folk rock

American  

Or folk-rock

noun

1. a style of music combining characteristics of rock-'n'-roll and folk music, often exemplified by protest songs to a rock-'n'-roll beat, and at its height of popularity in the late 1960s.

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folk-rock British  

noun

1. a style of rock music influenced by folk, including traditional material arranged for electric instruments

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Other Word Forms

• folk-rocker noun

Etymology

Origin of folk rock

First recorded in 1965–70; folk + rock ²

Example Sentences

Jesse Colin Young, whose vocals as frontman of folk rock band the Youngbloods gave voice to the 1960s’ counterculture, died on Sunday at his home in Aiken, S.C.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 17, 2025

Woman of the moment Sabrina Carpenter kicked off the show by performing a duet alongside Paul Simon of folk rock duo Simon and Garfunkel.

From BBC • Feb. 17, 2025

After reviewing the lineup, which ranged in genres from pop and rap to electronic dance music and folk rock, we decided to buy two-day passes.

From Salon • Aug. 17, 2024

As one of the originators of the post-revolutionary genre nueva trova, he combined elements of Cuban son and guaracha with soul, jazz and folk rock.

From New York Times • Nov. 23, 2022

Early on, her label, Columbia Records, marketed Carpenter as a country artist, even though her music also had elements of folk, rock and pop.

From Seattle Times • Jun. 24, 2022