Oysterband

Cambridge folk festival review – Robert Plant thrills, Peggy Seeger inspires and Oysterband rock

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The Led Zeppelin frontman’s latest band, Saving Grace, riffs on country, folk, rock and blues, but the weekend belongs to female American singer-songwriters

obert Plant is clearly enjoying himself. He may be a rock god, but he’s also a music fan with impressively eclectic taste. Twenty-four years ago he was on this same stage at the Cambridge folk festival with Priory of Brion, reviving 1960s favourites by Them and Love. He has worked with four bands and Alison Krauss since then; tonight he “presents” his new-ish five-piece, Saving Grace, who started in low-key fashion five years ago supporting Fairport Convention, but here give a masterclass in how to revive and rework country, folk, rock and blues.

Dressed in black, Plant trades vocals with Suzi Dian while adding occasional harmonica and bass guitar. First comes the brooding and bluesy Win My Train Fare Home, which he originally recorded at the Festival in the Desert with English guitarist Justin Adams. Next up is a charming rendition of traditional The Cuckoo, backed by banjo, and then a pounding revival of Led Zeppelin’s Friends, with Dian adding accordion. Later come tributes to Los Lobos and Bert Jansch, and a rousing a cappella finale of the traditional Incredible String Band favourite Bid You Goodnight. It’s a thrilling, compelling performance.

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Oysterband and June Tabor bid a long, long goodbye

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A Long Long Goodbye

One of the UK’s foremost folk rock bands – Oysterband – are announcing that they are calling time on their live career and will be performing live with June Tabor for the last time.

After forty-five years on the road, the legendary Canterbury-formed collective will be hanging up their touring boots and bringing their unique partnership with the English folk songstress to a worthy conclusion.

But it’s not over yet… With a tour aptly named A Long Long Goodbye, Oysterband will be bowing-out in style with a year of unmissable shows planned at some of their favourite haunts, where they will be performing a career-spanning set, including highlights of their collaborations with June Tabor.

Recently announced for the 2024 Cambridge Folk Festival where the band have become the stuff of festival legend over the years, the band will then head-out on a string of seven shows alongside longstanding creative compadre June Tabor this October.

In a statement about the upcoming tour, Oysterband said:

“We’re hanging up our travelling shoes, but we’re taking a year or so to say goodbye to our lovely live audience.  And we mean to enjoy every minute! It’s been a long, tough, joyful journey, but the time has come. In the words of our own song ‘Granite Years’, we’re waving you a long, long goodbye… Come help us celebrate!”

Featuring John Jones (vox, melodeon), Ian Telfer (violin, keyboard), Alan Prosser (guitars), Sean Randle (drums, percussion), Al Scott (bass, mandolin) and Adrian Oxaal (cello, guitars), with June Tabor (vox); the full list of dates for Oysterband & June Tabor’s Last Tour Together can be found below.

Emerging in the early 80s from their folk club and ceilidh band days, Oysterband infused both the traditional and their own songs with a passion and energy that was electrifying. Polkas, politics and a heaving dance floor seemed just right for Thatcher’s Britain. Signing to new roots label Cooking Vinyl, headlining English Roots Against Apartheid, playing Glastonbury and the Fleadh several times each, touring with The Pogues in Europe and Billy Bragg in North America, hosting their Big Session Festival in The Midlands. All gained them a large and loyal following both at home and internationally.

Endlessly touring and writing over the course of their forty-five year career, the band have played all over the world and released dozens of studio releases throughout their career, including seminal albums like Holy Bandits (1993), The Shouting End Of Life (1995) and Diamonds On The Water (2014), not to mention timeless compilations, and unbeatable live albums.

Initially collaborating with June Tabor in 1990, the meeting of minds produced the cult favourite Freedom & Rain. Reconnecting some 21 years later, the resultant album Ragged Kingdom would become one of the best-selling folk-rock albums of the new millennium.

And Oysterband’s efforts have not gone unnoticed either. Awarded winners of several BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards, including Best Band twice, Oysterband’s song-writing has never stood still, and hits such as ‘The Oxford Girl’, ‘When I’m Up (I Can’t Get Down)’, ‘Everywhere I Go’ and ‘Put Out The Lights’ are now staples of the folk canon.

Most recently, Oysterband released their final studio album Read The Sky to much acclaim in 2021 and recently undertook an extensive tour of Europe, plus a special Decades tour across the UK where they explore their back catalogue. Embarking on a new tour later on in 2024, Oysterband will be going out on a high as they bid A Long Long Goodbye to fans and friends with a series of unforgettable live shows.

OYSTERBAND & JUNE TABOR: A LONG LONG GOODBYE TOUR DATES

Thursday 3 Oct 2024 – Birmingham – Town Hall
Friday 4 Oct 2024 – Bristol – Beacon
Saturday 5 Oct 2024 – Bexhill – De La Warr Pavilion
Saturday 12 Oct 2024 – Manchester – RNCM Concert Hall
Sunday 13 Oct 2024 – Sunderland – The Fire Station
Tuesday 15 Oct 2024 – Leicester – De Montfort Hall
Saturday 19 Oct 2024 – London – The Barbican

Tickets are on sale from this Friday @ 10am here: www.alonglonggoodbye.live

Artists’ website: https://www.oysterband.co.uk/

Source: Oysterband and June Tabor bid a long, long goodbye – Folking.com

Ivor Cutler performs Richard Thompson’s “Wheely Down”

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Ivor Cutler’s unique vocalizing makes this cut from The World Is a Wonderful Place, a real treasure.

This song originally appeared on Richard Thompson’s first solo record Henry the Human Fly.

Ian Kearey, founder member of the Oysterband, plays the harmonium and dulcimer.