Albion Country Band
Encyclopedia
The Albion Band, also known as The Albion Country Band and The Albion Dance Band, were an English electric folk
band, brought together and led by musician Ashley Hutchings
. Generally considered one of the most important groupings in the genre, it has contained or been associated with a large proportion of major English folk performers in its long and fluid history.
and Steeleye Span
, and it has been the home for most of the projects of his long and highly productive career. Initially he formed the band in April 1971 to accompany his then wife the singer Shirley Collins
on her No Roses
album. Dave Mattacks
, Richard Thompson and Simon Nicol
, from Fairport Convention, beside such luminaries as Lal
and Mike Waterson
of The Watersons
and Maddy Prior
, were among twenty five credited backing musicians. On a short tour, core members were joined by Richard Thompson and his then wife Linda Thompson
. Several members contributed with Hutchings to the project Morris On
(1972), including John Kirkpatrick
, Richard Thompson and Dave Mattacks, and cumbersomely all their names appeared on the album cover.
, Roger Swallow
and Simon Nicol
. The band remained fragile and split in August 1973, but an album was released retrospectively under the title Battle of the Field
, on Island Records
in 1976. Other material recorded by this line-up eventually appeared on the later BBC Sessions CD (1998).
with his wife Shirley Collins. However, in 1977 he pulled together a new Albion Band, this time with the aim of playing traditional dance music. It had a huge and unstable membership that included Simon Nicol, Graeme Taylor
from Gryphon
, the early music
ians Phil Pickett
and John Sothcott, fiddle player Ric Sanders
, plus John Tams
, one of folk music’s most distinctive and highly regarded vocalists. The immediate result was a lively traditional based album The Prospect Before Us
under the name The Albion Dance Band. In 1978 they shortened the name to The Albion Band (which has remained the basis of the group’s identity since) and released, under Tam’s direction, what is usually considered the finest album in the long history of the band Rise Up Like the Sun
(1978).
’s Lark Rise to Candleford
, tracks from which were released as an album in 1980. The band was probably at the height of its mainstream profile at this point, getting its own BBC Arena
documentary that explored their work. While Hutchings was more interested in pursuing theatrical possibilities, many members of the band wanted to be a touring and recording band and, despite critical acclaim, this line-up split. Tams, Taylor, Gregory went on to form the nucleus of Home Service
. Live material from this period has been released in Songs from the Shows (1997 and 1999) and The Guvnor, Vols 1-4 (1996–2004).
of the Oyster Band, whose tones characterize most recordings from this era. Probably the best album of this relatively stable period was Light Shining (1980), on which most of the tracks were original material. Shuffle Off (1983), Under the Rose (1984) and The Wild Side of Town (1987) followed, the last of which was based on a five-part BBC television series presented by Chris Baines
. The line-up then shifted with Phil Beer
joining on guitar/fiddle/vocals, Martin Bell on violin, and Trevor Foster
on drums before the release of Stella Maris in (1987). Martin Bell and Cathy Lesurf then left and the group were joined by Simon Care and John Shepherd. This was the most stable lineup in the bands history in terms of albums, producing three: I Got New Shoes (1988), Give Me a Saddle and I'll Trade you a Car (1989) and 1990 in the year of that name.
, but although they toured they produced no albums before her departure in 1993. Some sessions from this line-up surfaced as Captured
in 1995. Trevor Foster and Phil Beer left and were temporarily replaced by virtuoso acoustic guitarist Keith Hinchcliffe shifting the emphasis away from electric instruments. In 1993 Hutchins decided to follow this trend turning the band into a small four piece unit comprising himself, Julie Matthews’ replacement Chris While
, original member Simon Nicol, and Ashley Reed on violin. This allowed them to play small folk club, pub and college venues and gave the Band a whole new direction, now drawing on contemporary songwriters like Beth Nielsen Chapman
and Steve Knightley
as well as the internal song-writing talent of While and Hutchings. The first studio album of this period Acousticity (1993) had a more lively and contemporary feel, aided by Reed’s energetic playing. In 1995 Reed left and Matthews returned to the band to add her vocal, instrumental and considerable songwriting talents. The resulting album, Albion Heart
(1995), is usually considered the best of this later period and marked the beginning of While and Matthews’ long and productive partnership. It was also unusual for the lack of traditional folk instruments and the four were soon joined by violinist and mandolin player Chris Leslie for the last recording of this era Demi Paradise (1996), before Leslie left for Fairport Convention and While and Matthews for solo and joint projects. Live performances of this era have been released as Acousticity on Tour (2004) and Albion Heart on Tour (2004).
and Gillie Nicholls, who were guests on the first studio album of this era, Happy Accident (1998). Gillie Nicolls was a full member of the band for the second outing Before Us Stands Yesterday (1999), but was then replaced by Kellie While for the recording of The Christmas Album later that year and for Road Movies (2001), their last studio project. Ken Nicol left to be replaced by Pete Zorn
, but it was becoming increasingly hard to find venues of a suitable size and in 2002 it was decided to suspend the band.
Francis Baines, Phil Beer
, Martin Bell, Dave Bland, Joe Broughton, Pete Bullock, Bill Caddick
, Simon Care, Martin Carthy
, Alan Cave, Dolly Collins
, Shirley Collins
, Lol Coxhill
, Trevor Crozier, Barry Dransfield
, Howard Evans
, Trevor Foster
, Eric Hine, Gillie Nicholls, Tony Hall, Sue Harris
, Keith Hinchcliffe, Ashley Hutchings
, Alan Lumsden, Nic Jones
, John Kirkpatrick, Chris Leslie, Cathy Lesurf, Dave Mattacks
, Neil Marshall, Julie Matthews
, John Maxwell, Steve Migden, Doug Morter
, Ken Nicol, Simon Nicol
, Philip Pickett
, Roger Powell, Maddy Prior
, Brian Protheroe
, Jean-Pierre Rasle, Ashley Reed, Tim Renwick
, John Rodd, Colin Ross
, Ric Sanders
, Steve Saunders, John Shepherd, Martin Simpson
, John Sothcott, Roger Swallow
, John Tams
, Graeme Taylor
, Linda Thompson
, Richard Thompson, Eddie Upton, Lal and Mike Waterson
, Dave Whetstone, Chris While
, Kellie While
, Ian Whiteman
, Royston Woods and Pete Zorn
.
As the Albion Dance Band
As the Albion Band
Electric folk
Electric folk is the name given to the form of folk rock pioneered in England from the late 1960s, and most significant in the 1970s, which then was taken up and developed in the surrounding Celtic cultures of Brittany, Ireland, Scotland, Wales and the Isle of Man, to produce Celtic rock and its...
band, brought together and led by musician Ashley Hutchings
Ashley Hutchings
Ashley Stephen Hutchings is an English bassist, vocalist, songwriter, arranger, band leader, writer and record producer. He was a founder member of three of the most noteworthy English folk-rock bands in the history of the genre; Fairport Convention, Steeleye Span and The Albion Band...
. Generally considered one of the most important groupings in the genre, it has contained or been associated with a large proportion of major English folk performers in its long and fluid history.
Origins
The one constant in the band’s history has been the band leader Ashley Hutchings, founding member of arguably the two other pre-eminent English folk rock groupings Fairport ConventionFairport Convention
Fairport Convention are an English folk rock and later electric folk band, formed in 1967 who are still recording and touring today. They are widely regarded as the most important single group in the English folk rock movement...
and Steeleye Span
Steeleye Span
Steeleye Span are an English folk-rock band, formed in 1969 and remaining active today. Along with Fairport Convention they are amongst the best known acts of the British folk revival, and were among the most commercially successful, thanks to their hit singles "Gaudete" and "All Around My Hat"....
, and it has been the home for most of the projects of his long and highly productive career. Initially he formed the band in April 1971 to accompany his then wife the singer Shirley Collins
Shirley Collins
Shirley Elizabeth Collins MBE is a British folksinger who was a significant contributor to the English Folk Revival of the 1960s and 1970s...
on her No Roses
No Roses
No Roses is an album by Shirley Collins and the Albion Country Band. It was recorded at Sound Techniques, and Air Studios in London, in the summer of 1971. It was produced by Sandy Roberton and Ashley Hutchings...
album. Dave Mattacks
Dave Mattacks
Dave Mattacks is a rock and folk drummer. Best known for his work with Fairport Convention, Mattacks has also worked both as a session musician, and as a performance artist...
, Richard Thompson and Simon Nicol
Simon Nicol
Simon John Breckenridge Nicol is a guitarist, singer, multi-instrumentalist and record producer. He was a founder member of British folk rock, or electric folk group Fairport Convention and is the only founding member still in the band...
, from Fairport Convention, beside such luminaries as Lal
Lal Waterson
Lal Waterson was an English folksinger and songwriter. She sang with, among others, The Watersons, The Waterdaughters and Blue Murder. She was born in Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire and died suddenly in Robin Hood's Bay, of cancer diagnosed only ten days before...
and Mike Waterson
Mike Waterson
Michael Waterson was an English writer, songwriter and folk singer.Waterson was born in Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, England. He is best known as a member of The Watersons, with his sisters Lal Waterson and Norma Waterson and his brother-in-law Martin Carthy...
of The Watersons
The Watersons
The Watersons were an English folk group from Hull, Yorkshire. They performed mainly traditional songs with little or no accompaniment. Their distinctive sound came from their closely woven harmonies.-Career:...
and Maddy Prior
Maddy Prior
Maddy Prior is an English folk singer, best known as the lead vocalist of Steeleye Span.-Early life:...
, were among twenty five credited backing musicians. On a short tour, core members were joined by Richard Thompson and his then wife Linda Thompson
Linda Thompson (singer)
Linda Thompson is a British singer. Born Linda Pettifer in Hackney, Thompson became one of the most recognised names—and voices—in the British folk rock movement of the 1970s and 1980s, in collaboration with her former husband and fellow British folk rock musician, guitarist Richard...
. Several members contributed with Hutchings to the project Morris On
Morris On
Morris On is a folk/rock album released in 1972 under the joint names of Ashley Hutchings, Richard Thompson, Dave Mattacks, John Kirkpatrick and Barry Dransfield...
(1972), including John Kirkpatrick
John Kirkpatrick
John Kirkpatrick is an English player of free reed instruments.-In London :John Kirkpatrick was born 8 August 1947 in Chiswick, west London. As a child he sang in the choir and played piano. In 1959 he joined the Hammersmith Morris Men, in the second week of their existence, beginning a...
, Richard Thompson and Dave Mattacks, and cumbersomely all their names appeared on the album cover.
The first album 1973
Hutchings was keen to make a permanent band from these musicians and the first attempt included Royston Wood, Steve Ashley and Sue Draheim in the line-up, but the group failed to gell and he recruited a second band, turning to Martin Carthy, John Kirkpatrick, Sue HarrisSue Harris
Sue Harris is an English musician classically trained as an oboeist, but best known for her folk music performances with the hammered dulcimer....
, Roger Swallow
Roger Swallow
Roger Swallow is an English producer, musician and songwriter. He was a member of The Albion Band and worked with many artistes in the late 1960s early '70s as a session and touring drummer/percussionist.- Biography :...
and Simon Nicol
Simon Nicol
Simon John Breckenridge Nicol is a guitarist, singer, multi-instrumentalist and record producer. He was a founder member of British folk rock, or electric folk group Fairport Convention and is the only founding member still in the band...
. The band remained fragile and split in August 1973, but an album was released retrospectively under the title Battle of the Field
Battle of the Field
Battle of the Field is a folk-rock album by the Albion Country Band, recorded in summer 1973 immediately prior to the band's breakup and only released in 1976 following public demand....
, on Island Records
Island Records
Island Records is a record label that was founded by Chris Blackwell in Jamaica. It was based in the United Kingdom for many years and is now owned by Universal Music Group...
in 1976. Other material recorded by this line-up eventually appeared on the later BBC Sessions CD (1998).
The Albion Dance Band
From 1974-6 Hutchings abandoned the Albion name and focused on forming the Etchingham Steam BandEtchingham Steam Band
The 'Etchingham Steam Band' were a folk group formed by Ashley Hutchings in 1974 after the breakup of the Albion Country Band. They were named after Etchingham in Sussex where Hutchings was living with his wife Shirley Collins...
with his wife Shirley Collins. However, in 1977 he pulled together a new Albion Band, this time with the aim of playing traditional dance music. It had a huge and unstable membership that included Simon Nicol, Graeme Taylor
Graeme Taylor
Graeme Taylor is a British electric guitarist.Taylor played lead guitar with 1970s medieval/rock band Gryphon, and leading folk rock bands including the Albion Band and Home Service...
from Gryphon
Gryphon (band)
Gryphon were a British progressive rock band of the 1970s, best known for their unusual Medieval sound and instrumentation.-Career:Multi-instrumentalist Richard Harvey and his fellow Royal College of Music graduate Brian Gulland, a woodwind player, began the group as an all-acoustic ensemble that...
, the early music
Early music
Early music is generally understood as comprising all music from the earliest times up to the Renaissance. However, today this term has come to include "any music for which a historically appropriate style of performance must be reconstructed on the basis of surviving scores, treatises,...
ians Phil Pickett
Philip Pickett
Philip Pickett is an English musician, recorder player and director of early music ensembles, notably The New London Consort.- Student days :...
and John Sothcott, fiddle player Ric Sanders
Ric Sanders
Richard 'Ric' Sanders is a British violinist who has played in jazz-rock, folk rock, electric folk and folk groups, including Soft Machine and Fairport Convention.-Biography:...
, plus John Tams
John Tams
John Tams is an English actor, singer, songwriter, composer and musician.- Folk musician :John Tams was a member of Derbyshire folk group Muckram Wakes in the 1970s, then worked with Ashley Hutchings as singer and melodeon-player on albums including Son of Morris On, and as a member of the...
, one of folk music’s most distinctive and highly regarded vocalists. The immediate result was a lively traditional based album The Prospect Before Us
The Prospect Before Us
A folk/rock album by the Albion Dance Band, recorded in 1976.The album was produced by Ashley Hutchings and Simon Nicol and was engineered by Vic Gamm. It was recorded at Sound Techniques Studio and Olympic , London. There are several instrumental tracks...
under the name The Albion Dance Band. In 1978 they shortened the name to The Albion Band (which has remained the basis of the group’s identity since) and released, under Tam’s direction, what is usually considered the finest album in the long history of the band Rise Up Like the Sun
Rise Up Like the Sun
Rise Up Like The Sun is an electric folk album released in 1978 by the Albion Band. The album is in part a collaboration between John Tams on vocals and melodeon and Ashley Hutchings on electric bass. This is not the first album on which the two worked together but it remains the most fulfilling...
(1978).
The shows
The band took part in a 1977 TV show ‘Here We Come A-Wasseling’ and in 1978-9 collaborated with playwright Keith Dewhurst for a stage adaption of British author Flora ThompsonFlora Thompson
Flora Jane Thompson was an English novelist and poet famous for her semi-autobiographical trilogy about the English countryside, Lark Rise to Candleford.-Early life and family:...
’s Lark Rise to Candleford
Lark Rise to Candleford
Lark Rise to Candleford is a trilogy of semi-autobiographical novels about the countryside of north-east Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire, England, at the end of the 19th century. They were written by Flora Thompson and first published together in 1945...
, tracks from which were released as an album in 1980. The band was probably at the height of its mainstream profile at this point, getting its own BBC Arena
Arena (TV series)
Arena is a British television documentary series, made and broadcast by the BBC. It has run since 1 October 1975, and over five hundred episodes have been made. Arena covers all manner of subjects, from profiles of notable people such as Bob Dylan to the Ford Cortina car...
documentary that explored their work. While Hutchings was more interested in pursuing theatrical possibilities, many members of the band wanted to be a touring and recording band and, despite critical acclaim, this line-up split. Tams, Taylor, Gregory went on to form the nucleus of Home Service
Home Service
Home Service are a British folk rock group, formed in late 1980 from a nucleus of musicians who had been playing in Ashley Hutchings' Albion Band. Their career is generally agreed to have peaked with the album Alright Jack, which is usually considered one of the finest products of the electric folk...
. Live material from this period has been released in Songs from the Shows (1997 and 1999) and The Guvnor, Vols 1-4 (1996–2004).
Reformation and stability 1980-90
Hutchings reformed the band around the nucleus of the remaining ex-Fairporters Nicol and Mattacks. He added three members of Cock and Bull (Dave Whetstone, Jean-Pierre Rasle and John Maxwell) and for the first time on record, opted for a lead female vocalist in Cathy LesurfCathy Lesurf
Cathy Lesurf, born 1957, is a British folk music singer-songwriter who was brought up in Stevenage, Hertfordshire. She has been a member of bands in the 1970s such as Oyster Ceilidh Band, Fiddler's Dram, Fairport Convention and The Albion Country Band. She released a solo album, Surface, in 1985....
of the Oyster Band, whose tones characterize most recordings from this era. Probably the best album of this relatively stable period was Light Shining (1980), on which most of the tracks were original material. Shuffle Off (1983), Under the Rose (1984) and The Wild Side of Town (1987) followed, the last of which was based on a five-part BBC television series presented by Chris Baines
Chris Baines
Professor Chris Baines is one of the UK's leading independent environmentalists. He is a gardener, naturalist, television presenter and author.Baines grew up in Sheffield...
. The line-up then shifted with Phil Beer
Phil Beer
Phil Beer is an English multi-instrumentalist, composer, producer, and one half of English acoustic roots duo Show of Hands.-Biography:...
joining on guitar/fiddle/vocals, Martin Bell on violin, and Trevor Foster
Trevor Foster (drummer)
Trevor Foster is an English drummer, who started his musical career with the 1970s Birmingham rock group Flying Hat Band. He joined folk rocksters The Albion Band in the early 1980s....
on drums before the release of Stella Maris in (1987). Martin Bell and Cathy Lesurf then left and the group were joined by Simon Care and John Shepherd. This was the most stable lineup in the bands history in terms of albums, producing three: I Got New Shoes (1988), Give Me a Saddle and I'll Trade you a Car (1989) and 1990 in the year of that name.
The acoustic period 1990-7
In 1990 they were joined by singer-songwriter and instrumentalist Julie MatthewsJulie Matthews
Julie Matthews is an award-winning singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and record producer. She has been a member of some of the most influential British folk duos and groups and is acknowledged internationally as a major songwriter, with her work being covered by a wide range of artists and...
, but although they toured they produced no albums before her departure in 1993. Some sessions from this line-up surfaced as Captured
Captured
Captured may refer to:* Captured , a 1981 live album by the American rock band Journey* Captured, Rockwell's 1985 follow-up to his platinum album, Somebody's Watching Me...
in 1995. Trevor Foster and Phil Beer left and were temporarily replaced by virtuoso acoustic guitarist Keith Hinchcliffe shifting the emphasis away from electric instruments. In 1993 Hutchins decided to follow this trend turning the band into a small four piece unit comprising himself, Julie Matthews’ replacement Chris While
Chris While
Chris While is an award-winning songwriter, singer and musician, known particularly for her powerful and moving vocals and the quality of her compositions and live performances. She has enjoyed success both as a solo artist, a songwriter and as a member of a number of notable and influential...
, original member Simon Nicol, and Ashley Reed on violin. This allowed them to play small folk club, pub and college venues and gave the Band a whole new direction, now drawing on contemporary songwriters like Beth Nielsen Chapman
Beth Nielsen Chapman
Beth Nielsen Chapman is an American singer-songwriter, mostly known for her numerous hits recorded by country and pop music performers.-Early history:...
and Steve Knightley
Steve Knightley
Steve Knightley is a singer-songwriter, musician and one half of British acoustic roots duo Show of Hands.-Career:...
as well as the internal song-writing talent of While and Hutchings. The first studio album of this period Acousticity (1993) had a more lively and contemporary feel, aided by Reed’s energetic playing. In 1995 Reed left and Matthews returned to the band to add her vocal, instrumental and considerable songwriting talents. The resulting album, Albion Heart
Albion Heart
Albion Heart, released in 1995, was the second album of the long running Albion Band's acoustic phase and the first to contain both Chris While and Julie Matthews, marking the beginning of their highly successful collaboration...
(1995), is usually considered the best of this later period and marked the beginning of While and Matthews’ long and productive partnership. It was also unusual for the lack of traditional folk instruments and the four were soon joined by violinist and mandolin player Chris Leslie for the last recording of this era Demi Paradise (1996), before Leslie left for Fairport Convention and While and Matthews for solo and joint projects. Live performances of this era have been released as Acousticity on Tour (2004) and Albion Heart on Tour (2004).
The multi-generational phase 1997-2002
The last phase of the full band would be based around a return to a more traditional rock format and the incorporation of two generations of musicians. Hutchings called in experienced guitarist and writer Ken Nicol and added newcomers Joe Broughton on fiddle and Neil Marshall on drums. Female vocals were supplied by Kellie WhileKellie While
Kellie While is a British singer-songwriter considered to have one of the outstanding voices of her generation. She has been a member of some of the most influential and innovative British folk groups of her era, is a much sought after contributor to the work of major artists and has emerged in...
and Gillie Nicholls, who were guests on the first studio album of this era, Happy Accident (1998). Gillie Nicolls was a full member of the band for the second outing Before Us Stands Yesterday (1999), but was then replaced by Kellie While for the recording of The Christmas Album later that year and for Road Movies (2001), their last studio project. Ken Nicol left to be replaced by Pete Zorn
Pete Zorn
Pete Zorn is an American multi-instrumentalist who plays roots music. He is best known as a longstanding member of Richard Thompson's touring band, where he serves as backing vocalist and plays acoustic guitar, mandolin, saxophone, flute, and tin whistle.Although he frequently tours with Thompson,...
, but it was becoming increasingly hard to find venues of a suitable size and in 2002 it was decided to suspend the band.
Albion Christmas
While Hutchings continued to pursue other projects he revived the Albion Band in an acoustic format for seasonal tours in 2005, allowing them to play smaller venues which could usually be easily filled. The line-up is based around Simon Nicol, Kellie While and multi-instrumentalist Simon Care. The results have been three further seasonal albums: An Albion Christmas (2005), Winter Songs (2006), and Snow on Snow (2008).Band members
Past members include:Francis Baines, Phil Beer
Phil Beer
Phil Beer is an English multi-instrumentalist, composer, producer, and one half of English acoustic roots duo Show of Hands.-Biography:...
, Martin Bell, Dave Bland, Joe Broughton, Pete Bullock, Bill Caddick
Bill Caddick
Bill Caddick is an English folk singer-songwriter and guitarist, particularly noted for his songwriting and as a member of the innovative and influential group Home Service.-Career outline:...
, Simon Care, Martin Carthy
Martin Carthy
Martin Carthy MBE is an English folk singer and guitarist who has remained one of the most influential figures in British traditional music, inspiring contemporaries such as Bob Dylan and Paul Simon and later artists such as Richard Thompson since he emerged as a young musician in the early days...
, Alan Cave, Dolly Collins
Dolly Collins
Dorothy Ann Collins, known as Dolly Collins , was an English folk musician, arranger and composer. She was the older sister of Shirley Collins....
, Shirley Collins
Shirley Collins
Shirley Elizabeth Collins MBE is a British folksinger who was a significant contributor to the English Folk Revival of the 1960s and 1970s...
, Lol Coxhill
Lol Coxhill
Lowen Coxhill, generally known as Lol Coxhill is a free improvising saxophonist and raconteur...
, Trevor Crozier, Barry Dransfield
Barry Dransfield
Barry Dransfield is an English folk singer, fiddler, cellist and guitarist. He has appeared as a session musician on numerous albums by other artists, and has released his own albums as well. Lord of All I Behold was voted Melody Maker folk album of the year...
, Howard Evans
Howard Evans
Howard Evans, , was a British trumpeter.Having played in the band of the Welsh Guards and the London Symphony Orchestra, Evans moved into theatre work. He was a member of the line-up of the Albion Band which played for 'Larkrise' at the National Theatre...
, Trevor Foster
Trevor Foster (drummer)
Trevor Foster is an English drummer, who started his musical career with the 1970s Birmingham rock group Flying Hat Band. He joined folk rocksters The Albion Band in the early 1980s....
, Eric Hine, Gillie Nicholls, Tony Hall, Sue Harris
Sue Harris
Sue Harris is an English musician classically trained as an oboeist, but best known for her folk music performances with the hammered dulcimer....
, Keith Hinchcliffe, Ashley Hutchings
Ashley Hutchings
Ashley Stephen Hutchings is an English bassist, vocalist, songwriter, arranger, band leader, writer and record producer. He was a founder member of three of the most noteworthy English folk-rock bands in the history of the genre; Fairport Convention, Steeleye Span and The Albion Band...
, Alan Lumsden, Nic Jones
Nic Jones
Nicolas Paul "Nic" Jones is an English folk singer, fingerstyle guitarist and fiddle player whose professional career spanned the years 1964-1982. He recorded five solo albums, and was a frequent guest performer.-Biography:...
, John Kirkpatrick, Chris Leslie, Cathy Lesurf, Dave Mattacks
Dave Mattacks
Dave Mattacks is a rock and folk drummer. Best known for his work with Fairport Convention, Mattacks has also worked both as a session musician, and as a performance artist...
, Neil Marshall, Julie Matthews
Julie Matthews
Julie Matthews is an award-winning singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and record producer. She has been a member of some of the most influential British folk duos and groups and is acknowledged internationally as a major songwriter, with her work being covered by a wide range of artists and...
, John Maxwell, Steve Migden, Doug Morter
Hunter Muskett
-Beginnings:The group was formed at Avery Hill College in South London when Terry Hiscock and Chris George were joined by fellow student Doug Morter. The band’s name was taken from an anecdote about an eccentric Cornishman....
, Ken Nicol, Simon Nicol
Simon Nicol
Simon John Breckenridge Nicol is a guitarist, singer, multi-instrumentalist and record producer. He was a founder member of British folk rock, or electric folk group Fairport Convention and is the only founding member still in the band...
, Philip Pickett
Philip Pickett
Philip Pickett is an English musician, recorder player and director of early music ensembles, notably The New London Consort.- Student days :...
, Roger Powell, Maddy Prior
Maddy Prior
Maddy Prior is an English folk singer, best known as the lead vocalist of Steeleye Span.-Early life:...
, Brian Protheroe
Brian Protheroe
Brian Protheroe , of a Welsh father and English mother, is a musician and actor.-Career:Protheroe joined a local church choir when he was twelve years old, and started piano lessons at about the same time. The music of Cliff Richard and The Shadows inspired him to start learning the guitar...
, Jean-Pierre Rasle, Ashley Reed, Tim Renwick
Tim Renwick
Timothy John Pearson 'Tim' Renwick is an English guitarist.-Career:Renwick started playing guitar in the 1960s. He performed with many bands, including Little Women, Wages of Sin, Junior's Eyes, The Hype, Quiver and Lazy Racer...
, John Rodd, Colin Ross
Colin Ross (pipemaker)
Colin Ross is an English folk musician, playing fiddle and Northumbrian smallpipes, and a noted maker of Northumbrian smallpipes, Border pipes and Scottish smallpipes, and one of the inventors of the modern Scottish smallpipes. Ross is also a fiddler, and played both Northumbrian smallpipes and...
, Ric Sanders
Ric Sanders
Richard 'Ric' Sanders is a British violinist who has played in jazz-rock, folk rock, electric folk and folk groups, including Soft Machine and Fairport Convention.-Biography:...
, Steve Saunders, John Shepherd, Martin Simpson
Martin Simpson
Martin Simpson is an English folk singer, guitarist and songwriter. His music reflects a wide variety of influences and styles, rooted in the British Isles, America and beyond.-Biography:...
, John Sothcott, Roger Swallow
Roger Swallow
Roger Swallow is an English producer, musician and songwriter. He was a member of The Albion Band and worked with many artistes in the late 1960s early '70s as a session and touring drummer/percussionist.- Biography :...
, John Tams
John Tams
John Tams is an English actor, singer, songwriter, composer and musician.- Folk musician :John Tams was a member of Derbyshire folk group Muckram Wakes in the 1970s, then worked with Ashley Hutchings as singer and melodeon-player on albums including Son of Morris On, and as a member of the...
, Graeme Taylor
Graeme Taylor
Graeme Taylor is a British electric guitarist.Taylor played lead guitar with 1970s medieval/rock band Gryphon, and leading folk rock bands including the Albion Band and Home Service...
, Linda Thompson
Linda Thompson (singer)
Linda Thompson is a British singer. Born Linda Pettifer in Hackney, Thompson became one of the most recognised names—and voices—in the British folk rock movement of the 1970s and 1980s, in collaboration with her former husband and fellow British folk rock musician, guitarist Richard...
, Richard Thompson, Eddie Upton, Lal and Mike Waterson
The Watersons
The Watersons were an English folk group from Hull, Yorkshire. They performed mainly traditional songs with little or no accompaniment. Their distinctive sound came from their closely woven harmonies.-Career:...
, Dave Whetstone, Chris While
Chris While
Chris While is an award-winning songwriter, singer and musician, known particularly for her powerful and moving vocals and the quality of her compositions and live performances. She has enjoyed success both as a solo artist, a songwriter and as a member of a number of notable and influential...
, Kellie While
Kellie While
Kellie While is a British singer-songwriter considered to have one of the outstanding voices of her generation. She has been a member of some of the most influential and innovative British folk groups of her era, is a much sought after contributor to the work of major artists and has emerged in...
, Ian Whiteman
Ian Whiteman
Ian Whiteman is a musician, calligrapher and graphic designer from England.- Musical career :Whiteman's early musical career included the band The Action, a 1960s London-based mod and soul music-influenced pop group; he was in Mighty Baby for a while before becoming a session musician, backing...
, Royston Woods and Pete Zorn
Pete Zorn
Pete Zorn is an American multi-instrumentalist who plays roots music. He is best known as a longstanding member of Richard Thompson's touring band, where he serves as backing vocalist and plays acoustic guitar, mandolin, saxophone, flute, and tin whistle.Although he frequently tours with Thompson,...
.
Singles
- Hopping Down in Kent (1976)
- The Postman's Knock / La Sexte Estampie Real (1977)
- Poor Old Horse / Ragged Heroes (1978)
- Pain and Paradise / Lay Me Low (1979)
- Wings (1998)
Albums
As the Albion Country Band- No RosesNo RosesNo Roses is an album by Shirley Collins and the Albion Country Band. It was recorded at Sound Techniques, and Air Studios in London, in the summer of 1971. It was produced by Sandy Roberton and Ashley Hutchings...
(Pegasus, 1971) (with Shirley Collins) - Battle of the FieldBattle of the FieldBattle of the Field is a folk-rock album by the Albion Country Band, recorded in summer 1973 immediately prior to the band's breakup and only released in 1976 following public demand....
(Harvest, 1976)
As the Albion Dance Band
- The Prospect Before UsThe Prospect Before UsA folk/rock album by the Albion Dance Band, recorded in 1976.The album was produced by Ashley Hutchings and Simon Nicol and was engineered by Vic Gamm. It was recorded at Sound Techniques Studio and Olympic , London. There are several instrumental tracks...
(Harvest, 1977)
As the Albion Band
- Rise Up Like the SunRise Up Like the SunRise Up Like The Sun is an electric folk album released in 1978 by the Albion Band. The album is in part a collaboration between John Tams on vocals and melodeon and Ashley Hutchings on electric bass. This is not the first album on which the two worked together but it remains the most fulfilling...
(Harvest, 1978) - Lark Rise to CandlefordLark Rise to CandlefordLark Rise to Candleford is a trilogy of semi-autobiographical novels about the countryside of north-east Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire, England, at the end of the 19th century. They were written by Flora Thompson and first published together in 1945...
(Charisma, 1980) - Light Shining (Albino, 1983)
- Shuffle Off (Spindrift, 1983)
- Under The Rose (Spindrift, 1984)
- A Christmas Present from the Albion Band (Fun/Tracer, 1985)
- Stella Maris (Making Waves, 1987)
- The Wild Side of Town (Celtic Music, 1987) - with Chris Baines
- I Got New Shoes (Spindrift, 1988)
- Give Me A Saddle, I'll Trade You A Car (Topic, 1989)
- The Best of 1989/90 (1990)
- Songs from the Shows, v. 1 (Albino, 1990)
- Songs from the Shows, v. 2 (Albino, 1991)
- Live in Concert (BBC, 1993)
- Acousticity (HTD, 1993)
- Captured (HTD, 1995)
- Albion HeartAlbion HeartAlbion Heart, released in 1995, was the second album of the long running Albion Band's acoustic phase and the first to contain both Chris While and Julie Matthews, marking the beginning of their highly successful collaboration...
(Making Waves, 1995) - Demi Paradise (HTD, 1996)
- Live At The Cambridge Folk Festival (BBC/Strange Fruit, 1996)
- The Acoustic Years: 1993-1997 (Castle, 1997)
- Songs From The Shows (Road Goes On Forever, 1997)
- Happy Accident (HTD, 1998)
- BBC Sessions (BBC/Strange Fruit, 1998)
- Along The Pilgrim's Way (Mooncrest, 1998)
- The Best of 89/90 (HTD 1998)
- Albion Sunrise—HTD Recordings: 1994-1999 (HTD, 1999)
- Albion Heart (HTD 1999)
- Before Us Stands Yesterday (HTD, 1999)
- Christmas Album (HTD, 1999)
- The HTD Years (HTD, 2000)
- Road Movies (Topic, 2001)
- An Evening with The Albion Band (Talking Elephant, 2002)
- No Surrender (Snapper Music, 2003)
- Acousticity on Tour (Talking Elephant, 2004)
- Albion Heart on Tour (Talking Elephant, 2004)
- Albion Sunrise - HTD Recordings: 1994-1999 (HTD, 2004)
- The Albion Band Live in Concert (Talking Elephant, 2007)
- Vintage Albion Band (Talking Elephant, 2007)
DVD
- In Search of English Folk Song (1997 BBC film directed by Ken RussellKen RussellHenry Kenneth Alfred "Ken" Russell was an English film director, known for his pioneering work in television and film and for his flamboyant and controversial style. He attracted criticism as being obsessed with sexuality and the church...
) featuring
- Fairport Convention, DonovanDonovanDonovan Donovan Donovan (born Donovan Philips Leitch (born 10 May 1946) is a Scottish singer-songwriter and guitarist. Emerging from the British folk scene, he developed an eclectic and distinctive style that blended folk, jazz, pop, psychedelia, and world music...
, OsibisaOsibisaOsibisa is a British Afro-pop band, founded in London in 1969 by four expatriate African and three Caribbean musicians. Osibisa were one of the first African bands to become widely popular, leading to claims of founding World Music.-History:...
, Eliza CarthyEliza CarthyEliza Carthy is an English folk musician known for both singing and playing fiddle. She is the daughter of English folk musicians singer/guitarist Martin Carthy and singer Norma Waterson.-Life and career:...
, The Albion Band, Waterson:CarthyWaterson:CarthyWaterson:Carthy are an English folk group originally comprising Norma Waterson on vocals, her husband Martin Carthy on guitar and vocals and their daughter Eliza Carthy on fiddle and vocals....
and Edward IIEdward II (band)Edward II is an English band named for King Edward II, which play a fusion of world music, English folk and reggae. Active from 1985, the band broke up after losing several key members in 1999, relaunching as "e2K" in 2000...
. - Reissued on DVD in 2008, but for Region 1 only