The Levellers

The Levellers are an English folk rock band formed in Brighton, East Sussex, in 1988. The group’s long-standing line-up has centred on Mark Chadwick (vocals, guitar) alongside musicians including Jeremy Cunningham (bass), Charlie Heather (drums), and Simon Friend (guitar), with additional members contributing across different periods. Their music combines folk instrumentation with punk and rock approaches, and their lyrics have often addressed social and political themes. The Levellers are notable for sustained UK success from the early 1990s onwards and for building a large live following.

The band developed from the late 1980s alternative scene, releasing early recordings independently before signing to a major label. Their first albums, A Weapon Called the Word (1990) and Levelling the Land (1991), marked their breakthrough, with the latter bringing wider attention through a run of widely played tracks and extensive touring. By the early 1990s, the band were regulars on the UK festival circuit and had established a recognisable blend of folk melodies, electric guitars, and danceable rhythms.

The Levellers’ peak commercial period arrived in the mid-1990s, particularly with the album Zeitgeist (1995), which became their most prominent chart success. Across this era, they achieved multiple UK chart entries and expanded from club-level roots to arena and festival headline performances. Their combination of direct songwriting and communal live shows also made them a durable fixture within UK alternative music culture, especially among audiences aligned with festival and countercultural scenes.

In later years, the band continued to release studio and live albums and marked anniversaries with reissues and tours. They developed acoustic reinterpretations of earlier material and maintained a schedule of UK performances, including appearances at major festivals. Their work has also included collaborations and guest contributions that reflect an ongoing engagement with folk and roots traditions.

The Levellers have maintained a long-running career with a catalogue spanning several decades and a reputation for consistent live performance. While precise global sales totals are not uniformly reported, their recordings have achieved significant UK sales and repeated chart returns. Their influence is often framed in terms of sustaining a British folk-rock tradition within modern alternative music, and their best-known songs remain staples of UK festival setlists.