Folk Me – I’m Getting Old

There are many signs that you’re getting old, my friends. That sighing/groaning noise you make as you get on or off the sofa. Creaking bones and muscles as you mentally hark back to the Good Ol’ Days when you used to run up the stairs two at a time instead of an arthritis-like trek. The shock of spotting that grey hair or, worse, pube. Finding yourself, inexplicably, going willingly to a garden centre or Homebase on a Sunday — I did it today, and I am only 55!

Britpop, BBC6 Music & Thinking I Was Still Cool

On to the music link. I would like to think that I am relatively up to date with my musical tastes and preferences. That said, the Britpop era of the 1990s was my golden time as I was youngish, living abroad at the time, hanging around with my girlfriend (future wife) and, unbelievably, a lot of mates. Our soundtrack to parties and drinking sessions was Blur, Oasis, Suede, Pulp and the rest. I still love Suede along with more current-ish bands like The Arctic Monkeys and Arcade Fire. I love the Riley and Co radio show on BBC6 Music from 9–11pm, and this has been fruitful in introducing bands such as Thee Oh Sees, The Bug Club, Jane Weaver et al. So, not completely fuddy-duddy… yet.

Enter Timothée Chalamet, Unexpected Folk Guide

And then Timothée Chalamet changed my world. My stuffy preconceptions about genres and what I “should” like were thrown into turmoil.

Did you know that he is fluent in both English and French (a skill he developed during his summers in France) and that growing up in New York City, Timmy (as I call him) was influenced by the city’s vibrant music scene, particularly hip-hop?

Full disclosure: I seem to have become a mega fan of his, almost unconsciously. I have seen and enjoyed his stellar performances in Dune, Dune 2, Wonka (I went to most of these at least twice at the cinema) and the game changer for me was A Complete Unknown — which led me down the folk path.

Discovering Bob Dylan (Late, But With Enthusiasm)

Like a lot of people, I was never much into Bob Dylan before as I thought he had quite a Marmite voice, meaning it sounded a little bit whiney and weird.The story of Dylan’s rise in the movie is played with subtlety and style by Chalamet. The songs are heartfelt, and he sings them in his own voice with no little gusto and verve.I loved the fact that he played Dylan as quite an enigmatic figure who does not try especially to be loved or worshipped but for the music — FOLK! — to do the talking, so to speak.

A Complete Unknown features a talented ensemble cast. Timothée, as Dylan, portrays the iconic singer-songwriter with conviction and really deserved the Oscar, capturing the essence of his early days in New York City.

The cast also bring the story alive — Edward Norton as Pete Seeger brings to life the folk musician who mentored Dylan, helping him navigate his early career, and Monica Barbaro plays Joan Baez, a significant figure in the folk music scene and Dylan’s early supporter.Other unforgettable characters include Elle Fanning as Sylvie Russo, a character based on Suze Rotolo, Dylan’s real-life girlfriend; Boyd Holbrook as Johnny Cash, an influential figure in the music industry who inspired Dylan; and Scoot McNairy portraying Woody Guthrie, another major influence on Dylan’s early career.

A Folkie Is Born

So, a Folkie was born, and I wondered what modern British, Irish and American folk sounded like? Who are the main players, and who were the biggest figures, like Dylan, in its development? Forget Mulligan and O’Hare from the wonderful The Smell of Reeves and Mortimer, ( but watch the video below) here was a broad-church genre: music inspired by and for the people. Composed and sung with sincerity and conviction and, of course, no little skill.

Move aside Brett Anderson — here is Bob. Go home, Fontaines DC — and welcome Skerryvore (more on later). Hang up your mike, Robbie Williams — here is Val Doonican. (That one is a joke.)

The prerequisites of a Folkie – an Arran jumper, a straggly beard and/or a thirst for real ale and/or Guinness and a sturdy foot for all the tapping.Well, I have got just one of those and I will leave it up to you to guess.

What I do have is an introduction to a few modern folk acts that you – YES, YOU! – can enjoy without feeling like you’ve accidentally joined a beard-stroking commune.

There’s plenty out there for the newbie — proper tunes, proper energy, and not a single tankard-wielding Morris dancer in sight. There is no special order or ranking and also do not miss Mark Radcliffe with his Folk Show on BBC Radio 2 on Wednesday nights – a great education on and pathway to a broad range of modern and older folk. Highly recommended and feel-good radio too.

Open the folk door

A/ Bob Dylan-Once you get your head around the voice, the first 4 LPs in the 1960’s set a high and influential bar for the world of folk. Bob Dylan (1962), his debut album — mostly traditional folk songs, with only two originals. Standout Tracks: “Song to Woody” and “Baby, Let Me Follow You Down”. The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan (1963) — his breakthrough, packed with originals and classics. Standout Tracks: “Blowin’ in the Wind” and “Girl from the North Country”.

The Times They Are A-Changin’ (1964) — his most overtly political/topical songs record. Standout Tracks: “The Times They Are A-Changin’” and “The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll”. Another Side of Bob Dylan (1964) — a shift toward surreal, witty, emotional writing. Standout Tracks: “It Ain’t Me, Babe” and “My Back Pages”.

B/ Skerryvore-Skerryvore were my gateway. Big, bold Scottish folk-rock with bagpipes that somehow feel cool rather than “wedding reception at 11pm”.Anthemic, joyful and ridiculously catchy — if you don’t tap your feet, check your pulse. Live Across Scotland (2020) is a great place to start as it features them celebrating 20 years in folk performing live to adoring fans in their native land. You will be hooked from the off.

C/ Stick in the Wheel– Stick in the Wheel are a London-based folk group formed by Nicola Kearey (vocals) and Ian Carter (guitar/production), known for their raw, uncompromising approach to traditional music. Drawing on East London heritage, protest tradition and the grit of urban life, their sound blends traditional ballads, field recordings, spoken word, electronic textures and original songs.

Their debut EPs and 2015 album From Here earned widespread acclaim for their stark honesty and modern relevance. They followed this with Follow Them True (2018), which pushed their sound into darker, more experimental territory, and Hold Fast (2020), showing their evolution into a band equally at home with tradition and bold reinvention.

They are often described as one of the most important and hard-hitting acts in 21st-century folk, known for reconnecting the genre with its original purpose: music of the people, for the people.

D/ Merry Hell –Merry Hell are an English folk-rock band from the North West of England, formed in 2010 by core members of the much-loved 1990s/2000s folk-rock outfit The Tansads. After years pursuing other projects, several of the original Tansads — including brothers John, Bob and Andrew Kettle — reunited with the idea of creating new music with the same spirit: big-hearted, socially conscious, harmony-rich songs rooted in the traditions of working-class folk.

They quickly became known for their rousing live shows, full of energy, singalong choruses and a warm, communal atmosphere. Their debut album BLINK… and You Miss It (2011) set out their stall: uplifting folk-rock with a political edge, celebrating kindness, solidarity and human connection.

Subsequent albums — Head Full of Magic, Shoes Full of Rain (2013), The Ghost in Our House (2015) and Anthems to the Wind (2018) — cemented their reputation as one of the most joyful and heartfelt acts on the UK folk scene. Want rich vocal harmonies, melodic songwriting and a strong sense of hope, you got it.

E/ Skinny Lister-Skinny Lister are a high-energy British folk-punk band, formed in London in 2009. They grew out of the Greenwich folk club scene, where founding members Dan Heptinstall, Lorna Thomas, and her brother Max Thomas used to play traditional songs and sea shanties. Their sound is a rollicking mix of folk, shanties, punk, and singalongs — think folk songs crashed head-on into pub-fuelled party punk.

They released their debut album Forge & Flagon (2012), which channels their scrappy, communal roots. Their second album Down on Deptford Broadway (2015), reflects an urban folk feel, referencing life in south-east London. Over the years, they’ve become known for being relentless giggers — touring heavily around the UK, Europe, and the US.

Their sixth album, Shanty Punk (2023), leans fully into their pirate-pub-punk identity, with raucous choruses, sea shanty energy, and down-to-earth storytelling.

F/ The Rheingans Sisters – The Rheingans Sisters are a visionary folk duo made up of sisters Rowan and Anna Rheingans, originally from Grindleford in the Peak District. They grew up in a deeply musical family — their mother was a musician and their father a violin-maker — and they began fiddling from a very young age. Anna and Rowan have studied fiddle traditions across Europe — including in Scandinavia (Sweden, Norway) and southern France — and these varied influences flow heavily into their music. Their sound is ambitious, experimental and deeply rooted in tradition: they combine fiddle, voices, banjo, tambourin à cordes, foot percussion, and more. Their songwriting and arrangements often merge ancient ballads with modern textures, and their live shows are described as “immersive musical journeys.” They won a BBC Radio 2 Folk Award in 2016 for Best Original Track (for Mackerel) and have released several acclaimed albums, including Glad Gold Hearts, Already Home, Bright Field (2018) and Start Close In (2024).

So, there is a wee taster for you, and I am jealous as you start off on your folk journey — there is no favourite artists here, just the ones that popped into my mind. So thanks to Timmy and enjoy!