The Albion Band is back with fresh songs, high-energy concerts and a line-up that leads directly back to the Guv’nor himself, founder Ashley Hutchings. Building on a summer of successful festival appearances, The Albion Band is taking what could be called a victory lap with a second UK tour this November.
After years of fielding fan requests to recharge The Albion Band, Hutchings passed the baton to his son Blair Wesley Dunlop (read our past article about the change). Following in the footsteps of his much-lauded father, who was also instrumental in founding both Fairport Convention and Steeleye Span, Dunlop recruited an array of rising young musical virtuosos to form this incarnation of The Albion Band.
Featuring sparkling folk stars Katriona Gilmore (fiddle and vocals); Gavin Davenport, (vocals, concertina and guitar), Tom Wright (drums), Tim Yates (bass), and Benjamin Trott (lead guitarist). The new Albion Band captures the spirit of the original band of the 1970s it lives up to its reputation and draws inspiration from it. But the six piece line-up is no tribute act as it firmly stamps its own trademark on arrangements of traditional material, covers of songs from stalwarts of the folk scene (including Richard Thompson and Phil Beer) and adds diversity with compositions from individual band members and covers of mainstream artists.
Together they make music that appeals both to fans of the original Albion Band, who will be delighted to relive the heady days when rock was put firmly into folk, and younger music fans who will be awed and inspired by the musical prowess of this generation of musicians.
Tour Dates
6 November, Band on the Wall, Manchester, 0845 250 0500
8 November, The Cumberland Arms, Newcastle, 0191 615 1265
9 November, Trades Club, Hebden Bridge, www.wegottickets.com
11 November, The Duchess, York, 01904 641413
12 November, Underbelly, Hoxton, London, 0207 485 9899
16 November, Huntingdon Hall, Worcester, 01905 611427
18 November, Cheltenham Town Hall, Cheltenham, 0844 576 2210
20 November, Glee Club, Nottingham, 0871 472 0400
21 November, Arts Centre, Haverhill, 01440 714140
24 November, Pavilion, Hailsham, 01323 841414
25 November, Corn Exchange, Exeter, 01392 665938
27 November, Thunderbolt, Bristol,
29 November, The Greystones, Sheffield, 0114 266 5599
30 November, Trinity Arts Centre, Gainsborough, 01427 676655
2 December, Great British Folk Festival, Skegness,