Electric Folk: The Changing Face of English Traditional Music
Electric Folk: The Changing Face of English Traditional Music
Oxford University Press | January 13, 2005 | ISBN-10: 0195158784 | 352 pages | PDF | 4.37 MB
Oxford University Press | January 13, 2005 | ISBN-10: 0195158784 | 352 pages | PDF | 4.37 MB
In the 1960s and 1970s, a number of British musicians rediscovered traditional folk ballads, fusing the old melodies with rock, jazz, and blues styles to create a new genre dubbed "electric folk" or "British folk rock." This revival featured groups such as Steeleye Span, Fairport Convention, and Pentangle and individual performers like Shirley & Dolly Collins, and Richard Thompson. While making music in multiple styles, they had one thing in common: they were all based on traditional English song and dance material. These new arrangements of an old repertoire created a unique musical voice within the popular mainstream. After reasonable commercial success, peaking with Steeleye Span's Top 10 album All Around My Hat, Electric Folk disappeared from mainstream notice in the late 1970s, yet performers continue to create today.