Christmas celebrations get off to an early start for Harrogate’s music fans when the Albion Christmas Band bring their special seasonal concert to The Royal Hall on Tuesday 17 December 2013.
For most people Christmas 2013 will bring with it the annual round of festivities and parties with family and friends and that is no exception for the Albion Christmas Band. But this year’s tour also heralds a very special celebration for them as the band’s visit to Harrogate falls on the fifteenth anniversary of its inaugural concert in 1999.
Each December since then the four bandmembers have reconvened to visit venues old and new then disbanded til the next season.
This will be their first visit to The Royal Hall and they are promising to make this concert a very special one to celebrate their anniversary.
Ashley Hutchings said:
We are really looking forward to playing The Royal Hall.
Quite a few of the venues on our annual tour we have visited many times – it will be a pleasure to welcome a new audience to our ‘Christmas and anniversary celebrations’. Our concert offers a chance for them to unwind and escape from all the hustle and bustle of the seasonal preparations.
The band evolved from special Christmas shows by the last incarnation of the Albion Band. On a suggestion from Simon Care, a previous Albion band member himself, Ashley ‘The Guv’nor’ Hutchings brought together two other previous Albion Band members to create an autonomous band to present a guided tour through the Christmas customs of Britain. Featuring the combined talents of Simon Nicol (founder member of Fairport Convention) on acoustic guitar and vocals, Kellie While (Albion Band), acoustic guitar, vocals and percussion, Simon Care (Edward II), melodeons, and the Guv’nor himself, Ashley Hutchings, (founder of Fairport Convention, Albion Band, and Steeleye Span) on bass guitar and vocals they perform a mixture of seasonal carols, spoken word, humorous readings and dance, the show is the antithesis of the Christmas special shows filling television screens, reminding audiences of the simpler pleasures and values of a traditional Christmas.
To open the shows inger songwriter Fabian Holland will be the band’s special guest. This young guitarist is already attracting attention for his skilful playing and his thought-provoking lyrics earning comments such as “he’s not good, he’s bloody good!” by Folk Radio UK and being dubbed as “a major new talent” by FATEA magazine.
The concert starts at 7.30pm. Tickets for the concert cost £16.50 and are available from the box office on 01423 500500 or via the The Royal Hall’s website www.harrogatetheatre.co.uk
Follow the Albion Christmas Band tour online: www.facebook.com/AnAlbionChristmasTour2013
