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Chrysalis Records [Release date 07.10.22]
A vinyl only (double LP in old money!) of a classic concert from Steeleye Span that has never been released in full before. A handful of tracks from the concert have popped up down the years on various compilations and the band have twelve official live albums to their name. This release has been years in the making as various sources of the concert were dusted off and given a careful remastering.
What makes this album so attractive to Steeleye Span fans is it captures live their classic and most successful line-up in chart terms, the one betweem 1973 and 1977. The line-up was vocalist Maddy Prior, Tim Hart (guitars, vocals), Peter Knight (strings, keyboards, guitars, vocals), Bob Johnson (guitars, vocals), Rick Kemp (bass, vocals) and Nigel Pegrum (drums, percussion).
The band’s vocal harmonies were amply highlighted on the a capella ‘Oh, You Beautiful Doll’ which was swiflty followed by ‘Gaudete’, their seasonal hit from 1972. Steeleye Span even went prog folk on the epic ‘Demon Lover’.
The instrumentals made up a large part of the set, including the lively set opener ‘Bach Goes To Limerick’ and the Irish jigs medley.
Songs such as the folk rocker ‘Long Lankin’ and ‘Thomas The Rhymer’ still appear in their set lists all these years later, such is the durability and popularity of them.
One caveat I will add on this review is that it was written listening to a streaming version of the album as this reviewer doesn’t possess a turntable – the shame! The record sleeve will be suitably impressive I am sure.
An early vinyl Christmas present for any Steeleye Span fan you know or indeed yourself if a fan of one of the finest folk and folk rock bands around. ****
Review by Jason Ritchie
UK tour dates 2022
| Wed 5th October | Tyne Theatre & Opera House | Newcastle | 08442 491000 | Buy Tickets |
| Fri 7th October | Pavilion Theatre | Glasgow | 01413 321846 | Buy Tickets |
| Sat 8th October | RNCM | Manchester | 0161 907 5200 | Buy Tickets |
| Sun 9th October | The Baths Hall | Scunthorpe | 08448 440444 | Buy Tickets |
| Mon 10th October | Kings Hall | Blackburn | 01254 582579 | Buy Tickets |
| Wed 12th October | Town Hall | Dudley | 01384 812812 | Buy Tickets |
| Thurs 13th October | Lavenham Church | Suffolk | 01256 416384 | Buy Tickets |
| Fri 14th October | Kings Lynn St Nicholas Chapel | Norfolk | 01256 416384 | Buy Tickets |
| Sun 16th October | Spinney Theatre | Northampton | 01256 416384 | Buy Tickets |
| Mon 17th October | The Stables | Milton Keynes | 01908 280800 | Buy Tickets |
| Tue 18th October | Cheese & Grain | Frome | 01373 455420 | Buy Tickets |
| Thurs 20th October | Old Town Hall | High Wycombe | 0343 310 0060 | Buy Tickets |
| Fri 21st October | Corn Exchange | Exeter | 01392 665938 | Buy Tickets |
| Sun 23rd October | Y Theatre | Leicester | 01162 556507 | Buy Tickets |
| Mon 24th October | Tivoli Theatre | Wimbourne | 01202 885566 | Buy Tickets |
| Tue 25th October | New Theatre | Oxford | 08448 717615 | Buy Tickets |
| Thurs 27th October | Chequer Mead Theatre | East Grinstead | 01342 302000 | Buy Tickets |
| Sat 29th October | Hailsham Pavilion | Hailsham | 01323 841414 | Buy Tickets |
| Sun 30th October | Town Hall | Cheltenham | 01242 528764 | Buy Tickets |
| Mon 31st October | Wyvern Theatre | Swindon | 03433 100040 | Buy Tickets |
| Tue 1st November | The Haymarket | Basingstoke | 01256 844244 | Buy Tickets |
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14:00-16:00 KATARINA PEJAK – Pearls On A String (Ruf Records)
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