The History of Folk Music in England
England has a strong history of traditional folk songs, from the well-known like ‘Scarborough Fair‘ and ‘Dirty Old Town‘ (written by the father of the late singer Kirsty MacColl) to the more obscure. Cambridge Folk Festival, one of the longest-running on earth.
Originally sung during gatherings and agricultural tasks in the fields, folk songs have been influenced by social change and political events.
Earth Songs is a treasure trove of contemporary folk music and words, by musician Jehanne Mehta, and illustrated with pen and ink drawings on each page by Stu McLellan.
Each song includes a music score, with royalties donated to an environmental charity (Stop Ecocide International).
Ancient Beginnings: Roots in the Everyday
English folk music can be traced back to the time before written history. Early songs carried news, recorded events, and marked life’s milestones. People sang to pass the time while working in fields or weaving cloth at home.
Simple instruments, like wooden pipes or drums, added rhythm and colour to these tunes. Back then, the line between singing and speaking was thin, and stories would blur into melodies naturally.
Medieval Ballads and Storytelling
By medieval times, folk songs became more structured, with ballads rising in popularity. These long, rhythmic songs told tales of love, loss, and daring deeds. Local singers kept these ballads alive by performing them in markets, taverns, and fairs.
Many of these melodies and stories have survived, now known as ‘traditional ballads’, and they paint a vivid picture of everyday fears, hopes, and dreams during the Middle Ages.
The Influence of Migration and Trade
Throughout history, England has been a meeting point for people and ideas. Folk music blended with songs brought by merchants, sailors, and invaders, picking up fresh themes and new instrument sounds.
The use of fiddles, bagpipes, and flutes became more common as influences arrived from neighbouring countries. These changes made English folk music richer, weaving together threads from across Europe, Africa, and beyond.
Industrialisation and Urban Folk
The 18th and 19th centuries saw people moving from countryside to cities for work. Old songs changed to reflect life in the mills and factories. Folk music helped workers keep their spirits up during long shifts and hard times.
Songs from this period often highlight struggles, victories, and the longing for home. Folk singers became local heroes, preserving the stories and struggles of working-class people through music.
Folk Song Collectors
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, collectors like Cecil Sharp and Ralph Vaughan Williams realised folk music risked being lost. They travelled the country, writing down and recording songs sung in villages and towns.
Their work saved countless tunes from vanishing and created a record that future generations could enjoy and learn from. Thanks to them, many old melodies are still sung today instead of being forgotten.
Second World War and Post-War Years
Folk music provided comfort and unity during the hardships of war. Soldiers and civilians sang together, sometimes using old tunes but giving them new words to suit the times.
After the war, folk music became a symbol of community and resilience. Folk clubs sprang up across the country, bringing together people keen to share and enjoy live music as part of ordinary life.
Folk Revival of the 1950s and 60s
During the mid-20th century, England saw a surge in interest in traditional music. Artists like Ewan MacColl and Shirley Collins led a revival, bringing old songs to new listeners. Folk festivals began popping up, and folk music made its way onto radio and records.
There was pride in reclaiming England’s musical roots, and the movement inspired a new wave of songwriters who blended tradition with invention.
Folk Rock and Cross-Genre Influence
From the late 60s onwards, bands like Fairport Convention and Steeleye Span mixed folk with rock and pop styles, creating a new sound that appealed to younger audiences. This blend brought English folk music to a wider stage and encouraged experimentation.
Electric instruments and new arrangements made traditional songs feel fresh, and this willingness to blend old with new has kept English folk music active and interesting.
Contemporary Folk and the Digital Age
Folk music in England continues to grow and change. Modern artists like Kate Rusby, Eliza Carthy, and Seth Lakeman draw on traditional songs, often adding their own spin.
The internet and streaming platforms have made folk more accessible than ever, letting people discover, share, and record music from all over the country.
KLOG Mag is the new transition from what used to be Folk Radio. It now includes different genres of music, but has many recommendations on the latest folk music releases and artists.
It offers regular Folk Shows, which link to each artist’s Bandcamp pages, where you can listen to songs, and ‘try before you buy’ to support them financially.
England’s Most Esteemed Folk Singers
Chris Brain is an acclaimed folk singer from Leeds, who combines guitar and ‘honeyed vocals’ to sing relaxing folk songs. His song ‘Golden Days’ was featured in the film We Live in Time.
He’s also a potter who likes to make teapots for a proper brew of Yorkshire tea! And a keen birdwatcher, with a soft spot for pigeons!
Also from Yorkshire, Kate Rusby is likely England’s best-known folk singer, named one of the best voices of the genre back in 1999, and still going strong today. She’s often referred to as the ‘Barnsley Nightingale’.
Apparently, Yorkshire is the county with the highest percentage of people born there who stay in the county.
Some people assume it is because we are narrow minded and un-travelled, but that’s not true; it is because Yorkshire is so very beautiful at any time of year. Kate Rusby
Perhaps England’s most renowned folk band Steeleye Span which began in the 70s. Some of the newer members are much younger, but all are classically-trained, this is quality stuff! Their most famed song is All Around My Hat.
Cara Dillon is a Northern Irish singer whose voice has been described as being like an angel. She lives in England as she is married to folk musician Sam Lakeman (part of a trilogy of folk musician brothers).
Pentangle go back to the 1960s, when singer Jacqui McShee was an unpaid floor singer in London folk clubs. After later running a folk club in Surrey, she got together with others. Their single Light Flight is a classic.
For those who feel that folk music ‘never really gets going’, you are sure to love folk rock bands. One in the 80s was All About Eve (singer Julianne Regan bought herself an electric guitar from Woolworths as a teenager and co-wrote the beautiful ballad Martha’s Harbour).
After taking a degree in song-writing at Bath University, she spent time lecturing there on how others could become as talented as her!
To be reminded of how many years have passed has left me unsettled, and some of that discomfort arises from contemplating how much time I’ve spent not making music when I would have liked to have been making music.
At school, I did German A-level. One of our texts was the 1842 novel “Die Judenbuche’, written by Annette von Droste-Hülshoff.
At one point, one characters hand his rustic violin over, saying; “Mein Spielen ist vorbei, ich muß jezt Geld verdienen”, which translates as; “My playing is over, now I must earn money…” Julianne Regan
Characteristic Instruments
Certain sounds instantly signal “folk”:
- Fiddle: Bright, fast, and full of energy.
- Melodeon/Accordion: Adds lively rhythm and cheer.
- Concertina: A squeezebox with a sweet, haunting tone.
- Guitar: Became more common in the 20th century.
- Tin whistle and flute: Bring a light, danceable lift.
Regional Folk Styles in England
Folk sounds shift as you travel:
- The North leans on ballads and strong harmonies.
- The Cotswolds are famous for Morris dance tunes.
- East Anglia keeps step with quick-paced instrumentals and step dancing.
- The Southwest blends sea shanties with slower, story-rich songs.
Hire an Acoustic (Unplugged) Band
Hire a local acoustic band to serenade at your special event, rather than tinny loud music by professional DJs or booming speakers.
These are becoming really popular, as a way to support local indie musicians, and prevent noise pollution from booming bass sounds throughout the neighbourhood.
Music for London has more information. Acoustic concerts have no power supply, the host simply offers food and drink, and the players are paid from the donations or payment given.
The sound is kept organic (these are professional musicians with talent). Most still use amplifiers so people can hear them, but the sound is not overpowering.
Bands are usually 2 to 5 people and prices are consistent with hiring a professional band.
This is so that talented musicians can actually make a living, rather than work in an office job they hate, and save their talent for the weekends.
