Folk Music Radio Airplay Chart
September 2026, Week 5

Compiled by Richard Gillmann
From Playlists Submitted to FOLKDJ-L

TOP ALBUMS of September 2026, Week 5
Compiled by Richard Gillmann from FOLKDJ-L playlists
Based on 1219 plays from 37 playlists from 24 Folk DJs

  1: "Requiem for a Sleepless Night," Kelly Hunt [Compass, 8/2026] (13)
        "Clouds" (4)
        "Winter Wheat" (3)
        "Dreamer" (2)
  2: "Smoketree," The Kennedys [Self, 8/2026] (12)
        "A Star to Guide You" (3)
        "Like an Angel" (3)
        "Seeds Of Peace" (2)
        "Without Us" (2)
  3: "Lucky Water," Laura Cortese [Compass, 9/2026] (8)
        "Lucky Water" (3)
        "Face The Rain" (2)
  3: "So Much for Goodbyes," Billy Strings [Reprise, 7/2026] (8)
        "Bluewater Breakdown" (1)
  3: "Tamarack," Kalos [Self, 9/2026] (8)
        "Tamarack" (1)
  3: "These Are the Days That Turn Into Years," Pharis & Jason Romero [Free Dirt, 6/2026] (8)
        "Cannonball" (2)
  7: "Over the Horizon," Giselle & Erik [Self, 9/2026] (7)
        "Morning Brew" (3)
        "Your Shoes" (2)
  8: "Hand's Cove," Ken & Brad Kolodner [Fenchurch, 6/2026] (6)
        "Otter Creek" (2)
  8: "Head Noise," Stephanie Sammons [Point Guard, 8/2026] (6)
        "Lone Coyote" (3)
  8: "The Morning Dark," Hayden Stern [Adhyâropa, 9/2026] (6)
        "Boston Harbor Welcome" (1)
  8: "Next Act," Steep Canyon Rangers [Yep Roc, 6/2026] (6)
        "Next Act" (3)
  8: "Reunion," Mama's Broke [Free Dirt, 5/2026] (6)
        "Heaven" (2)
        "Old-Fashioned Love Song" (2)
  8: "Hope Is the Thing," Rhiannon Giddens [Nonesuch, 7/2026] (6)
        "Carolina Rain" (2)
        "Freight Train" (2)
 14: "Cover to Cover," AJ Lee & Blue Summit [Signature Sounds, 9/2026] (5/6)
        "Red Dirt Girl" (2)
 14: "Troubadourly Yours," Scott Cook [Release Guru, 8/2026] (5/6)
        "A Bigger Tent" (2)
 14: "The Breakdown," Keb' Mo' [Concord, 9/2026] (5)
        "Fussing and Fighting" (2)
 14: "Tonight's News," Ken Pomeroy [Rounder, 9/2026] (5)
        "Deportee" (2)
        "This Old Guitar" (2)

TOP SONGS of September 2026, Week 5
Compiled by Richard Gillmann from FOLKDJ-L playlists
Based on 1219 plays from 37 playlists from 24 Folk DJs

1. "Clouds" (4)
     from "Requiem for a Sleepless Night" (Kelly Hunt)
2. "Harvest Moon" (3)
     from "Harvest Moon" (Neil Young)
2. "Like an Angel" (3)
     from "Smoketree" (The Kennedys)
2. "Lone Coyote" (3)
     from "Head Noise" (Stephanie Sammons)
2. "Lucky Water" (3)
     from "Lucky Water" (Laura Cortese)
2. "Morning Brew" (3)
     from "Over the Horizon" (Giselle & Erik)
2. "Next Act" (3)
     from "Next Act" (Steep Canyon Rangers)
2. "A Star to Guide You" (3)
     from "Smoketree" (The Kennedys)
2. "Winter Wheat" (3)
     from "Requiem for a Sleepless Night" (Kelly Hunt)

TOP ARTISTS of September 2026, Week 5
Compiled by Richard Gillmann from FOLKDJ-L playlists
Based on 1219 plays from 37 playlists from 24 Folk DJs

1. Kelly Hunt (13)
        "Requiem for a Sleepless Night" (13)
2. The Kennedys (12)
        "Smoketree" (12)
3. Billy Strings (9)
        "So Much for Goodbyes" (8)
4. Kalos (8)
        "Tamarack" (8)
4. Laura Cortese (8)
        "Lucky Water" (8)
6. AJ Lee & Blue Summit (7)
        "Cover to Cover" (6)
6. Giselle & Erik (7)
        "Over the Horizon" (7)
6. Ken & Brad Kolodner (7)
        "Hand's Cove" (6)
6. Pharis & Jason Romero (7)
        "These Are the Days That Turn Into Years" (7)
6. Rhiannon Giddens (7)
        "Hope Is the Thing" (4)
11. Crys Matthews (6)
        "Changemakers" (1)
11. Hayden Stern (6)
        "The Morning Dark" (6)
11. John McCutcheon (6)
        "Mightier Than The Sword" (2)
11. Keb' Mo' (6)
        "The Breakdown" (5)
11. Ken Pomeroy (6)
        "Tonight's News" (5)
11. Mama's Broke (6)
        "Reunion" (6)
11. Steep Canyon Rangers (6)
        "Next Act" (6)
11. Stephanie Sammons (6)
        "Head Noise" (6)
19. Lindsay Lou (5/6)
        "Bluegrass Women" (1)
19. Scott Cook (5/6)
        "Troubadourly Yours" (6)
19. Bella White (5)
        "A Sign in the Weather" (4)
19. Cheryl Wheeler (5)
        "Different Stripe" (2)
19. Gillian Welch (5)
        "Revival" (2)
19. I'm With Her (5)
        "Sing Me Alive" (4)
19. Jake Blount (5)
        "Workin' On A Building - single" (2)
19. Jefferson Ross (5)
        "Low Country Wedding" (4)
19. Jon Shain (5)
        "Odds...and Even So" (3)
19. Lynn Hollyfield (5)
        "Diving In" (4)
19. Neil Young (5)
        "Harvest Moon" (3)
19. Old Crow Medicine Show (5)
        "Union Made" (4)
19. Tom Russell (5)
        "Mesabi" (2)
19. Two Runner (5)
        "Porch Light" (3)

TOP LABELS of September 2026, Week 5
Compiled by Richard Gillmann from FOLKDJ-L playlists
Based on 1219 plays from 37 playlists from 24 Folk DJs

1. Rounder (35)
2. Compass (26)
3. Signature Sounds (19)
4. Red House (14)
5. Nonesuch (13)
6. Columbia (12)
7. Free Dirt (11)
7. Reprise (11)
9. Concord (9)
9. Thirty Tigers (9)
11. Adhyâropa (8)
11. Yep Roc (8)
13. Philo (7)
13. Smithsonian/Folkways (7)
15. Fantasy (5/9)
15. Acony (5/6)
15. ATO (5)
15. Elektra (5)
15. Fenchurch (5)
15. Gar Hole (5)
15. Legacy (5)
15. New West (5)
15. Oh Boy (5)
15. Point Guard (5)
15. Sub Pop (5)
15. Sugar Hill (5)

FOLK DJs - September 2026, Week 5
Compiled by Richard Gillmann from FOLKDJ-L playlists
Based on 1219 plays from 37 playlists from 24 Folk DJs

Artie Martello (folkmusicnotebook.com, NY)
Bill Revill (WESU-FM, CT)
Bob McWilliams (Kansas Public Radio)
Bob Weiser (WOMR-FM & WFMR-FM, MA)
Bud Johnson (KNBA-FM & syndicated, AK)
Carolyn VandeWiele (WFHB-FM, IN)
Chris McGill (WSPN-FM, NY)
Cindy Howes (folkalley.com)
Colin Fielding (3INR-FM, Australia)
David John (KAXE/KBXE-FM, MN)
Don Jacobson (KBOO-FM, OR)
JB Nuttle (WSDL-FM, MD)
Jim Canales (WWSP-FM, WI)
Johnny Bazzano (KRCB-FM, CA)
Katrina Knight (mixcloud.com & folkmusicnotebook.com, New Zealand)
Kevin Elliott (WEFT-FM, IL)
Laurie DesJardins (KVMR-FM, CA)
Lilli Kuzma (WDCB-FM, IL)
Mary Sue Twohy (SiriusXM, US/CA)
Michael Benson (WESU-FM, CT)
Michael Park (mixcloud.com, PRX)
Paul Hefti (KUTZ-FM & mixcloud.com, UT)
Ron Olesko (WFDU-FM & folkmusicnotebook.com, NJ)
Wally Bowen (KOCF-LP, OR)