Canadian Folk

As Canadians, we're proud of our folk heritage — and the multitude of artists who have brought that heritage to the international stage. From Neil Young's years in North Ontario ("Sugar Mountain") to Leonard Cohen's wanderings in Montreal ("So Long Marianne"), each of these artists has made a vital contribution to the country's rich musical mosaic.

Canada's multicultural makeup translates to a seemingly endless variety of musical styles. Be it Acadian, Celtic, traditional country, or just your plain ol' acoustic-guitar strumming, it's still an essential component of our folk music canon. That variety is reflected in the story-songs of Oh Susannah and the wonderful roots duets of Carolyn Mark.

The gruff lumber-mill bravado of Fred Eaglesmith blends brilliantly with the Celtic fervour of Spirit Of the West as we dig deep into the Canadian folk well — drawing up Murray McLauchlan's ode to a sculpture, a river song by Shari Ulrich, and the topical satire of Nancy White ("He Wrote Too Many Songs About His Girlfriend").

Folk music is Canada's lifeblood, an embodiment of the honesty, passion, and hard work that resonates throughout this nation. Our eclectic acoustic artists, such as Gordon Lightfoot to Kate & Anna McGarrigle, speak an inherent truth born of love for our vast land, which manifests in songs about small towns, farming in Alberta, hockey, and even — believe it or not — instructions for building a fence. Here's Canada's heartbeat in song.