British Folk-Rock - An Overview

1 - I can do better 2 - Jury's out 3 - Pretty darn good 4 - Splendiferous 5 - Awesometastic by 18 people | Log in to rate

Ranked #4,945 in Music, #125,172 overall

Greetings

This lens will take a look at some of the iconic bands of the British folk rock scene. This genre had its greatest flowering (at least in terms of popularity) in the late 1970s, but never really went away.

I'm a fan, not really an expert on this field, though I'll probably become one as I do research for additions to the lens. I've started off with a few bands with which I am familiar, and will add more as time goes on. Visitors are encouraged to make suggestions for additions, either in the Guestbook or through "Contact Me".

Fairport Convention 

Fairport Convention was one of--if not the--first of the English "electric folk" bands. They originally came together in 1967, and continued, with numerous personnel changes, through 1979. After disbanding they played annual reunion concerts until reforming in 1985. They continue to be active today.

Early recordings owed much to American folk-rock, but a distinctive Britishness had begun to emerge by the band's third album Unhalfbricking.

Instrumentation is primarily electric, though there has been, at times, a parallel acoustic version of the band.

The most noted line-up was: Sandy Denny, vocals; Ashley Hutchings, bass; Dave Mattacks, drums; Simon Nicol, guitar; Dave Swarbrick, violin; and Richard Thompson, guitar. See the Wikipedia entry (link below) for a full history.

The band's Official website is HERE, and their Wikipedia entry HERE.

 

Fairport Convention

Amazon Price: $13.99 (as of 12/27/2009) Buy Now

Liege & Lief

Amazon Price: $10.99 (as of 12/27/2009) Buy Now

Full House

Amazon Price: $14.98 (as of 12/27/2009) Buy Now

 


Fairport Convention - Matty Groves

Runtime: 282
55808 views
55 Comments:


Fairport Convention "Time will show the wiser (1967)

Runtime: 173
303520 views
218 Comments:


Who knows where the time goes - Fairport Convention

Runtime: 310
275737 views
487 Comments:


Fairport Convention "Now Be Thankful"

Runtime: 181
66619 views
75 Comments:


Tam Lin - Fairport Convention

Runtime: 448
30220 views
83 Comments:


Fairport Convention - Dirty Linen

Runtime: 241
20300 views
17 Comments:

curated content from YouTube

 

Loading Fetching new data from eBay now... please stand by
eBay

Steeleye Span 

Founded in late 1969 when Ashley Hutchings left Fairport Convention, Steeleye Span tended toward a harder rock sound for their best-known work.

While they have recorded a fair amount of original work, the emphasis is on electric arrangements of traditional material.

The band was even more afflicted with personnel changes than most--Wikipedia lists 14 different rosters--but managed to maintain an overall consistency in spite of it. As of Parcel of Rogues, the line-up was: Maddy Prior (vocals); Tim Hart (vocals, guitar, appalachian dulcimer); Bob Johnson (vocals, guitar); Rick Kemp (bass guitar, drums); Peter Knight (violin, viola, mandolin, piano, recorder, harmonium).

Steeleye Span continues active today, with a new studio album expected in 2009.

An unofficial home page is HERE, and the Wikipedia entry is HERE

 

Parcel of Rogues

Amazon Price: $17.98 (as of 12/27/2009) Buy Now

All Around My Hat

Amazon Price: $10.98 (as of 12/27/2009) Buy Now

Below the Salt

Amazon Price: $16.99 (as of 12/27/2009) Buy Now

 


Steeleye Span - Alison Gross

Runtime: 326
52800 views
78 Comments:


Steeleye Span - All Around My Hat (Crackerjack, 1976)

Runtime: 192
243730 views
659 Comments:


Misty Moisty Morning - Steeleye Span

Runtime: 288
66819 views
138 Comments:


Black Jack Davy / Steeleye Span

Runtime: 291
32934 views
75 Comments:


Cam Ye O'er Frae France - Steeleye Span

Runtime: 361
59439 views
74 Comments:


Steeleye Span - All Around My Hat (Original Promo Video)

Runtime: 186
190005 views
702 Comments:

curated content from YouTube

 

Loading Fetching new data from eBay now... please stand by
eBay

Pentangle 

Pentangle leans toward the jazzier side of the spectrum--so much so that they almost don't belong on this lens. The flowering of their initial popularity, however, coincided with the rise of British folk rock, and they will almost certainly appeal to anyone who likes others on the list.

Though they do use electric instruments on some recordings, most of their work was done with acoustic instruments. Their material is a mix of traditional and original pieces.

The original line-up, which lasted from 1967 to 1973, was: Jacqui McShee, vocals; John Renbourn, guitar; Bert Jansch, guitar; Danny Thompson, double bass; and Terry Cox, drums.

Beginning in the early 1980s, several successor bands--including one re-designated "Jacqui McShee's Pentangle"--continued to carry the standard. The original band formally reunited in 2008.

You can find Pentangle's MySpace page HERE, and their Wikipedia entry HERE

 

Basket of Light

Amazon Price: $21.99 (as of 12/27/2009) Buy Now

Sweet Child

Amazon Price: $37.99 (as of 12/27/2009) Buy Now

Pentangling: The Collection

Amazon Price: $49.99 (as of 12/27/2009) Buy Now

 


Pentangle - House Carpenter

Runtime: 355
110302 views
139 Comments:


Pentangle - Let No Man Steal Your Thyme (1968)

Runtime: 143
107755 views
159 Comments:


Pentangle - Train Song

Runtime: 234
66046 views
65 Comments:


Pentangle - Light Flight

Runtime: 215
212928 views
290 Comments:


Runtime:
views
Comments:


PENTANGLE - Wedding Dress (1972)

Runtime: 144
35956 views
48 Comments:

curated content from YouTube

 

Loading Fetching new data from eBay now... please stand by
eBay

Oysterband 

A relative newcomer in this company, Oysterband formed around 1976 out of the earlier band Fiddler's Dram.

Material is a mix of originals and traditional songs, with a slight lean toward the former (and a few cover tunes thrown in).

Oysterband produces a distinctive rock feel despite using acoustic instruments almost exclusively.

Current line-up is: Chopper (bass guitar, cello, vocals); John Jones (melodeon, lead vocals); Alan Prosser (guitars, viola, vocals); Ian Telfer (fiddle, English concertina, vocals); Dil Davies (drums).

They continue active today.

The band's official website is HERE, their MySpace page is HERE and the Wikipedia entry is HERE

 

Deserters

Amazon Price: $7.99 (as of 12/27/2009) Buy Now

25th Anniversary Concert

Amazon Price: (as of 12/27/2009) Buy Now

Granite Years: Best of 1986-1997

Amazon Price: $26.99 (as of 12/27/2009) Buy Now

 


Oysterband - Bells Of Rhymney - Tønder Festival 08

Runtime: 339
1720 views
3 Comments:


OYSTERBAND Molly Bond

Runtime: 254
10576 views
18 Comments:


oysterband - fiddle or a gun

Runtime: 247
7157 views
7 Comments:


OYSTERBAND New York Girls

Runtime: 189
14043 views
14 Comments:


Oysterband - Granite Years

Runtime: 247
9042 views
11 Comments:


Oysterband & June Tabor - Love will tear us apart

Runtime: 192
29660 views
26 Comments:

curated content from YouTube

 

Loading Fetching new data from eBay now... please stand by
eBay

You, too, can be a Lensmaster

Join Squidoo for FREE

Not yet a Lensmaster? Got something to say? Click the Squid to join for Free!

Great Stuff on CafePress 

These items aren't directly folk-rock related, but they are instruments that are used frequently within the genre....

Reel Good Time Organic Cotton Tee

If you're a fiddler, this pun design is for you. It's a drawing of a fiddle & bow, and it says "We'll have a REEL good time."

Price: 24.99 Buy Now

Bodhran Baseball Jersey F

This design features a bodhran, the traditional Irish frame drum. Well played, it enhances the music no end (though it can be awful). Tell the world you love it. Also feature the words "Beat it!"

Price: 22.99 Buy Now

F Mando Embroidered Stonewashed Cap

Stand up for the mightiest little instrument around! Whether you pick bluegrass or some other form of music, the mandolin holds its place. This design is just a picture of an F-style mando. Embroidery

Price: 24.99 Buy Now

Sax & Violins Tote Bag

A visual pun. No words, just the pictures of Sax & Violins.

Price: 17.99 Buy Now

Powered by CafePress

Reader Feedback 

submit

TagfootMusic 

A Clearspring Widget

by RolandTumble

I'm an eclectic creative and impoverished aristocrat.... Okay, I'm a starving artist. I live in the upper left corner of the United States. (more)

Explore related pages

Create a Lens!