Playlist: Fretless and Linear — How Classical Violin Shaped Andrew Bird’s Sound

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.”

A First-Time Nominee Takes Us Behind the Scenes at Grammy Week

Music’s Biggest Night not only as a member, but also as a nominee!

A Hilarious Country Song About Atonal Music? We’re as Impressed as We Are Surprised!

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.

Old Town School of Folk Music’s executive director steps down

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.

Janet Jackson, Def Leppard, Nicks join Rock Hall of Fame

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: “The Future Is an Unopened Present”

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.

The Old Town School of Folk Music at 60: Music tonight and every night since 1957

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.

Chiara String Quartet Plays Complete Bartók Quartets Completely By Heart

“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.”

Hear Big Sadie Blend American Folk Traditions in New Tunes, Live at the Pregnant Buffalo Lounge

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 …

Just TRY Not to Weep Listening to Lila Downs Sing This Classic Canción Ranchera, “La Cruz de Olvido”

“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.”

Joan Baez Talks Trump, Taxes, and Dylan

Joan Baez has always said she is an activist first and an artist second. At 75 years old, her priorities have not changed. This fall, Baez is on a tour of major cities throughout the United States to, in part, raise awareness about the nation’s criminal justice system.