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Salient. Victoria University Student Newspaper. Volume 37, No. 2. August 7, 1974

Steeleye Span Concert ....

Steeleye Span Concert .....

Steeleye Span are a group, specialising in English folk-rock — unique because they combine the ballads and jigs of Mediaeval England, flavoured with a brew of electric rock and mead. The group was founded in 1971 by Tim Hart, Maddy Prior and Ashley Hutchings, the former two being the only original members left. The band now consists of Hart (on acoustic and electric guitar; electric dulcimer) Maddy Prior (beautiful pure vocals, spoons, and dancing), Peter Knight (violin, recorders, mandolin, piano, banjo, and amazing handsprings onto the stage), Nigel Pegrum (drums, oboe and flute). Rick Kemp (electric bass and occasional percussion), Robert Johnston (guitar).

Five albums have been released in New Zealand. The first two 'Please to see the King' and 'Hark the Village Wait' showed the traditional roots of the band. But with the third 'Below the Salt' — their now distinctive electric sound was adopted to the traditional music. And the new Steeleye Span emerged from being a Cult group to star status — despite criticisms' from the purists that the Steeleye's were selling out their origins.

Since then — two more albums, 'Parcel of Rogues' and 'Now we are Six', both building on the foundation established by 'Below the Salt', a pivotal album that threw the band into the world of folk-rock. The later two reveal this evolution. One of the tracks on 'Now, we are Six', features in the groups encore, when Maddy Prior dons a blond wig, fifties clothing, the group does likewise and play a fifties rock medley.

Steeleye Span — a group of six highly skilled multi-instrumental musicians, a delight to the ear and on August 16 in the Wellington Town Hall, a delight to the eye.