The Hale and the Hanged

Scottish folk revival refers to the post‑war resurgence of interest in Scotland’s traditional song, ballad, and instrumental music that gathered momentum from around 1950 and crested through the 1960s, before stagnating in the early 1970s. It combined field-collecting, academic study, and a grass‑roots folk-club movement with newly professional performers. The revival prized unaccompanied ballad singing and language preservation (Scots and Gaelic), but also embraced contemporary songwriting in a traditional idiom and sensitive guitar- or small-ensemble accompaniments. Its aesthetic ranged from austere traditional styles to adventurous, psychedelic-tinged interpretations.