Elizabeth Sharkey: Why Britain Rocked
- Talks / Special Events
Amazon bestselling author Elizabeth Sharkey in conversation with journalist, broadcaster and award-winning producer Robert Dawson Scott, with live music from Chyan Davidson.
Why Britain Rocked: How Rock Became Roll and Took Over the World by Elizabeth Sharkey travels deep into Britain’s history to trace the events that led to its twentieth century musical explosion and argues that The Beatles’ arrival that so surprised the world really shouldn’t have been a surprise at all.
From the Celts and the Quakers, to Ira Aldridge and Paul Robeson, Why Britain Rocked breaks out of British pop history’s twentieth century confines. Instead, Sharkey starts the story with the ballads of Braemar and the rockers and reelers of 18th century Galloway, following the migration of the peoples who carried their music from the British Isles to the southern states, laying the foundations of America’s folk music and ultimately, rock n’ roll. Sharkey then brings the story back to the British Isles, identifying the Celtic inheritance of superstars from Lonnie Donegan and The Beatles, to David Bowie, John Lydon, Kate Bush, Johnny Marr, Noel Gallagher and Ed Sheeran, and the Scots and Irish balladry that became the blueprint for a music revolution.
Elizabeth is a music historian, author, columnist and media commentator. A trained actress, Elizabeth’s previous career was working extensively in television and film. She is also recognised as one of the UK’s leading voice-over artists.
This book will lovingly hold your hand as it takes you through the sociological history of our islands and their music, accompanied by an absolutely banging playlist and an extensive online archive that accompanies every chapter.
It’s certainly a new spin on the age-old origins of British rock and roll and with such an erudite book as this one, it will be interesting to see where Elizabeth Sharkey goes next. For now ‘Why Britain Rocked’ should be on every music fans literary radar. Prepare to be enlightened.
An unexpected treasure trove of exploration, academic rigour and a welcome, bold attempt at re-framing the history of British pop music.
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