Oysterband
Encyclopedia
Oysterband is a British
electric folk
or folk rock
band formed in Canterbury
in or around 1976.
, and under the name Oyster Ceilidh Band played purely as a dance band at first. The name Oyster comes from the group's early association with the coastal town of Whitstable
in East Kent
, known for the quality of its oysters. Their first album, released under the Oyster Ceilidh Band name, was Jack's Alive (1980) on the Dingles record label. Subsequent albums, as Oyster Band (sometimes The Oyster Band) were released on the band's own Pukka Music label: English Rock 'n' Roll: The Early Years 1800–1850 and Lie Back and Think of England
, followed by Liberty Hall and 20 Golden Tie-Slackeners.
The lineup of the band changed over these albums. The first recorded line-up was:
When Chris Wood left the band to go travelling in Canada, he was replaced on bass guitar by returning founder member Ian Kearey. Cathy Lesurf subsequently left to join Ashley Hutchings
' Albion Band, and Will Ward also departed so that by the time they recorded Lie Back and Think of England the personnel had settled down to John Jones, Ian Kearey, Alan Prosser and Ian Telfer. For the album Step Outside they added Russell Lax on drums. Step Outside mixed self-penned songs, often with a political theme, with reworkings of traditional standards such as Hal-an-Tow.
collaboration Freedom and Rain. Following this the band name changed to Oysterband. Drummer Lee Partis (who for several years was billed only by his forename) replaced Russell Lax for 1992's Deserters before Holy Bandits in 1993 propelled the band to the forefront of a booming folk rock scene alongside bands such as The Levellers
.
In the nineties the band adopted a more overtly political stance, recording the harder The Shouting End of Life
and collaborating with Chumbawamba
to record "Farewell to the Crown", released as the b-side of the Tubthumping
single. But recent releases Deep Dark Ocean, Here I Stand, Rise Above
and Meet You There
have seen the band return to a softer, more melodic sound while recent tours under the banner The Big Session have seen the band offer exposure to several young, emerging folk musicians like Dan Donnelly
, The Handsome Family
as well as veterans such as June Tabor
. James O'Grady (Uilleann pipes
, fiddle, flute, vocals) regularly appeared on the Oysters' albums and tours in the last few years.
John Jones, James O'Grady and Ian Telfer provided vocals and instrumentation on Chumbawamba
's album A Singsong and a Scrap
, and Oysterband provided vocals for the song "Hull or Hell" on The Boy Bands Have Won
.
In 2007, long standing drummer Lee Partis took a sabbatical break to be able to concentrate on his work as a psychotherapist, counselling in prisons. In August 2008, he confirmed he would be leaving the band permanently. The band then appointed Dilwyn Davies as replacement drummer.
Following a 30th anniversary concert in December 2008 the band took a six-month sabbatical, during which John Jones and Chopper both made solo albums.
The band returned to the studio in 2011 teaming up once again with June Tabor
releasing "Ragged Kingdom" in September at a sell out Concert at Londons Queen Elizabeth Hall. For at least some dates on the Ragged Kingdom tour, they are also joined on bass and guitar by Al Scott, who produced the album.
As Oyster Ceilidh Band
As Oyster Band
As Oysterband
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
electric folk
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...
or folk rock
Folk rock
Folk rock is a musical genre combining elements of folk music and rock music. In its earliest and narrowest sense, the term referred to a genre that arose in the United States and the UK around the mid-1960s...
band formed in Canterbury
Canterbury
Canterbury is a historic English cathedral city, which lies at the heart of the City of Canterbury, a district of Kent in South East England. It lies on the River Stour....
in or around 1976.
Early history
The band formed in parallel to Fiddler's DramFiddler's Dram
Fiddler's Dram were a British folk band of the late 1970s. They are mainly known for their hit single, "Day Trip to Bangor " , although the sound of this record was not representative of the acoustic songs and tunes they had been performing for several years at folk clubs and festivals.-Band...
, and under the name Oyster Ceilidh Band played purely as a dance band at first. The name Oyster comes from the group's early association with the coastal town of Whitstable
Whitstable
Whitstable is a seaside town in Northeast Kent, Southeast England. It is approximately north of the city of Canterbury and approximately west of the seaside town of Herne Bay. It is part of the City of Canterbury district and has a population of about 30,000.Whitstable is famous for its oysters,...
in East Kent
East Kent
East Kent and West Kent are one-time traditional subdivisions of the English county of Kent, kept alive by the Association of the Men of Kent and Kentish Men: an organisation formed in 1913...
, known for the quality of its oysters. Their first album, released under the Oyster Ceilidh Band name, was Jack's Alive (1980) on the Dingles record label. Subsequent albums, as Oyster Band (sometimes The Oyster Band) were released on the band's own Pukka Music label: English Rock 'n' Roll: The Early Years 1800–1850 and Lie Back and Think of England
Lie Back and Think of England
Lie Back and Think of England is an album by British folk music group Oysterband, released in 1983.-Track listing:# "Waiting on Glory" - 3:18# "Gallop Hey" - 3:12# "The Furze Field" - 2:51# "My Young Man" - 3:41...
, followed by Liberty Hall and 20 Golden Tie-Slackeners.
The lineup of the band changed over these albums. The first recorded line-up was:
- Cathy LesurfCathy LesurfCathy 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....
- vocals; - John Jones - melodeonMelodeon (organ)A melodeon is a type of 19th century reed organ with a foot-operated vacuum bellows, and a piano keyboard. It differs from the related harmonium, which uses a pressure bellows. Melodeons were manufactured in the United States sometime after 1812 until the Civil War era...
, vocals; - Alan Prosser - guitars, violin;
- Chris Taylor - guitar, bouzoukiBouzoukiThe bouzouki , is a musical instrument with Greek origin in the lute family. A mainstay of modern Greek music, the front of the body is flat and is usually heavily inlaid with mother-of-pearl. The instrument is played with a plectrum and has a sharp metallic sound, reminiscent of a mandolin but...
, harmonica, one-row melodeon, mandolaMandolaThe mandola or tenor mandola is a fretted, stringed musical instrument. It is to the mandolin what the viola is to the violin: the four double courses of strings tuned in fifths to the same pitches as the viola , a fifth lower than a mandolin...
; - Ian Telfer - violin, English concertina, saxophone;
- Chris WoodChris Wood (folk musician)Chris Wood is an English folk musician and composer who plays fiddle, viola and guitar, and sings. He is an ardent enthusiast for traditional English dance music , including Morris and other rituals and ceremonies, but his repertoire also includes much French folk music and traditional Québécois...
- bass guitar; - Will Ward - bassoon, recorders, crumhornCrumhornThe crumhorn is a musical instrument of the woodwind family, most commonly used during the Renaissance period. In modern times, there has been a revival of interest in Early Music, and crumhorns are being played again....
, keyboards
When Chris Wood left the band to go travelling in Canada, he was replaced on bass guitar by returning founder member Ian Kearey. Cathy Lesurf subsequently left to join 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...
' Albion Band, and Will Ward also departed so that by the time they recorded Lie Back and Think of England the personnel had settled down to John Jones, Ian Kearey, Alan Prosser and Ian Telfer. For the album Step Outside they added Russell Lax on drums. Step Outside mixed self-penned songs, often with a political theme, with reworkings of traditional standards such as Hal-an-Tow.
Later history
After the 1987 release Wide Blue Yonder Kearey left the band to be replaced by Chopper (real name Ray Cooper). Subsequent albums included Ride, Little Rock to Leipzig and the June TaborJune Tabor
June Tabor is an English folk singer.- Early years :June Tabor was inspired to sing by hearing Anne Briggs' EP Hazards of Love in 1965. "I went and locked myself in the bathroom for a fortnight and drove my mother mad. I learned the songs on that EP note for note, twiddle for twiddle. That's how I...
collaboration Freedom and Rain. Following this the band name changed to Oysterband. Drummer Lee Partis (who for several years was billed only by his forename) replaced Russell Lax for 1992's Deserters before Holy Bandits in 1993 propelled the band to the forefront of a booming folk rock scene alongside bands such as The Levellers
The Levellers (band)
The Levellers are an English rock band, founded in 1988 and based in Brighton, England. Their musical style is said to be influenced by punk and traditional English music.-1988-1990:...
.
In the nineties the band adopted a more overtly political stance, recording the harder The Shouting End of Life
The Shouting End of Life
The Shouting End of Life is an album by British folk music group Oysterband, released in 1995.-Track listing:# "We'll be There" - 3:22# "Blood-Red Roses" - 4:06# "Jam Tomorrow" - 4:10...
and collaborating with Chumbawamba
Chumbawamba
Chumbawamba is a British musical group who have, over a career spanning nearly three decades, played punk rock, pop-influenced music, world music, and folk music...
to record "Farewell to the Crown", released as the b-side of the Tubthumping
Tubthumping
"Tubthumping", informally known by its prominent lyric "I Get Knocked Down", is the title of a song released by the Anarcho-punk band Chumbawamba on 11 August 1997 through Universal Records and EMI Electrola. It was their most successful single, peaking at number 2 on the UK Singles Chart...
single. But recent releases Deep Dark Ocean, Here I Stand, Rise Above
Rise Above (Oysterband album)
-Track listing:All songs by Chopper, Jones, Partis, Prosser, and Telfer, unless otherwise indicated.#"The Soul's Electric" – 3:42#"Uncommercial Song" – 3:40#"If You Can't be Good" – 3:45#"Everybody's Leaving Home" – 4:27#"My Mouth" – 4:14...
and Meet You There
Meet You There
Meet You There is an album by British folk music group Oysterband, released in April 2007.- Track listing :# "Over the Water"# "Here Comes the Flood"# "Where the World Divides"# "Walking Down the Road with You"# "Bury Me Standing"...
have seen the band return to a softer, more melodic sound while recent tours under the banner The Big Session have seen the band offer exposure to several young, emerging folk musicians like Dan Donnelly
Dan Donnelly
Daniel Thomas Donnelly is a singer-songwriter.Growing up in Belfast, Donnelly played in a number of local bands, finding success in Ireland with Watercress, a four piece acoustic folk-rock band for whom he played guitar, mandolin, percussion and "plumbing"...
, The Handsome Family
The Handsome Family
The Handsome Family is an alternative country band, formed in Chicago, Illinois.-History:The band was formed in 1993 by husband-and-wife duo Brett Sparks and Rennie Sparks and drummer Mike Werner, although the band would later revolve around Rennie, who writes the lyrics, and Brett, who writes...
as well as veterans such as June Tabor
June Tabor
June Tabor is an English folk singer.- Early years :June Tabor was inspired to sing by hearing Anne Briggs' EP Hazards of Love in 1965. "I went and locked myself in the bathroom for a fortnight and drove my mother mad. I learned the songs on that EP note for note, twiddle for twiddle. That's how I...
. James O'Grady (Uilleann pipes
Uilleann pipes
The uilleann pipes or //; ) are the characteristic national bagpipe of Ireland, their current name, earlier known in English as "union pipes", is a part translation of the Irish-language term píobaí uilleann , from their method of inflation.The bag of the uilleann pipes is inflated by means of a...
, fiddle, flute, vocals) regularly appeared on the Oysters' albums and tours in the last few years.
John Jones, James O'Grady and Ian Telfer provided vocals and instrumentation on Chumbawamba
Chumbawamba
Chumbawamba is a British musical group who have, over a career spanning nearly three decades, played punk rock, pop-influenced music, world music, and folk music...
's album A Singsong and a Scrap
A Singsong and a Scrap
A Singsong and a Scrap is a Chumbawamba album released in 2005. It shows more folk influence than their previous album Un and features guest appearances from folk musicians such as Coope Boyes and Simpson, Andy Cutting and John Jones and Ian Telfer of Oysterband...
, and Oysterband provided vocals for the song "Hull or Hell" on The Boy Bands Have Won
The Boy Bands Have Won
The Boy Bands Have Won is the common title of a Chumbawamba album released in 2008. Its full title contains 865 characters, and holds the record for the longest album title, as of August 2009. The band normally uses the shorter version when referring to the album on their website.- Background :The...
.
In 2007, long standing drummer Lee Partis took a sabbatical break to be able to concentrate on his work as a psychotherapist, counselling in prisons. In August 2008, he confirmed he would be leaving the band permanently. The band then appointed Dilwyn Davies as replacement drummer.
Following a 30th anniversary concert in December 2008 the band took a six-month sabbatical, during which John Jones and Chopper both made solo albums.
The band returned to the studio in 2011 teaming up once again with June Tabor
June Tabor
June Tabor is an English folk singer.- Early years :June Tabor was inspired to sing by hearing Anne Briggs' EP Hazards of Love in 1965. "I went and locked myself in the bathroom for a fortnight and drove my mother mad. I learned the songs on that EP note for note, twiddle for twiddle. That's how I...
releasing "Ragged Kingdom" in September at a sell out Concert at Londons Queen Elizabeth Hall. For at least some dates on the Ragged Kingdom tour, they are also joined on bass and guitar by Al Scott, who produced the album.
Lineup as of 2010
- Chopper - bass guitar, cello, vocals
- John Jones - melodeon, lead vocals
- Alan Prosser - guitars, viola, vocals
- Ian Telfer - fiddle, English concertina, vocals
- Dil Davies - drums
Studio albums
As Fiddler's DramFiddler's Dram
Fiddler's Dram were a British folk band of the late 1970s. They are mainly known for their hit single, "Day Trip to Bangor " , although the sound of this record was not representative of the acoustic songs and tunes they had been performing for several years at folk clubs and festivals.-Band...
- To See the Play - 1978
- Fiddler's Dram - 1980
As Oyster Ceilidh Band
- Jack's Alive - 1980
As Oyster Band
- English Rock 'n' Roll: The Early Years 1800–1850 - 1982
- Lie Back and Think of England - 1983
- 20 Golden Tie-Slackeners - 1984
- Liberty Hall - 1985
- Step Outside - 1986
- Wide Blue Yonder - 1987
- Ride - 1989
- Freedom and Rain - 1990 (collaboration with June TaborJune TaborJune Tabor is an English folk singer.- Early years :June Tabor was inspired to sing by hearing Anne Briggs' EP Hazards of Love in 1965. "I went and locked myself in the bathroom for a fortnight and drove my mother mad. I learned the songs on that EP note for note, twiddle for twiddle. That's how I...
)
As Oysterband
- Deserters - 1992
- Holy Bandits - 1993
- Trawler - 1994
- The Shouting End of LifeThe Shouting End of LifeThe Shouting End of Life is an album by British folk music group Oysterband, released in 1995.-Track listing:# "We'll be There" - 3:22# "Blood-Red Roses" - 4:06# "Jam Tomorrow" - 4:10...
- 1995 - Deep Dark Ocean - 1997
- Here I Stand - 1999
- Rise AboveRise Above (Oysterband album)-Track listing:All songs by Chopper, Jones, Partis, Prosser, and Telfer, unless otherwise indicated.#"The Soul's Electric" – 3:42#"Uncommercial Song" – 3:40#"If You Can't be Good" – 3:45#"Everybody's Leaving Home" – 4:27#"My Mouth" – 4:14...
- 2002 - 25 - 2003
- Meet You ThereMeet You ThereMeet You There is an album by British folk music group Oysterband, released in April 2007.- Track listing :# "Over the Water"# "Here Comes the Flood"# "Where the World Divides"# "Walking Down the Road with You"# "Bury Me Standing"...
- 2007 - The Oxford Girl and Other Stories - 2008
- Ragged Kingdom - 2011 (collaboration with June TaborJune TaborJune Tabor is an English folk singer.- Early years :June Tabor was inspired to sing by hearing Anne Briggs' EP Hazards of Love in 1965. "I went and locked myself in the bathroom for a fortnight and drove my mother mad. I learned the songs on that EP note for note, twiddle for twiddle. That's how I...
)
Live albums
- Little Rock to Leipzig - 1990 (partially live)
- Alive and Shouting - 1996
- Alive and Acoustic - 1998
- 25th Anniversary Concert - DVD - 2004
- Northern Light - 2006