NEWS UPDATE
--AUGUST 2010--

Since the last update our Spring Tour and festival season has come to an end for 2010.
Plans for the Spring Tour in 2011 are well underway. Between April 11th and 24th we
will be on the road again celebrating our 18th annual outing – we’ve finally come of age!

During the year out first studio album Walk Before You Fly was released (available from this
site) and we’re really pleased with it. Tour sales got us back in the black and so far response
from our supporters has been very positive indeed. There is just a chance we may get a
backline album ready for the 2011 tour – fingers crossed, we’re working on it.

We’re often asked why we don’t do more festivals. There are three reasons really: first,
it’s difficult to get the band together because members are so busy with other musical
projects and one of us resides in the States. Second, we’ve spent years telling everyone
we’re really only a once a year tour band. But last and these days perhaps the most
important...we don’t get asked! So to make amends, we’re going to try to promote ourselves
to festival bookers a bit more between now and next year and hope that we can get on the
bill of a few more events. If you know a festival booker, why not suggest they contact us!

Our tour in 2011 is a bit later than usual. This is because we always follow the Fairport
Winter Tour and in 2011 Steeleye Span will be touring the UK just before us. This means
all you folk-rock fans are going to be able to enjoy a veritable banquet of bands! Keep and
eye open for tour dates and who knows, perhaps someone will think of putting a package
together.

It was great regret that we learned of the death of our good friend David Fanshawe this
year. We were so looking forward to playing his home town again in 2011 and enjoying his
ebullient company. Well, we’ll enjoy Marlborough again of course but without David. Our
sincere condolences to his wife and family at their tragic loss.

We also heard of the passing of legendary folk pianist Beryll Marriott in July 2010. The
world of folk music has lost an immeasurable talent and a folklorist of huge influence. Our
condolences too to Roger, Kate and Bill.

The band next year will enjoy the company and superb playing of now permanent member
Garry Blakeley. He will be joined by the usual suspects in the backline and top fiddlers
Ian Cutler, Peter Knight, Tom Leary, Chris Leslie and Brian McNeill. Following Phil Beer’s
heart operation we expect an appearance – or maybe two – from him as well during the tour
although he will be mainly on the road with Show of Hands. There’ll be new material, plenty
from the new album and perhaps just a tad more...er...fiddling! Please bring along your
friends and family – you know they’ll enjoy themselves and we’d love to make some new
friends.

That’s about it for now. More before Christmas and have a great time until we see you again.

All the best, feast of fiddles