Steeleye Span News

There should have been a stronger sense of occasion for this concert. It was the 40th anniversary for the band that took British folk to mainstream rock audiences, mining the dark elemental mystery of traditional music with classic albums such as Hark! the Village Wait and Please to See the King.

It was the moment everyone had been waiting for. "You'll never guess what we're going to do now," Maddy Prior said, smiling broadly.

A city carol service is being held next month, and Bradford Council and Bradford Cathedral are inviting people to attend.

Listening to Death - a mid-'70s Detroit area proto-punk power trio recently rediscovered and celebrated on a disc For the World to See by Chicago's Drag City label - there's a special thrill in hearing some unsung pioneers get their just due and realizing that the history of rock can be rewritten long after the fact.

Try YouTube-ing the UK band's 1975 video for "All Around My Hat." Singer Maddy Prior is a veritable glitter-rock siren in her yellow satin dress; the guys in the group sport open shirts, teased hair and white flares.

The next time you have an hour to spare, check out Steeleye Span's Wikipedia page.

AS she looks forward to her band's sixth visit to Australia later this month, Maddy Prior reflects on the past and ponders the enigma that is Steeleye Span.

After a busy summer that saw him making his way around Western Canada, Big Hank Lionhart is back in business on the local front with Fistful of Blues.

ONE of the dwindling group of folk singers whose flame was lit by hearing Elvis on Radio Luxembourg, ASHLEY Hutchings is a folk singer with the kind of respect for great voices, which is too rare in the genre.

A single flash of lightning just before the start of the 36th annual Trowbridge Village Pump Festival last Thursday suggested that the weather was likely to be unstable.

A TOUCH of Somerset is coming to Mitton in the form of a Cider and Craft Festival this weekend, at the Aspinall Arms.

World Music/CRASHarts will offer Boston debuts by three groups during the fall season announced today.

A WORCESTER shop worker will step on stage this week to perform with professional musicians.

Two veteran singer/songwriters Josh Joplin and Garrison Starr have teamed up for a very unique project.

KICKING off the Golowan festivities at the Acorn Arts Centre will be Peter Knight's Gigspanner trio on Saturday at 8.30pm. Leave your pre-conceptions at the door.