American Folk Revival

The American Folk Revival kicked off in the 1940s, primarily in New York's Greenwich Village, where earnest youngsters found that strumming a guitar and singing about social justice was a much easier source of entertainment than, say, studying. It’s characterised by simple melodies, heartfelt lyrics, and a distinct knack for making you feel like you should really do something useful whilst strumming along. This genre is rather like a large, jovial family gathering where everyone insists on sharing their latest protest song, and if you don’t join in, you might just be suspected of plotting something villainous.