The Field Recorders’ Collective is proud to present:

Over a span of nearly 4 decades, a small group of friends (the North American Traditions Group) recorded many hundreds of hours of traditional music over large swaths of the Appalachians, the Canadian Maritimes, the Ozarks and the American West. Styles within the NAT collection range from unaccompanied ballads to vocal quartets; virtuoso fiddle solos to string bands; blues to gospel to topical songs. The FRC and the NAT Group are proud to present the 15-volume Survey of Traditional Music from the North American Traditions Collection! This presentation is also unique in that each volume is accompanied by extremely detailed notes by Mark Wilson, Norm Cohen and other experts that attempt to situate this music within the historical fabric from which it emerged.  Links to these explanatory notes are provided below.

What an amazing project. Can’t wait to stuff it all into my ears! —Charlie Walden

Excellent sound, copious notes, and more photographs that anyone would think possible. A great project! —Tom Carter

This scope of this collection is completely mind-blowing…just incredible! —Brad Leftwich

An important window into times past that we won’t see again. —Bruce Molsky

• • 15 Volumes plus a Preview album
  • Over 530 tracks
  • More than 350 (65%) previously unissued tracks
  • Over 150 artists (some well-known, but some surprises!)
  • Extensive contextual PDF notes (~150 pages) for each volume
    • Copious historical illustrations and valuable commentaries by the artists themselves and various experts, including Mark Wilson and Norm Cohen. With rare photos and other graphic images.
  • Produced by Mark Wilson and John Schwab
  • Unparalleled geographical coverage.
  • Outstanding sound quality

• To see the entire Survey Track Listings for all 16 volumes.
• To see the list of artists included in the series.
• Sortable table of contents of all discs.
• Testimonials from prominent musicians and experts
• Extensive PDF Album notes for all Survey volumes
• Background information about the NAT Collectors and their Research Archive
• North American Traditions FAQ
• The NAT Research Archive includes:
  • Published projects – about one hundred previously-released albums
  • Original sessions – Original field recordings from which the Survey volumes are drawn
  • Survey notes – Informative notes for each volume each about 150 pages including rare photos and commentary by experts and artists
  • Free open access to an invaluable resource.

The FRC wishes to express gratitude to The Southern Folklife Center for their cooperation in providing copies of recordings and documents that are critical to our work. The Southern Folklife Center at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill (SFC) safeguards, preserves, and restores (as necessary) many important collections of recorded music and related documentation, while at the same time providing public access (subject to permission, as required by the donors of these collections). Among the collections housed at the SFC are the original materials of the NAT Collection, including audio recordings, photographs, and notes.