british folk

Fairport Convention is often credited with being the first English folk-rock band. Fairport, formed in 1967, rapidly developed from playing cover versions of American 'west coast' music to an individual style which melded rock music with traditional English tunes and songs. Like their peers The Byrds , Buffalo Springfield and Jefferson Airplane, they were blessed with several considerable individual talents, and produced music that, at least initially was eclectic, as well as exploratory. This side of the band may best be heard on Heyday, a collection of tracks broadcast by the BBC.

Linda Thompson (born Linda Pettifer) started her singing career in the 1960s, doing advertising jingles for money and singing in folk clubs for enjoyment. She changed her name to Linda Peters, and was romantically linked to Martin Carthy before working with Richard Thompson, whom she married in 1972. As part of Richard & Linda Thompson she sang on a string of critically acclaimed albums until a bitter split in 1982.

Jez Lowe is an English folk singer-songwriter. Lowe is known primarily for his compositions dealing with daily life in North-East England, particularly in his hometown of Easington Colliery. He performs both as a solo artist and with his backing band, The Bad Pennies. Lowe was born into a coal mining family with Irish roots, and raised in County Durham, England, where he grew up witnessing the decline of the coal-mining industry that had defined the region's economic profile for generations.