If you’re in a musical rut and need to change your tune here’s a list of my all-time 50 favorite singer/songwriters. I’ve linked to a live clip that’s a good representative song for each artist. Disclaimer: this list is HUGELY skewed towards male singers (in fact there’s only one female on the list) plus, yes I play myself and of course dig my own music so I’m on there. If you have any good suggestions to balance out this list with the female gender, please make recommendations. I’ve just rarely found female singers that I connect with. But I’m sure there are great ones out there – add them in the comments if you have suggestions!
Joe Purdy
Sean Tierney
Jose Gonzalez
Nate Stone
Greg Holden
Mat McHugh
Shane Alexander
Matt Costa
Griffin House
Rocky Votolato
Brett Dennen
Dustin Kensrue
William Fitzsimmons
Colin Hay
Chad Stokes
Jack O’Neill
Ryan Adams
Jeffrey Gaines
Howie Day
Teddy Geiger
Xavier Rudd
Damian Rice
Alexi Murdoch
Conor Oberst
Elliot Smith
Jeff Buckley
Ray LaMontagne
Glen Hansard
Angus & Julia Stone
Joshua Radin
Avett Brothers
Kevin Devine
Joseph Arthur
Mike Doughty
Adam Stephens
Ryan Miller
Brian Chartrand
Mark Kozelek
Misha Chellam
Andy Mckee
Cat Stevens
Nate Ruess
Justin Vernon
Todd Snider
Sam Beam
Nick Drake
Bobby Long
John Prine
Charlie Mars
Sean Hayes
This list can’t be complete – who is conspicuously missing and who are the female equivalents to these guys?
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Just got a great new suggestion from my brother- Nico Stai. Check this guy out, he's killer:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pEziAx8kwCM
[...] 50 acoustic artists you need to know [...]
A few great girls…
Patty Griffen – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jac5tXhMUrE
Alison Krauss – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jac5tXhMUrE
Mindy Smith – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t-N0EVsTaA4
jack johnson!
Luka Bloom. He's one of my favorite (or maybe even my favorite) acoustic guitarist/artist.
Here's a link for my favorite song Delirious: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rrOM4lhqqyo
For the guitar geeks: he runs his guitar through a bass amplifier with a chorus effect and has his guitar tuned in a weird way (DADGAD). This explains his amazing sound
(BTW: sorry for my bad english, I'm dutch)
damien rice
david gray
faithless – dont leave
PAUL WELLER
Gavin Clark
Richard Hawley
Steve Pilgrim
Alexi Murdoch is amazing.
Dallas Green (city and colour) needs to be added to this list hes such a talented man
AGREED!
Bring Me Your Love is my very favorite album! Also he is truly awesome live!
i am listening to him now. and i am teaching myself to play sleeping sickness. i may be young but i adore all of his stuff so much
Agreed
Uhhhh… Sorry, but last time I checked, Sigur Ros was more of a Post Rock band, not acoustic… >.<
Damien Rice and Ray Lamontagne are my heroes in songwriting.
I learned a lot from both of them. The swell Season?
Can you make the list some longer?
Jack Savoretti
jason mraz and jack johnson please add this on the lists :D
Try tyrone wells..
Yeah I love jack johnson's music what about andy mckee? He's good in acoustic also and that japanesse boy what was his name again?
wow….you totally forgot dallas green from alexisonfire. city and colour. amazing!!
What about otis taylor he is fantastic
Jesse Ruben. The Ones That Matter, best album of the year.
Ray lamontagne owns this list in my opinion, most underrated man in music.
Willy Porter, http://www.willyporter.com
Ani Difranco!
John Mayer
Women acoustic singers (some) that I love :
Rachael Yamagata
Rosi Golan
Ingrid Michaelson
Sara Bareilles
Carrie Newcomer
and many many more..! =) great list!I did my research on the names that i've never heard before…thank you for expanding my music library.
john mayer!
Laura Marling is incredible-woman acoustic guitarist!
If you haven't already, check out a guy by the name of Matt Andersen. Just incredible!
brendon urie
kevin devine
Awesome list. If I was to give an opinion Bret Dennen tops this list. My favourite, please also add Jack Johnson.
This is a really good list! I was excited to see so many of my favorite artists on it, getting the cred they deserve!
Awesome bands :)
Great to see Glen hansard on there. So talented that guy,
Jack johnson. Duh.
Cady Groves. Check her out! Amazing!
Jon Foreman – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YOCZ3U3Znm8
joshua james should be up there
good to see purdy on top
Chase Coy
I'll like to add:
Jason Reeves; he is one of the best acoustic artists I've ever heard, and his lyrics are so relatable and hypnotising, I love him!
Amanda Seyfried; despite the fact she's only really sang one proper original song, she has a great voice and I love her song!
Secondhand Serenade; most of their tracks are acoustic and feature amazing harmonies and certainly are a joy to listen to!
Thanks!
SJ Acoustic "I Like You" is the best acoustic song out right now
http://sjacoustic.com
Jason Reeves should be on that list. He is simply amazing. He’s poetic, and down to earth. He should be more recognized for his music.
Iron and Wine :))
Ryan Keen – Thank You (and all others)
Bon Iver
Brandon Boyd
DAMION SUOMI*
Gavin Degraw
Jonny Craig
Jimmy Rankin
Matt Anderson
Sister Hazel
JEFF MAGNUM
aarron lewis
Wow. I can't believe you don't have Monte Montgomery on this list. A travesty indeed.
joshua radin is the best! but someone i have seen nowhere in the list or comments "the civil wars"
similar to the swell season (man woman duo)
Not musically amazing or anything, especially compared to some of the suggestions on here! but if you're looking to listen to somebody new to acoustic music and keen for critique, then you could always check out my page on youtube if you're feeling generous with your time. I'd actually be over the moon if you did!
http://www.youtube.com/brliam
Failing that, check out city and colour – Dallas Greens acoustic side project, its beautiful
wow thanks for opening my eyes to some new fellas, i have had about 4 hrs of great music so far and im only 10 down the list .. i have shared so much of this on fb and the responce is great :) .. i'd love to hear some great female voces too??
Just discovered Nate Stone in Flagstaff – added him above and bumping Lain Archer to comments: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qMKiQ1lPZbM
fionn regan!
Matt Wertz & Dave Barnes are both really great acoustic acts. Check them out…
[...] see other guys like Nate (not necessarily from AZ) check this list I made awhile back. The Interwebs have apparently deemed it #1 google result for “acoustic [...]
Jamie Varley http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ulz272b5Dmc&fe...
dallas green