psychfolk

Psychfolk: When Folk Met Its Inner Space Cowboy

Psychfolk, a name that sounds like a tripped-out field trip, is a fascinating fusion of folk music’s raw, heartfelt storytelling with the mind-bending, psychedelic soundscapes of the late 1960s and early 1970s. It’s a genre that throws a kaleidoscope of influences into a blender: folk’s acoustic instruments, bluesy grit, and introspective lyrics, all swirling with the electric textures, eastern influences, and surreal imagery of psychedelia.

From Folk Roots to Cosmic Trails:

The seeds of psychfolk were sown in the fertile ground of the British folk revival of the 1960s. Artists like The Incredible String Band, Fairport Convention, and Pentangle blended traditional folk with a touch of experimentalism, incorporating instruments like the sitar and the dulcimer. But it was the arrival of psychedelic rock, with its explorations of consciousness and otherworldly soundscapes, that truly pushed psychfolk into its own orbit.

A Galaxy of Quirky Characters:

The world of psychfolk is populated by characters as colorful as their music. Take Nick Drake, the introspective and melancholic troubadour, whose music remains a cornerstone of the genre. His song “Pink Moon” was allegedly written after a late-night encounter with a mysterious, pink-hued feline (although Drake himself never confirmed this). Or consider Donovan, a true pioneer of psychfolk, whose music fused folk with influences as diverse as Bob Dylan, Indian ragas, and the Beatles. He’s also known for his “magical” stage antics, which involved levitating onstage and performing under the assumed name “The Magic Band.”

A Genre that Endures:

While psychfolk’s peak may have been in the 1960s and 70s, its influence continues to resonate in contemporary music. Artists like Fleet Foxes, Bon Iver, and Daughter have embraced psychfolk’s blend of folk instrumentation and atmospheric soundscapes, proving that the genre’s hypnotic spell endures.

Psychfolk, more than just a genre, is a journey. A journey through the depths of the human soul, the mysteries of the universe, and sometimes, the utterly bizarre. And what’s more, it’s a journey filled with the unique and colorful personalities of its creators, who remind us that music, like life itself, is always a little bit strange.