Old friend looking for acoustic folk inspired music

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!

I sometimes have difficulty recognizing specific genres, but I'll try my best here without reaching too far back in time:
Dave Alvin, "Public Domain"
The Be Good Tanyas, "Blue Horse"
Luca Bloom, "Turf"
Bonnie Prince Billie, "Master and Everything"
The Brothers Comatose, (self-titled)
Crooked Still, "Shaken By a Low Sound"
Steve Earle, "I Feel Alright"
Rice, Rice, Hillman, & Pedersen, "Out of the Woodwork"
Jolie Holland, "Escondida"
Hurray For The Riff Raff, "Small Town Heroes"
Iron & Wine, "Creek Drank the Cradle", "Our Endless Numbered Days"
Mark Selby, "and the horse he rode in on"
Gillian Welch, "Revival"