At This Year’s Folklife Festival, the Kids Are All Right
Cultural traditions such as mariachi and hula are being shepherded by a new generation
How the Charismatic King of Zydeco Introduced the Music of the Bayou to the Nation
The lively songs and performances of Clifton Chenier, who would have turned 100 today, brought fans—including the Rolling Stones—to their feet
When Midcentury New York Spoke, This Sound Archivist Listened—and Recorded Every Word
Armed with a tape recorder and open ears, Tony Schwartz turned everyday noise into lasting art. Now, his recordings live on at Smithsonian Folkways, where they continue to inspire new ways of listening to, remembering and understanding the world
This New Immersive Experience Is Built With Hundreds of Photos, Videos and Magazine Covers From the ‘Rolling Stone’ Archives
Narrated by Kevin Bacon, the 50-minute exhibition examines the history of rock music through media projected onto walls across a 4,000-square-foot gallery
The 15 Best Small Towns to Visit in 2025
From a barbecue capital in Texas to the site of the first offensive victory for American forces in the Revolutionary War in New York, these spots are worthy of a visit this year
This 300-Pound Bust Was Stolen From Jim Morrison’s Grave in 1988. French Police Just Recovered It
Created for the tenth anniversary of the Doors frontman’s death in 1971, the bust stood on his grave in the famous Père Lachaise cemetery in Paris for only seven years
How the Grand Ole Opry Put Uniquely American Music at Center Stage
Through daring business decisions and an eye for talent, the vaunted country radio program still stands as a tastemaker for the fastest-growing genre in popular music
When Bob Dylan Isn’t Writing Nobel-Winning Lyrics, He’s Creating Original Paintings and Drawings
Nearly 100 imaginative portraits, still lifes and other artworks by the renowned singer-songwriter are now on view at the Halcyon Gallery in London
Researchers Discover That Chimps Drum Rhythmically, Suggesting Human Musicality Originated in Our Last Common Ancestor
Not only do chimpanzees maintain a rhythm while drumming on tree roots, but two subspecies use distinct tempos and techniques, according to a new study
This Sea Lion Can Headbang Better Than You—Watch Her Out-Perform Humans at Keeping a Beat
A new study of Ronan, a sea lion famous for her dancing skills, challenges the idea that only vocal learners can match a tempo
Hear the Wind Play These Stunning Stringed Sculptures in the Met’s New Rooftop Art Installation
Created by artist Jennie C. Jones, the new exhibition features a trio of towering musical instruments made from concrete and aluminum
The Controversial History of the Word ‘Hillbilly,’ Which Was First Defined in Print 125 Years Ago
In 1900, a political writer described the “hill-billie” as someone who “talks as he pleases, drinks whiskey when he gets it and fires off his revolver as the fancy takes him.” Since then, the label has been used in both mockery and pride
Artificial ‘Brain’ Aims to Allow Composer to Keep Making Music Three Years After His Death
Before dying in 2021, Alvin Lucier donated blood for “Revivification,” an installation that generates sound in response to neural signals
Fifty Years Ago, This Irresistible Disco Song and Dance Craze Swept the Nation and Changed the Music Landscape
Disco music’s time in the sun may have passed, but the legacy of “The Hustle,” a mega hit in the genre, lives on
Windows 95 Jingle, 1960 World Series Broadcast and Other ‘Audio Treasures’ Added to the National Recording Registry
From a list of 2,600 nominations submitted by the public, the Library of Congress has selected 25 songs, albums and sounds that are at least ten years old to preserve for posterity
New Museum Examines the History of American Public Housing—and the Stories of Its Residents
Located in a preserved 1930s development in Chicago’s West Side, the museum includes three recreated apartments representing families of different decades and demographics
Rare Early Beatles Demo Tape Found Collecting Dust in Vancouver Record Store
The 15-song recording dates to the Liverpool band’s failed audition for Decca Records in early 1962—months before it released its first hit
How ‘Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood’ Introduced the ‘First Lady of Children’s Music’ to a Large National Audience
When musician Ella Jenkins appeared on the show, she brought Black diasporic music and her signature songs to televisions across America
How the Vienna Vegetable Orchestra Performs Music Using Carrots, Turnips, Radishes and Pumpkins
The band has now secured a world record for playing more than 340 concerts on instruments made from produce. After each concert, the band members serve soup to the audience
You Can Buy a Reel-to-Reel Tape of a Young Bob Dylan Performing Six Songs at the Gaslight Cafe
Billed as “Bob Dylan’s first demo tape,” the recordings from September 1961 played an outsize role in launching the 20-year-old aspiring songwriter’s career
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