Brand new Albion Band track - FREE!

Subject: RE: Brand new Albion Band track - FREE!
From: Mick Tems
Date: 29 Jan 12 - 12:41 PM

To my mind, it's a case of: "The King is dead - long live the King." While none of us would ever wish that on Ashley, surely he had this vision where he could pass it on to Blair, in the best of the finest folk tradition. Let's face it, The Copper Family were entirely different sons and daughters to the 1950s singers, but they still carried on!

My review: If One More Day is a curtain-raiser, then I am so much looking forward to the entire CD. And there speaks an ethnomusicologiat in his sixties...

Subject: RE: Brand new Albion Band track - FREE!
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 28 Jan 12 - 12:38 PM

We are waiting!

Subject: RE: Brand new Albion Band track - FREE!
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 27 Jan 12 - 04:39 AM

Perhaps you would like to explain further.

Subject: RE: Brand new Albion Band track - FREE!
From: GUEST,John from Kemsing
Date: 26 Jan 12 - 08:51 AM

I heard a track from the new Albion Band on Mike Harding`s show last night and I think "free" is a very fair price.

Subject: RE: Brand new Albion Band track - FREE!
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 26 Jan 12 - 06:31 AM

I haven't listened to any Steve Ashley for a while, but Lord Bateman generally comes to mind. I suspect Albion Country Band Mk 1 would have included it in their set - Katriona........research!!

Subject: RE: Brand new Albion Band track - FREE!
From: theleveller
Date: 24 Jan 12 - 11:40 AM

Yeah, just listened to it again and to bits of Steve's Time and Tide and I see what you mean - a definite similarity.

Subject: RE: Brand new Albion Band track - FREE!
From: theleveller
Date: 24 Jan 12 - 11:18 AM

I'll have another listen.

Subject: RE: Brand new Albion Band track - FREE!
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 24 Jan 12 - 09:54 AM

"There is a similarity between one of the singers and Steve Ashley."

I though the voice quivering (or whatever you want to call it) was similar.

Subject: RE: Brand new Albion Band track - FREE!
From: Spleen Cringe
Date: 24 Jan 12 - 08:14 AM

What I meant above was that although a different group of musicians and singers currently hold the AB franchise, they've still locked into the identifiable sound of what mid-to-late period folk-rock has ended up becoming - regardless of how different to this (and better, IMO) any of them might sound as individual performers. I suppose as the earlier incarnations of the AB in more-or-less invented this sound (pub-rock-dad-rock-folk-rock, anyone?), they aren't going to want anyone to start messing with the formula. The album will hopefully have some surprises on - I'm sure artists as good as Gavin Davenport and Katriona Gilmore could do absolutely exquisite folk rock if they can step out of the shadows of the genre's later history...

Sorry if this sounds unduly negative. Folk rock has so much potential and it's a shame it's developed a lowest-common-denominator tendency. The genre could do a lot worse than returning to its roots, for example, Shirley Collins and the Albion Country Band: Poor Murdered Woman... or taking note of stuff like this: Alasdair Roberts: A Lyke Wake Dirge.

Just one person's opinion, of course, but Katriona did ask... apologies if my views offend in anyway. I do think the use of Bandcamp is an excellent idea, though.

Subject: RE: Brand new Albion Band track - FREE!
From: theleveller
Date: 24 Jan 12 - 07:08 AM

It's a great line-up. I see Katriona quite frequently, playing with lots of my buddies around Yorkshire and especially excellent teamed with Jamie Roberts.

"There is a similarity between one of the singers and Steve Ashley."

In what way - in appearance of musically? Funnily enough, I was having an online chat with Steve recently about our mutual friend, the late Roger Deakin, and the song he wrote for him shortly before his death, 'Friend of the Rivers'.

Someone once said (maybe John Tams) that playing with Albion Band was the folk equivalent of jury service.

Subject: RE: Brand new Albion Band track - FREE!
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 24 Jan 12 - 06:44 AM

There is a similarity between one of the singers and Steve Ashley.

Subject: RE: Brand new Albion Band track - FREE!
From: Spleen Cringe
Date: 23 Jan 12 - 08:26 AM

Actually, they have got something in common with the earlier versions of the Albion Band...

Subject: RE: Brand new Albion Band track - FREE!
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 23 Jan 12 - 06:56 AM

"They're clearly talented musicians and the band deserves respect in its own right."

Absolutely.

Subject: RE: Brand new Albion Band track - FREE!
From: Howard Jones
Date: 22 Jan 12 - 01:13 PM

The Albion Band has always been Ashley's project, but with this one he's said himself he has no involvement. "The youngsters don't need me and are building something new themselves."

I don't deny his right to do what he likes with the band. I'm sure the band members - Blair in particular - regard it as a privilege to carry that name. They're entitled to call themselves the Albion Band, but without Hutchings does that actually mean anything?

None of which has anything to do with how good they are. They're clearly talented musicians and the band deserves respect in its own right.

Subject: RE: Brand new Albion Band track - FREE!
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 22 Jan 12 - 12:12 PM

"The one thing which linked all the previous versions of the Albion Band was Ashley's distinctive bass playing." - very much so.

"To me it just seems faintly dishonest (in an artistic sense) for them to be laying claim to that legacy and goodwill, rather than earning it in their own right." - no, it has been passed to them from the correct source.

Subject: RE: Brand new Albion Band track - FREE!
From: Howard Jones
Date: 22 Jan 12 - 11:47 AM

I'm aware that Blair is Ashley's son, and I can see in one sense why he'd want to carry on that legacy. My point is that the musicians in the new lineup are all more than capable of standing on their own merits.

I'm not sure there was an Albion Band "way of playing". To my ears the various incarnations had their own sounds. The one thing which linked all the previous versions of the Albion Band was Ashley's distinctive bass playing. Without him, to have a new lineup from a new generation of musicians isn't an Albion Band, whatever their legal rights to the name.

It's a tough world for folk musicians to make a living and I guess they can't be blamed for taking advantage of the situation, and neither can Ashley be blamed for wanting to boost his son's career. To me it just seems faintly dishonest (in an artistic sense) for them to be laying claim to that legacy and goodwill, rather than earning it in their own right.

Subject: RE: Brand new Albion Band track - FREE!
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 22 Jan 12 - 09:26 AM

Yes, but led by Ashley's son Blair who is more than able to stand on his own merits, and is very enthusiastic about carrying on the "Albion Band" way of playing.

Subject: RE: Brand new Albion Band track - FREE!
From: Howard Jones
Date: 22 Jan 12 - 08:01 AM

In what way is this the "Albion Band"? I realise that the Albion Band is whatever Ashley Hutchings says it is, but through all the many changes he has always played in it, until now. Isn't the present line-up an entirely new band, from a different generation, which should stand or fall on its own merits, rather than riding on the reputation of what's gone before?

Nothing to do with the quality of the music.

Subject: RE: Brand new Albion Band track - FREE!
From: GUEST,Jane Bird (without cookie)
Date: 22 Jan 12 - 05:59 AM

I listened to the track yesterday, and I think it's great! It's already gone on the "wake up on the way to work" playlist. Really interesting and am looking forward to hearing the rest of the album.

Subject: RE: Brand new Albion Band track - FREE!
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 22 Jan 12 - 05:47 AM

Blair and Ashley on great form at Hastings last night!!

Subject: RE: Brand new Albion Band track - FREE!
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 21 Jan 12 - 06:06 AM

Excellent track - a rare sea shanty from Switzerland if I remember from early 1980s John Tams banter!!

Subject: RE: Brand new Albion Band track - FREE!
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 21 Jan 12 - 05:44 AM

We are seeing Blair tonight, and booked for Croydon - looking forward to it.

Subject: Brand new Albion Band track - FREE!
From: GUEST,Katriona Gilmore
Date: 21 Jan 12 - 05:18 AM

To whet your collective appetites for our new Albion Band record, due for release next month, we have set up a track to download with a 'pay what you like' system - you can pay any amount from £0.00 up to £100,000.00!

It's a reworked version of 'One More Day' - we would love to know what you all think of it.

http://thealbionband.bandcamp.com/track/one-more-day

Don't forget we're touring in March - tell your friends!

Sat 11 Feb Cheltenham Folk Festival 0844 5762210

Thu 1 Mar Camberley Theatre 01276 707600

Fri 2 Mar Bradford St Georges 01274 432000

Sat 3 Mar Durham Gala Theatre 0191 3324041

Sun 4 Mar Boston Blackfriars Arts Centre 01205 363108

Tue 6 Mar Leamington Royal Spa Centre 0845 2183540

Wed 7 Mar Tewkesbury Roses Theatre 01684 295074

Thu 8 Mar Lichfield Garrick Theatre 01543 412121

Fri 9 Mar Worthing Assembly Hall 01903 206206

Sat 10 Mar Harpenden Public Halls 01582 767525

Sun 11 Mar Wellingborough Castle Theatre 01933 270007

Tue 13 Mar Stevenage Gordon Craig Theatre 01438 363200

Thu 15 Mar Tunbridge Wells Assembly Halls 01892 530613

Fri 16 Mar Christchurch Regent 01202 499199

Sun 18 Mar Whitley Bay Playhouse 0844 2772771

Mon 19 Mar Wakefield Theatre Royal 01925 211311

Thu 22 Mar Chesham Elgiva Theatre 01494 582900

Fri 23 Mar Norwich Playhouse 01603 598598

Sun 25 Mar Edinburgh Queens Hall 0131 6682019

Tue 27 Mar Stockport Plaza 0161 4777779

Fri 30 Mar Aberystwyth Arts Centre 01970 624335

Sat 31 Mar Scunthorpe Plowright Theatre 0844 8542776

Sun 1 Apr Kings Lynn Corn Exchange 01553 764864

Mon 2 Apr Bristol Colston Hall 2 0117 9223686

Tue 3 Apr Croydon Ashcroft Theatre 0208 6889291

Sat 12 May Cromer Folk on the Pier 01263 512495

Sat 25 May Shepley Spring Festival 01484 604704