“I made a very concerted deal with myself that I wanted to take the instrument the route of improvisation in the idioms of American roots music, folk music, Americana, blues.”

Honorees include Motown Records creator Berry Gordy, opera singer Justino Diaz, and folk music legend Joni Mitchell.

Ravinia Festival is back for 2021 for its 85th concert season, offering up a signature blend of classical, jazz, folk, and rock music performances.

The honorees are country music legend Garth Brooks, dancer and actress Debbie Allen, violin virtuoso Midori, folk music icon Joan Baez and actor Dick Van Dyke.

2020 was a year of great loss for all; the music world was no exception. As we reflect on the year gone by, WFMT salutes the contributions of artists and friends who died this past year.

In lengthy posts on his Facebook page and website, the 73-year-old folksinger announced Friday he is retiring from performance immediately.

Singer-songwriter Justin Townes Earle, a leading performer of American roots music known for his introspective and haunting style, has died at age 38.

Corky Siegel – the internationally acclaimed harmonica virtuoso, pianist, singer, composer, and musical alchemist whose signature blend of blues and classical has captivated audiences for over fifty years – wants to invite you into his living room.

Beyer talks to WFMT about her introduction to folk music at Chicago’s Symphony Center, formative memories of Steve Goodman and Studs Terkel, and what to expect as she takes the reins of ‘The Midnight Special.’

Grammy-winning folk singer and instrumentalist Rhiannon Giddens takes the baton from renowned cellist Yo-Yo Ma, who founded the group two decades ago.

After hosting more than 1,250 installments, Rich Warren is retiring as the host of ‘The Midnight Special.’ Saturday, July 25 will be his final show.

Baez is this year’s recipient of the Woody Guthrie Prize, an award that recognizes artists who speak out for the less fortunate.

John Prine, who began his career in Chicago, exhibited the ability to wring every possible meaning from a word to expose the joy, sorrow, frailty, and strength of the human condition.

News that Prine’s health was in jeopardy provoked an outpouring of affection for the legendary singer-songwriter.

What does a Bach/bluegrass crossover sound like? It sounds like pure relaxation.

The Americana Music Association said the new award has been created to honor those who have “either made a lasting impression through music or inspired art to recognize the legacy of Americana music traditions.”

Using his violin and virtuosic whistle, Andrew Bird genre-jumps from indie rock to jazz, and from folk to classical. Born in Lake Forest, Bird began learning classical violin from the Suzuki Method at the age of four and recalls, “My mom would have WFMT on all the time… My dad listened to Merle Haggard.”

We never thought we’d be writing this, but a new comedy sketch and song from Merle Hazard has atonal music at its center. The song, called “(Gimme Some of That) Ol’ Atonal Music,” riffs on staples of the country and bluegrass traditions, but with lyrics like “his music always made you think; it never made you smile,” some very discordant banjo soloing, and an interlude inspired by John Cage.

In early November 2018, Graves was hospitalized for blockages in three coronary arteries, according to a statement from the school. His resignation comes amidst the contentious planned sale of the Old Town School’s Lincoln Park location, a facility it has operated for 50 years.

NEW YORK (AP) — Janet Jackson joins her brother Michael and the Jackson 5 as members of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, earning induction on Thursday along with Stevie Nicks and the top fan vote-getter, Def Leppard. Radiohead, the Cure, Roxy Music and the Zombies will also be ushered in next spring at the 34th induction ceremony. It …

Corky Siegel is one of the world’s great blues harmonica players. He is also a composer, pianist, singer, bandleader, teacher, and author whose curiosity about classical music and American blues has inspired much of his distinguished half-century career.

Over the last sixty years, the Old Town School of Folk Music has grown from humble beginnings to become the largest nonprofit community arts school in the United States.

“Once we have gotten over the initial hump of memorizing, we’ve found it allow us to improvise as a group in a much more agile way.”

Chicago-based band Big Sadie performed at the third WFMT Cabaret hosted in the Pregnant Buffalo Lounge at the Chopin Theatre. Big Sadie is influenced by music from across America, with its core members Elise Bergman and Collin Moore hailing from the Midwest and Appalachia respectively. Rounding out the band’s current lineup are banjo player Andy Malloy and fiddler Matt Brown. Big Sadie …

“I love to sing for people, and that helps with my mood swings too – especially folk music. Folk music is the mother of all music. It’s the people’s music. I am very grateful to express my views through the music. Music can make people confront reality and confront themselves.”