Chris Willman Senior Music Writer and Chief Music Critic Billy Strings, the group Molly Tuttle and Golden Highway, and Iris DeMent won top competitive honors at the International Folk Music Awards, handed out in a ceremony Wednesday night in Kansas City, Missouri as part of the annual Folk Alliance International Conference.
String was named artist of the year, while “City of Gold,” from Tuttle and Golden Highway, was awarded album of the year honors.
Veteran singer-songwriter prevailed in the song of the year category for “Workin’ on a World.” Among those receiving honorary awards for their body of work were Tracy Chapman, Hurray for the Riff Raff’s Alynda Segarra, Chilean songwriter Victor Jara and the intimate Southern California concert spot and guitar shop McCabe’s.
Chapman, who has stayed out of the limelight during the recent resurgence of “Fast Car,” apart from a Grammy Awards duet with Luke Combs, did not appear but sent a message of thanks, saying, “I would like to thank the Folk Alliance International for this unexpected Lifetime Achievement Award.
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