OK, canoer, with that interest, some "names" from the UK to look out for (mainly not very new!!) are:

Roy Bailey (look especially for his collaboration with Tony Benn, MP - "The Writing on the Wall - a history of dissent)

Martin Carthy

Robb Johnson

Dick Gaughan

Pete Coe

Ron Kavanagh (ok, so his origins are Irish but his concerns go much wider than Irish issues)

Also a "must" is the Richard Thompson produced "Hard Cash" CD - an expanded soundtrack from a TV programme about "the world of work" from a worker's perspective which our beloved "public service" BBC made and then lacked the balls to broadcast; it has fine performances from a varied range of artists.

And if you can find them - the double tape release made as a benefit for the last UK miners' strike (possibly under the title of "Raise your banners" but I need to check; certainly released by Fuse). Not as uniformly good as "Hard Cash" but even more varied in content.

Happy (and thoughtful) listening!

George