bard
what it is
In medieval Gaelic and British culture, a bard was a professional poet, employed by a patron, such as a monarch or nobleman, to commemorate the patron's ancestors and to praise the patron's own activities. In the second half of 20th century the word 'bard' became used in Polish and Russian for influential singer-songwriters regardless of their style (varying from folk through guitar ballad to soft rock) to show they are respected as poets, not only musicians. See also minstrel, a similar term.
✦ start here: albums
✦ who's making it, level by level
level 4 · further
art pop, hyperpop, and the underground
level 5 · all the way
deep experimental
✦ make bard a playlist
turn these 16 artists into something you can press play on.
✦ nearby genres
questions
What is bard?
In medieval Gaelic and British culture, a bard was a professional poet, employed by a patron, such as a monarch or nobleman, to commemorate the patron's ancestors and to praise the patron's own activities. In the second half of 20th century the word 'bard' became used in Polish and Russian for influential singer-songwriters regardless of their style (varying from folk through guitar ballad to soft rock) to show they are respected as poets, not only musicians. See also minstrel, a similar term.
What are good bard albums to start with?
Try The Horror and the Wild by The Amazing Devil, Лирические песни by Владимир Высоцкий, DND Tabletop: Medieval Ambience by Frontier Sounds, and The Bard's Tale: 2004 (Original Soundtrack) by inXile Entertainment.
Who are some women making bard?
musicisforgirls.com/genres/bard/girls lists women, non-binary artists, and bands with women making bard, from mainstream to underground.
genre notes from last.fm listeners · artists and albums from last.fm, updated 2026-10-20