BRITISH MUSIC                                                              Take "Music" poll at bottom of page!

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Photo by Detech 02 / Wikimedia Commons
As Anglophiles, we're fascinated by British music.  In movies, we've seen "polite society" in ballrooms during Regency and Victorian times dancing quadrilles and waltzes--often to strains of Haydn or Mozart rather than to the music of native-born, British composers.  But the "upper crust" embraced classical music, that we know.  Then there's the wonderful traditional music.  Whether it's Celtic (originating in Scotland or Northern Ireland), Welsh, or English, it's likely filled with fiddles and harps or bagpipes.  The tunes may sound soulful, but frequently, they're so lively, they inspire us to sing along or dance a jig!

In modern times, especially, British music has rocked the world.  The "British Invasion" provided the first salvo, with the likes of the Beatles, The Who, and the Rolling Stones.  One historical moment later, the Punk scene arrived, firing the second salvo.  The Sex Pistols, the Clash, the Jam, and Buzzcocks all lit up the radar.  And I haven't even mentioned the HUGE British stars in mainstream pop: Sting, Elton John, Culture Club, Coldplay, Adele, etc., etc., etc.

NOTE: To stay abreast of current popular British musicians--both established and up-and-coming--simply follow Brit Awards online.    Brit Awards are the UK's version of the American music industry's Grammy Awards or American Music Awards.  You can find the Brit Awards on Twitter and Facebook or even subscribe to their Youtube channel.

BRIT AWARDS YouTube channel


Top British Composers  (Baroque, Classical, Romantic)   








Top British Musicians & Bands  (Modern) 
  • Arctic Monkeys

  • Amy Winehouse

  • Adele
 
  • Bauhaus
 
  • Beatles
 
  • Belle & Sebastian
 
  • Blur
 
  • Brian Eno
 
  • Boy George (Culture Club)
 
  • Buzzcocks
 
  • Chad & Jeremy
 
  • Coldplay
 
  • David Bowie
 
  • Dizzee Rascal
 
  • Donovan
 
  • Duffy
 
  • Duran Duran
 
  • Dusty Springfield
 
  • Echo & the Bunnymen
 
  • Electric Light Orchestra
 
  • Elton John
 
  • Elvis Costello
 
  • Eric Clapton
 
  • Eurythmics
 
  • Fleetwood Mac
 
  • Florence and the Machine (Florence Welch)
 
  • Freddie and the Dreamers
 
  • Gang of Four
 
  • Gary Glitter
 
  • George Michael
 
  • Gomez
 
  • Gorillaz
 
  • Happy Mondays
 
  • Herman's Hermits
 
  • Iron Maiden
 
  • James Blake
 
  • Jessie J
 
  • Kate Bush
 
  • Keane
 
  • KLF
 
  • Lady Sovereign
 
  • Lana del Rey
 
  • Led Zeppelin
 
  • Lily Allen
 
  • Little Boots
 
  • Madness
 
  • Massive Attack
 
  • McFly
 
  • M.I.A.
 
  • Mumford & Sons
 
  • Muse
 
  • N-Dubz (Tulisa)
 
  • New Order
 
  • Nick Drake
 
  • Oasis
 
  • One Direction
 
  • Paloma Faith
 
  • Pet Shop Boys
 
  • Peter and Gordon
 
  • Petula Clark
 
  • Pink Floyd
 
  • Pixie Lott
 
  • PJ Harvey
 
  • Portishead
 
  • Pugwash
 
  • Pulp
 
  • Queen
 
  • Radiohead
 
  • Richard Thompson
 
  • Roxy Music
 
  • S'Express
 
  • Siouxsie and the Banshees
 
  • Sisters of Mercy
 
  • Spice Girls
 
  • Sting (The Police)
 
  • Super Furry Animals
 
  • Sway
 
  • T. Rex
 
  • The Animals
 
  • The Clash
 
  • The Cure
 
  • The Dave Clark Five
 
  • The Faces
 
  • The Jam
 
  • The Kinks
 
  • The Libertines
 
  • The Rolling Stones
 
  • The Sex Pistols
 
  • The Smiths
 
  • The Specials
 
  • The Stone Roses
 
  • The Strokes
 
  • The Troggs
 
  • The Waterboys
 
  • The Who
 
  • The Zombies
 
  • Tom Jones
 
  • Van Morrison 
 
  • Visage
 
  • VNV Nation
 
  • VV Brown 


Musicians and Bands Recommended by Anglophile United readers
  • Bastille
  • Chemical Brothers
  • Ellie Goulding
  • Kate Rusby
  • Prodigy 
  • Spandau Ballet
  • While She Sleeps
Zella's Comment:  One of my favorite venues for music in London is St. Martin in the Fields, at Trafalgar Square.  St. Martin offers both inexpensive and free concerts throughout the year.  You can stop by for Evensong, hear their Lunchtime Concerts series (typically choral, organ, or chamber music), or enjoy a Jazz Nights performance--offered this year on Wednesday nights.  St. Martin's location is a godsend for tourists: It's in central London, near many top tourist destinations, so dropping by for a concert fits easily into a busy tourist schedule.  (Stop by the church a day or more before attending a concert to buy a ticket.)  And here's more good news about St. Martin: They have an amazing crypt in the lower level of the church with a restaurant, restrooms, and even a small art gallery.  I'm gaga about the crypt--it's so atmospheric!  If you're dead tired from traipsing around London and need a spot to nourish your body and soul, this is it.  

                                                   ST. MARTIN IN THE FIELDS

    Have a favorite SINGER, BAND, or COMPOSER name you would like added to this list?  Please submit the suggestion below!

Check out one of my favorite new band, TEMPLES.  They formed five years ago and are very up-and-coming.  To my ear, they have a '60's "British Invasion" sound.
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