of Elswick
Scotland
- Amy MacDonald
- Matt McGinn (1928–1977)
- Tom Anderson (1910–1991)
- Aly Bain
- Donovan
- Battlefield Band
- Martyn Bennett (1971–2005)
- Eric Bogle
- Capercaillie
- The Corries
- Ian Campbell Folk Group
- Rachel Hair
- Johnny Cunningham (1957–2003)
- Phil Cunningham
- Gordon Duncan (1963–2005)
- Archie Fisher
- Dick Gaughan
- Alistair Hulett
- The House Band
- The Incredible String Band
- Bert Jansch
- James Mackintosh
- The McCalmans
- Ewan MacColl (1915–1989)
- Catriona MacDonald
- Karine Polwart
- Alasdair Roberts
- Shooglenifty
- Sileas
- Silly Wizard
- The Tannahill Weavers
- Linda Thompson (born 1948)
- Simon Thoumire
- Wolfstone
- Billy Connolly
Wales
United States
Appalachian
- Clarence Ashley
- Joe Bethancourt
- Dock Boggs
- Fleming Brown (1926–1984)
- Dick Burnett (1883–1977)
- Guy Carawan
- Sara Carter (1898–1979)
- Stoney Cooper
- Hazel Dickens
- Roscoe Holcomb
- Tommy Jarrell
- Kossoy Sisters
- Wilma Lee
- Bascom Lamar Lunsford
- New Lost City Ramblers
- Uncle Charlie Osborne
- Jean Ritchie
- Sam Rizzetta
- Loraine Wyman (1885–1937)
- Doc Watson
- Uncle Dave Macon
- Charlie Poole
- Possessed by Paul James
Cajun and zydeco
General
A–C
- Derroll Adams (1925–2000)
- A Fragile Tomorrow
- The Almanac Singers
- Eric Andersen
- Jamie Anderson
- Joan Baez
- Devendra Banhart
- Robin Batteau
- Beck
- Dan Bern
- Leon Bibb
- Theodore Bikel
- Billy Pilgrim
- David Blue (1941–1982)
- Hugh Blumenfeld
- Dock Boggs (1898–1971)
- Gordon Bok
- Ralston Bowles
- Bryan Bowers
- Brewer & Shipley
- Chuck Brodsky
- David Bromberg
- Jonatha Brooke
- The Brothers Four
- Greg Brown
- Tim Buckley (1947–1975)
- David Buskin
- Rolf Cahn (1924–1994)
- Andrew Calhoun
- Hamilton Camp (1934–2005)
- Guy Carawan
- Mary Chapin Carpenter
- Dave Carter (1952–2002)
- Chad Mitchell Trio
- Len Chandler
- Harry Chapin (1942–1981)
- Tracy Chapman
- The Chenille Sisters
- Vic Chesnutt
- Frank Christian
- Meg Christian
- The Civil Wars
- Paul Clayton (1931–1967)
- Slaid Cleaves
- Judy Collins
- Lui Collins
- Shawn Colvin
- Matt Costa
- Elizabeth Cotten (1895–1987)
- Jim Croce (1943–73)
- Mike Cross
- Sis Cunningham (1909–2004)
- Catie Curtis
D–F
- Barbara Dane
- Erik Darling (1933–2008)
- Grey DeLisle
- Kris Delmhorst
- Iris DeMent
- John Denver (1947–1997)
- Ani DiFranco
- Alice Di Micele
- disappear fear
- Alix Dobkin
- DW (Dave) Drouillard
- Antje Duvekot
- Richard Dyer-Bennet (1913–1991)
- Bob Dylan
- Eddie from Ohio
- Cass Elliot (1941–1974)
- Ramblin' Jack Elliott
- Mark Erelli
- John Fahey (1939–2001)
- Mimi Fariña (1945–2001)
- Richard Fariña (1937–1966)
- Anne Feeney
- Melissa Ferrick
- Cathy Fink
- Steve Forbert
- Mark Fosson
- Jeffrey Foucault
- Four Bitchin' Babes
- Bob Franke
- Donavon Frankenreiter
- Debbie Friedman
G–J
- Gaia Consort
- Mary Gauthier
- Bob Gibson (1931-1996)
- Ronnie Gilbert
- Vance Gilbert
- Eliza Gilkyson
- Terry Gilkyson
- Steve Gillette
- Girlyman
- Joe Glazer (1918–2006)
- Steve Goodman (1948–1984)
- John Gorka
- Tracy Grammer
- Greenbriar Boys
- Patty Griffin
- Nanci Griffith
- Arlo Guthrie
- Sarah Lee Guthrie
- Woody Guthrie (1912–1967)
- Kristen Hall
- Frank Hamilton
- Kristy Hanson
- Jack Hardy
- Kelly Harrell (1889–1942)
- Jesse Harris
- Richie Havens
- Bess Lomax Hawes
- Lee Hays (1914–1981)
- John Herald (1939–2005)
- Priscilla Herdman
- Carolyn Hester
- Sara Hickman
- The Highwaymen
- Anne Hills
- David Holt
- Holy Modal Rounders
- Rita Hosking
- Cisco Houston (1918–61)
- Michael Hurley
- Janis Ian
- Indigo Girls
- Iron & Wine
- Bon Iver
- Burl Ives (1909–95)
- Ella Jenkins
- Jim and Jean
- Orville Johnson
- Freedy Johnston
- Billy Jonas
- Diana Jones
- Dick Justice (1906–1962)
K–M
- Si Kahn
- Shira Kammen
- Christine Kane
- Lucy Kaplansky
- Buell Kazee (1900–1976)
- The Kennedys
- Barbara Kessler
- Jennifer Kimball
- Charlie King
- The Kingston Trio
- The Klezmatics
- Bonnie Koloc
- Leo Kottke
- Peter La Farge (1931–1965)
- Jimmy LaFave
- Bruce Langhorne
- Patty Larkin
- Lavender Diamond
- Christine Lavin
- Lead Belly (1888–1949)
- Katie Lee
- Julius Lester
- Jeffrey Lewis
- The Limeliters
- Alan Lomax (1915–2002)
- Laura Love
- Lullaby for the Working Class
- The Mammals
- Cindy Mangsen
- Woody Mann
- Roger Manning
- Marcy Marxer
- Molly Mason
- Willy Mason
- David Massengill
- Ed McCurdy (1919–2000)
- John McCutcheon
- Country Joe McDonald
- Brownie McGhee (1915–1996)
- Lori McKenna
- Will McLean (1919–1990)
- Melanie
- Ingrid Michaelson
- Bill Miller
- Roger Miller (1936–1992)
- Anais Mitchell
- Modern Folk Quartet
- Alastair Moock
- Bill Morrissey
- Moxy Früvous
- Geoff Muldaur
- Maria Muldaur
- Peter Mulvey
N–R
- Holly Near
- Fred Neil (1936–2001)
- The New Christy Minstrels
- Carrie Newcomer
- Joanna Newsom
- Nickel Creek
- The Nields
- Willie Nile
- John Jacob Niles (1892—1980)
- Conor Oberst
- Phil Ochs (1940–1976)
- Mark O'Connor
- Odetta (1930–2008)
- Jim Page
- Patrick Park
- Tom Paxton
- Ellis Paul
- Alice Peacock
- Elvis Perkins
- Peter, Paul & Mary
- Gretchen Peters
- Utah Phillips (1935–2008)
- Phranc
- Wally Pleasant
- Rose Polenzani
- John Prine
- Chris Pureka
- Ratsy
- Toshi Reagon
- Rebecca Riots
- Red Molly
- Del Rey
- Malvina Reynolds (1900–1978)
- Jean Ritchie
- Josh Ritter
- Earl Robinson (1910–1991)
- The Roches
- Libby Roderick
- The Rooftop Singers
- Jack Rose
- Josh Rouse
- Tom Rush
S–T
- The Sandpipers
- Claudia Schmidt
- Eric Schwartz
- Mike Seeger
- Peggy Seeger
- Pete Seeger
- The Serendipity Singers
- Colleen Sexton
- Martin Sexton
- Linda Shear
- The Shells
- Richard Shindell
- Michelle Shocked
- Paul Siebel
- Judee Sill (1944–1979)
- Simon & Garfunkel
- Patrick Sky
- Langhorne Slim
- Fred Small
- Elliott Smith
- Michael Peter Smith
- Mindy Smith
- Stephan Smith
- Chris Smither
- Faith Soloway
- Rosalie Sorrels
- Mark Spoelstra (1940–2007)
- Bill Staines
- James Lee Stanley
- Jody Stecher
- Sufjan Stevens
- The Story
- Sweet Honey in the Rock
- The Tarriers
- James Taylor
- Livingston Taylor
- Luke Temple
- Rosie Thomas
- Trapezoid
- Artie Traum
- Happy Traum
- Two Nice Girls
U–Z
- Uncle Bonsai
- Jay Ungar
- Dave Van Ronk
- Townes Van Zandt (1944–1997)
- Suzanne Vega
- Voices on the Verge
- Eric Von Schmidt (1931–2007)
- Loudon Wainwright III
- Tom Waits
- M. Ward
- Washington Squares
- Linda Waterfall
- Doc Watson
- Willie Watson
- The Weavers
- The Weepies
- Brenda Weiler
- Gillian Welch
- Susan Werner
- Hedy West (1938–2005)
- Floyd Red Crow Westerman (1936–2007)
- Cheryl Wheeler
- Erica Wheeler
- Whiskeytown
- Josh White (1914–1969)
- William Elliott Whitmore
- David Wilcox
- Dar Williams
- Lucinda Williams
- Victoria Williams
- Cris Williamson
- Wishing Chair
- Denison Witmer
- Kate Wolf (1942–1986)
- Hally Wood (1922–1989)
- Martin Zellar
Irish-American
- Liz Carroll
- Karan Casey (Irish immigrant to U.S.)
- Cherish the Ladies
- Dropkick Murphys
- Seamus Egan (Irish immigrant to U.S.)
- Flogging Molly
- Eileen Ivers
- Susan McKeown
- Jerry O'Sullivan
- Solas
Uzbekistan
- Turgun Alimatov 1922-2008