I was in high school when the HBO premiered the series Brave New Voices (2009). I remember being in awe of the force behind the voices of teenagers collectively sharing their stories through spoken word, across the cities spotlighted on the show.

Irish American fiddler Liz Carroll from Chicago, Illinois, is renowned as both a virtuosic musician and a gifted composer.

Seven acts performed at this year's Ralph Rinzler Memorial Concert, showing a diverse sampling of the National Endowment for Arts National Heritage Fellows.

On the opening day of the 2016 Folklife Festival, Basque trikitixa (accordion) sensation Kepa Junkera headlined the Ralph Rinzler Concert Stage, accompanied by five of the Sorginak.

In this interview, Tmbata answers questions about their American and Armenian inspirations, the importance of Armenian folk music, and what they want to do when get to D.C. for the Smithsonian Folklife Festival.

Day two of the Folklife Festival ended with a welcome surprise of cross-culture.

Over the first three days of the Folklife Festival, Ramón Gutiérrez worked away in The Studio to build a requinto jarocho, a string instrument native to Veracruz, Mexico. On the fourth day, he finished the instrument and immediately launched into song.

Nancy Sekizawa has a voice like a knife. Her piercing alto rings so sharp and clear you can almost see it.

We are thrilled to present the world premier of a new song by Quetzal featuring soul singer Aloe Blacc. “Let’s Get to Knowing” will appear on the band’s upcoming Smithsonian Folkways Recordings album, The Eternal Getdown.

Salar Nader and Homayoun Sakhi will perform at the 2016 Folklife Festival during the afternoons of June 29 and 30, and on June 30 they will headline the evening concert at the Ralph Rinzler Concert Stage, starting at 6:30 p.m.