logo
episode-header-image
Oct 2024
30m 2s

Celtic Rock - A History

Curiouscast
About this episode

Anyone with a passing knowledge of rock is aware of its origins back in the late 40s and early 50s when blues, rhythm and blues, western, country, folk, and hillbilly traditions began to mix and match, eventually coalescing into what became known as “rock’n’roll”.

If you’re an alt-rock fan, you’ve heard the story of how all this began with the garage bands of the late 60s and the punk rock explosion of the mid-70s.

The birth of modern electronic music?... It has a rich and complicated origin story that stretches back to the 40s before the technology was cheap enough for young musicians to give it a go in the 70s.

Ska and reggae?... Understanding those sounds and their enduring appeal requires a deep dive into Jamaican culture and politics.

Once we get to the 80s, things really begin to separate, segment, and stratify…goth, industrial, punk-funk, hardcore, dream pop, all the various flavours of metal…the last time I checked into Spotify’s classification system, the platform had sorted music into more than 2500 different genres—and that number keeps growing.

This program has looked at many of these origin stories…and it’s time that we did another one.

If you have ever enjoyed a pint in a traditional pub, you’re going to love this…it’s the history of Celtic rock.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Up next
Yesterday
It's A Family Affair
Music is one of those things that can bring families together…and sometimes, that togetherness grows into a business… The BeeGees had the three Gibb brothers…baby brother Andy Gibb was also part of that universe for a while… Then there’s The Beach Boys…the original lineup include ... Show More
33m 42s
Jul 2
Weird and Shocking Rockers
Here’s a warning right from the outset: this is going to be a weird program…the performs and the music we’re going to talk about are famous because of their weird, shocking behaviour…they set out to get our attention—and they did… Some of us appreciated what they were doing…but t ... Show More
39m 12s
Jun 25
Good Goth - Part 2
This is the second part of our examination of the legendary Alt-Rock scene known as "Goth", and this time we go from mid 80's... right up to today. Goth has always had a bad rap, so in our deep dive, we'll try to clear everything up.. This is "Good Goth-Part 2" Learn more about y ... Show More
25m 34s
Recommended Episodes
Oct 2024
This Moment in Music History for 10-15-2024
On October 15th in music history, one significant event took place in 1966 when The Jimi Hendrix Experience played their first gig at the Novelty in Évreux, France. This marked the beginning of a legendary journey for one of the most influential guitarists in rock history. Jimi H ... Show More
2m 6s
May 23
This Moment in Music History for 05-23-2025
On May 23, 1969, The Who released their groundbreaking rock opera album, "Tommy." This concept album tells the story of a "deaf, dumb, and blind" boy named Tommy Walker, who experiences various trials and tribulations before ultimately finding enlightenment and becoming a messian ... Show More
1m 55s
Jun 8
This Moment in Music History for 06-08-2025
On June 8, 1969, the legendary guitarist Brian Jones, one of the founding members of The Rolling Stones, was asked to leave the band due to his excessive drug use and increasingly erratic behavior. This event marked a significant turning point in the history of the band and rock ... Show More
2m 24s
May 21
This Moment in Music History for 05-21-2025
On May 21, 1981, the legendary Jamaican reggae artist Bob Marley passed away at the age of 36 in Miami, Florida. Marley had been battling cancer for several years, and his health had deteriorated rapidly in the months leading up to his death.Bob Marley was a pioneering force in t ... Show More
1m 55s
Nov 2024
This Moment in Music History for 11-03-2024
On November 3rd in music history, one significant event took place in 1956. On this day, the legendary Carl Perkins, known for his rockabilly style and hit song "Blue Suede Shoes," was involved in a serious car accident near Wilmington, Delaware. Perkins and his band were on thei ... Show More
1m 51s
May 2024
James A. Cosby, "Rock Music, Authority and Western Culture, 1964-1980" (McFarland, 2024)
The history of rock and roll music can be seen in a long arc of Western civilization's struggle for both greater individual expression and societal stability. In the 1960s, the West's relationship with authority ruptured, in part due to the rock revolution. The lessons and implic ... Show More
42m 56s
Aug 2022
TootArd | West Asian Disco
Toot Ard performed three musical pieces: Moonlight, Trouble Watan & Wanderlust.TootArd, Arabic for "Strawberry", was formed in 2010 by brothers Hasan and Rami Nakhleh. All band members grew up in Majdal Shams. The band started by performing in the Golan Heights, later travelling ... Show More
27m 56s
Feb 2025
This Moment in Music History for 02-27-2025
On February 27th, 1967, a groundbreaking album was released that would forever change the landscape of rock music: "The Velvet Underground & Nico" by The Velvet Underground. Produced by the legendary Andy Warhol, this debut album was a daring exploration of taboo subjects such as ... Show More
2m 3s
May 5
This Moment in Music History for 05-05-2025
On May 5th, 1962, an extraordinary event took place that would forever change the course of popular music history. The Beatles, a relatively unknown band from Liverpool, England, auditioned for George Martin at EMI Studios in London. This fateful meeting marked the beginning of a ... Show More
2m 37s
Oct 2024
This Moment in Music History for 10-22-2024
On October 22, 1969, Led Zeppelin II, the second studio album by the iconic British rock band Led Zeppelin, was released in the United States. The album was a massive success, reaching number one on the Billboard 200 chart and cementing the band's status as one of the most influe ... Show More
1m 53s