Showing posts with label Strawberry Hill Boys. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Strawberry Hill Boys. Show all posts

8/21/11

Strawbs to Tour North America This Fall



Getting Ready to Hit the Road with Pride, Prejudice and THE ZOMBIES!

“They have broken new ground by harnessing the power of their electric incarnation in an acoustic setting.”
- The Chicago Tribune

East Coast, West Coast and all across Canada, the Strawbs plan to spend a serious amount of the Fall of 2011 in the USA and Canada. Singer guitarist David Cousins, guitarist Dave Lambert and bassist Chas Cronk just won't necessarily be doing the same shows. On the one hand, there will be nights like their September 14th tour debut at the Town Crier in Pawling, where the Acoustic Strawbs will hold court all by themselves. And then there will be fall evenings when the Strawbs are pursued by The Zombies. Either way, you're in for a night of superb British rock.

Coming out of the early days of the British folk movement, David Cousins, Tony Hooper formed The Strawberry Hill Boys (it was shortened to the Strawbs) to play bluegrass. For a while, they counted Sandy Denny as a member (before she went on to Fairport Convention). As the group got deeper into a more “progressive” sound, they also featured Rick Wakeman, before he went on to Yes.

As their music became more complex, and compared more to the Moody Blues, King Crimson, and Pink Floyd than to Fairport Convention and Steeleye Spann, they recorded extensively for A&M, earning UK hits with “Lay Down” and “Part of the Union,” and getting album rock raves on this side of the pond for “Down By The Sea.” This year the group tours in support of a new album, ACOUSTIC GOLD that features favorites, including "Grace Darling,' "A Glimpse of Heaven," and "Ghosts" in an acoustic setting.

On this tour, they will play acoustic (but definitely NOT unplugged), sifting through 40 years worth of music. As Record Collector described their show, “Carefully selecting their repertoire from less obvious sources they invest the rarely performed material with considerable energy and thoughtful arrangements.”

The Strawbs will be touring with The Zombies on a leg of their 50th anniversary tour, for both East Coast, West Coast, and Canadian dates. The schedule is as follows:

Sept 14 The Town Crier Pauling NY Acoustic Strawbs only
Sept 15 MusikFest Café w/The Zombies Bethlehem PA
Sept 16 Montgomery College Cultural Arts Center w/The Zombies Silver Springs MD
Sept 17 Keswick Theater w/The Zombies Glenside PA
Sept 18 Tarrytown Music Hall w/The Zombies Tarrytown NY
Sept 19 Rams Head On Stage w/The Zombies Annapolis MD
Sept 21 Showcase Live w/The Zombies Foxboro MA
Sept 22 Tupelo Music Hall w/The Zombies Londonderry NH
Sept 23 Infinity Hall w/The Zombies Norfolk, CT
Sept 24 Wolf Den @ Mohegan Sun Casino w/The Zombies Uncasville CT
Sept 25 Strand Theater w/The Zombies Lakewood NJ Acoustic Strawbs Only
Sept.26 City Winery w/The Zombies New York NY
Sept.27 City Winery w/The Zombies New York NY
Sept 28 State Theater w/The Zombies State College PA
Sept 30 Celebrity Theater Phoenix AZ
Oct 1 Canyon Club Agoura Hills CA
Oct 2 The Coach House San Juan Capistrano CA
Oct 3 Acoustic Music San Diego CA Acoustic Strawbs Only
Oct 5 McPhillips Station Casino w/The Zombies Winnipeg MB
Oct 7 Casino Regina w/The Zombies Regina SK
Oct 9 Century Casino w/The Zombies Edmonton AB
Oct 12 Convention Center w/The Zombies Kamloops BC
Oct 13 River Rock Casino w/The Zombies Richmond, BC

http://www.strawbsweb.co.uk
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5/31/09

Acoustic Strawbs-back in the USA, June 21


Acoustic Strawbs: Chas Cronk, Dave Cousins, David Lambert

The Strawbs are touring as an acoustic trio this summer in the United States. Dave Cousins, the group's leader, is bringing his bandmates guitarist Dave Lambert and bassist Chas Cronk for 13 shows (eight with Van Der Graaf Generator, six on its own).

Formed first in 1965 at the Strawberry Hill Boys, the group soon included Sandy Denny who recorded an album's worth of pop-flavored songs written by Cousins, and the first recording of Denny's mesmerizing "Who Knows Where The Time Goes." Before a label could be found, Sandy decided her future lay elsewhere, and the album ALL OUR OWN WORK stayed in the can until PART OF THE UNION charted in 1973.

The Strawbs became the first UK act signed to Herb Alpert's A&M Records in 1969, and then added Rick Wakeman (who went on to join Yes), and Richard Hudson and John Ford on drums and bass respectively.

The 1972 ground-breaking album, GRAVE NEW WORLD brought Dave Lambert, and a harder rock style. The song "Lay Down" became a major hit for the group, and recently appeared on the BBC's TV show, "Life On Mars."

Hudson and Ford left, and former Nashville Teens' keyboardist John Hawken joined, with Stealers Wheel's Rod Coombes, and bassist Cronk. The classic album HERO AND HEROINE and GHOSTS were released. This five-piece lineup has toured the States over the past few years, tho' Hawken retired from touring in 2008.

This summer (2009) the Strawbs will be performing as a three piece, including songs from the Acoustic Strawbs' 2001 album, BAROQUE AND ROLL.

JUNE ACOUSTIC STRAWBS US GIGS

Sunday 21 June - Nokia Theatre, New York NY w/ Van Der Graaf Generator
Monday, 22 June, Stephen Talkhouse, Amagansett NY
Tuesday, 23 June, Regent Theatre, Arlington, MA w/ Van Der Graaf Generator
Wednesday 24 June - State Theatre, Falls Church VA w/ Van Der Graaf Generator
Thursday 25 June - Beachland Ballroom, Cleveland OH w/ Van Der Graaf Generator
Friday 26 June - The Abbey, Chicago IL w/ Van Der Graaf Generator
Saturday 27 June - Shank Hall, Milwaukee WI w/ Van Der Graaf Generator
Monday 29 June - The Tralf, Buffalo NY w/ Van Der Graaf Generator
Tuesday 30 June - Rex Theatre, Pittsburgh PA w/ Van Der Graaf Generator
Wednesday 1 July - Ramshead, Annapolis MA
Thursday, 2 July, Sellersville Theatre, Sellersville PA (opening: Jann Klose)
Friday, 3 July, Strand Theatre, Lakewood NJ
Saturday, 4 July, Towne Crier, Pawling NY
Sunday, 5 July, Caffe Lena, Saratoga Springs NY

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