Listening to the Kings of Leon’s “Back Down South” reminded me how I have, from time to time on hearing such, thought to myself that I quite like American folk music in the Appallachian or Zydeco mode.

Can anyone reccommend a good place to start investigations?

[video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TjjmflnYSLA[/video]

Clifton Chenier is pretty good if you want more traditional Zydeco/Cajun stuff.

this lot are from the UK;

[video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O1HdtnDtK8M[/video]

Oh and Ry cooders soundtrack to the film Southern Comfort.

[video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3w3X95uWv8A[/video]

Doc Watson for Bluegrass has to be amongst the best introductions;

[video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LjFYGZ7R_iw[/video]

I like a bit of Folk, but the more traditional stuff, not really into the American and especially Country end of the spectrum.
Love the Scottish band Shooglenifty!

Not quite in the exact genre your looking for, but in terms of modern Americana/ Folk I’m in love with The Head And The Heart at the moment

http://www.theheadandtheheart.com/

It’s not classic bluegrass, but Steve Earle & The Del McCoury band’s album The Mountain is one of my all time favourites

http://www.steveearle.net/discography/mountain.php

Midlake for my early 70s folky americana fix

http://midlake.net/

the decembrists and blind pilot have a new twist on americana and are worth a listen .
good rocking dopsie and the twisters are good for zydeco , and as already mentioned clifton chenier for cajun.

This may be a bit too diverse, but this is an excellent compilation of American roots stuff in general. Basically three CDs covering folk/bluegrass, blues and contemporary Americana.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Beginners-Guide-American-Various-Artists/dp/B0002FHASS

There are a couple of Rough Guide compilations in a similar vein too .

If you can get hold of them online, Uncut Magazine did some great compilations of American roots and folk too. This one was supposedly music which inspired U2’s Joshua Tree (?!!), but don’t let that put you off – it’s got some classics on it:

http://www.discogs.com/Various-In-Gods-Country/release/1060654

The O Brother Where Art Though soundtrack is also worth a buy if you don’t already have it.

Shooglenifty are great. Saw them last at the Lemontree Aberdeen. I go to a lot of folk concerts. The American bluegrass and Tenessee tradition is actually deribed from the Scots tradition after scots emigrated to these areas. Most folk think “traditional” music is all fiddlydee but listen to Shooglenifty or the Peatbog Faeries ir Homebru etc and you’ll see it aint. Mumford and sons being at number one in the US right now helps folk music no end

Seth Lakeman’s worth a listen.

Folk?
Erm you could try..
Kate Rusby..
Ray LaMontagne..
Iron & Wine..

thought to myself that I quite like American folk music in the Appallachian or Zydeco mode.

Can anyone reccommend a good place to start investigations?

Folk?
Erm you could try..
Kate Rusby..
Ray LaMontagne..
Iron & Wine..

[video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xilOgjeEwPg[/video]

[video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xy8tIA50YM4[/video]

Everyone needs some Pokey Lafarge

[video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=55v3om5T7OY[/video]

[video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tGMuSyjjcRY[/video]

[video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G-_-l_NaDcw[/video]

[video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AUmd-iMoxFE[/video]

Nick, youve got good taste. Seen all those live, amazing. Cave singers gig was up there with anything ive seen, Peter Quirk was a cool guy to meet…

Cheers beanie, I took this at the Green Man last year

P1020134 by nickgilling, on Flickr

Cave Singers were probably the highlight of the festival, even with Fleet Foxes headlining.

Carolina Chocolate Drops are worth checking out.

I Thought liking folk music was all about having bad taste and being happy with that.

Not a folk group, not American but people who like the above vids might like this:

[video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FG_OZ7kUNYs&list=PL9AC008CBCFCC6E09&index=19&feature=plpp_video[/video]

Probably not in your appalachian genre, but worth a mention on any folk thread, I saw ‘The Moulettes’ live the other night..

They are (to quote someone on another thread) a ‘British Orchestral Progressive Folk Rock band’
Foot tapping stuff with some ace musical ability and good dark themes.. the female harmonising vocals sound lush and very traditional..

I bought the album..

On the Appalachian front, “O Brother Where Art Thou?” would be a starting point – there was a concert of the film music called “Down From the Mountain.”

Other than that, a singer who gives me goose bumps is Iris Dement:

[video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o9-pDSYPrio[/video]

A couple of others:

Laura Cantrell:

[video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ekd9k4zt1B4[/video]

Diana Jones:
[video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tV3G90GL92k[/video]

Catherine Maclellan

[video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ahe3w7B6FtU[/video]

Just so much to choose from.

Edited for equality:

[video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4V_G20zdrQ[/video]