In 2025, Maria produced and released a mini series of podcasts telling the stories of women working in roots music, on stage and behind the scenes. Womenfolk features in-depth interviews with some fascinating musicians, songwriters, organisers, educators and more. Hit the play buttons on the audio players below to check out the introductory mini episode and the full interviews with fiddler, guitarist, singer & songwriter Hannah Read, Grammy winning USA songwriter & singer Melody Walker, English banjoist, composer and artist Kate Griffin, and Texas festival organiser and educator Brandi Waller-Pace. We hope to record and release further episodes of the Womenfolk podcast in the future.
Introducing Womenfolk
Hannah Read – from the Isle of Eigg to Alaska via Boston, Hannah has built a transatlantic career as a renowned fiddle player, singer and songwriter
Melody Walker – based in Nashville, the Grammy-winning songwriter, singer and activist brings a unique perspective to American roots music
Kate Griffin – talented English musician taking clawhammer banjo into unexpected directions, influenced by sounds from all around the world
Brandi Waller-Pace – accomplished festival organiser, educator, musician and activist making an outsize impact with her work
I’ve been lucky enough to get to work with so many fantastic, fascinating people over the years, and in the Womenfolk podcast, I hosted a short season of interviews with female artists and organisers working in roots music – talented, hardworking people who are making fabulous art and making great events happen. Championing women has always been a key part of my mission, and I’ve worked hard to ensure a fair level of gender representation in True North Music’s events and booking roster – read more here. Our programme has featured numerous incredible female artists – and bands with female members – like including Sierra Hull, Jaywalkers, Liv Greene, Laura Cortese & the Dance Cards, Molly Tuttle, Front Country, Allison de Groot & Tatiana Hargreaves, Cara Luft, Evie Ladin and many more.
The podcast theme music was written by me and is the instrumental version of my original song “The Old Ways”. Copyright © and ℗ 2025 Maria Wallace, all rights reserved. Thanks to the musicians on the track, Jay Bradberry (fiddle), Mike Giverin (mandolin) and Lucille Williams (double bass) from the excellent Jaywalkers, plus Phil Stott on guitar. The full version with vocals can be found on my EP “The Merryville Sessions” – listen and buy at my Bandcamp page here. 
I want to thank Arts Council England, whose funding support via the Developing Your Creative Practice grant helped me bring these podcast episodes to fruition.