In an uprising against the popularity of electronic house music and the late '80s Madchester grooviness, a new school of British traditional rock came into the fray. Incorporating the "lager lout" mentality of '70s rockers like Status Quo and with one foot firmly planted in the '60s, bands like Oasis and Travis brought meat and potatoes back into English rock. These bands were composed of working class kids who cherished the gritty sincerity of artists like Neil Young and John Lennon. Though often lumped together under the Brit-pop umbrella, these bands were fierce rivals with upper class, art school bands like Blur and Suede. Some acts such as Kula Shaker and Manchester's the Charlatans effectively bridged the gap between their dance-influenced roots and trad-rock stoicism while others such as Cast and Shed Seven sank into the firmament of sycophantic blandness.

Notable Artists: Coldplay, the Crescent, Paul Weller