Folk Files

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Folk Files

A podcast that uncovers the mysteries of folk music throughout the ages

29/06/2025

There's so much more than just the Piob Mhór! (That rhymes!) This month's Patreon blog post is all about bagpipes from around the world, including the ney-anbān, a Persian bagpipe played here by Iranian musician Mohsen Sharifian. Covering a sample of diverse bagpipes from Western Europe, Eastern Europe, the Middle East, Northern Africa, and South Asia, the blog post is accessible to the top Patreon tiers and for a one-time donation in the Patreon shop. Check the comments for a direct link to Patreon!

📷: Tasnim News Agency, CC BY 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

26/06/2025

Took a break from Folk Files research and braved the NYC heat wave to see folk goddess Rhiannon Giddens! Her concert was glorious, and delved deep into the history of American folk music (and, of course, the origins of the banjo! 🪕). Two important messages from her concert: 1) When you sing in a big group, don’t be afraid to take a breath, because your neighbors will keep singing while you do. It’s the same with fighting to make the world a better place: take breaths whenever you need. 2) Folk music is for everyone. It’s OUR music. Just make sure not to erase anyone from the story as you keep telling it.

23/06/2025

The latest episode of Folk Files is now available everywhere you listen to podcasts! 🎵 While discussing accordions, I mentioned that I would upload a photo of the inside of an accordion. I thought I had a photo of my accordion's inner workings on my phone (I'm traveling and don't have access to my accordion), but NO - instead, I have this photo, from when someone suggested I should buy my accordion a drink before taking off her outer casing to clean her 🤣. (Also, I've included a pic of the inside of an accordion from Creative Commons so you can see how intense it is).

2nd 📷: By PeterBraun74 - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=18766462

20/06/2025

This Monday, listen to Part II of my exploration of the history of folk instruments! This episode will cover folk instruments associated with English language folk music that do NOT have strings. So, whistles, bagpipes, accordions, harmonicas, and percussion! 🪗🪘🪈🎶

08/06/2025

🥹 Thank you so much 🥹 I am so honored that the play button has been hit on Folk Files 10,000 times since I started this project 1.5 years ago. Thank you to every one of you who has contributed to that number!

05/06/2025

🥔🪲 Here are some visuals to go along with the mandolin section of the latest episode of Folk Files.

02/06/2025

If you've listened to the latest episode of Folk Files, you may have noticed that I did something a little odd: I compared a hurdy-gurdy to a nyckelharpa...but then never explained what a nyckelharpa is! THIS is a nyckelharpa, a bowed instrument that dates back to at least 1350. "Nyckel" means "key" in Swedish, so it can be roughly translated as "key harp." I'll share some videos of nyckelharpa players in my IG Story!

📷: Bernd Schwabe in Hannover, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

31/05/2025

After some technical difficulties, I have managed to upload the most recent episode of Folk Files! This one is all about string instruments that have been used in folk music. At one point, I reference a painting called "The Old Plantation," which provides proof that Joel Sweeney did NOT invent the octave string on a 5-string banjo. Here is the painting, which shows a man playing a banjo. If you look closely, you can see the octave string starting partway up the neck!

Painting attributed to John Rose - http://hitchcock.itc.virginia.edu/SlaveTrade/collection/large/NW01, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=3450804

30/05/2025

Nooo! I'm getting the ellipsis of doom from Spotify for Creators, and it seems like I'm not the only one. If you're looking for the latest episode, I'm going to try to upload it tonight if the website is back online!

29/05/2025

Guys, I'm sorry. I lied when I said I was doing an episode on folk instruments. There were just too many instruments that I wanted to talk about and that people suggested. This is going to be an episode on folk STRING instruments, and it will be Part I of a mini series. And I'm squeaking it in just under my self-imposed deadline of the-end-of-the-month. Tune in tomorrow!

20/05/2025

This month's episode is all about the history, etymology, and evolution of folk instruments! Before I start recording, I want to make sure that I've at least touched on everyone's favorites: What is YOUR favorite folk instrument?

07/05/2025

If you are new to Folk Files, I'd love to hear what you think! One of the best ways to give feedback is by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts (if that's where you listen to podcasts) or by leaving a review on my page. You could also send me a direct message with any comments or suggestions. Thank you so much to everyone who has already left a review - I appreciate it!

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