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Music genre

British folk rock

British folk rock is a music genre that emerged in England in the 1960s. It is usually classed as a form of folk rock and music of the United Kingdom. Explore key artists and related styles.

About British folk rock

British folk rock is a music genre that emerged in England in the 1960s. It is usually classed as a form of folk rock and music of the United Kingdom.

Among the best-known names in the style are Sandy Denny.

From Wikipedia

British folk rock is a form of folk rock which developed in the United Kingdom from the mid 1960s, and was at its most significant in the 1970s. Though the merging of folk and rock music came from several sources, it is widely regarded that the success of "The House of the Rising Sun" by British band the Animals in 1964 was a catalyst, prompting Bob Dylan to "go electric", in which, like the Animals, he brought folk and rock music together, from which other musicians followed. In the same year, the Beatles began incorporating overt folk influences into their music, most noticeably on their Beatles for Sale album. The Beatles and other British Invasion bands, in turn, influenced the American band the Byrds, who released their recording of Dylan's "Mr. Tambourine Man" in April 1965, setting off the mid-1960s American folk rock movement. A number of British groups, usually those associated with the British folk revival, moved into folk rock in the mid-1960s, including the Strawbs, Pentangle, and Fairport Convention.

Genre family tree

Parent genres (↑) and subgenres (↓) of British folk rock.

Key artists

  • Sandy Denny

Related genres

Frequently asked questions

What is British folk rock?

British folk rock is a music genre that emerged in England in the 1960s. It is usually classed as a form of folk rock and music of the United Kingdom.

Where and when did British folk rock originate?

British folk rock originated in England in the 1960s.

Who are famous British folk rock artists?

Sandy Denny.

Sources & credits