Folkies Lindisfarne are back, live at the Witchwood THE Witchwood in Ashton-u-Lyne is offering you the chance to see Lindisfarne live, in a small intimate venue. The legendary band have agreed to play the Witchwood on Sunday, April 11. From their origins on Tyneside in 1969, when Rod Clements and Ray Laidlaw brought songwriter Alan Hull into their semi-acoustic blues band, Lindisfarne have had an instantly identifiable sound and style combining memorable songs, rootsy instrumentation and rock sensibility.

The classic early 70s line-up of Rod, Ray, Alan, Ray Jackson and Si Cowe chalked up several chart appearances with tracks like, Lady Eleanor, Run for Home, the Clements-penned, Meet Me On The Corner, and the platinum selling Fog on the Tyne. They added a sixth member, Marty Craggs, in 1984, and their annual sell-out Christmas concerts in Newcastle earned them legendary status throughout the 80s.

Exciting

Faced with the choice of trading on their past or pursuing more exciting possibilities, Lindisfarne moved from the 80s to the 90s with two albums, Amigos and Elvis Lives on the Moon.

A new line up evolved with the departure of Ray Jackson and Si Cowe, but the recruitment of Dave Denholm, and Ian Thomson. This line-up took the Cambridge Folk Festival by storm in 1995, it's new found energy and commitment reflecting the rekindled passion in Alan Hull's songwriting. But the band's new momentum was brutally interrupted by Alan's sudden and untimely death in November 1995.

Many predicted that robbed of their principal songwriter and figurehead, Lindisfarne would call it a day. Instead they opted to keep faith with their aims and brought in singer guitarist Billy Mitchell. Adopting a totally acoustic format, they toured throughout 1996 and 1997 to prove beyond any doubt that Lindisfarne today is as powerful in performance as it ever was.

The only question remaining among supporters and doubters alike, was whether post-Alan, Lindisfarne could bring out an album of new material good enough to stand alongside their finest work. And the release of Here Comes The Neighbourhood, puts any doubts to rest. Judge the band for yourselves at the Witchwood. Tickets priced £10 on 0161 344 0321.

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