Formed in the late 2000s by multi instrumentalist Simon Tong (the Verve, Blur, the Good, the Bad & the Queen), guitarist Gawain Erland Cooper and drummer David Nock, London-based folk-rock outfit Erland and the Carnival began by experimenting with contemporary, neo-psychedelic arrangements of traditional Scottish and English folk songs. Inspired by British folk icons like Pentangle, Fairport Convention, and Steeleye Span, the group, which also includes Andy Bruce, Georgia Sands, and Danny Wheeler, released its eponymous debut album in 2010. ~ James Christopher Monger