Steeleye Span - (2/3) 30 June 1971. Live on Ainsdale Beach nr Southport, England.

[@TheAx504]

I was there on the sand dunes somewhere with my girl friend, Janet. Great concert and one of the best eras in music all around. I managed Crown Records in Crosby at the time.

[@davidlemargee3757]

The best Steeleye line up ever!

[@ash9field]

nice to see the old steeleye span thanks for showing it

[@mickigoe]

Always adored that reel change at 2.04

[@Melvorgazh]

Very good fidil player anyway. And the rest were good musicians too. The atmosphere seemed pretty cool also

[@Migglyman]

the memories flood back within the sound

[@mickigoe]

@SteveFE62 I'm not a musician Steve but these reels are as good as I've ever heard. I lived with traditional music all my life but didn't truly love it until I saw the Fairports while working in England in '69 - Swarbs , Thompson and Sandy blew my mind and won my heart. The English traditional revival of the late 60s / early 70s was the high-water mark for music in my view. For example , what could be finer , more majestic than Peter Knight here - and he's English ! Rest my case :)

[@mickigoe]

@SteveFE62 Hi Steve , I'm Irish and I heard this reel often when I was a boy - and when I bought Ten Man Mop I recognized it immediately - maybe Terry Woods gave it to them - I have a hunch it's in the south Sligo/Michael Coleman tradition cos I grew up in that region - visit Gurteen and Seamus Tansey might jam it with you , if he's still about :)

[@CrunchyBiscuitsBand]

Cool stuff :)

[@mickigoe]

Cheers mate

[@trevdowson263]

so true my man.

[@mickigoe]

Agree with all that , Steve - especially the celebrity status point - these wonderful people knew that neither commercial killing nor universal fame would ever come their way but that was never a consideration. Sweeneys Men pioneered the revival in Ireland before Terry Woods joined Steeleye and they , with The Johnstones , popularised the music and dragged us away from The Clancy Brothers !! Happy 2012 , mate.

[@sharonlee4773]

Are there any fie-hard Martin Carthy-ophiles who happen to know what became of the blue telecaster used here? Any info would be greatly appreciated.

[@michaeligoe3935]

Chewin' gum Carthy never looked so cool !

[@nickelharpforty7639]

The only wrong thing is the serious and excessive tone of importance of the speaker...

[@robwillcocks5732]

Ha, that's Ashley Hutchings MBE. As Bob Dylan said of him, "Ashley Hutchings is the single most important figure in English folk rock." He did, and still does take his job as the Guvnor, very seriously.

[@Melvorgazh]

Crappy sound. I don't believe the audience had a much better sound. Did they? Must be tough doing the sound on a beach at that time