Folk/acoustic guitar music

[Chris71]

Can anyone recommend any good folk guitar instrumentals? Possibly something with a slightly bluesy/blue grass sort of edge to it?

It's not a genre I really know anything about, but I keep hearing snippets that sound quite nice so I thought I'd do a bit of digging.

[Gaspode]

Blimey, you've got a fair old scope there. How about starting with listening to some of the early leaders in the field: Bert Jansch, John Renbourn, Davey Graham from the UK and Leo Kottke, Stefan Grossman from the US.

[KB_S1]

Look out a duo called 'Winging It'.
Also John Doyle or Seamus Eagan.


Does it have to be instrumental? Couple of bands like Lau and Stornaway are quite popular just now.
Kris Drever's album 'Black Water' and Ewan Robertson's album 'Some Kind of Certainty' are guitar based songs.

[Chris71]

Doesn't have to be instrumental as such, I just generally find the guitar stuff more engaging than the vocals.

On the blues side I tried to find an example of Aynsley Lister's folk-y acoustic cover of Rory Gallagher's As The Crow Flies, but doesn't seem to be on the web.

[Evangelion]

Listen to Nick Drake. He was the master.

[DrTre]

Personally I cannot stand folk music but was recently recommended Charlie Parr....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P46hGYUycoE&fea...

[_dodge_]

Anything from The Transfiguration of Blind Joe Death by John Fahey.

For example...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O5YXwsMtm4g

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GSKq_RRC4bE

[kiteless]

Michael Hedges?

Richard Thompson?

[Mobile Chicane]

The Begood Tanyas

[Bullett]

I don't know if it's of interest but it certainly fits in the Acoustic guitar section rather than the folk. I should add I'm not normally into instrumentals.

Rodrigo and Gabriela a sort of classical/spanish/rock/acoustic guitar thing.

Example

Edited by Bullett on Thursday 2nd September 00:17

[Chris71]

Thanks for the suggestions. Some interesting listening!

Now, just to be awkward...

DrTre said:

Personally I cannot stand folk music but was recently recommended Charlie Parr....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P46hGYUycoE&fea...

That's probably closest to the sort of style I was thinking of.

_dodge_ said:

Anything from The Transfiguration of Blind Joe Death by John Fahey.

For example...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O5YXwsMtm4g

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GSKq_RRC4bE

Personally I found those a little - I dunno - formal? Quite a rigid structure that made them a more demanding listen than I was thinking. Undoubtedly talented though.

Mobile Chicane said:

The Begood Tanyas

Rather more vocal than I was thinking - not really the sort of style I had in mind, but I liked it, will keep an eye out for them.

Bullett said:

I don't know if it's of interest but it certainly fits in the Acoustic guitar section rather than the folk. I should add I'm not normally into instrumentals.

Rodrigo and Gabriela a sort of classical/spanish/rock/acoustic guitar thing.

Example

I liked the flow of this track. Very Hispanic in its influences (not surprisingly!)

Edited by Chris71 on Thursday 2nd September 10:37

[Bullett]

Have you considered Seasick Steve, a google will throw up loads of youtube clips.

Plays a 3 string electric in a very blues/bluegrass kind of style.

[Chris71]

Bullett said:

Have you considered Seasick Steve, a google will throw up loads of youtube clips.

Plays a 3 string electric in a very blues/bluegrass kind of style.

Yep, I like Seasick Steve.

I also rather like Hayseed Dixie, I think their Leyla cover is genius (but sadly I can't find it on Youtube to illustrate!)

[Japveesix]

Not really sure if this is the sort of thing you're after but it's good all the same and worth a listen:

Don Ross - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YkidVP0AcQ8

Antoine Dufour (I absolutely love this piece of music, again by Don Ross originally) - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yu0FjmcJva8

Andy McKee (bit more mellow but quite lovely) - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JsD6uEZsIsU

Erik Mongrain (bit more spiritual groovy) - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8645NXG-iII

Tommy Emmanuel (bluesy!) - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6lbvSBNLLoo

[wmg100]

A quick plug for my good friend Sam who I've played in a couple of bands with. He really is a fantastic guitarist.

http://www.youtube.com/user/samjohncarter#p/a/u/2/...

http://www.samcartermusic.co.uk/

[Chris71]

Japveesix said:

Not really sure if this is the sort of thing you're after but it's good all the same and worth a listen:

Don Ross - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YkidVP0AcQ8

Antoine Dufour (I absolutely love this piece of music, again by Don Ross originally) - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yu0FjmcJva8

Andy McKee (bit more mellow but quite lovely) - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JsD6uEZsIsU

Erik Mongrain (bit more spiritual groovy) - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8645NXG-iII

Tommy Emmanuel (bluesy!) - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6lbvSBNLLoo

Interesting selection. I probably liked Andy McKee best to listen to, but (as someone who occasionally attempts to play the guitar myself) I found watching Antoine Dufour fascinating. Very new-school with all the sweeps and slaps.

wmg100 said:

A quick plug for my good friend Sam who I've played in a couple of bands with. He really is a fantastic guitarist.

http://www.youtube.com/user/samjohncarter#p/a/u/2/...

I really like the 'bright' sound he has there, that's probably closest to the sort of thing I had in my mind.

[2volvos]

Martin Simpson

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HHY74AjKRjI