International » Celtic/British Isles » Celtic Pop

Celtic Pop usually compares to traditional Celtic music in much the same way American and British folk-pop draws upon its counterparts -- while the melodies (and perhaps instrumentation) are unmistakably influenced by the authentic article, at its core the music follows pop conventions and would rarely be mistaken for the traditional form. The style largely developed in the '80s, following a revival of traditional Irish folk during the '70s which, over time, found performers with strong folk roots gradually beginning to mix elements of rock and pop into their original compositions (although predominantly rock artists like the Pogues don't fit the description). As new age music fans began to discover the ethereal, haunting properties of certain strains of Celtic music, some Celtic pop grew to encompass those tendencies as well, incorporating synthesizers in addition to standard acoustic-based instrumentation (but not quite to the same degree as Celtic fusion artists). Capercaillie and Clannad were two of the most important bands performing in the style.