PHILHARMONIC HALL LIVERPOOL SATURDAY 24th APRIL 1971.
Strawbs are an English Progressive Rock Band from London . Formed in early 1963
as the Strawberry Hill Boys , The Group was originally an Acoustic Trio consisting
of Dave Cousins on Vocal / Guitar & Banjo , Tony Hooper on Vocals / Guitar &
Percussion & Arthur Phillips on Mandolin & Vocals . There has been lots of changes
over the Years . History 1963 -1972. In June 1964 Phillips Left & Double Bassist
” Talking ” John Berry took as the bands Third Member. Berry was replaced by Ron
Chesterman in the autumn of 1966. Early the next Summer , Singer – Songwriter
Sandy Denny joined the Band to make a Four Piece for the First Time with the
Quartet recording ” All Our Own Work “. That July Denny had Left by the end of
the Year . With Sonja Kristina taking her place for one show before the Group
Reverted to a trio ” . Cousins , Hooper & Chesterman released Strawbs Self
Titled Debut Album in May 1969 . There was so many changes in the Band over
the Years . In August , the Group became a Quartet again with the addition of
Claire Deniz as their First Cellist . This Line Up Recorded Their Second Studio
Album ” Dragonfly ” released February 1970 . After Deniz had been replaced
By Lindsay – Cooper . The next month , the Group added Rick Wakeman as their
first Keyboardist just a few weeks later Chesterman left the Band & Cooper took
over on bass . By the beginning of May , Elmer Gantry’s Velvet Opera Members
John Fold & Richard Hudson had joined the Group on Bass & Drums respectively,
as their styles moved away from being Primarily Acoustic after releasing Live
Album ” Just A Collection Of Antiques & Curios & Studio Album ” From The
Witchwood , Wakeman left the Strawbs in August 1971 to join Yes . He was
replaced by Derek ” Blue ” Weaver of Fair Weather . ” Grave New World Followed
in early 1972 . Before Founding Member Tony Hooper left that August . In a 1991
Interview Hooper credited his departure to musical differences recalling that ” I
felt we were the best at what we did ” . But there was pressure to succeed in
America & that entailed a move towards Rock . SPIN OF BANDS . In 1973
Hudson & Ford Quit to Form Hudson & Ford with the Line Up Chris Farren
Keyboards , Mickey Keen Guitar & Sound Engineer & Ken Lewis Drums . Since
2007 The Strawbs have been Recording & Touring in Two Formats The Acoustic
Acoustic Format with Cousins . Lambert & Cronk , & The entirely original Hero &
Heroine / Ghosts Line Up . Line Up of the electric Band from 1974 . Cousins ,
Lambert . Cronk , Coombes & Hawken . The Line Up took two Tours in 2006 . In
2006 The Strawbs released a Four Disc Boxed Set called A Taste Of The Strawbs.
The Hero & The Heroine / Ghosts Line Up Recorded a New Studio Album ” The
Broken Hearted Bride” released in September 2008 . On 14 July 2023 The
Strawbs released a New Album ” The Magic Of It All ” recorded in Cape Town
in 2022 it features David Cousins , Blue Weaver & John Ford ” They have done
31 Albums . Debut Studio Album Strawbs ( 1969 ) 2nd Studio Album Dragonfly
( 1970 ) Third Studio Album Just A Collection Of Antiques Curios ( 1970 ) Four
Studio Album ” From The Witchwood ” Fifth Studio Album ” Grave New World”
Origin England Genres Progressive Rock / Folk Rock Years Active 1964-1980
& 1983 -2024 . Labels A. & M. , Virgin , EMI , Witchwood Media . Pure Magic .
Line Up Tony Hooper Vocal / Guitar & Percussion ( 1963 – 1972 ) ( 1983 –
1993 ) Died 2020 will be sadly missed . Rick Wakeman Keyboards / Synth /
Piano & Harpsichord ( 1970 -71 ) Richard Hudson Drums / Percussion /
Sitar / Acoustic Guitar & Vocals ( 1970 -1973 ) ( 1983 -2001 ) John Ford
Bass Guitar & Vocals ( 1970 – 1973 ) ( 1983- 1985 ) ( 1999 -2001 ) ( All
ex. ex. ex. ) Dave Cousins ) Vocals / Guitar / Banjo / Dulcimer & Autoharp
ex. ex. ex. Amazing Talented Band of Talented Musicians Highest Order.
SONG 1. The Hangman & The Papist ex, ” The village square stands quiet”
” After the curfew still enforced ” ” The streets are clear of dogs & whores”
” Like some bird of Prey ” ” The scaffold spread it’s Wings ” ” The people
build their fires & bold their Doors ” Amazing arrangement & Vocals Love It.
SONG 2. Martin Luther King’s Dream ex. ” Speak only with your voices ” ” &
not the Sword ” ” Listen to your Leaders ” ” & the words of the Lord ” Magic.
SONG 3. Witchwood ex. ” I dropped down in the Witchwood ” ” To see what
I could Find ” ” The trees have taken time Out ” ” To blow away my Mind ”
” All that I could hear There ” ” Was the sound of my own Voice ” ” But the
music it was Making ” ” Was nothing of my Choice ” Outstanding Playing .
SONG 4. I’ll Carry On Beside You ex. ” Short is the Time ” ” Though eternity
Long ” ” Life is but part of the journey ” ” While you’ve the faith to catty On”
I’ll carry on beside You ” Another amazing arrangement Playing & Vocals.
SONG 5. Fingertips ex. ” Her Hair the weeping Willow ” ” At the waters
Edge ” ” & from my windy Crag ” ” Above the moorland Sedge ” Pure Magic.
SONG 6. It’s In Your Hands ex. Outstanding Sounds with Playing & Vocals.
SONG 7. Sheep ex. ” July the Fourth in the market Town ” ” Farmers have
come from miles Around ” ” Bringing their Wives & Children ” Just Love It.
ENCORE.
SONG 8. Where Is The Dream Of Your Youth ex. ” Wake up one day , you’re
left Alone ” ” From now on you’re on your Own ” ” The sands of time are
Running Low ” ” You’ll have nothing left to Show ” ” The months slip by &
change to Years ” ” Soon the Twilight gloom Appears ” ” & then one day
before you Know ” ” You’ll have nothing left to Show ” This has been a
Wonderful Show from this Amazing Talented Band of Brilliant Musicians
of the Highest Order at the Amazing Philharmonic Hall Liverpool Magic.
SCARLET LIGHT 