The Mekons - Post-Punk Country

The Mekons arrived during the late 70's UK post-punk scene and still perform today as one of the longest running artists from this era. The band never achieved mainstream commercial success, but has consistently received critical acclaim throughout their career especially in the mid-1980's while blending punk rock with traditional folk and country music to pioneer the alternative-country genre.The Mekons, or just Mekons, formed in Leeds in 1976 as an art collective with many musicians contributing over the years as they operated on principles that everything is created by the band and not individuals. This uncompromising band has always maintained their political edge with their lyrics and their style has constantly evolved over time to incorporate aspects many genres including country music, folk music, and alternative rock, among others.  Although The Mekons' lineup has changed from time to time over the years, the core line-up gathered in the mid-80s and is still together today. This includes Sally Timms on vocals and Susie Honeyman on violin, along with founders Jon Langford on vocals and guitar, and Tom Greenhalgh on vocals and guitars.The Mekons, well known for their exuberant live performances, have released a total of 16 studio albums, starting with the 1979 debut and the most recent in 2025. This episode tells the story of the band from formation through the creative work of their albums of the 80’s and into the early 90’s.