This episode we focus on the late-60s British Folk Rock era as a pivot point for folk music in Britain, with selections from Fairport Convention, Pentangle, Steeleye Span, The Incredible String Band, etc.
There have been two main folk music revivals in Britain. The first was from 1890 to 1920. This was led by scholars and focused on collecting songs and ballads from the distant past. It was tied to the idea of a national identity.
The second revival was 1945 to 1969. That was decidedly class oriented and politically left wing, led by Ewan MacColl and A.L. Lloyd. The second revival ended at around the time that British folk rock and progressive folk emerged.
In some ways, this mirrored the American situation, with the folk revival there, led by performers like Pete Seeger, espoused left wing politics. This movement unofficially ended when Bob Dylan, once called the “voice of a generation,” electrified his music at the Newport Folk Festival in 1965. Folk “rock” put an end to the push leftward in folk music in both Britain and the US.
Fast forward to today. In Britain, there has been a backlash against globalism with nationalist sentiment symbolized by the flying of the Cross of St. George. Could a folk music revival, even folk rock, be viewed as a threat by British elites? We pose the question, never answer it, and end up talking an awful lot about beer.
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SHOW NOTES
Daily Express via MSN, Jun 16, 2016: England St George’s Cross flag rules as households risk £2,500 fine on Wednesday
The Independent via Yahoo!News, Aug 19, 2025: Why are St George’s flags being put up and roundabouts painted and why is it controversial?
Steeleye Span on YouTube, posted Jun 18, 2022: All Around My Hat
Pabst Blue Ribbon: Introducing the 2026 Art Can
Pentangle on YouTube, posted Oct 18, 2024: Songs From The Two Brewers 8th, May 1970 (FULL SHOW)
Lee on YouTube, posted Feb 15, 2025: Fairport Convention Farewell, Farewell 1969
Wikipedia: Liege & Lief Album
The Guardian, Feb 18, 2015: I’ve Always Kept a Unicorn: The Biography of Sandy Denny by Mick Houghton – review
The Morris On Band on YouTube, posted Jun 23, 2022: Lads A’Bunchum / Young Collins (Medley)
The Morris On Band on YouTube, posted Jun 23, 2022: The Cuckoo’s Nest
Uncut, Sep 26, 2022: Ashley Hutchings – Album By Album
Wikipedia: Morris On
The Beat Club on YouTube, posted Aug 11, 2020: The Incredible String Band – Everything’s Fine Right Now (1970)
CORRECTION: In the show, Kevin Steel mixes up Rose Simpson and Licorice McKechnie. To be clear, Licorice is the one who disappeared in the US for an extended period.
Internet News Cast, Nov 15, 2025: The Untold Story of Licorice McKechnie: Unraveling the Mystery of the Enigmatic Music Icon
Tunng on YouTube, posted Aug 11, 2015: Tale From Black
Genius: Tale From Black Lyrics
Masterclass, Oct 14, 2021: Folktronica Music Guide: 3 Characteristics of Folktronica Music
Internet Archive: Ken Russell’s In Search of The English Folk Song
Amazon.ca: Ken Russell at the BBC (DVD)