Contemporary Folk refers to post-Bob Dylan singer/songwriters in folk. Prior to Dylan, most folk performers interpreted classic folk songs or wrote broad-based, topical songs. After Dylan, folk singers changed their approach. Not only did their music open up, accepting certain pop/rock production techniques and instrumentation, but their songs became increasingly introspective, concentrating on the personal instead of the social.

Contemporary Folk refers to post-Bob Dylan singer/songwriters in folk. Prior to Dylan, most folk performers interpreted classic folk songs or wrote broad-based, topical songs. After Dylan, folk singers changed their approach. Not only did their music open up, accepting certain pop/rock production techniques and instrumentation, but their songs became increasingly introspective, concentrating on the personal instead of the social. During the '70s, '80s, and '90s, contemporary folk singers often crossed over into the pop mainstream, but they tended to frequent their own circles, releasing albums on independent labels and playing coffee houses.