Old friend looking for acoustic folk inspired music

OK, now that I’ve left a bad smell, to maybe sweeten things up let me suggest a few exceptional folk recordings that I’ve enjoyed over the years:

Number one, without question or rival: "Silly Sisters" by Maddy Prior and June Tabor. A 40 year old recording of very traditional tunes with spectacular modern production. I’ve listened to it more times over the years than any other.
http://www.amazon.com/Silly-Sisters-Tabor-June-Prior/dp/5550884739

For that matter, almost anything by Steeleye Span.

Old-time "Americana": anything by The Highwoods Stringband.
www.amazon.com/Feed-Your-Babies-Onions-Favorites/dp/B0000003NP
Beautiful voices, not! But OMG!

As for some [not altogether] new, smart, beautifully written [predominantly trad.], acoustic folk inspired music from someone with a good set of pipes, try:

The Poozies
https://www.amazon.com/s?ie=UTF8&field-keywords=The Poozies

Eddi Reader
https://www.amazon.com/s?ie=UTF8&field-keywords=Eddi Reader

Connie Dover
https://www.amazon.com/s?ie=UTF8&field-keywords=Connie Dover

Uncle Earl deserves mention!:
https://www.amazon.com/s?ie=UTF8&field-keywords=Uncle Earl

If that’s not enough, under the rubric "World Music" there’s Madredeus:
https://www.amazon.com/s?ie=UTF8&field-keywords=Madredeus
Teresa Salgueiro’s voice will go straight to the center of your soul and camp there. Read some of the reviews.

OK, that’s enough now.

Wow, good one lp2cd! I hereby rescind my Mary Gauthier suggestion, and admit that after considering what you said above agree she should not be considered Folk. But let me point out that the op's request was for suggestions of "acoustic Folk inspired music". That sets a far lower bar than did you in your definition of the term Folk. But yours is a good one!

Lp2Cd -- so dismissing everything Ani DiFranco ever did would also cover "Fellow Workers"? Presumably an album that meets your definition of folk - songs from the movement for social justice and labour rights would certainly fit strongly in anyones definition of folk?

And by that same token what the hell do I make of "1000 years of popular music" by Richard Thompson -- my point being that the folk canon does evolve and the greatest artists link past and present 😉

But back on topic if you really want to connect to the heart of a rich and flourishing folk tradition then look to the British Isles, the enclosed is a great resource

http://brightyoungfolk.com/

Ani DiFranco fits the bill as well.

Richard Thompson is from the Folk movement and is an excellent artist.
Happy Listening!