The Wurzels

Formed in 1966 in Nailsea, Somerset, The Wurzels are part of the so-called "scrumpy and western" tradition, a mix of British folk, parody country and pub songs rooted in the West Country, characterized by a deliberately local accent, collective choruses and rural themes tied to cider, farms and working-class life. Originally built around Adge Cutler, the singer-songwriter at the group's core, The Wurzels came to prominence in the late 1960s with "Drink Up Thy Zider", following several recordings and albums released as Adge Cutler & The Wurzels, including Adge Cutler & The Wurzels (1967) and Cutler of the West (1968). After Cutler's death in 1974, The Wurzels continued and entered a new phase with Pete Budd and Tommy Banner, marked by The Wurzels Are Scrumptious! in 1975 and the humorous adaptations "The Combine Harvester" and "I Am a Cider Drinker" in 1976. Over the decades The Wurzels have remained a regular presence on British stages, particularly in the southwest of England, while continuing their discography with albums such as Never Mind the Bullocks Ere's The Wurzels (2002) and A Load More Bullocks (2010).