Steeleye Span 50th Anniversary Celebrations continue with Tour

Steeleye Span 50th Anniversary Celebrations continue with New Tour and Album, featuring Status Quo’s Francis Rossi On A Reworking of “Hard Times”

Pioneers of folk-rock, Steeleye Span changed the face of the genre forever, taking it out of small clubs and into the world of gold discs and international tours. Five decades on and the band continue to celebrate their famous past alongside their recent history. That is true of their latest release, the Green Man Collection – bringing together tracks from their recent albums with new versions of three Steeleye classics (including a reworking of ‘Hard Times’ featuring Status Quo’s Francis Rossi and a cover of Elvis Costello’s ‘Shipbuilding’. The title track “The Green Man” is of special interest to Steeleye fans, a song by Bob Johnson – a member of the band throughout the seventies and responsible for many of their classic ballads from the era. Previously lost for 40 years, the song addressed the issue of climate change long before it became such a widespread topic.

The band will undertake a full UK tour in support, their first live dates of the year, where they will be joined by new member Athena Octavia – part of indie folk band Iris & Steel and an acclaimed classical violinist. As ever – and with such a rich history to choose from – the night will offer a selection of songs from across the years and albums, coupled with firm fan favourites.

The early 1970s would prove to be the start of a vintage period for music and the beginning of an era that would change the world. For Steeleye Span it would see them established as a major creative force. By the end of 1973 they had not only released their classic debut Hark The Village Wait but also three follow ups – Please To See The King, Ten Man Mop and Below The Salt – launching one of the most enduring stories in music. Unlike most acts of their era, the band haven’t been content to rest on their laurels even as they have celebrated their fiftieth anniversary – enjoying one of the most creative periods of their history over the past two decades, including the acclaimed Wintersmith collaboration with Sir Terry Pratchett in 2013 and 2016’s Dodgy Bastards. Led as ever by Maddy Prior, the line-up of Andrew Sinclair, Roger Carey, Liam Genockey, Julian Littman and former violinist Jessie May Smart has been hailed by many as one of the best ever, not only bringing a new approach to classic material but producing the 2019 album Est’d 1969, worthy of anything that preceded it.

November/December Tour Dates: