In the 1950’s there was a resurgence of interest in folk music in America. In the 1960’s and 70s this got swept up by the hippy movement and the protests against the Vietnam war. A man or woman with a guitar and a song to sing was almost an iconic symbol of the age.

Folk rock emerged in the mid 1960s in America as a result of combining the songs of the Folk revivalists (such as Bob Dylan) with the pop/rock beat of groups such as The Beatles. As such it is a form of Fusion Music because it fuses elements of rock and folk music.

Can you think of other types of fusion music?

One of the first bands credited with developing this style was The Byrds. They covered Dylan’s modern folk song “Mr Tambourine Man”.

Of course, the pioneering folk-rock musicians of the sixties and seventies were merely working with the influences they were exposed to. They didn’t know they were creating Fusion Music as the term hadn’t been coined yet. Simon Nicol, who was the lead singer of British folk rock band Fairport Convention, has described the process as being “more confusion than fusion”.

Outside the USA, artists tended to combine rock beats with their indigenous folk music to create many new styles. – Capercaille is a good example of a Celtic Folk Rock band.

The degree of each element within the fusion will effect the resultant musical style. Jeff Buckley’s Grace is at the rockier end of the spectrum. Skye Waulking Song by Capercaille is closer to the folk end.

Some suggested listening on You Tube (Discuss fashion and hair!)

Ralph McTell - Streets of London

Simon and Garfunkel – Scarborough Fair 

The words "Parsley Sage Rosemary and Thyme" is an example of what structural device?

Fairport Convention – Who knows where the time goes

Tim Buckley (Jeff Buckley's Dad) – Song to the siren

The Pogues – Dirty Old Town

Peat bog Faeries – Folk Police