'Most Folk Singers Don't Even Look Like Folk'(LP #35)

This week on LONGPLAY we bring you a tribute to folk artists and their music: both the icons and the obscured.

As the one-man-band troubadour Abner Jay once said, “Folk music is high-class music, but a lot of low-class people singing it.” You’ll be hearing more from Abner throughout the show: his wit, his wisdom, his wry take on the world.

This set isn’t a definitive survey of folk, whatever that means these days, but a personal collection shaped by years of listening. It spans decades, moods, and approaches, from folk poster boys like Bob Dylan and Richie Havens to under-sung voices like Cleveland Francis and Dave Bixby, and even to modern-day folkers like Jessica Pratt and Folk Bitch Trio.

Our aim isn’t to pin the genre down, but to let it drift a little…across eras, across expectations.

Now, grab some headphones. Find a bale of hay to lie on, a hillside to hide on, or a train to remain on as the poetry guides our way.

This is LONGPLAY.

Thanks for tuning in.

About varied/mix & Brainrot Radio Partnership

We’ve partnered with Brainrot Radio, a non-profit independent internet station broadcasting coast to coast, to bring our playlists to life on air.

Tune in live at brainrotradio.com every other Tuesday from 12:30–2 AM for the show, where we curate playlists that reflect the moods and energies of the midnight hours (though they’re great at any time).

The next day, catch our writing and the full playlist right here on Substack.

Listen along as you read.

Listen to the recording of the live show above while you read and find the playlist on Spotify below.

Thank you for tuning in to LONGPLAY.

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