Christine Collister is one of the most respected female vocalists in contemporary British folk-rock. Although she first attracted attention as a member of Richard Thompson's band in the late 1980s and then in a duo that she shared with Clive Gregson, the former leader of British rock band Any Trouble, she's continued to make her presence felt... [+] Read More

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Whether singing a cappella or with minimal accompaniment, Frankie Armstrong uses her powerful soprano vocals to breathe new life into centuries-old British balladry. Best known for her rendition of Peggy Seeger's feminist anthem, "I'm Gonna Be an Engineer," Armstrong has been an influential presence in England since 1962.

A longtime... [+] Read More

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The husband-and-wife duo of Gay and Terry Woods got their beginning in 1969, when Terry Woods was still a member of Sweeney's Men. At that point, negotiations were underway for Sweeney's Men plus Gay Woods to join Fairport Convention bassist Ashley Hutchings in a new band, to be called Steeleye Span. When Sweeney's Men members Irvine and... [+] Read More

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With her return to Steeleye Span, the group she founded with her ex-husband, Terry Woods, and ex-Fairport Convention bassist Ashley Hutchings after more than two decades, Gay Woods (born Gabriel Corcoran) resurrected the spirit that had made her one of the leaders of the late-'60s and early-'70s British folk revival. Singing since earliest... [+] Read More

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Maddy Prior has established herself, by dint of both talent and time, as one of the leading female singers in British folk (and folk-rock). Born in St. Albans, outside London, she developed an interest in traditional English music as a teenager and through friends, found her way to the treasure trove of material at Cecil Sharpe House and also to... [+] Read More

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Martin Simpson is one of the most visible examples of the relationship between the Celtic folk of the United Kingdom and American musics such as country and the blues, which branched away from their British sources as American immigrants grew distanced from their past countrymen. Simpson's life charts a similar journey -- one of the most... [+] Read More

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Oysterband (or the Oyster Band, as it used to be) are one of the few outfits still burning with the fire of punk, but managing to combine it with the ideals and knowledge of English folk music -- a balancing act they've made into a fine art over the years. And they have deep roots in the U.K. folk scene, emerging from both the Whitstable Oyster... [+] Read More

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The traditional vocal sounds of Ireland are fused with a modern urban sensibility by Dublin-born and New York-based vocalist Susan McKeown (pronounced "mick-yone"). Accompanied by her band, the Chanting House, McKeown's alto vocals have inspired comparisons to June Tabor, Chrissie Hynde, Sarah McLachlan, Grace Slick, and Sandy Denny. McKeown's... [+] Read More

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Noted for their lush harmonies, quirky songs and impressive stylistic range, the three Roche sisters -- Maggie, Terre and Suzzy -- were among contemporary folk music's most endearing artists. The Roches began singing together while growing up in New York during the late 1950s and early 1960s, taking to the streets of the city each holiday season... [+] Read More

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In 1970, this British quintet released a couple of albums that made no bones about aping the approach of Fairport Convention (then at their peak). A mixture of traditional folk songs and originals, extended electric-guitar heavy arrangements, and a female singer who took many of the lead vocals -- it worked for Fairport. It didn't work as well... [+] Read More

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