The United Kingdom has, like most European countries, undergone a roots revival in the last half of the 20th century. English music has been an instrumental and leading part of this phenomenon, which peaked at the end of the 1960s and into the 1970s.
 This article is part of the 
Music of the United Kingdom series.
 English folk music
 Irish folk
 Scottish folk
 Welsh folk
 Cornish and Manx folk
 Early British popular music
 1950s and 60s
 1970s
 1980s
 1990s

In the 60s and 70s, England was in a state of social upheaval as a counterculture developed, from which came an explosion of American blues-derived musical innovation as well as a revival of English folk, inspired by pioneering artists like the Copper family. There was mixing between the two groups, with bands like Fairport Convention and Steeleye Span pioneering a folk-rock fusion. Nic Jones, Davy Graham, Roy Harper, Ralph McTell, June Tabor, Shirley Collins, John Renbourn and John Kirkpatrick were among the more innovators of this period, who often criticized the electric folk-rock artists. When Martin Carthy "plugged in" in 1971, the English traditional scene erupted in an uproar of criticizing. Ashley Hutchings and Bob Pegg had been earlier innovators of the fusion, and Hutchings helped propel Fairport Convention into the star position of the English folk-rock scene, starting with

The popularity of English folk declined in the later 1970s, however, losing ground to glam rock, disco, punk rock, heavy metal and lovers rock. In the mid-1980s a new rebirth began, this time fusing folk forms with energy and political aggression derived from punk rock. Leaders included The Men They Couldn't Hang, Oyster Band, Billy Bragg and The Pogues. Folk-dance music also became popular in the 80s, with the English Country Blues Band and Tiger Moth. Later in the decade, reggae influenced English country music due to the work of Edward II & the Red Hot Polkas, especially on their seminal Let's Polkasteady from 1987.

Table of contents
1 Morris dancing
2 Broadside ballads
3 Sussex
4 Yorkshire
5 East Anglia
6 Northumbrian folk
7 Sea shanties
8 References

Morris dancing

Morris dancing is an ancient form of music and dance, performed by men in distinctive clothing. Women have only recently been involved in morris dancing, which is done in teams. The practice is complex, and regulated by Morris Ring, the unofficial governing body of morris dancing.

Broadside ballads

Broadside ballads were a form of popular music from the 16th century to the early 20th century England. They were purchases on streetcorners for a small amount and performed at home and at fairs and other gatherings.

Sussex

Sussex's traditions are best known from mid-20th century performer Scan Tester and perhaps the biggest stars of the English revival's predecessors, The Copper family.

Yorkshire

Yorkshire's Waterson family, especially Norma Waterson, are a long-running institution that incorporates influences from the area. Other traditional performers include Fred Jordan.

East Anglia

Though East Anglian folk has not played a major part in the British roots revival, two major singers have emerged from the area to help inspire it: Sam Larner and Harry Cox. More modern performers include Peter Bellamy's mid-1970s revival of Norfolk's folk traditions, especially pioneer Walter Pardon.

Northumbrian folk

Northumbria, at the northern edge of England, bordering on Scotland across the Tweed River has the most vital traditional music of England, with a strong scene and some mainstream success. Many of the most popular traditional songs of today were written by legendary composers like Tommy Armstrong in the late 19th century. In contrast to the rest of England, Northumbria shows a strong Irish Celtic influence in the music, the result of immigration. Accordions and fiddles, for example, remain popular as a lasting influence from Ireland.

Northumbria is known for its long history of border ballads, such as "The Ballad of Chevy Chase" and dances, including social ones like the Elsdon Reel and others, like rapper dancing and Northumbrian clog dancing, more typically seen in concert halls.

Pipes

Northumbrian folk is most characterized by the use of Northumbrian smallpipes as well as a strong Scottish and Celtic influence. Northumbrian pipes are small and elbow-driven and the music is traditionally very swift and rhythmic. Another distinct form of Northumbrian pipe is called the "half-long" or "border" pipe. Perhaps the most important of the old masters of the pipes is Billy Pigg. Drawing on these pioneers, popularizers like Louis Killen, The High Level Ranters and Bob Davenport brought Northumbrian folk to international audiences, while Jack the Lad, Hedgehog Pie and Lindisfarne used regional sources for folk-rock fusions.

Northumbrian pipe music has seen a recent revival due to the touring of artists like Kathryn Tickell.

Sea shanties

Sea shanties are a form of work song traditionally sung by sailors working on the rigging of ships. There are several types, divided based on the type of work they set the rhythmic base for. For example:

  • short haul shanties: for quicks pulls over a short time
  • capstan shanties: for repetitive, longer tasks that require a sustained rhythm
  • halyard shanties: for heavier work that require more time between pulls to set up

References

  • Irwin, Colin. "England's Changing Roots". 2000. In Broughton, Simon and Ellingham, Mark with McConnachie, James and Duane, Orla (Ed.), World Music, Vol. 1: Africa, Europe and the Middle East, pp 64-82. Rough Guides Ltd, Penguin Books. ISBN 1-85828-636-0