folk rock
what it is
Folk rock is a musical genre, combining elements of folk music and rock music. In its earliest and narrowest sense, the term referred to a genre that arose in the United States and Canada around the mid-1960s. The sound was epitomized by tight vocal harmonies and a relatively "clean" (effects- and distortion-free) approach to electric instruments epitomized by the jangly sound of The Byrds' guitarist Roger McGuinn.
✦ start here: albums
✦ who's making it, level by level
level 1 · mainstream
the pop everyone knows
level 2 · the door
big names with a sharper edge
level 3 · one step out
cult favorites and indie darlings
level 4 · further
art pop, hyperpop, and the underground
level 5 · all the way
deep experimental
✦ make folk rock a playlist
turn these 40 artists into something you can press play on.
✦ nearby genres
questions
What is folk rock?
Folk rock is a musical genre, combining elements of folk music and rock music. In its earliest and narrowest sense, the term referred to a genre that arose in the United States and Canada around the mid-1960s. The sound was epitomized by tight vocal harmonies and a relatively "clean" (effects- and distortion-free) approach to electric instruments epitomized by the jangly sound of The Byrds' guitarist Roger McGuinn.
What are good folk rock albums to start with?
Try Blonde on Blonde by Bob Dylan, Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe in You by Big Thief, Buffalo Springfield Again by Buffalo Springfield, and The Band by The Band.
Who are some women making folk rock?
musicisforgirls.com/genres/folk-rock/girls lists women, non-binary artists, and bands with women making folk rock, from mainstream to underground.
genre notes from last.fm listeners · artists and albums from last.fm, updated 2026-10-20