Folkocracy

Folkocracy is a studio album by Rufus Wainwright, released by BMG on June 2, 2023.

Composition
Folkocracy was produced by Mitchell Froom. Guests on the album include Anohni, Andrew Bird, David Byrne, Brandi Carlile, Sheryl Crow, Madison Cunningham, Susanna Hoffs, Chaka Khan, John Legend, Anna McGarrigle, Van Dyke Parks, Nicole Scherzinger, Chris Stills, and Chaim Tannenbaum.

Promotion
"Down in the Willow Garden" served as the lead single. "Heading for Home" was the second single released. "Harvest" was released as the third single soon after.

A video for "Twelve-Thirty (young girls are coming to the canyon)", a short promotional video for "Hush Little Baby" and a live performance video in the studio of "Alone" were released as well in June and July 2023.

Over the summer, the album was promoted by the Folkocracy tour, on which most of the album was performed live with a band that included Rufus' sister, Lucy Wainwright Roche.

Reception
Pitchfork rated the album 7.3 out of 10.

Personnel
Musicians
 * Rufus Wainwright – vocals (all tracks), guitar (track 11), piano (14)
 * Madison Cunningham – guitar (1, 2, 4, 7, 10, 11)
 * David Piltch – bass (2–5, 7, 8, 10, 11)
 * Rob Moose – arrangement, strings (2, 8)
 * Patrick Sauber – banjo (2)
 * Val McCallum – guitar (3, 5, 8)
 * Mitchell Froom – harpsichord, Mellotron (3); piano (5, 6), electric piano (8)
 * Pete Thomas – drums (3)
 * Steve Amedée – tambourine (3)
 * Patrick Warren – organ (5)
 * Greg Leisz – lap steel guitar (7, 10), guitar (10), mandolin (11)
 * Andrew Bird – violin (7)
 * Jacob Mann – piano (8, 13)
 * Blake Mills – guitar (9)
 * Ted Poor – percussion (10)
 * Van Dyke Parks – accordion, piano (12)
 * Richard Parks – mandolin (12)
 * Anna McGarrigle – accordion (15)
 * Chaim Tannenbaum – banjo (15)

Technical
 * Mitchell Froom – production
 * Bob Ludwig – mastering
 * David Boucher – mixing, engineering