Definition: In order to be eligible an artist must have either clearly performed in an English or Celtic folk style or must have been part of the English or Celtic folk scene. Artists from non-folk styles were considered if their music includes obvious folk influences but pure folk artists were given priority. Genres considered for this list include: folk rock, folk pop, folk baroque, celtic rock, celtic pop, celtic new age, folk punk, folk metal, alternative folk, progressive folk, psychedelic folk, freak folk, indie folk, neofolk, folktronica and folk-influenced singer/songwriter styles. The list is comprised of English, (Northern) Irish, Scottish, Welsh and Breton folk artists. It only includes artists who recorded from the second British folk revival onwards (i.e. post-World War II artists).
Criteria: The artists were ranked according to their influence and acclaim within English and Celtic folk circles. Influence and acclaim on other musical genres and mainstream popularity were also considered to a lesser degree.
- Ewan MacColl
- The Chieftains
- Davy Graham
- Shirley (& Dolly) Collins
- Fairport Convention
- A.L. Lloyd
- The Clancy Brothers (& Tommy Makem)
- The Watersons
- Martin Carthy
- The Dubliners
- Bert Jansch
- Steeleye Span
- Nick Drake
- Clannad
- The Pogues
- The Copper Family
- Hamish Henderson
- Donovan
- Anne Briggs
- Billy Bragg
- Séamus Ennis
- Richard (& Linda) Thompson
- John Martyn
- Planxty
- Wizz Jones
- Archie Fisher
- The Corries
- The Incredible String Band
- Alan Stivell
- Dick Gaughan
- The Pentangle
- The Ian Campbell Folk Group
- Van Morrison
- Seán Ó Riada/Ceoltóirí Chualann
- John Renbourn
- Hamish Imlach
- The Boys of the Lough
- Sweeney's Men
- Ralph McTell
- Jethro Tull
- Jeannie Robertson
- Peggy Seeger
- The Battlefield Band
- Horslips
- Sandy Denny
- Cyril Tawney
- June Tabor
- Christy Moore
- Harry Cox
- Loreena McKennitt
- The Waterboys
- Ian Matthews/Southern Comfort
- Strawbs
- Frankie Armstrong
- David Gray
- Damien Rice
- Alex Campbell
- The Albion Band
- Silly Wizard
- Mary O'Hara
- Mary Black
- Eliza Carthy (& the Kings of Calicutt)
- Jackson C. Frank
- The Bothy Band
- Peter Bellamy/The Young Tradition
- Eddie & Finbar Furey/The Fureys
- Roy Harper
- Lindisfarne
- Nic Jones
- The Men They Couldn't Hang
- Dan Ar Braz
- Eric Bogle
- The Tannahill Weavers
- Frances Black
- Leon Rosselson
- Renaissance
- Levellers
- Louis Killen
- Al Stewart
- Dafydd Iwan
- The McCalmans
- The Irish Rovers
- Enya
- Sam Larner
- Jean Redpath
- Mumford & Sons
- Comus
- Vashti Bunyan
- De Danann
- Oysterband
- Martin Simpson
- Laura Marling
- Moving Hearts
- Mike Harding
- Capercaillie
- The Corrs
- Altan
- (Robin &) Barry Dransfield
- The Clutha
- Fotheringay
These artists didn't fit into the Top 100 but deserve at least a mention. They include pure folk artists of marginal importance, well-known pop/rock artists with only slight traces of folk in their music and important band and session musicians.
Afro Celt Sound System
Amazing Blondel
Alistair Anderson/The High Level Ranters
Steve Ashley
Badly Drawn Boy
Barclay James Harvest
Syd Barrett
The Beatles
Big Country
Blackmore's Night
Luka Bloom
Paul Brady
Duncan Browne
Michael Chapman
Chumbawamba
Dave Cousins
The Cranberries
Cruachan
Current 93
Dando Shaft
Death in June
Dexys Midnight Runners
Fanfarlo
Forest
Four Tet
Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly
Gordon Giltrap
Gorky's Zygotic Mynci
Clive Gregson & Christine Collister
Gryphon
John Wesley Harding
Mary Hopkin
Hothouse Flowers
Alan Hull
Ashley Hutchings
Andy Irvine
Jan Dukes de Grey
John Kirkpatrick
Led Zeppelin
Jez Lowe (& the Bad Pennies)
Dougie MacLean
Magna Carta
Matt McGinn
Mellow Candle
Matt Molloy
Morris On
Noah and the Whale
Sinéad O'Connor
Beth Orton
Walter Pardon
Patrick Street
(Tim Hart &) Maddy Prior
The Proclaimers
Gerry Rafferty
Eddi Reader
Runrig
Kate Rusby
The Sallyangie
The Sands Family
Peter Sarstedt
The Saw Doctors
Skyclad
Mick Softley
Solas
Spirogyra
Bridget St John
Stealers Wheel
Cat Stevens
Meic Stevens
String Driven Thing
Dave Swarbrick
Thin Lizzy
Third Ear Band
Steve Tilston & Maggie Boyle
Trees
Tunng
Tyrannosaurus Rex
Robin Williamson
Brenda Wootton
The Wurzels
Sublist: The Grestest Collectors of English and Celtic Folk Songs (from the 19th century onwards)
- Cecil Sharp
- Francis James Child
- Lucy Broadwood
- Ralph Vaughan Williams
- Sabine Baring-Gould
- Alan Lomax
- A.L. Lloyd
- William Chappell
- Séamus Ennis
- Edward Bunting
- Hamish Henderson
- Percy Grainger
- Frank Kidson
- Breandán Breathnach
- William B. Sandys
- Peter Douglas Kennedy
- Meredydd Evans
- Ernest John Moeran
- Théodore Hersart de la Villemarqué
- George Petrie