FINALISTS FOR “NOT YOUR AVERAGE FOLK” CONTEST
The North Carolina Folk Festival has announced the three finalists for its annual Not Your Average Folk (NYAF) Contest, highlighting innovative artists from across the country who are redefining what folk music can be. Music fans are now invited to vote for their favorite finalist to determine who will perform on a mainstage at the 2026 Festival, taking place September 18-20 in downtown Greensboro.
Selected by a panel of expert jurors from a nationwide pool of submissions, this year’s finalists represent a dynamic range of sounds, styles and influences that push the boundaries of traditional folk music.
The 2026 Not Your Average Folk finalists are:
d.a.l.i.a.: Greensboro, North Carolina songwriter d.a.l.i.a. creates original music in both English and Spanish, blending traditional Latin American folk instruments with contemporary sound. Drawing from her Western classical training and Mexican heritage, her work explores themes across the human experience while celebrating cultural identity and community.
Jesse Fox: Jesse Fox is an indie-folk singer-songwriter from Burlington, North Carolina whose acoustic-first writing focuses on plain-spoken stories and wide-open melodies. After ten years fronting the regional band Love & Valor, he stepped out solo in 2022 and has been carving his own path ever since. He’s now wrapping up his second solo album with producer Phil Amalong. Early singles “Leave” and “Heal” pair pedal-steel lines with honest, plain-spoken lyrics and are the first taste of the record, due later this year.
Mayia Warren: A Gospel artist, worship leader and musician from Raleigh, North Carolina, Mayia Warren’s sound is a fusion of Gospel, R&B, Neo Soul, and Jazz, distinguished by her deep, soulful vocals and rich, autobiographical songwriting. Her music often addresses personal themes like childhood trauma, navigating life with multiple disabilities and personal faith rooted epiphanies. She has been legally blind since birth and navigates life with albinism, in addition to several invisible disabilities.
“These artists are stretching what folk can be in the best way,” said Jodee Ruppel, Executive Director of the NC Folk Festival. “They’re rooted in tradition but not bound by it, and now it’s up to the public to help us choose who performs this September.”
How to Vote
Public voting is open now through March 30. Fans can listen to each finalist and cast their vote by visiting www.ncfolkfestival.com/nyaf.
Votes can be cast once per day, and the artist receiving the most votes will earn a featured performance slot at the 2026 North Carolina Folk Festival.
Music lovers are encouraged to explore the finalists, share their favorites with friends and family, and cast their vote to support emerging artists shaping the future of folk music.
