Thirty-five years after the Indigo Girls won a Grammy for Best Contemporary Folk Album for their self-titled debut album, the duo will receive a Lifetime Achievement Award at the International Folk Music Awards. The awards ceremony will be held in Montreal on February 19, the first night of the FAI conference.
The duo, consisting of Amy Ray and Emily Saliers, won their second Grammy Award 35 years ago – for Best New Artist. They lost out to the more glamorous duo Milli Vanilli, whose awards were later revoked on the grounds that they had not performed on the album, an accusation that was never leveled against Indigo Girls, but Indigo Girls went on to win five Best Contemporary Nominated for Folk Album.
The Lifetime Achievement Award will also be presented to Lesley Riddle, an African-American musician who worked with patriarch A.P. Carter to collect songs for the Carter family and taught guitar techniques to Mother Maybelle Carter; and song lyrics The magazine is celebrating 25 years of covering roots music around the world.
Flamy Grant, Sarah Jarosz, Kaïa Kater, Nick Lowe, Crys Matthews and Allison Russell are in the running for Artist of the Year. Kate is also in the running for Album of the Year strange medicinewhich features guest appearances from Alison Russell, Aoife O’Donovan and Taj Mahal.
The other two album of the year nominees are Aoife O’Donovan’s all my friends and Sierra Ferrell’s traces of flowers, is a current Grammy nominee. all my friends Nominated for Best Folk Album; traces of flowers Best American Album. all my friends Inspired by the passage of the 19th Amendment and the changing landscape of women’s rights in America over the past century.
New recordings released between October 1, 2023 and September 30, 2024 are eligible for inclusion in the Best of the Year categories (Song, Album and Artist).
The People’s Voice Award, presented to an individual who unabashedly embraces social and political commentary in their creative work and public career, will be presented to Gina Chavez.
OKAN, a female-led Afro-Cuban jazz duo, will receive the Rising Wave Award.
The Folk Spirit Award will be presented to: Tom Power, Canadian musician and broadcaster, best known as the host of CBC Radio 1 *Q* and a member of the folk band The Dardanelles; Alice Randall, a songwriter whose songs have been recorded by Johnny Cash, founder of the production company Midsummer Music, among others; longtime Folk Alliance Regional Midwest Pillar Anne Capps; Quebec’s Innu Nikamu Festival embodies more than 30 years of commitment to promoting and protecting Aboriginal culture.
The Clearwater Award is presented to festivals that prioritize environmental stewardship and demonstrate public leadership in sustainable event production. This year’s award will be presented to the River Road Festival in East Hampton, Massachusetts.
The award will be held on the first night of the FAI’s 37th Annual Meeting, February 19-23, 2025. The venue for the “Peace Bed” event. IFMA is open to all attendees.
Here are the nominations for the three Best of 2024 categories and this year’s special award winners.
artist of the year
Flemish Grant
Sarah Jarosz
kaiakate
Nick Lowe
Chris Matthews
Alison Russell
album of the year
Sierra Ferrell, traces of flowers (circular record)
Heart collectors, space between (Spinning Golden Record)
kaiakat, strange medicine (Free Dirt Records)
Aoife O’Donovan, all my friends (Yes Rock Records)
Ordinary elephant—— common elephant (Berkaline Records)
Susan Werner, On the way to Houston (self-published)
song of the year
“Tenzin Choje and the Nightingale Sing”, composed by Tenzin Choje and sung by Tenzin Choje and Michael Askill
“How I Want Peace” by Abena Combson-Davis, Peggy Seeger, Rhiannon Giddens Performed by: Rhiannon Giddens, Chris Ma Hughes and the Resistance Revival Choir
Connie Kaldor wrote and sang “The Paying Woman”
“The $20 Bill (Dedicated to George Floyd)” by Tom Prasada-Rao, Dan Navarro and Janiva Magness (Janiva Magness) singing
“Ukraine Now” written and performed by Tom Paxton and John McCutcheon
“Love Letters” written by Julian Taylor, Taylor James Ellis, sung by Julian Taylor
Lifetime Achievement Award-Life: indigo girl
Lifetime Achievement Award – Legacy: Leslie Riddle
Lifetime Achievement Award – Business: song lyrics Magazine
Voice of the People: Gina Chavez
high tide: conscience
Clearwater Award: River Festival (Eastampton, MA)
Folk spirit: Tom Powers, Alice Randall, Anne Capps, Inunikam Day
Inductees into the Voter Radio DJ Hall of Fame: Archie Fisher (BBC Scotland), Mary Sue Twohy (SIRIUS XM), Taylor Caffrey (WRKF-FM, Baton Rouge, Louisiana), Matthew Finch (posthumously, KUNM-FM, Albuquerque, New Mexico), Chuck Wentworth (Posthumous, WRIU-) FM, Rhode Island)
