Mark's Steeleye Span Page
Pictured above is the cover for the new Steeleye Span compact disc, "Bloody Men." Playing on the recording are Peter Knight, Maddy Prior, Rick Kemp, Ken Nicol, and Liam Genockey. It is currently on sale at Park Records, Musikfolk, Amazon, and other on-line retailers.
BREAKING STEELEYE NEWS: Steeleye Span performed recently at Spanfest 2008 on Saturday 26th July, at Stanford Hall, Leicestershire. Steeleye was joined at the performance by former band member John Kirkpatrick. Steeleye also finished an extensive spring tour invigorating old hits and capitalizing on their latest ones. The tour is part of a series of podcasts promoted by Ken Nicol at his "Folkcast" website.
Maddy Prior, in the meantime, recorded an album in the vein of her early folk albums called "Seven for Old England" with Benji Kirkpatrick and Giles Lewin. She completed a brief tour supporting the album in March, and she also performed solo at Spanfest 2008.
Peter Knight has continued to promote his solo efforts with Gigspanner and Tanna. Peter performed with his fellow band members at Spanfest 2008. He has also started a series of Masterclasses for violinists scheduled for September.
Ken Nicol released a solo album of instrumental music and continues to regularly record his monthly podcast production entitled "Folkcast" with fellow host Phil Widdows. Ashley Hutchings joined Ken Nicol at Spanfest 2008. Former bassist for Steeleye Span, Hutchings sadly did not join Steeleye at their performance at the same gig. Ken is currently touring the UK in a number of gigs, many with Phil Cool.
Rick Kemp is currently working with Whapweasel, who have recently released a new album.
Liam Genockey performed with Buick 6 at Spanfest 2008.
Steeleye Span played an exciting and intimate concert at Nettlebed Village Club on Thursday 24th July, prior to their Spanfest performance.
Maddy Prior is scheduled to tour with Benji Kirkpatrick and Giles Lewin again in October. Benji Kirkpatrick, son of the legendary accordion player John, and Giles Lewin, fiddle player with the Carnival Band, both members of the acclaimed English folk collective Bellowhead, join Maddy to sing the songs that have inspired her and generations of singers before her. Maddy is also scheduled to tour with the Carnival Band in December 2008.
Peter Knight is currently finishing up his first compact disc with Gigspanner. The CD should be available for sale in late August. Local performances with Gigspanner continue to be scheduled.
A duet album by Ken Nicol and Ashley Hutchings has been mooted, but no release date has been set.
RECENT STEELEYE NEWS: Steeleye Span performed at Spanfest 2007, a music festival at Kentwell Hall in Suffolk on July 27th and 28th, 2007. Maddy Prior toured with the Carnival Band in May 2007 and released an album celebrating the 300th anniversary of the the music of Charles Wesley.
RECENT STEELEYE NEWS: In the spring of 2006, Steeleye toured the UK, trying out songs and promoting their live album "Folk Rock Pioneers." Steeleye toured again in late November and through most of December, this time to promote "Bloody Men," as noted above.
Maddy Prior completed a small tour in October, celebrating the Arthurian legend of the Holy Grail in a performance billed as "The Quest." Joining Maddy on this tour were multi-instrumentalist Nick Donockley and keyboardist Nick Holland. The tour was filmed and aired in video clips on the internet; fans of the tour also had an opportunity to be entered into a drawing to win their very own personal grail.
RECENT STEELEYE NEWS: During the 2005 year, Steeleye Span concentrated on solo albums. Music was released by Ken Nicol, Peter Knight, and Maddy Prior.
RECENT STEELEYE NEWS: Steeleye Span finished its lengthy tour celebrating its 35th anniversary at the end of 2004. A DVD was released of one of the performances and is available through Park Records.
RECENT STEELEYE NEWS: On May 23, 2004, Peter Knight posted the following message on his website: "Sadly, the tour of the USA that Steeleye provisionally scheduled for later this year will not be happening [...]. Sorry to anyone who has been looking forward to them. I include myself in that."
RECENT STEELEYE NEWS: Steeleye Span are currently in the middle of a world tour promoting their 35th anniversary and their new album, "They Called Her Babylon." The tour is expected to cover England, Scandanavia, Australia, New Zealand, and the United States. The line-up for the band is the same as for the new recording: Peter, Maddy, Rick, Ken, and Liam. Tour dates and ticket information are available at Richard Hollis' site listed below.
RECENT RUMOUR NEWS: Word has it that Rick Kemp, citing fatigue with touring and the music business as reasons, will leave Steeleye Span at the end of their current tour. As this news has not been confirmed, more will be posted if additional information becomes available.
RECENT STEELEYE NEWS: On July 22, 2003, Peter Knight announced that "Steeleye will be meeting up for rehearsals in September and October to work on material for a new studio album to be released next year. Let's hope that 'Staring Robin' is watching over us." Peter also indicated that the band would be touring Australia in March.
RECENT STEELEYE NEWS: On April 13, 2003, Peter Knight made the following announcement on his webpage: "Steeleye will be touring in 2004. Two UK tours, America and Australia and some summer festivals. I will keep you informed of any confirmed dates. We will be recording an album of new material and Ken Nicol will be joining us again.
"I am currently working on a solo album that will be released later in the year. If time allows I will revive the recording diary and put up a few sound clips.
"I was told a few days ago that there is a boxed set of the 'Hollies' to be released and that it includes the song 'Let Her Go Down'. Looking forward to hearing it."
RECENT STEELEYE NEWS: In late November and early December, 2002, Steeleye Span completed a tour through England to promote the album, "Present." Tour dates were as follows:
Friday, November 29th............. Civic Centre, Aylesbury; Sunday, December 1st.............. Borough Theatre, Abergavenny; Monday, December 2nd.............. Borough Theatre, Abergavenny; Wednesday, December 4th........... Assembly Rooms, Derby; Thursday, December 5th............ De Montfort Hall, Leicester; Friday, December 6th.............. Grand Opera House, York; Saturday, December 7th............ Southport Theatre, Southport; Wednesday, December 11th.......... Corn Exchange, Kings Lynn; Thursday, December 12th........... Concert Hall, Reading; Friday, December 13th............. Festival Theatre, Chichester; Saturday, December 14th........... Regent Centre, Christchurch; Sunday, December 15th............. Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry; Monday, December 16th............. Martlets Hall, Burgess Hill; Tuesday, December 17th............ City Hall, Salisbury; Wednesday, December 18th.......... Town Hall, Cheltenham; Thursday, December 19th........... Queen Elizabeth Hall, South Bank Centre, London; Friday, December 20th............. St George’s Hall, Bradford.
The line-up for the band consisted of Maddy Prior, Rick Kemp, Peter Knight, Liam Genocky, Rose Kemp, and former Albion Band member Ken Nicol, who replaced Bob Johnson because of a heart condition. I was priviledged to see the shows at Derby and Leicester. For a review, please see Richard Hollis' site listed below.
RECENT STEELEYE NEWS: On July 10th, 2002, Peter Knight made the following announcement about the future of Steeleye: "As you know there have been plans to reform a classic Steeleye Span line-up. Talks have been going on for sometime between myself and Park Records, Maddy Prior, Bob Johnson, Rick Kemp and Liam Genockey and I can now tell you that we will be touring in December this year. We will be performing the classic songs that you have voted for on Park's web site and we will be recording these songs for a new album that will be on sale during the tour. There will be around fifteen concerts in all and I will post all the details as soon as possible. The first concert to be confirmed is Salisbury City Hall on December 17th.
"2004 will be the 35th anniversary of the band and the plan is to tour during that year with a new studio album. Between now and then we will be working on new material. Very exciting.
"On a personal note I would like to say that I am delighted that this has all come together at last, and I am looking forward to playing with, and hearing this great line-up. I will keep you informed of all developments.
"A huge thanks to all of you for your wonderful support, patience and optimism."
Further details can be found on Peter's web site listed below.
RECENT STEELEYE NEWS: Australian record company Raven Records released an anthology of live tracks titled "Gone to Australia" in September 2001. A listing of tracks can be found on Peter Knight's web site.
RECENT STEELEYE NEWS: Tim Harries has left Steeleye Span. Until the new line-up is formally announced next year, Peter Knight is the sole remaining member. Peter is currently completing work on a solo album. The exact release date has yet to be confirmed.
RECENT STEELEYE NEWS: Tamsyn Alexander was guest singer with Steeleye at the Cromer Festival on May 13th, 2001. The line-up included Tamsyn Alexander, Tim Harries, Rick Kemp, Terl Bryant and Peter Knight. Reviews of the Cromer concert can be found on Richard Hollis' web site below.
