# Neo-medieval folk rock **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 22, 2009, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neo-medieval-folk-rock/511090 "2009-09-22T15:14:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Gary\_Robson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gary_robson/32/3448_2.png) [@Gary\_Robson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_Robson)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2009, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neo-medieval-folk-rock/511090/1 "2009-09-22T15:14:08Z")
I am a huge fan of Renaissance’s early work (e.g., Carpet of the Sun, Song of Scheherazade, Mother Russia, At the Harbour, Kiev), and Blackmore’s Night (e.g., Crowning of the King, Dandelion Wine, Village on the Sand, Cartouche). I love the mix of traditional instruments with a somewhat “rocky” feel, and I like the strong vocals. I’ve noticed some of my favorite Celtic bands have a similar sound, too, such as Wolfstone (Where the Summers Go, Brave Foot Soldiers), Tempest (The Journeyman, Nine Points of Roguery), and MacKeel (Haul Away Joe). There’s even a touch of this sound I like leaking over from traditional rock (e.g., Jethro Tull’s Broadsword and the Beast album), instrumental death metal (e.g., Opeth’s Patterns in the Ivy), and whatever the heck genre you call Rick Wakeman’s Myths and Legends of King Arthur album. A lot of the stuff you hear performed at Ren Faires is along these lines, but tends to be more traditional and have less of the modern/medieval blend. I’m looking for more music like this–especially anything with the Renaissance/Blackmore’s Night feel. Any recommendations? ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2009, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neo-medieval-folk-rock/511090/2 "2009-09-22T15:28:14Z")
> [@InvisibleWombat](#): > > I am a huge fan of Renaissance’s early work (e.g., Carpet of the Sun, Song of Scheherazade, Mother Russia, At the Harbour, Kiev), That wasn’t their early work. Their early (and best) work was when they [had just spun off with the Yardbirds](http://greatbutforgotten.blogspot.com/2008/06/renaissance-music.html). Most people have never heard of their first album. In any case, I’d suggest [Pentangle](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pentangle_%28band%29). They’re exactly what you’re looking for. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2009, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neo-medieval-folk-rock/511090/3 "2009-09-22T15:42:02Z")
You might enjoy Steeleye Span. ---
**Author:** ![Mister\_Owl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/919ad9/32.png) [@Mister\_Owl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Owl)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2009, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neo-medieval-folk-rock/511090/4 "2009-09-22T15:47:34Z")
I don’t know if this fits your criteria exactly or not. I will say that I did buy the CD and do play it from time to time. It’s interesting and introducing Black Sabbath fans to it is amusing. w [ww.sabbatum.com](http://ww.sabbatum.com) ---
**Author:** ![Argent\_Towers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2009, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neo-medieval-folk-rock/511090/5 "2009-09-22T15:54:12Z")
_The Wicker Man_ soundtrack? [Read about it here.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Wicker_Man_soundtrack) Fairport convention? ---
**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2009, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neo-medieval-folk-rock/511090/6 "2009-09-22T16:28:22Z")
Hmm…the closest I can think of is some of Dead Can Dance’s work, but that’s really not “rocky” enough. Everything else is along those lines is either similarly non-rocky, or is more steampunky instead of “medieval.” Rasputina might kinda work, though. ---
**Author:** ![typoink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecb155/32.png) [@typoink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/typoink)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2009, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neo-medieval-folk-rock/511090/7 "2009-09-22T16:40:35Z")
This is a little bit different, but the album Patchwork by the group Hesperus is essentially a blend of medieval music with American roots music. It’s got medieval tunes played by a jug band; it’s got early blues pieces accompanied with recorder. Good stuff. ---
**Author:** ![koeeoaddi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/koeeoaddi/32/408_2.png) [@koeeoaddi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/koeeoaddi)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2009, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neo-medieval-folk-rock/511090/8 "2009-09-22T16:45:02Z")
Don’t miss [Circulus (YouTube)](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y2OavLPpPVw). Besides being excellent, they are also pretty funny. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_Robson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gary_robson/32/3448_2.png) [@Gary\_Robson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_Robson)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2009, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neo-medieval-folk-rock/511090/9 "2009-09-22T16:56:48Z")
Thanks for all these suggestions! I look forward to checking them out after work today. I have a plane flight tomorrow that would be perfect for some uninterrupted listening time. > [@RealityChuck](#): > > That wasn’t their early work. Their early (and best) work was when they [had just spun off with the Yardbirds](http://greatbutforgotten.blogspot.com/2008/06/renaissance-music.html). Most people have never heard of their first album. Pre-Annie Haslam Renaissance was really a completely different group, and I must admit I’d completely forgotten about that album. When I say “early,” I’m just trying to rule out _Camera Camera_ and _Tuscany_, which I didn’t like nearly as much–too much pop. I heard them live on the _Azure d’Or_ tour, which I considered the end of the era, since the old sound was pretty well gone by then. ---
**Author:** ![LawMonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d6d6ee/32.png) [@LawMonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LawMonkey)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2009, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neo-medieval-folk-rock/511090/10 "2009-09-22T17:09:23Z")
Circulus seconded. You might also look into [Gryphon](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hnh5WA9PKbs&feature=PlayList&p=6439C71203CBBBBC&index=0&playnext=1) (youtube), if you don’t mind instrumentals. They were proggy, and probably a bit heavier on the modern side of the scale than the medieval, but not bad. ---
**Author:** ![cjepson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a9adbd/32.png) [@cjepson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cjepson)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2009, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neo-medieval-folk-rock/511090/11 "2009-09-22T17:26:57Z")
You might try the Strawbs. They started out more like straight folk and gradually got more prog & pop. I would suggest starting with the albums “Grave New World” and “Bursting at the Seams”, both of which are huge favorites of mine. Also: “No Roses” by Shirley Collins & the Albion Country Band Morris On (by the group of the same name) “Sandy” by Sandy Denny ---
**Author:** ![The\_Devil\_s\_Grandmother](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/74df32/32.png) [@The\_Devil\_s\_Grandmother](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Devil_s_Grandmother)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2009, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neo-medieval-folk-rock/511090/12 "2009-09-22T18:10:30Z")
There was a folk-rock group called [Annwn](http://motogrrl.org/Bands/annwn/)that made some really cool music back in the 90’s. They kind of fell apart after the lead singer was killed in a motorcycle accident, but the music lives on. ---
**Author:** ![NDP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ndp/32/55_2.png) [@NDP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NDP)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2009, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neo-medieval-folk-rock/511090/13 "2009-09-22T18:13:01Z")
Traffic did a lot of styles but a number of their songs do fit this category. Their best known is probably their cover of an old English folk song, [“John Barleycorn”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wml3V-maDeA). ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2009, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neo-medieval-folk-rock/511090/14 "2009-09-22T19:12:34Z")
Lots of German medieval metal. Wikipedia [here](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medieval_metal). Corvus Corax especially. Also, Steeleye Span (mentioned above), especially Below the Salt. ---
**Author:** ![Plynck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Plynck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Plynck)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2009, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neo-medieval-folk-rock/511090/15 "2009-09-22T19:43:28Z")
Fotheringay was a very nice Sandy Denny side project. A lot of her solo work or old Fairport Convention may appeal to you as well. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2009, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neo-medieval-folk-rock/511090/16 "2009-09-22T20:01:02Z")
> [@The\_Devil\_s\_Grandmother](#): > > There was a folk-rock group called [Annwn](http://motogrrl.org/Bands/annwn/)that made some really cool music back in the 90’s. They kind of fell apart after the lead singer was killed in a motorcycle accident, but the music lives on. Interesting to hear, since they performed my father’s song. ---
**Author:** ![Rib\_Eye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/53a042/32.png) [@Rib\_Eye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rib_Eye)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2009, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neo-medieval-folk-rock/511090/17 "2009-09-22T20:33:45Z")
Korpiklaani: Finnish folk metal. [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PpXboQdFwXg) ---
**Author:** ![jehan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f6c823/32.png) [@jehan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jehan)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2009, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neo-medieval-folk-rock/511090/18 "2009-09-22T21:29:49Z")
Steeleye Span were/are one of the best. Maddy Prior has one of the best sopranos around. Gaudete is one of their best- [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OBZ8v9L8444](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OBZ8v9L8444) King Henry - [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-lUXl1jDRiw](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-lUXl1jDRiw) And lots of others (try Cam ye o’er frae France, Alison Gross, Black Jack Davy) ---
**Author:** ![Quasimodem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e274bd/32.png) [@Quasimodem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quasimodem)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2009, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neo-medieval-folk-rock/511090/19 "2009-09-22T21:54:38Z")
Agreed on Steeleye Span (although I always thought they copied the name from Steely Dan which for you trivia buffs, is supposed to be a dildo). Some Moody Blues kinda fits the “Bill” 🙂 for me too. And Blackmore as well. I think they have a Christmas cd I need to get. Every year, I promise myself, no more Christmas cd’s! (I have a whole case/folder(?) dedicated to just Christmas - the last ones I bought were Brian Setzer’s!) Quasi-Question: Which ones of the ones mentioned would be good accompaniment to playing World of Warcraft? I really like the music they play during the game, but it gets kinda repetitive. Thanks Quasi ETA: For **RChuck** : is there a link for your Dad’s song? ---
**Author:** ![jehan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f6c823/32.png) [@jehan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jehan)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2009, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neo-medieval-folk-rock/511090/20 "2009-09-22T22:30:37Z")
[quote=“Quasimodem, post:19, topic:511090”] Agreed on Steeleye Span (although I always thought they copied the name from Steely Dan which for you trivia buffs, is supposed to be a dildo) /QUOTE] It’s not- it’s from a traditional song called Horkstow Grange ``` Old Steeleye Span he was filled with John Bowlin It happened to be on a market day Old Steeleye swore with all his vengeance He would swear his life away Pity them who see him suffer Pity poor old Steeleye Span John Bowlin's deeds they will be remembered Pity poor old Steeleye Span Pity poor old Steeleye Span ``` [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neo-medieval-folk-rock/511090.md?page=2)