Ashley Hutchings
and
The Albion Band

Ashley Hutchings was the co-founder of Fairport Convention and Steeleye Span. Also the founder of the Albion Band. As such he has been involved in the formation of three of the biggest bands in English folk music.

As a teenager he began playing the 'wash tub' or 'tea chest' type of home-made bass, but soon (wisely) changed to an electric bass guitar, which is the instrument he has continued to play ever since.

In 1966, he formed the Ethnic Shuffle Orchestra with Simon Nicol. This evolved into Fairport Convention formed in 1967. He is said to have liked the album Liege and Lief, and wanted to keep Fairport Convention on the same style of Folk-rock with a repertoire based on traditional music, but there were indications that other members of the group did not want to follow that path, and wanted to include more original material.

He left Fairport Convention in 1969 and formed Steeleye Span.

In late 1971 he formed the Albion Country Band to back Shirley Collins who was then his wife. The line-up included Simon Nichol, Richard Thompson and John Kirkpatrick. The album No Roses is regarded as a major landmark in English folk music.

Also around this time Morris On was released. One of the only commercial recordings of morris music, and proving to have an enduring popularity.
 

In January 1974 the Etchingham Steam Band emerged from some of the members of the Albion Country Band and Shirley Collins. They did not release any recordings.

The Albion Dance Band was formed in 1975 with Simon Nicol and others. It lasted until 1977.
 

In 1978, Hutchings formed the Albion Band, which notably included Ric Sanders on violin, who later joined Fairport Convention to replace Dave Swarbrick. The Albion Band has endured ever since, but has gone through numerous changes of personnel, and some changes of musical style.

Links:

The Official Ashley Hutchings web page: www.folkicons.co.uk/ashley.htm

The Official Albion Band web page: www.folkicons.co.uk/albion.htm