Steeleye Span: New Theatre, Oxford (From The Oxford Times)

Steeleye Span: New Theatre, Oxford

2:54pm Friday 4th December 2009

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It was the moment everyone had been waiting for. “You’ll never guess what we’re going to do now,” Maddy Prior said, smiling broadly. Cue audience laughter And then – yes, you’ve guessed it – the band launched into their ‘anthem’, All Around My Hat, the one song of theirs that is familiar even to those who nothing else about Steeleye Span.

And they didn’t disappoint – this was a wonderful rendition, capturing the very essence of the band that, 40 years ago, picked up the folk-rock mantle from Fairport Convention and put it on the world stage. Sunday’s gig at the New Theatre was a crowd-pleasing showcase of some of their best, most innovative and most tuneful numbers, demonstrating just how varied their output has been over the years, from sprightly Irish jigs to heavier rock numbers such as the boisterous Batchelor’s Hall from the All Around My Hat album, and the lively Creeping Jane from their latest album, Cogs, Wheels and Lovers.

'The gig at the New Theatre was a crowd-pleasing showcase of some of their best, most innovative and most tuneful numbers, demonstrating just how varied their output has been over the years'

Maddy Prior, the face and voice of Steeleye for most of its life, has lost none of her vocal dexterity or charisma, and she announces the songs in such a cosy, Mumsy way that it’s rather like being part of an exceptionally large family gathering.

The rest of the band – Peter Knight, Rick Kemp, Liam Genockey and Ken Nicol – gave solid back-up throughout, with some fine musicianship, while at the same time creating the feel-good factor with their humour and camaraderie.

All except drummer Genockey had the chance to introduce some of the songs, and they managed to turn the announcements into mini stand-up routines, with the wisecracks coming thick and fast – the most memorable being the story from violinist Peter Knight about the discovery of Irish Dancing Book 2 – What to do with your arms.

But ultimately the evening was about the music, and few bands reaching their 40th birthday could manage to sound so fresh, lively and spontaneous. Sublime.

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