Artist Pages (below)
Links to homepages of top female folk artists in whose whose work the issues of sex and gender figure prominently. Websites that are worth your time.

Gerri Gribi
This historian and folksinger has created an impressive resource for songs by and about women and women's issues. Full of lyrics, links, and information.

GoGirls Music
Articles & reviews on contemporary female artists in all musical genres. Includes listings for over 700 women artists, some interesting folk/acoustic among them. Well-designed site, but fairly pop-oriented.

Indiegrrl
This site maintains webpages for member women artists and provides news and updates on issues concerning women in the music industry.

Indiegrrl Gallery
A nicely laid out catalogue of a variety of women artists in various genres from folk to alternative and jazz, but most are acoustic songwriters.

Ladyslipper Music
Catalogue dedicated to music of by and for women in every genre. Specializes in marginalized voices: lesbian, Native American, "African Heritage", and world music from Celtic to Latin to Middle Eastern. Lots of great artists, but lots of PC pablum too.

Lilith Fair
Website for the now defunct traveling festival of women's music still serves a historical function, as well as being a clearinghouse for info on the artists who participated. Site includes artist bios, calendars and links.

National Museum of Women's History
Songs, documents, memorabilia of the suffragist movement, 1848-1921. RealAudio versions of "I Will Speak My Mind If I Die For It," "Taxation Tyranny," ""Giving the Ballot to the Mothers," "Yellow Ribbon," and "Suffrage Flag."

Women On Air
Webcasting site for women's music.

Artist Pages

Amos, Tori
She may rock, but she cannot and should not be ignored by anyone interested in acoustic-based singer-songwriters. The original voice on the verge.

Brooke, Jonatha
Homepage. Originally hit the scene in the duo The Story with Jennifer Kimball.

Colvin, Shawn
Airy and soulful, a magnificent singer and writer of exquisite tragic love songs. Shawn's official site. And a good fan site.

Corday, Erin
Beautiful, poetic songs of personal transformation have gained this artist a considerable cult following in the Pacific Northwest. Site includes sounds and store.

Curtis, Catie
Curtis can deliver complex love songs with incredibly simple and direct language. Nice site includes MP3 of a new single plus tourdates.

DiFranco, Ani
There is an entire Ani DiFranco universe out there - including a 500 site web ring. However, this fansite is an excellent place to start. Ani is athletic, original, in a league of her own.

disappear fear/Sonia Rutstein
Once a sister duo, Sonia continues to tour and record solo. Political, earnest, straightforward.

Ferron
Legendary Canadian songwriter Ferron weaves haunting melodies and real poetry. Though she's often pegged as women's music, she's one of the best anywhere.

Ian, Janis
Ian did not disappear after "17" - she's better than ever, in fact, and a monster guitarist to boot. Site includes sounds, lyrics, tour schedule and on-line ordering.

Indigo Girls
Two girls with guitars who shook up the two guys with guitars theory. Their brand of hooky, introspective writing isn't elegant, but it gets the job done.

Kimball, Jennifer
Long overshadowed by her partner in The Story, Kimball has emerged as a strong songwriter and solo performer in her own right.

Larkin, Patty
Originally known for being the best guitarist on the folk scene, she has become one of the finest songwriters too. An inspired singer and performer as well. One of the best.

Loeb, Lisa
Known for her smart pop radio and movie hits, Loeb comes out of the NYC songwriter scene and has played solo acoustic at Newport and other folkfests. She's clearly a daughter of Vega and Colvin.

McKeown, Erin
A brave new voice, a unique sound, monster guitar player.

McLachlan, Sarah
Soaring, spacious melodies and a simple poetry that can be breathtaking. Creator of Lilith Fair, she's an honorary folkie for promoting thoughtful indie music and women.

Orton, Beth
A new folk sound and direction - but check her hit against "Midnight at the Oasis"...

Polenzani, Rose
Best of the young women writers on the Voices on the Verge tour. Rose's work is spartan, haunted and haunting.

Raitt, Bonnie
Raitt made the charts with a number of pop singles but her roots and her heart are still solidly in blues and folk. Site includes sound clips and tour schedule.

Siberry, Jane
Not exactly folk but a truly innovative songwriter who, with performance artists like Laurie Anderson, experiment with the medium of music and recording.

Spicer, Amilia K.
Spicer's debut album, Like An Engine, is a winning cross between folk-rock and cabaret: she is a pianist and poetic, sensual - often erotic - lyricist.

Vega, Suzanne
An instant classic, Suzanne started out in the Greenwich Village songwriter scene and keeps experimenting in new genres. Her writing stays timeless.

Williams, Dar
One of the most original and best loved of today's songwriters. Nobody sounds anything like her - smart, funny, poetic, insistent. One of the best in any genre.

Williamson, Chris & Tret Fure
Along with Holly Near, Williamson and Fure were mainstays in the women's song movement of the '70s. Williamson's "Song of the Soul" is a classic of the genre. Celebratory new age spirituality.