Folk Rock Music is Making a Comeback in 2014

Folk rock music is making a comeback in 2014, and we couldn’t be happier! This genre of music is the perfect blend of traditional folk sounds with a modern twist, and it’s perfect for any music lover who wants to stay current. Keep an eye out for these folk rock bands that are sure to make waves this year!

Introduction

Folk rock music is making a comeback in 2014, with a new generation of artists reintroducing the genre to a whole new audience. Although it has its roots in the 1960s, folk rock has been enjoying something of a revival in recent years, thanks to the popularity of bands like Mumford & Sons and The Lumineers.

With its combination of folk and rock influences, folk rock is the perfect genre for music lovers who are looking for something a little different. If you’re interested in giving folk rock a try, here are five great albums to get you started.

What is Folk Rock?

Folk rock is a musical genre that combines elements of folk music and rock music. In its earliest and narrowest sense, the term referred to a genre that arose in the United States and the United Kingdom around the mid-1960s. The genre was pioneered by Bob Dylan and the Byrds, and reached its height of mainstream popularity with Simon & Garfunkel, Crosby, Stills & Nash, Joni Mitchell and James Taylor. By the 1970s, splashy electric folk had become widely popular, particularly in Britain with artists such as Fairport Convention, Pentangle and Lindisfarne; by that time a more diverse range of subgenres had also emerged, including British folk rock (e.g. Al Stewart), Celtic Folk-Rock (e.g.runrig) Prog-Folk (e.g. Comus) Psychedelic Folk (e.g Kaleidoscope)

The History of Folk Rock

The origins of folk rock are often traced back to the early 1960s, when Bob Dylan began infusing his songwriting with elements of rock and roll. Dylan’s hit “Like a Rolling Stone” was one of the first popular folk rock songs, and his use of electric instruments on the album Bringing It All Back Home caused a stir among folk music purists. In 1965, the Byrds further blurred the lines between folk and rock with their jangly cover of Dylan’s “Mr. Tambourine Man.” The success of the song helped to kick off the folk rock boom of the mid-1960s.

Other artists who made significant contributions to the genre during this time period include Simon and Garfunkel, whose sound blended elements of pop, folk, and jazz; Judy Collins, who had a series of hits with her covers of songs by Leonard Cohen, Joni Mitchell, and others; and Donovan, whose 1966 single “Sunshine Superman” is considered one of the first psychedelic pop hits.

The Beatles’ 1967 album Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band is often cited as one of the most influential records in the history of pop music, and it contains several songs that exemplify the best elements of early folk rock (“Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds,” “Within You Without You”). The band also dabbled in country-influenced sounds on later albums such as Abbey Road (1969) and Let It Be (1970).

In 1968, Crosby, Stills & Nash released their self-titled debut album, which featured male/female harmonies reminiscent of Simon & Garfunkel as well as acoustic guitars and a light rhythmic groove that would come to be known as country-rock. The group’s follow-up album Déjà Vu (1970) became even more successful, thanks in part to hits like “Wooden Ships” (co-written by David Crosby and Paul Kantner of Jefferson Airplane) and “Teach Your Children” (co-written by Graham Nash and Neil Young).

The Eagles’ 1972 debut album Eagles combined country-rock with harder-edged rock sounds, resulting in a more radio-friendly form of folk rock that would ultimately become known as ‘California Sound.’ The band would go on to even greater commercial success with subsequent releases such as Desperado (1973) and Hotel California (1976).

Fleetwood Mac began as a British blues outfit in 1967 but didn’t achieve widespread success until they added American singer/songwriter/guitarist Lindsey Buckingham and singer Stevie Nicks to their lineup in 1974. The new lineup’s self-titled albumFleetwood Mac was an instant classic, thanks to hits like “Over My Head,” “Rhiannon,” and “Go Your Own Way.” The group followed up with Rumours (1977), an even more successful release that spawned hits like “Dreams,” “Don’t Stop,” and “You Make Loving Fun.”

Folk Rock Today

Folk rock is a musical genre that combines elements of folk music and rock music. Folk rock emerged in the early 1960s with the British band The Byrds, who began playing folk-influenced material that they had heard in Bob Dylan’s recordings. The Beatles soon adopted elements of folk rock into their own music. While the Beatles were not the first to incorporate pop and rock elements into folk songs (such as with “Find the Cost of Freedom” by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young), they did popularize the genre with hits such as “Yesterday”, “Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)”, and “Rocky Raccoon”.

In the United States, Steve Winwood’s Blind Faith-era band Traffic popularized a sound that there had been signposts for in 1967 with their debut album Mr. Fantasy, which included songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Dave Mason’s Simon and Garfunkel-esque hit “Feelin’ Alright?” as well as Jim Capaldi’s early solo effort “Paper Sun”, which reached #5 in the UK charts. Other American bands followed suit, such as The Lovin’ Spoonful (“Do You Believe In Magic”) and Buffalo Springfield (“For What It’s Worth”).

Why is Folk Rock Making a Comeback?

Folk rock music is making a comeback in 2014 for a number of reasons. The first reason is that folk rock music was popular in the 1960s and 1970s, and many people who grew up listening to this type of music are now in their 40s and 50s. These people are now in a position where they can influence the music industry, and they are doing so by pushing for a return to folk rock.

Another reason for the revival of folk rock is that it is seen as a more authentic form of music than the pop and rock that has dominated the charts in recent years. Folk rock is seen as being more down to earth and real, and this is appealing to many people who are tired of manufactured pop music.

Finally, folk rock is making a comeback because it is simply good music. It has strong melodies and catchy lyrics, and it is the perfect summertime music. So if you’re looking for something new to listen to this summer, be sure to check out some of the great folk rock bands that are making a comeback in 2014!

The Future of Folk Rock

Folk rock music is making a comeback in 2014. This timeless genre has been around for decades, and it seems that every few years it comes back into the mainstream and becomes popular again. Folk rock is a genre that is known for its simple, acoustic sound and its lyrics that often deal with social or political issues. The genre first became popular in the 1960s, when artists like Bob Dylan and The Byrds began to experiment with combining folk music with rock music. Folk rock became even more popular in the 1970s, when bands like Simon and Garfunkel and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young released some of the most famous folk rock albums of all time. In recent years, there has been a renewed interest in folk rock music, and many new artists are beginning to experiment with the genre.

One of the most exciting new bands in the folk rock scene is Mumford & Sons. This band from England has taken the world by storm with their debut album, “Sigh No More.” “Sigh No More” was released in 2010 and quickly rose to the top of the charts in several countries. The album’s success has led to Mumford & Sons winning several awards, including a Grammy Award for Best Album of the Year. Another band that is helping to lead the folk rock revival is The Lumineers. This band from Colorado released their self-titled debut album in 2012, and it has since become a huge commercial success. “The Lumineers” has been certified Platinum in several countries, and the band has won numerous awards, including two Grammy Awards.

With Mumford & Sons and The Lumineers leading the way, it seems likely that folk rock will continue to be a popular genre in the coming years. These two bands have helped to bring folk rock back into the mainstream, and they are sure to inspire other bands to experiment with this timeless genre.