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TRACK LISTING

1 I'm a Radio 2.59
2 The Spirit of Christmas 3.19
3 None Can Tell 4.19
4 Springsong 3.13
5 Broken Wing 3.24
6 Well Well Well 4.27
7 The Well at the World's End 3.19
8 Back on the Road Again 3.37
9 The Weapon 4.03
10 Easy Come 3.17
11 Ships of Shame 3.46
12 Family Love 4.30
13 Once in a While 4.31
14 Feeling Lazy 3.51
15 Say Goodbye 6.47

MUSICIANS

Maartin Allcock
Steve Ashley
Phil Beer
Martin Brinsford
Richard Bryers
Dik Cadbury
Brian Diprose
Paul Downes
Al Fenn
Steve Harper
Mat Le Mare
Chris Leslie
Dave Menday
Alleyn Menzies
Simon Nicol
Dave Pegg
Jim Sallis

Orchestra directed by Robert Kirby
 

Steve Ashley Live in Concert

Steve Ashley celebrates with folk-rock's finest on live release

Reissues of the work of 70s singer-songwriters are de rigueur these days, most notably in the rich pastures of folk-rock. Although most artists from the period fail to build upon their re-emergence to any sustained effect, one happy exception is Steve Ashley.

With his acclaimed, audacious debut, 'Stroll On', and its successor, 'Speedy Return', being both available again on the Buckingham Industrial Park label, Ashley returned to the studio in 2001 to record the excellent 'Everyday Lives' for Topic. He has also turned in some excellent live performances - both solo and with some of the genre's leading players in support.

For his 60th, this evergreen founding father of folk-rock took time out from work on his latest album to host a three hour birthday celebration concert, the highlights of which have been assembled for his first-ever live release. The former Albion Country Band member took the opportunity to bring together some key players from his recording career.

'Steve Ashley - Live in Concert', featuring the talents of some folk rock's finest plus an orchestra directed by Robert Kirby (Nick Drake, Paul Weller, Elton John), showcases Ashley's memorable canon and reveals a catalogue of innovation and diversity. Poetic and melodic songs of delicate brevity are interlaced with challenging works of bold and powerful density, imbued with great wit and a common theme in a social narrative of English life.

Ashley, together with guests including Fairport Convention's Simon Nicol, Dave Pegg and Chris Leslie, Decameron's Dik Cadbury and Al Fenn and Show Of Hand's Phil Beer, deliver quality performances throughout that affirm their singular and collective talents.

The revisiting of Kirby's original string settings expand and enrich Ashley's more reflective work here to memorable and dramatic effect. The concert also features reconvened line-ups of Ashley's former eponymous band, plus his debut 1960s act, Tinderbox and his '70's band Ragged Robin.

Among many highlights revisited in this special release is a brand new song, 'Ships of Shame' and a distinctive new Kirby setting for Steve's classic orchard song, 'Say Goodbye'.

Fifteen great tracks at mid-price make 'Steve Ashley - Live in Concert' a stocking-filler must this Christmas.

Available in record shops via Proper Music Distribution and online at www.duskfire.co.uk

More on Steve Ashley at www.steveashley.co.uk

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