The Strawbs were an English folk-rock band from Strawberry Hill, London, that released eight studio albums and a live disc on A&M between 1969 and 1975, followed by a pair of albums on Oyster/Polydor in 1976/77 and a final release on Arista in 1978. The band was founded in 1967 by guitarist/vocalist Dave Cousins and […]
Fairport Convention are an English revolving-door folk ensemble, founded in London 1967. The band debuted with a self-titled album on Polydor in 1968, followed by nine albums and two live discs on Island between 1969 and 1976. After a pair of 1977/78 releases on Vertigo, bassist Dave Pegg established Woodworm Records for all subsequent proper […]
Steeleye Span was an English folk-rock band that debuted with the 1970 RCA release Hark! The Village Wait, followed by the 1971 albums Please to See the King and Ten Man Mop or Mr Reservoir Butler Rides Again. Between 1972 and 1982, they made eight studio albums and two live discs on Chrysalis, plus a […]
Agincourt was the first group project of English musicians Peter Howell and John Ferdinando, who started with a pair of home-recorded soundtracks for the local production Alice Through the Looking Glass and the amateur film Tomorrow Come Someday (both 1969). In 1970, they teamed with singer Lee Menelaus in the folk-psych trio Agincourt and recorded […]
Forest was an English folk-rock/psych trio that released the 1969/70 albums Forest and The Full Circle. Both albums — along with the music of numerous “acid folk” contemporaries (Trees, Synanthesia, Fresh Maggots, Fuchsia, Dr. Strangely Strange, Jan Dukes de Grey, Tea and Symphony, Tír na nÓg) — gained newfound popularity during the 21st century. Members: […]
Pentangle was an English folk-rock band from London that released six albums between 1968 and 1972 on Transatlantic–Reprise. After a twelve-year absence, they reemerged with a trio of albums on Spindrift, Transmedia, and pläne during the second half of the 1980s. Pentangle formed in 1967 around guitarist/vocalist Bert Jansch, guitarist/vocalist John Renbourn, bassist/vocalist Danny Thompson, […]
Trees were an English folk-rock/psych band from London that released the album The Garden of Jane Delawney on CBS in 1970, followed by On the Shore in 1971. Along with the works of like-minded contemporaries (Forest, Spirogyra, Fuschia, Trader Horne, Dr. Strangely Strange, Jan Dukes de Grey), Trees catalog gained newfound respect during the 21st […]
The Pogues were an English post-punk Celtic folk-rock band that released the 1984–85 albums Red Roses for Me and Rum Sodomy & the Lash on Stiff Records. In 1987, they scored a UK–Irish hit with “The Irish Rover” and teamed with singer Kirsty MacColl on the international hit “Fairytale of New York.” Their 1988 third album […]
The Incredible String Band was a Scottish folk-rock band from Edinburgh that released six studio albums and a live double-LP between 1966 and 1970 on Elektra, followed by five further albums between 1971 and 1974 on Island Records. Formed in 1966 by multi-instrumentalists Robin Williamson and Mike Heron with original member Clive Palmer, The Incredible […]
Westwind was an English folk trio that released the album Love Is… on the Penny Farthing label in 1970. Members: Chris Stowell, Nick Storey, Sarah Dyson The Band Westwind consisted of singer-songwriters Chris Stowell, Nick Storey, and Sarah Dyson. Their light harmonies and arrangements drew from soft ’60s folk-pop à la Gale Garnett, The Seekers, […]
Tír na nÓg was an Irish folk–psych duo comprised of guitarist–vocalist Sonny Condell and onetime Emmet Spiceland multi-instrumentalist Leo O’Kelly. They made the 1971–73 Chrysalis albums Tír na nÓg, A Tear and a Smile, and Strong in the Sun. Condell made the praised 1977 album Camouflage and co-founded the folk combo Scullion. Members: Leo O’Kelly […]
Accolade was an English folk-rock band that released a self-titled album on Columbia in 1970, followed by a second on Regal Zonophone in 1971. The first album features singer–songwriter Gordon Giltrap, who later charted as an instrumental symphonic-rock musician. Members: Brian Cresswell (saxophone, flute), Gordon Giltrap (guitar, vocals), Ian Hoyle (drums), Don Partridge (guitar, vocals, […]
Spriguns were an English folk-rock band from Cambridge that recorded two albums as Spriguns of Tolgus in 1974/75, the second released on Alida Star and the first released 18 years after the fact by archivists Kissing Spell. Under the shortened name, the band released the 1976/77 Decca albums Revel Weird And Wild and Time Will […]
Parchment was an English folk-rock trio from Liverpool active from 1972 through 1978. The group recorded four albums for Pye, Myrrh and Grapevine. Their 1972 debut single, “Light Up the Fire,” reached No. 31 on the UK Singles Chart. Members: Sue McClellan [aka Sue Mack] (vocals, guitar, mandolin, slide guitar), John Pac (sitar, dulcimer, guitar, […]
Blonde on Blonde was a Welsh folk-rock/psych band that released the album Contrasts on Pye in 1969, followed by the 1970/71 albums Rebirth and Reflections on a Life on Ember Records. Singer/guitarist Ralph Denyer left after the first album to explore brassier territory with the RCA Victor one-off Aquila. Members: Gareth Johnson (guitar, sitar), Les […]
Bread Love and Dreams were a Scottish folk trio that released a self-titled album on Decca in 1969. After the departure of bassist Carolyn Davis, singing guitarists David McNiven and Angie Rew continued as a duo and recorded a double album that was split into the 1970/71 albums The Strange Tale of Captain Shannon and […]
Lindisfarne was an English folk-rock band from Newcastle upon Tyne that released four albums and a live disc between 1970 and 1973 on Charisma, followed by a 1974 fifth studio title on Elektra. After a mid-1970s disbandment where frontman Alan Hull recorded solo and the others formed Jack the Lad, the two parties reconvened for […]
Amazing Blondel was an English folk-rock trio that debuted in 1970 on Bell Records, followed by the Island titles Evensong, Fantasia Lindum, England, and Blondel. On DJM, they made the 1974–76 albums Mulgrave Street, Inspiration, and Bad Dreams. Guitarist Eddie Baird released a 1976 solo album, Hard Graft. Members: Terry Wincott (keyboards, cittern, recorder, flute, […]
Oberon was an English folk-psych band that self-released the album A Midsummer’s Night Dream in 1971. Members: Jeremy Bernie Birchall (bass), Robin Clutterbuck (vocals), Nick Powell (percussion), Jan Scrimgeour (vocals), Charlie Seaward (guitar, vocals), Julian Smedley (vocals, violin), Chris Smith (guitar) Background Oberon formed in 1970 in Abingdon, Oxfordshire, when guitarists Chris Smith and Charlie […]
C.O.B. (Clive’s Original Band) was an English folk-rock band that released the album Spirit of Love on CBS in 1971, followed by Moyshe McStiff and the Tartan Lancers of the Sacred Heart on Polydor in 1972. Frontman Clive Palmer was a founding member of the Incredible String Band. Members: Clive Palmer (guitar, banjo, vocals), John […]
Magna Carta was an English folk-rock trio that released a 1969 self-titled Mercury album, followed by the 1970–73 Vertigo titles Seasons, Songs From Wasties Orchard, and Lord of the Ages. Guitarist and songwriter Chris Simpson led the combo through multiple lineups that included original singer Glen Stuart and assorted third members, including co-founder Lyell Tranter and subsequent […]
Heron was an English folk-rock band from Maidenhead, Berkshire, that released two albums on Dawn during 1970 and 1971. Guitarist G.T. Moore subsequently led the Reggae Guitars, recording assorted singles and three albums on Charisma between 1974 and 1976. Heron regrouped briefly in 1983 and for a longer span in the late 1990s. Members: Tony […]
Gypsy was an English folk-rock band that released the 1971–72 albums Gypsy and Brenda & the Rattlesnake on United Artists. They evolved from the Leicester pop-psych combo Legay, which cut the 1968 Fontana single “No-one” (b/w “The Fantastic Story of the Stream-Driven Banana”). Members: John Knapp (vocals, guitar, keyboards), Robin Pizer (guitar, vocals), Rod Read […]
The Ghost was an English folk-psych band from Birmingham that released the album When You’re Dead – One Second on Gemini in 1970. The prior year, guitarist–singer Paul Eastment recorded one album with psych-rockers Velvett Fogg. Members: Paul Eastment (vocals, guitar), Terry Guy (keyboards, vocals), Charlie Grima (drums), Daniel MacGuire (bass, vocals), Shirley Kent (vocals, […]
Illusion was an English folk-rock band behind the 1977/78 Island albums Out of the Mist and Illusion. They comprised four-fifths of the original Renaissance, which underwent two overhauls before the unrelated Seventies version. Members: John Hawken (Fender Rhodes, MiniMoog, Mellotron, organ), Louis Cennamo (bass), Jane Relf (vocals), Jim McCarty (vocals, acoustic guitar, percussion), John Knightsbridge […]
Jan Dukes de Grey was an English symphonic-folk/rock combo that released the album Sorcerers on Decca in 1969, followed by the popular Mice and Rats in the Loft on Transatlantic in 1971. After five years of playing under alternate names, group leader Derek Noy recorded an album’s worth of material, later issued on the Cherry […]
Jade was an English folk-rock trio that released the album Fly On Strangewings on DJM in 1970. Members: Marian Segal [Marianne Segal] (vocals, guitar, percussion), Dave Waite (guitar, bass, vocals), Rod Edwards (keyboards, bass, vocals) Formation Jade formed in Westminster in 1970 when singing guitarists Marianne Segal and Dave Waite, a folk duo since the […]
Fotheringay was an English folk-rock band that released a self-titled album on Island in 1970. The following year, thet recorded a second album that was ultimately issued by archivists Fledg’ling in 2008. The band featured ex-Fairport Convention vocalist Sandy Denny immediately prior to the launch of her solo career. Members: Sandy Denny (vocals), Trevor Lucas […]
Frogmorton was an English folk-rock band that released the 1976 album At Last on Philips. Members: Bill Lynn (electric/standup bass), Chris Tulloch (keyboards, mandolin, vocals), Dave Hardy (accordion, whistle, psaltery, kazoo, tambourine, vocals), Lucy Sharpe (guitar, whistle, spoons, mandolin, vocals), Terry Newbury (drums) Background Frogmorton formed in London in the early 1970s when Dave Hardy, […]
Crooked Oak was an English folk-rock band that released the 1976 album From Little Acorns Grow on Folkland Records, followed in 1979 by The Foot O’wor Stairs on Eron Enterprises. Members: Steve Evans (guitar, mandolin, vocals), Paul Rogley (whistle, mandolin, cittern), Barry Walker (fiddle), Keith Davidson (Northumbrian smallpipes, Uilleann pipes, whistle), Alan Green (whistle, cittern, […]
5 Hand Reel was an English/Scottish folk-rock band that released three albums between 1976 and 1978 on RCA Victor, followed by a 1979 fourth on Topic Records. Members: Bobby Eaglesham (vocals, mandolin, guitar, dulcimer, side drum), Tom Hickland (vocals, fiddle, keyboards, organ), Barry Lyons (bass, keyboards, whistle), Dave Tulloch (percussion, side drum, harmonica), Chuck Fleming […]
Third Ear Band was an English free-folk band that released the 1969–70 albums Alchemy and Third Ear Band and the 1972 soundtrack Music from Macbeth on Harvest. Members: Glen Sweeney (percussion), Paul Minns (oboe, recorder, 1968-88), Richard Coff (violin, 1968-70, 1971), Mel Davis (cello, 1968-69), Ursula Smith (cello, 1969-70, 1988-89), Paul Buckmaster (cello, bass, 1969, […]
Northwind was a Scottish folk-rock band from Glasgow that released the album Sister, Brother, Lover… in 1971 on Regal Zonophone. Two Apple Corps acetates cut in 1970 and studio tapes from 1973 later supplied Peaceful, an archival LP issued in 2024 by Bright Carvings. Members: Brian Young (electric guitar, acoustic guitar, vocals), Tommy Ewing (vocals), […]
Moonkyte was an English folk-psych band from West Yorkshire that released the 1971 album Count Me Out on Mother/Metronome. Members: Dave Stansfield (harmonium, percussion, vocals), Dave Foster (acoustic guitar, harmonica, vocals), Trevor Craven (bass, vocals), Mick Humphreys (drums) Background Moonkyte took root through Bradford singer, promoter, and band manager Dave Stansfield. In 1967, Stansfield and […]
Jack the Lad was an English folk-rock band from Newcastle that released three albums during 1974/75 on Charisma, followed by a 1976 fourth on United Artists. They emerged from the initial breakup of Lindisfarne. For their 1976 Jackpot tour, they donned jester hats and toured with jester-haired Kiwi art-rockers Split Enz. Members: Simon Cowe […]
Spirogyra was an English folk-rock band that released the album St. Radigunds on B & C Records in 1971, followed by Old Boot Wine on PEG in 1972. The band’s third and final album of the period, Bells, Boots and Shambles, appeared on Polydor in 1973. Singer Barbara Gaskin joined The Northettes, the backing singers […]
Hunter Muskett was an English chamber-folk combo that released the 1970 album Every Time You Move on Decca. In 1973, they linked with Keith Relf, who produced their self-titled second album for the Bradleys label. Guitarist Doug Morter played on subsequent albums by Richard Digance and Maddy Prior amid stints in Magna Carta and the […]
CMU was an English folk-psych band that released the 1971–73 albums Open Spaces and Space Cabaret on Transatlantic Records. Members: James Gordon (vocals, percussion), Ian Hamlett (guitar, flute), Ed Lee (bass), Larraine Odell (vocals), Roger Odell (drums), Leary Hasson (keyboards), Richard Joseph (vocals, guitar), Steve Cook (bass, guitar) Formation CMU formed as Camshafts for Contemporary […]
Paul Brett’s Sage were an English folk-rock band that released a 1970 self-titled album on Pye, followed by the 1971/72 Dawn albums Jubilation Foundry and Schizophrenia. The band was fronted by guitarist/songwriter Paul Brett, who subsequently recorded as a solo artist. Members: Paul Brett (vocals, guitar), Dick Dufall (bass), Bob Voice (drums), Nicky Higginbottom (saxophone, […]
Brandywine Bridge was an English folk band that released the 1977/78 albums The Grey Lady and An English Meadow on Cottage Records, followed by the 1981 Q Records release Aperitif. Members: Sheila Hague (vocals, guitar, descant recorder, soprano recorder, tenor recorder, treble recorder), Stuart Hague (vocals, bodhrán, concertina, guitar, mandolin, percussion, spoons, tambourine, whistle), Dave […]
McGuinness Flint was an English folk-rock combo, best-known for the 1970–71 UK hits “When I’m Dead and Gone” and “Malt and Barley Blues.” They released the albums McGuinness Flint and Happy Birthday, Ruthy Baby on Capitol Records, followed by the 1973–74 titles Rainbow and C’est la Vie on Bronze. Tom McGuinness (ex-Manfred Mann) and Hughie […]
Magic Carpet was an English raga-folk combo from London that released a self-titled album on Mushroom in 1972. Glaswegian sitarist Clem Alford followed up the project with a 1974 solo album, Mirror Image: The Electronic Sitar of Clem Alford, on Columbia (EMI). Members: Clem Alford (sitar, esraj, Indian tambura), Alisha Sufit (vocals, guitar), Jim Moyes […]
Dulcimer was an English folk-rock trio from Gloucestershire that released the 1971 album And I Turned As I Had Turned As a Boy on Nepenthain. Their second album, recorded in 1972, appeared twenty years later on Background Records. Members: Richard Dodd (vocals), Dave Eves (guitar, harmonica, recorder), Pete Hodge (guitar, dulcimer), Jem North (bass, percussion) […]
Justine was an English folk-pop band from London that released the 1969 Dot single “Leave Me Be,” followed by a 1970 self-titled album on Uni. Vocalist Laurie Styvers cut two albums for Warner/Chrysalis. Guitarist John McBurnie appeared in the 1972/73 lineup of Jackson Heights and later formed the pop trio Vapour Trails. Members: John McBurnie […]
Dancer was an English symphonic/folk-rock band that recorded an album’s worth of material circa 1972 that was ultimately released on the disc Tales of the Riverbank, issued in 2001 by archivists Kissing Spell. Members: Gerry Cahill (lead guitar, flute), Anthony Minghella (keyboards, Mellotron), Paul Athey (backing vocals, percussion, guitar), Mike Cuffe (bass), Mike Jolliffe (vocals, […]
Tea and Symphony were an English folk-psych band that released the 1969–70 Harvest albums An Asylum for the Musically Insane and Jo Sago. Members: Jeff Daw (vocals, guitar, flute), James Langston (guitar, vocals), Nigel Phillips (keyboards, vocals, percussion), Dave Clempson (guitar, drums, 1969), Gus Dudgeon (drums, 1969) Dave Carrol (guitar, 1970-71), Michael “Mick” Hincks (bass, […]
Gothic Horizon was an English folk-rock duo that released the 1971–72 albums The Jason Lodge Poetry Book and Tomorrow’s Another Day… on Argo. Members: Andy Desmond (vocals, guitar, bass), Richard Garrett (vocals) Formation Gothic Horizon sprung from a partnership between Hertfordshire folkies Andy Desmond and Richard Garrett. Associate Mike Simmons wrote most of their material […]
Tudor Lodge was an English folk-rock trio from Reading, Berkshire, that released a self-titled album on Vertigo in 1971. Members: John Stannard (guitar, keyboards, mandolin, tambourine), Roger Strevens (1968-69), Lyndon Green (1969-72, 1980-88), Ann Steuart (1969-72, 1980), Linda Peters [aka Linda Thompson] (1972), Lynne Whiteland (1980-present) Tudor Lodge formed in 1968 as the duo of […]
Fuchsia was an English folk-rock band from Exeter, Devon, that released a self-titled album on the Pegasus in 1971. Members: Tony Durant (acoustic guitar, electric guitar, lead vocals), Michael Day (bass), Michael Gregory (drums, percussion), Janet Rogers (violin, backing vocals), Madeleine Bland (cello, piano, harmonium, backing vocals), Vanessa Hall-Smith (violin, backing vocals) Background Fuchsia spun […]
Trader Horne was an English/Irish folk-psych duo that released a standalone single and the album Morning Way, both on Pye-subsidiary Dawn in 1970. The duo comprised ex-Fairport Convention vocalist Judy Dyble and former Them/Belfast Gypsies multi-instrumentalist Jackie McAuley, who issued a self-titled solo album the following year. Members: Judy Dyble (vocals, electric autoharp, piano), Jackie […]
Fresh Maggots were an English folk-psych band from Nuneaton, Warwickshire, that released a self-titled album and a standalone single on RCA Victor, both in 1971. Members: Mick Burgoyne (vocals, guitar, glockenspiel, violin, tin whistle), Leigh Dolphin (guitar) Background Guitarist Leigh Dolphin and multi-instrumentalist Mick Burgoyne first met as children, then again as teenagers when they […]
Dando Shaft was an English folk-psych band from Coventry that debuted with an album on Young Blood in 1970, followed by two titles on RCA in 1971–72 and a fourth on Rubber Records in 1977. Guitarist–vocalist Kevin Dempsey and singer Polly Bolton were also part of the 1973 Christian project Blue Aquarius. Mandocellist Martin Jenkins […]
Synanthesia was an English folk-psych trio from London that released a self-titled album on RCA Victor in 1969. It has since become a high-priced collectors item, regarded along similar lines to Fuchsia, Fresh Maggots, and Tea and Symphony. Members: Dennis Homes (vibraphone, guitar, vocals), Jim Fraser (alto saxophone, soprano saxophone, oboe, alto flute, nose flute, […]
The Humblebums were a Scottish folk-pop combo, best known as the launching vehicle of comedian Billy Connolly and singer–songwriter Gerry Rafferty. Connolly formed the act with guitarist Tam Harvey for the 1969 Transatlantic release First Collection of Merry Melodies. Harvey cleared for Rafferty, who wrote the bulk of their second release, The New Humblebums. Connolly and […]
JSD Band was a Scottish folk-rock combo from Glasgow that released the 1970 album Country of the Blind on Regal Zonophone, followed by two albums in 1972/73 on Cube. Members: Jim Divers (bass, cello, vocals), Sean O’Rourke (harmonica, banjo, vocals, piccolo, flute, guitar), Des Coffield (guitar, vocals, mandolin, tenor banjo, piano), Chuck Fleming (fiddle, mandolin), […]
Comus was an English folk-psych band that released the 1971 album First Utterance on Dawn. After a temporary disbandment, a reconstituted lineup cut the 1974 Virgin release To Keep From Crying. Members: Roger Wootton (guitar, vocals), Andy Hellaby (bass), Bobbie Watson (vocals, percussion), Glenn Goring (guitar, vocals, bongos, 1968-72), Colin Pearson (violin, viola, 1968-72), Rob […]
The Bowles Brothers Band was an English Western-swing/folk group that released the 1978 Decca album Roger Buys a Fridge. Two live cuts appeared on the 1977 Polydor comedy comp The Mermaid Frolics. In July 1976, they appeared with fellow newcomers Gentleman and the Sex Pistols on Show 9 of the ITV music program So It […]
Whistler was an English folk-rock band that released the 1971 Deram album HoHum. Members: George Howe (vocals, guitar, keyboards), John Chuter (vocals, guitar, bass), Ant Grout-Smith (guitar, bass, saxophone, vocals) Background Whistler formed in London as a trio with singer-guitarist-keyboardist George Howe, singer-guitarist-bassist John Chuter, and singer-multi-instrumentalist Anthony Grout-Smith (guitar, bass, keyboards, saxophone). Chuter and […]
Wooden Horse was an English-Australian folk-rock band that released two eponymous albums in 1972/73 on York Records. They featured singer Susan Traynor, who found subsequent fame as Noosha Fox in the art-pop band Fox. Members: Susan Traynor [Noosha Fox] (vocals), Graham Vick, David “Dave” Mateer (guitar, vocals), Malcolm Harrison (guitar, vocals), Steve Marwood (lead guitar), […]
Weaselsnout was the moniker of English folk-psych musician Julian Mount, who issued the album Unsung Lies on Deroy Sound Service in 1973. Members: Julian Mount (vocals, acoustic guitar) Discography: Unsung Lies (1973)
Therapy was an English folk-rock combo that released the album Almanac on CBS in 1971. After their 1973 album One Night Stand on the Irish Indigo label, they released three albums on their eponymous self-press between 1975 and 1982. In 1976, they re-recorded Almanac for DJM with members of Sad Cafe. Members: Dave Shannon (vocals, […]
Prelude were an English folk-rock band from Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, that released three albums on Dawn between 1973 and 1975, followed by two further albums on Pye and After Hours between 1976 and 1982. Members: Brian Hume (guitar, vocals), Ian Vardy (guitar, vocals, 1970-85, 2009-present), Irene Hume (vocals, percussion, 1971-present), Jim Hornsby (guitar, dobro, […]
Mr Fox was an English folk-rock band from London led by the husband-and-wife team of singer/multi-instrumentalist Bob Pegg and singer/violinist Carole Pegg. The band released a self-titled album on Transatlantic Records in 1970, followed by The Gipsy in 1971. Upon the couple’s divorce in 1972, the band split. Both Pegg’s subsequently recorded as solo artists. […]
The Wurzels were an English comedy-folk band from Nailsea, Somerset, originally formed in 1966 as a four-piece with vocalist Adge Cutler. In this configuration, the band released four albums on Columbia between 1967 and 1969, plus a 1972 fifth on Starline. Trimmed to a trio, the band released six proper albums between 1975 and 1983, […]
Evensong was an English folk-psych duo that released a 1973 self-titled album on Philips. Members: Tony Hulme (vocals, guitar), Mike Lawson (vocals, guitar) Background Evensong formed in 1969 when Birmingham singer-guitarist Mick Lawson teamed with Manchester singer-guitarist Tony Hulme. Lawson formed his first group with schoolmate Roy Jones in 1959, then sang and played rhythm […]
