Greg Brown

In 2010, Greg Brown provided the voice of Hades on Hadestown, a Greek-mythology-inspired “folk opera” concept-album from singer-songwriter Anaïs Mitchell. Casting him as the god of the underworld was a stretch, in a funny way: Brown’s cavern-echo baritone has mostly been a benevolent presence since the folkie emerged from Iowa some 30 years ago. After releasing a few compilations over the past few years, 2011’s Freak Flag is his first studio album since 2006’s The Evening Call. The album features contributions from long-time collaborator Bo Ramsey and Mark Knopfler of the Dire Straits, both of whom have also recorded with Brown’s daughter, Pieta.

Updated 11/21/2011