Since the British Invasion in the 1960s, America has kept a watchful eye for more musicians crossing the Atlantic.

Many bands have been deemed failures in their quest to “conquer America'” but recently there has been a rejuvenation of British bands.

Bands like Coldplay and Franz Ferdinand have gotten a lot of airplay while more British bands are flocking to U.S. shores. Dance acts like The Music and The Rapture, as well as rock ‘n’ roll bands like Kasabian, Razorlight and The Zutons have all been on American tours. Downtown Lawrence has been host to more than its share of British rock acts.

Last fall, Keane and Snow Patrol, between sold-out arena shows in England and Scotland, played The Granada in Lawrence.

“There has definitely been a change,” said Mike Tiffany, promoter of The Bottleneck, 737 N.H. “British music is a bit more underground than it used to be, which makes it valued more.

“You get bands who come over and they have a really great following but don’t play here very often. Then you get bands who play here more regularly who end up being much more successful.”

Scotland’s Snow Patrol originally was supposed to be playing The Bottleneck, but the show was moved because of high demand. Keane, a piano-led three-piece from England, sold out The Granada with ease.

Badly Drawn Boy, an English artist who has played in some of London’s most famous music venues, played in Liberty Hall last fall while bands like British Sea Power and The Rapture also have played Lawrence within the past year.

Tiffany is quick to dispel the notion America may have to prepare itself for another invasion, however.

“Music right now is more segregated than before; different sub-groups, different labels etc,” he said. “I think it would be hard for a band to be as successful as say The Beatles or The Rolling Stones.”