Queens of British Folk Music Quiz | International Music

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. In 2006, listeners to BBC Radio 2 voted "Liege and Lief" by Fairport Convention as the most influential folk album of all time; which female singer sang lead vocals on this album?

Answer: Sandy Denny

Sandy Denny had a beautiful voice, she co-wrote and sang the folk classic "Who Knows Where the Time Goes?" and wrote many other songs. When she left Fairport Convention to pursue a solo career, she was in great demand as a singer, even performing a duet with Robert Plant on Led Zeppelin's "Battle of Evermore". Sadly, Sandy died in 1978, who knows what she may have achieved had she lived for longer?

2. Fairport Convention's great friends and rivals were Steeleye Span, who produced such classic albums as "Below the Salt" and "Commoners' Crown". Who was the leading lady with this outfit?

Answer: Maddy Prior

Steeleye Span are probably best remembered for hits such as "All Around my Hat" and "Gaudete". Maddy and her daughter, Rose Kemp, have performed live and recorded together several times.

3. "I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight" is a fantastic '70s album by husband and wife team Richard and Linda Who?

Answer: Thompson

Richard and Linda Thompson did three albums together ("Hokey Pokey" and "Pour Down Like Silver" were the other two), before they parted company. Richard then pursued a highly successful solo career but we had to wait nearly thirty years for Linda's next album, called, appropriately enough, "Fashionably Late"!

4. Pentangle were a seminal British folk band featuring the amazing guitar skills of Bert Jansch. They are probably best known for "Light Flight" which was the theme tune to the TV series "Take Three Girls". Which female fronted most of their numbers?

Answer: Jacqui McShee

Pentangle's best known albums were "Basket of Light" and "Cruel Sister". The band has undergone many changes of personnel over the years but Jacqui McShee was still touring with them in 2006.

5. This person is the daughter of folk-music 'royalty': both of her parents are stars in their own right and their daughter has made some stunning albums such as "Heat, Light and Sound" and the Mercury Prize-nominated "Anglicana". She is a great singer and an amazing violin player, who is she?

Answer: Eliza Carthy

Eliza's father is Martin Carthy, who is such a marvellous ambassador for folk music that he has been honoured by the Queen for his services. Her mother is Norma Waterson who also has an amazing voice. The three all have solo careers and perform together in the imaginatively titled band, Waterson-Carthy.

6. This singer encompassed a wide range of styles including folk, country, blues, latin, rock, pop and most points in between. Her father wrote the famous folk song "Dirty Old Town" and she had a massive hit as guest singer with the Irish folk-rock band, The Pogues.

Answer: Kirsty MacColl

The much missed Kirsty MacColl encompassed a wide range of styles and was happy working with people as diverse as Billy Bragg and Morrissey! She sang "Fairytale of New York" with The Pogues. Her dad was Ewan MacColl who as well as writing "Dirty Old Town" also wrote "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face", a huge hit for Roberta Flack.
Kirsty was killed in a tragic boating accident whilst scuba-diving off the Mexican coast in 2000.
Keen-eyed music trivia players might recognise the three 'wrong' answers as Canadian trio, The Be Good Tanyas.

7. The English folk singing sisters, Shirley and Dolly Collins are first cousins to Judy Collins, the American singer and songwriter.

Answer: False

There is no connection other than their love of music! Shirley has sung with most of the greats in English folk music including Richard Thompson and Ashley Hutchings. She and her sister produced some fine albums together including "Anthems in Eden" and "Sweet England". Sadly, Dolly died in 1995.
Shirley was also a leading light in The Albion Country Band.

8. Now for a Scottish singer: This girl's debut album "Faultlines" won BBC's folk album of the year in 2005. Her follow-up album "Scribbled in Chalk" has also received great critical acclaim. Who is this talented youngster?

Answer: Karine Polwart

Karine is helping to keep folk music alive and relevant to today: along with other artists, such as Jim Moray and Seth Lakeman, she has helped take traditional songs to a new audience.

9. June Tabor teamed up with the singer from Steeleye Span to form which duo? The ______ Sisters.

Answer: Silly

Folk stalwart June Tabor teamed up with Maddy Prior to make the classic album "No More to the Dance". June has over 15 solo albums to her name most of which begin with the letter "A"! She has also appeared with many other 'folkies' including The Oyster Band.

10. This Barnsley lass has produced some fantastic albums including "Underneath the Stars" and "Little Lights" which combine traditional folk songs and her own material. Her husband is an important member of her band and they were voted best live act in the 2006 BBC Radio 2 folk awards.

Answer: Kate Rusby

The Kate Rusby Band thoroughly deserve the title of "best live act", Kate's husband John McCusker is a tremendous multi-instrumentalist, Kate has a fantastic voice and the banter between them and the rest of the band will have you in stitches. If you're lucky then accordian-player Andy Cutting might even give you a few recipes to try out!

Source: Author Mutchisman

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor agony before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.

Queens of British Folk Music Trivia Quiz

Here are ten British female folk singers for you to identify; from the '60s to the present day.

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