American Folk
American Folk music draws from the oral traditions of the United States, blending ballads, work songs, and protest music with acoustic instrumentation and poignant storytelling lyrics about everyday life, love, hardship, and social issues.
Origin: United States, primarily Appalachian Mountains, Southern rural areas, Great Plains, and urban folk scenes; influenced by British Isles ballads, African American spirituals, and Native American music.
Era: Roots in 19th-century traditions; major revivals in 1920s-1930s (Carter Family era) and 1960s (Dylan, Baez); evolves into contemporary indie folk today.
