Phil Ochs was one of the first folk artists whose work I really fell in love with. I went through a period where I just bought every record, read biographies, learned his songs on guitar. He was one of the most gifted topical songwriters of his time, and it's always been impressive to me how he was able to give equal complaint to both ends of the political spectrum for their sheer exploitation of extremes. So, it doesn't surprise me at all that he's now being honored by the International Folk Alliance for his life's work.

When the Folk Alliance convenes for their annual conference in February, Ochs, along with Guy and Candie Carawan and Chicago's Old Town School of Folk Music, will be honored with Lifetime Achievement Awards. Both Ochs and the Carawans had an enormous influence on the social movements that ran in concert with the 1960s folk revival, while the Old Town School popped up around that time, and continues to provide an excellent education and forum for folk artists to this day.

There's still plenty of time to register for the 2009 International Folk Alliance Conference, or to purchase tickets for the corresponding awards ceremony. Registration and other information is available at the Folk Alliance Web site.

photo © Robert Corwin

Bob Dylan's Tell Tale Signs provides, if anyone still needs it, proof of why Bob Dylan still matters to modern music. Sure, the studio albums he's put out over the past decade have been timely, impressive, relevant, and stirring in their own right. But, there's something about Dylan's unreleased recordings, mess-ups, live tracks, and outtakes that's far more compelling than the more polished efforts that make it into our collections. Read my full review of Bob Dylan's Tell Tale Signs.

image © Columbia Records