The Best of British Folk Music

The Best of British Folk Music is a blog dedicated to celebrating the best in British folk music. From traditional ballads to modern interpretations, we’ll be showcasing the very best of what this genre has to offer.

The Origins of Folk Music

Folk music is a genre of music that developed in Britain in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. It is a form of traditional music that was passed down from generation to generation by word of mouth. Folk music was originally created by the working class and was a way for them to express their everyday lives and experiences.

The British Isles

The folk music of the British Isles has been shaped by many factors, including Celtic and English influences, Roman penetration, the Vikings, various waves of immigration from mainland Europe, and more. Today, it is enjoyed by people all over the world.

There are three main types of folk music from the British Isles: Celtic, English, and Scottish. Celtic music is characterized by its use of traditional instruments like the fiddle and penny whistle, as well as its unique vocal style. English folk music is often more subdued than other types of folk music, and often tells stories about love, loss, or history. Scottish folk music is known for its high energy and use of traditional instruments like the bagpipes.

Despite its varied origins, folk music from the British Isles shares a number of common features. Most songs are written in a major key, and many make use of pentatonic scales. Many songs also feature a chorus or refrain that is repeated throughout the song. Folk music from the British Isles often tells stories about real life events, and many songs are passed down through generations of performers.

The Celtic Tradition

Celtic folk music has its roots in the music of the ancient Celtic people. The Celts were a group of people who lived in Europe during the Iron Age and Middle Ages. They were known for their skill in warfare and their love of music and storytelling.

The Celtic tradition is one of the oldest and most influential traditions in folk music. Many of the most popular folk songs, such as “Danny Boy” and “When Irish Eyes Are Smiling,” have their origins in Celtic music. Celtic folk music is characterized by its use of traditional instruments, such as the fiddle, bagpipe, and harp, and its focus on repetitive melodies and simple harmonies.

The Celtic tradition has been particularly influential in the development of Irish and Scottish folk music. In Ireland, Celtic folk music evolved into the distinctive genre known as Irishtraditional music or sean-nós singing. In Scotland, the Celtic tradition gave rise to both Highland and Lowland folk traditions.

The Folk Revival

The British folk music revival was a phenomenon of the 1950s and 1960s. It reached its height in the 1960s with the formation of The Kingston Trio, The Weavers, The folk music revival was a reaction against the development of rock and roll music.

The 1960s

The folk music revival of the 1960s brought the music of other cultures to a wider audience in Britain and Ireland. The result was a new form of folk music that blended traditional folk with elements of rock and pop. The best British folk artists of the 1960s were able to take this new sound and create something that was both familiar and fresh.

The 1960s saw the rise of many young folk stars, including Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, and Paul Simon. Dylan, in particular, was able to take the traditional sounds of folk music and combine them with the energy of rock and roll. This resulted in a new sound that appealed to both young and old fans of folk music. Baez, meanwhile, became known for her beautiful renditions of traditional songs. Simon’s work with Simon and Garfunkel brought a new level of popularity to folk music, as their songs reached the top of the charts in both America and Britain.

The success of these artists helped to pave the way for other great British folk musicians, including Martin Carthy, Bert Jansch, Sandy Denny, and Richard Thompson. These artists took the sound of the 60s folk revival and built upon it, creating a unique British sound that has influenced generations of musicians.

The 1970s

The early 1970s saw a renewed interest in British folk music, partly inspired by the work of Fairport Convention and Pentangle, who had taken the sound in new directions. At the same time, there was a growing interest in traditional music from all over the British Isles. This led to the formation of many new folk clubs and the emergence of a new generation of folk singers.

One of the most influential figures of the 1970s folk revival was Shirley Collins. A major force in the English Folk Revival of the 1960s, she contributed immensely to the collected canon of traditional songs with her field recordings and publications. In 1974, she released her seminal album “No Roses”, which many consider to be one of the best examples of English traditional song.

In Wales, 1971 saw the formation of Cân i Gymru (“Song for Wales”), a competition to find a new Welsh-language song which would be broadcast on television. The winner was “Pebeddydd Uenus” (“Pretty Maidens All in a Row”) byMeic Stevens, which went on to become one of the most popular songs in Wales.

The 1980s and Beyond

In the 1980s, the British folk scene underwent a major resurgence, spearheaded by a new generation of singer-songwriters. This newfound interest in folk music was largely inspired by the work of Julie Felix, Bert Jansch, and other artists who had found success in the 1960s and 1970s.

In the 1980s and 1990s, many folk clubs and festivals sprang up around the country, giving performers a place to showcase their work. This period also saw the rise of several influential folk labels, such asTopic Records and Greenwich Village.

The 1990s also saw a renewed interest in traditional folk music, with a number of bands devoted to playing this style of music. The most notable of these bands was probably Bellowhead, who combined traditional folk tunes with a more contemporary sensibility.

The 2000s have seen a continued resurgence of interest in British folk music. This has been spurred on by the success of artists such as Kate Rusby and Eliza Carthy, who have brought the music to a wider audience. In recent years, there has also been an increase in the number of young people taking up traditional instruments such as the fiddle and accordion.

It is clear that British folk music is currently experiencing something of a renaissance. With more people than ever before rediscovering its charms, it looks set to continue being popular for many years to come.

The Best of British Folk Music

British folk music has a long and rich history. It is a genre of music that is often passed down from generation to generation. Folk music is a type of music that is typically associated with the common people. It is often simple in form and is usually performed without the use of sophisticated instruments.

The Chieftains

The Chieftains are an Irish musical group founded in Dublin in November 1962, by Peadar Mercier and Sean Potts. The group is considered to be one of the pioneers of contemporary Celtic music. The band’s sound-world is based on the traditional music of Ireland and the Celtic countries, particularly Scotland and Brittany, as well as that of Galicia and Asturias in north-west Spain. They have also been influenced by the music of Cape Breton, Quebec and Appalachia. They have won six Grammy Awards and been nominated for eighteen.

Fairport Convention

Fairport Convention is often credited as being one of the most influential British folk bands of all time. Formed in 1967, the band helped to pioneer a new sound that blended traditional folk with rock and roll. Over the years, the band has undergone numerous lineup changes, but founding member Ashley Hutchings has remained a constant presence. Fairport Convention has released more than 20 albums, and their music continues to be popular today.

Pentangle

Pentangle was a British folk rock band, founded in 1967 by Jacqui McShee (vocals), Bert Jansch (guitar), Danny Thompson (double bass), John Renbourn (guitar) and Terry Cox (drums). The band was named after the magical symbol, which is also known as a “witch’s foot” or a “wedding ring”.

Pentangle’s first gig was at the Royal Festival Hall in London on June 10, 1967. They were an instant success and quickly became one of the most popular British folk bands of the 1960s and 1970s. They released eight albums during their career, three of which reached the Top 10 in the UK Albums Chart.

The band broke up in 1972 but reunited briefly in 1979 and again in 2008 for a series of reunion concerts. Jansch died in 2011 and McShee is the only surviving member of the original line-up.