2024 Folk Hero online submissions

We have a tie.

Vote for one, only, and send your selection via email no later than August 19th. by noon.

When you have decided please send your vote and select “reply all” in your outgoing email to include all board members.

1. Julie Derrick

American singer-songwriter Julie Derrick creates music soaked in rich, timeless storytelling with innate pop sensibilities. She writes songs about the trickiness of being human, and does it with a smile and a catchy hook. Whether singing harmony with women in her family, or singing in an all female a cappella group at The University of Virginia, Julie learned music from the sisterhood of women in her life. A dynamic performer and guitarist, Julie is influenced by mesmerizing talents like Brandi Carlile, Fleetwood Mac, Joni Mitchell and Paul Simon. Julie loves to get lost in the melodies of her songs, telling the truth with her raw soaring vocals.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UnCPcjlnocg or https://on.soundcloud.com/5nj646KwNpN2YgnS8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I3uboSZaEv8 or https://open.spotify.com/album/1TaKIKPSN4yeTacT0BYXr2?si=c98UOMQbRLCB9ThYLjX9Cw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1bEEjRB0hcc or https://open.spotify.com/track/7HgDhuDfKfIBZsUP4ATDtS

2. Jessica Smucker

Jessica Smucker is the kind of writer and performer who can lull a noisy room into a hush with a single line. Wrapped in catchy melodies, her lyrics appear simple and relatable on the surface, but each listen will uncover more hidden pockets of nuance. Based in Lancaster, PA, Jessica performs regularly throughout the U.S. She has released two EPs, three full-length albums, a handful of singles, and plans to release more recorded music later this year. These are fully produced recordings but if selected I would be performing solo on piano/keys.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yy5lUqKZPuU or https://on.soundcloud.com/JPmm7eQnjXsHNoiaA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FsOtowFyP3k or https://on.soundcloud.com/pRfYGFb3q7Ez4jLPA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hjMCeRFJBN8 or https://on.soundcloud.com/9NsUtXiUBY86c8fo8