UK Theatre Network

Steeleye Span dominated the uncluttered, simple stage decorated with just 3 white hanging banners emblazoned with a simple band logo and with almost none of the ubiquitous flashing lights one expects at a concert with the word rock in the genre label. This is a band who knows their music speaks for itself and are totally comfortable in each other’s and our presence. I will confess I am not a big fan of folk rock and only knew Steeleye Span’s bigger hits but they completely won me over with their impeccable musicianship, fabulous voices, range of songs and gentle humour. Amid the five male musicians, in a coat of many colours, stands the charismatic Maddy Pryor with a shock of blonde hair. The image in my mind from the last time I saw her with the ‘Maddy Prior band’ back in the 80’s, is with long raven hair but perhaps this is just a trick of my faulty memory.

The first half of the night is dedicated to a revisiting of the ‘Now we are Six’ album to coincide with a brand new recording called ‘Now We are Six Again’ some 35 years and change after the original. One wonders if it is not also a chance to reclaim their album from the corporate clutches of Chrysalis records, long gone having disappeared in a whirl of corporate mergers, now Sony by my reckoning but don’t quote me on that.

When Maddy and fiddle player Peter Knight perform a playful combative version of Twinkle Twinkle Little Star the penny drops as to the origin of the ‘Now We are Six‘ title, the much loved Winnie the Pooh book. In contrast to children’s nursery rhymes was the fabulous ‘Edwin’ with a dark moody start and the classical acoustic violin swapped for a solid electric with a big fat sound to it all backed by the solid driving rhythm section of Liam Genockey on drums with Rick Kemp on bass. For me the surprise end to part one was Phil Spector’s ‘To Know Him is to Love Him’, they told us, on their original recording the sax part was played by David Bowie though we got to hear the excellent multi instrumentalist Pete Zorn play.

Not one to put her feet up, during the interval Maddy was in the foyer tirelessly selling raffle tickets to support causes dear to her heart as she laughed and joked with the audience. The second set started with a Xmas flavour, ‘Today in Bethlehem’, the medieval ‘Sing We the Virgin Mary’ and, a personal high point, an a cappella rendition of ‘Bright Morning Star’ showing off the bands rich harmonies; beautiful. This was followed by some of the rockier moments with tracks from the ‘Bedlam Born’ album followed by a positively psychedelic rendition of Bonny Black Hare.

The night could only end with All Around My hat and to send us off in the Christmas spirit Gaudete. A great night was had by one and all.


Future tour dates visit http://www.parkrecords.com/tourdates.php
Tue 29th Nov Borough Theatre Abergavenny
Wed 30th Nov St George's Bristol
Fri 2nd Dec Hall For Cornwall (HFC) Truro
Sat 3rd Babbacombe Theatre Torquay
Mon 5th Dec Reading Concert Hall Reading
Tue 6th Dec Birmingham Town Hall Birmingham
Wed 7th Dec Roses Theatre Tewkesbury
Thu 8th Dec Roses Theatre Tewkesbury
Fri 9th Dec Salisbury City Hall Salisbury
Sun 11th Dec Farnham Maltings Farnham
Mon 12th Dec New Theatre Royal Portsmouth
Wed 14th Dec Bedford Corn Exchange Bedford
Thu 15th Dec The Castle Wellingborough
Fri 16th Dec Apex Bury St Edmunds
Sat 17th Dec Eastbourne College Theatre Eastbourne
Sun 18th Dec Martlets Hall Burgess Hill
Mon 19th Dec Barbican Centre London
Tue 20th Dec St George's Concert Hall Bradford

To find out What's on at The Waterside and book tickets: Box Office: 0844 871 7607 (bkg fee) Groups Hotline: 0844 871 7614 Access Booking: 0844 871 7677 (bkg fee) Online Booking: www.agt.com/aylesbury (bkg fee)

Reviewed by:
Pete Benson
28th November 2011