Oysterband (originally The Oyster Band) is a British folk rock band formed in Canterbury in or around 1976. Wickham, formerly spelled Wykeham, is a Civil parish and small Market town in Hampshire, southern England, about three miles The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located Folk rock is a musical genre combining elements of Folk music and rock music. Canterbury ( ˈkæntəbɹ̩i is a City in eastern Kent in the South East region of England.
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History
Early history
The band grew out of the earlier Fiddler's Dram and their side project Oyster Ceilidh Band. Fiddler's Dram were a British folk band of the late 1970s They are mainly known for their hit single Day Trip to Bangor (1979 although the sound of this record was not representative A céilidh ( (in modern usage is a traditional Gaelic social Dance originating in Ireland and Scotland, but now common throughout the The name Oyster comes from the group's early association with the coastal town of Whitstable in East Kent, known for the quality of its oysters. Whitstable ( is a seaside town in northeast Kent, southeast England East Kent and West Kent are one-time traditional subdivisions of the English county of Kent, kept alive by the Association of the Men of Kent and Kentish Their first album, released under the Oyster Ceilidh Band name, was Jack's Alive (1978) on the Dingles record label. Jack's Alive is an album by British Folk music group Oysterband, released in 1980 when they were still known as The Oyster Ceilidh Band Subsequent albums, as Oyster Band (sometimes The Oyster Band) were released on the band's own Pukka Music label: English Rock 'n' Roll: The Early Years 1800-1850 and Lie Back and Think of England, followed by Liberty Hall and 20 Golden Tie-Slackeners. English Rock 'n' Roll The Early Years 1800-1850 is an album by British Folk music group The Oyster Band, released in 1982 Lie Back and Think of England is an album by British Folk music group Oysterband, released in 1983 Liberty Hall is an album by British Folk music group Oysterband, released in 1985 20 Golden Tie-Slackeners is an album by British Folk music group Oysterband, released in 1984
The lineup of the band changed over these albums. The first recorded line-up was:
- Cathy Lesurf - vocals;
- John Jones - melodeon, vocals;
- Alan Prosser - guitars, violin;
- Chris Taylor - guitar, bouzouki, harmonica, one-row melodeon, mandola;
- Ian Telfer - violin, English concertina, saxophone;
- Chris Wood - bass guitar;
- Will Ward - bassoon, recorders, crumhorn, keyboards
When Chris Wood left the band to go travelling in Canada, he was replaced on bass guitar by returning founder member Ian Kearey. Chris Wood or Christopher Wood may refer to Chris Wood (jazz musician, a jazz musician with the trio Medeski Martin & Wood Cathy Lesurf subsequently left to join Ashley Hutchings' Albion Band, and Will Ward also departed so that by the time they recorded Lie Back and Think of England the personnel had settled down to John Jones, Ian Kearey, Alan Prosser and Ian Telfer. Ashley Stephen Hutchings (born January 26 1945) is a British folk musician The Albion Country Band, (also known as The Albion Band) were an English Electric folk band For the album Step Outside they added Russell Lax on drums. Step Outside is an album by British Folk music group Oysterband, released in 1986 Step Outside mixed self-penned songs, often with a political theme, with reworkings of traditional standards such as Hal-an-Tow. Step Outside is an album by British Folk music group Oysterband, released in 1986
Recent history
After the 1987 release Wide Blue Yonder Kearey left the band to be replaced by Chopper (real name Ray Cooper). Wide Blue Yonder is an album by British Folk music group Oysterband, released in 1987 Subsequent albums included Ride, Little Rock to Leipzig and the June Tabor collaboration Freedom and Rain. Ride is an album by British Folk music group Oysterband, released in 1989 Little Rock to Leipzig is an album by British Folk music group Oysterband, released in 1990 and featuring a mixture of live and previously unreleased tracks June Tabor (born December 31 1947 in Warwick, England) is an English Folk singer. Freedom and Rain is a joint album by British Folk music group Oysterband and Folk singer June Tabor, released in 1990 Following this the band name changed to Oysterband. Drummer Lee Partis (who for several years was billed only by his forename) replaced Russell Lax for 1992's Deserters before Holy Bandits in 1993 propelled the band to the forefront of a booming folk rock scene alongside bands such as The Levellers. Deserters is an album by British Folk music group Oysterband, released in 1992 Holy Bandits is an album by British Folk music group Oysterband, released in 1993 The Levellers are a popular English rock band influenced by punk and traditional English music.
In the nineties the band adopted a more overtly political stance, recording the harder The Shouting End of Life and collaborating with Chumbawamba to record Farewell to the Crown, released as the b-side of the Tubthumping single. The Shouting End of Life is an album by British Folk music group Oysterband, released in 1995 Chumbawamba are an English band who began their career playing Anarcho-punk, but over a 25-year career have gone on to play music ranging from pop -influenced " Tubthumping " is a song by the English band Chumbawamba. But recent releases Deep Dark Ocean, Here I Stand, Rise Above and Meet You There have seen the band return to a softer, more melodic sound while recent tours under the banner The Big Session have seen the band offer exposure to several young, emerging folk musicians like the Handsome Family and veteran musicians such as June Tabor. Deep Dark Ocean is an album by British Folk music group Oysterband, released in 1997 Here I Stand is an album by British Folk music group Oysterband, released in 1999 Rise Above is an album by British Folk music group Oysterband, released in 2002 Meet You There is an album by British Folk music group Oysterband, released in April 2007 The Handsome Family is an American Alternative country duo the couple Brett and Rennie Sparks sometimes augmented on tour by a drummer June Tabor (born December 31 1947 in Warwick, England) is an English Folk singer. James O'Grady (Uilleann pipes, fiddle, flute, vocals) regularly appeared on the Oysters' albums and tours in the last few years.
In 2007, long standing drummer Lee Partis decided to take a sabbatical break to be able to concentrate on his work as a psychotherapist, counselling in prisons.
Oysterband will be celebrating their 30th anniversary in 2008.
Current lineup
- Chopper - bass guitar, cello, vocals;
- John Jones - melodeon, lead vocals;
- Alan Prosser - guitars, viola, vocals;
- Ian Telfer - fiddle, English concertina, vocals;
- Dil Davies - drums;
Studio Albums
- To See the Play - 1978
- Fiddler's Dram - 1980
As Oyster Ceilidh Band
- Jack's Alive - 1980
As Oyster Band
- English Rock 'n' Roll: The Early Years 1800-1850 - 1982
- Lie Back and Think of England - 1983
- 20 Golden Tie-Slackeners - 1984
- Liberty Hall - 1985
- Step Outside - 1986
- Wide Blue Yonder - 1987
- Ride - 1989
- Freedom and Rain - 1990 (collaboration with June Tabor)
As Oysterband
- Deserters - 1992
- Holy Bandits - 1993
- Trawler - 1994
- The Shouting End of Life - 1995
- Deep Dark Ocean - 1997
- Here I Stand - 1999
- Rise Above - 2002
- 25 - 2003
- Meet You There - 2007
Live albums
- Little Rock to Leipzig - 1990 (partially live)
- Alive and Shouting - 1996
- Alive and Acoustic - 1998
- 25th Anniversary Concert - DVD - 2004
External links
- Official Site
- Discography
- Big Session Festival
- James O'Grady's Official Website
- Oysterband discography at MusicBrainz
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