Pop music, venues and festivals

Story 3 of 13

Embroidered picture: a summer music festival at dusk, with an open-air stage among coloured bunting and tents, a band playing under the lights and a packed crowd

Since the 20th century, folk, jazz, pop and rock have all flourished in Britain. There are three reasons why British pop has had such a big effect on the rest of the world: English is spoken around the globe, Britain has cultural links with many countries, and British people are creative and inventive.

From the 1960s onwards, pop music has been one of Britain's most important gifts to world culture. The Beatles and the Rolling Stones still shape music at home and abroad (see Britain Since 1945). Later came the punk movement of the late 1970s, and the boy bands and girl bands of the 1990s.

Big venues: in London, Wembley Stadium and The O2 (in Greenwich, in the south-east of the city); in Glasgow, the SEC Centre.
Summer festivals take place all over the UK every year. Glastonbury is the most famous; others are the Isle of Wight Festival and Creamfields, a dance-music festival. Big-name bands share the stage with new acts.
The National Eisteddfod of Wales: a yearly cultural festival of music, dance, art and new performances, mostly in Welsh. It includes several important competitions for poetry in Welsh.
The Mercury Prize: given every September to the best album from the UK and Ireland.
The Brit Awards: a yearly awards show with many categories, for example best British solo singer and best British group.

Key factspop music

Since the 20th century, folk, jazz, pop and rock have flourished in Britain. British pop has influenced the world because English is widely spoken, the UK has cultural links with many countries, and British people are creative and innovative.
From the 1960s, pop has been one of Britain's most important cultural contributions: the Beatles, the Rolling Stones; punk in the late 1970s; boy and girl bands in the 1990s.
Big venues: Wembley Stadium, The O2 in Greenwich, the SEC Centre in Glasgow.
Summer festivals: Glastonbury, the Isle of Wight Festival, Creamfields.
The National Eisteddfod: held every year; music, dance, art and original performances, mostly in Welsh, with important poetry competitions.
Mercury Prize: awarded each September to the year's best album by a British or Irish act. Brit Awards: held every year, with prizes such as best British solo artist and best British group.

Quiz

What is the Mercury Prize awarded for?

Quiz

Is the statement below TRUE or FALSE? The National Eisteddfod of Wales is held once every four years, and its performances are mostly in English.

Chapter contents: Arts and Culture