Albion Country Band

Albion Country Band Was An English Electric Folk Band Initially Formed In 1971 That By 1978 Took The Shortened Name The Albion Band. The Band Was Formed In April 1971 By Ashley Hutchings Formerly Founding Member Of Fairport Convention And Steeleye Span Initially To Accompany Singer Shirley Collins On Her 'No Roses' Album. Dave Mattacks From Fairport Convention Was Recruited And Later That Year Richard Thompson And Linda Thompson Also Joined For A Short Tour. Hutchings Was Keen To Make A Permanent Band From These Musicians And The First Attempt Included Royston Wood Steve Ashley And Sue Draheim In The Line-Up. This Was Not To Be As Successful As Had Been Hoped And A Second Albion Country Band Was Formed. This Group Included Martin Carthy John Kirkpatrick Sue Harris Roger Swallow And Simon Nicol. The Band Split In August 1973 And Retrospectively Released Their Sole Album Battle Of The Field On Island Records. Hutchings Then Formed The Etchingham Steam Band With His Wife Shirley Collins. In 1977 A New Albion Band Was Put Together To Play Dance Music. Another Album Was Released The Prospect Before Us Under The Name The Albion Dance Band / And In 1978 They Released Rise Up Like The Sun Under The Name The Albion Band. This Name Has Covered The Various Line-Ups That Have Followed Over The Years. read less