For more than four decades, profoundly influential bluegrass band The Seldom Scene has shared its undeniable talent, progressive repertoire, and creative spirit both in studio and on stage. Long Time...Seldom Scene, featuring fresh interpretations of 16 oft-requested tunes, is the band’s first studio album since the GRAMMY-nominated Scenechronized in 2007.

Subscriber Discount: Enter code SFNL0414 at folkways.si.edu and save 20% on this CD or album downloads through April 30

Job Opening: Smithsonian Folkways is hiring a marketing assistant

Center Launches Junior Folklorist Challenge

Calling all teachers! We're teaming up with ePals to host the 2014 Junior Folklorist Challenge, encouraging students ages 8 to 18 to identify and interview tradition bearers in their communities, then document and present their stories. In the process, students will learn professional skills relating to researching, documenting, and interpreting local folklife. Six winners from around the world will receive prizes.

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Vote for Smithsonian Folkways
at the Independent Music Awards

Nine Smithsonian Folkways projects were selected as finalists in eight categories for the 13th Independent Music Awards. Finalists are also eligible for the “Vox Populi” awards as determined by fan voting. Click below to submit your votes now through July 18. To vote, you must register and give the album/song up to five stars.

• Blue Clouds – Elizabeth Mitchell (Children’s Album, Children’s Song)
• Classic Harmonica Blues from Smithsonian Folkways – Various Artists (Blues Album, Blues Song)
• Classic Banjo from Smithsonian Folkways – Various Artists (Bluegrass Album, Bluegrass Song)
• Classic Celtic Music from Smithsonian Folkways – Various Artists (World Traditional Album)
• Delicious Peace: Coffee, Music & Interfaith Harmony in Uganda – Various Artists (World Traditional Album, World Traditional Song)

Folklife Festival Spotlight:
China Program Musicians Ih Tsetsn

Visit the Folklife Festival’s China: Tradition and the Art of Living program this summer to see performances by Ih Tsetsn, a musical group from Inner Mongolia, China. The members of Ih Tsetsn work to sustain Mongolian musical traditions, performing khoomei throat singing and “long song,” two practices on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

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Folklife Festival Playlists Now Available

Can’t wait for music on the National Mall at the Folklife Festival this summer? You’re in luck! Playlists featuring music from China and Kenya are now available to stream online for free. Created in collaboration with the China and Kenya programs, the playlists feature tracks from Smithsonian Folkways and Ketebul Music in Nairobi, Kenya.

Listen here: China and Kenya

Images (top to bottom): 1) The Seldom Scene. Photo by Michael Oberman, Smithsonian Folkways Recordings. 2) Photo by 2012 Smithsonian Folklife Festival Staff. 3) Independent Music Award. 4) Ih Tsetsn. Photo by Josh Eli Cogan, Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections. 5) Left: Gargar. Photo by Christian Pizafy, courtesy of Ketebul Music. Right: Wu Man. Photo by Stephen Khan, courtesy of Wu Man.