TalkAwhile - The Folk Corporation Forum

A letter from Blair Dunlop, posted on The Albion Band's Facebook page :

"Dear Albion Band supporters

After much soul searching I’ve made the decision to call time on the
work of the current incarnation of The Albion Band. We’ve had two
years of great times, meeting fans old and new, defying some critics
and playing some great shows along the way.

The pressures of an ever-increasing solo schedule along with the planned launch of a new solo album in May 2014 creates challenges in prioritising the group for the foreseeable future. This, alongside the numerous other projects on which fellow band members are working, means that the new-year seems a good opportunity to draw a line under one phase and look forward to new horizons.

We all remain friends and will undoubtedly work together in various
capacities in the future. It has been an absolute pleasure working
with the rest of the band, and an honour to add to the great history
of The Albion Band.

In the meantime thank you for all of your support and here’s to the future.

Thanks,

Blair x"

Bit of a shame, was looking forward to what they had up their collective sleeves for 2014...

Guess that means we won't be seeing them at Cropredy this year then.  I was still hoping...

Shame really.  I enjoyed their album and hadn't seen them live yet, and was looking forward to seeing how they would develop.

Seems like a good time to announce that I have formed a new group called...The Albion Band! We look forward to welcoming all our new fans and meeting you all at our forthcoming series of house concerts planned for 2014.

 ;D

Cheers Nigel

I can't say that I'm surprised, but I am disappointed that this name was used for a short term project which was superseded by one man's solo career. Don't get me wrong, I like Blair's stuff, having seen him live a couple of times. But the history that the "Albion Band" name represents has been poorly served by this incarnation and this ending.

All in my opinion, which is of course no more worthwhile than anyone else's.

Skirky.. You are a very naughty boy  ;)

I agree with you, Andy. If no-one else (apart from Skirky  ;) ) takes the baton and this really is the end of the Albion Band, then it's a sad fizzling out of a great musical institution.  :(

Although of course the Albion Christmas Band may well continue, though it may be considered a "subsidiary".  Never clear waters when it comes to the Albions!

no one has said it is fizzling out.....the current incarnation is stopping.
lets not jump to conclusions.
as for Albion Xmas that will continue as ever
regards
simon

Just make sure that you don't play the same venues as my version of The Albion Band, Skirky!   ;)

Jules

That's a real shame. They are a great band whatever they call themselves and were playing new material at the gig I saw late last year. I wonder if economics factors into this. They just didn't seem to pick up a following.

Oh well, if nothing else I hope it means more Gilmore & Roberts gigs and records. Kat's songs sound great with a rhythm section. Perhaps that is an option.

I felt they were booked into the wrong 'adult' venues. And rather large ones at that.

Whereas they ought (as 20-somethings) be booked at that age an audience....student bashes etc, along with smallish art centres.

AS GubGub says - looking forward to more of the individuals work!

On reflection it is probably also something of a straitjacket for Blair. Hard for him to establish an identity in his own right if he is shackled to a brand so closely identified with his father.



The Albions have always worked in short bursts and Blair would not be the first member who has sought to establish an identity outside of the band. Phil Beer, John Tams & Chris While to name but three.

I am not sure that the history has been poorly served either. I was as sceptical about the use of the name as anyone but in live performance they played plenty of stuff associated with earlier incarnations of the band when nobody else was doing so.

If no one else is going to suggest it then I will:- perhaps this is a case of the Hutchings low boredom threshold coming out in the son !!??

Cheers Nigel

or perhaps as he says in his letter he is ridiculously busy to do The Albions justice AT THE MOMENT.
Sometimes its damned if you do, damned if you don't.
With regards to audiences, there isn't an 20-something audience out there at the moment. Go check out a Bellowhead gig. I did and expected a younger crowd due to their exposure....couldn't have been more wrong
regards
Simon

Oh, Simon - yes there is.

Check out the Sofar scene, for example - http://sofarsounds.com/#!/landing

A lot of soloists playing in living rooms - but they've filled warehouses with one-day festivals, with various bands playing.

There are other examples too. Maybe seen as an 'underground' movement, but its still out there.

I'm disappointed - I really rated the music they had produced thus far and was hoping for at least one more CD.

It is of course an economic reality that the number of fans out there can only support a finite number of viable acts - however I agree with Chris that I believe there is an audience out there for a version of the Albion Band similar to this last incarnation.

Well this is really very sad. They produced some great music, and I unfortunately never got to see them live. Was really hoping for them to finally make an appearance on a certain north Oxfordshire stage. I suppose if it means we get to hear more from individual members of the band, then it can't be all bad news, I think they're all very talented and they all have great careers ahead of them.

No he's not......He's The Messiah.

I too am disappointed that I didn't get to see them live,and sort of expected them to be at Cropredy this year.The E.P and album are really good.Let's hope they find time to do something sometime.

Hi Simon,

Neither did I! I said 'If no-one else takes the baton...'

As a decades-long admirer of the band and its many incarnations, I sincerely hope the Albions don't fizzle out!

All the best,

Gary

Their twitter account said "And end to the Albion Band - thanks for your support"

The upside of this is it's good and healthy for him to grow up and out from under his dad's shadow.

Jules

You can't! I've formed a band called the Albion Band, and we're planning a series of concerts in Swinging Clubs around the West Midlands.

I think they were a great band, but and, apologies if I'm insulting anybody hereabouts, but (certainly initially) very badly advised, 'managed' and run.  So many mistakes in such a short period...arguably the name (?), the initial tour venues which were truly preposterously large, not being around to play the festivals in the 2 years they've been in existence (especially Cropredy...how they didn't play Cropredy is completely beyond me).  One great ep, one very decent album (and a much better one imho than the 'mothership' made in, what, 30 years?)... it's a lot better legacy than many leave behind.... Ultimately I suppose (and I'd argue partly due to some of the decisions taken above), the audience just wasn't there...

Good luck to all concerned.

I agree - and very glad I got to see them twice with Blair. In fact, I was happily listening to the album this morning while working from home, completely oblivious to this conversation.

Well,in that case,to avoid confusion,you can call yours the Albion Topofyou Band.

Hi,
Don't worry, you are not insulting me, who was their manager until mid-summer 2013. I took them on after the initial tour, which i agree had preposterously large venues. As for not playing Cropredy, you don't just request to play there, you wait to be asked. They actually played at many festivals including Sidmouth, Towersey, and many more in those two years. I agree about a great album.
Anyway, as an ex-member of The Albion Band myself, it is a continuing institution that i am sure will resurrect at some point in the future.
It belongs to Blair and i am certain he will know if and when he wants to run it out again

Kind regards
Simon Care

There shouldn't be any confusion, unless it's with the all-blond tribute act The Albino Band.

I might go for The Albion Dunce Band.  I'm getting the hats done.   ;D

Jules

I believe there will be a new line-up, to do songs on the subject of food along the lines of "Cookery Is The New Rock & Roll".  They will go by the name The Albumen Band.

More factually, Blair is doing a handful of dates in Australia in March.  Nowhere near me, unfortunately.

We're doing a version of the Adagio in G minor, produced by Steve Albini.

As long as none of you clash with my new band! We're only playing in Europe since we're comprised of people not allowed into the UK. Watch out for the Albion Banned...

I've joined with Les Holroyd from Barclay James Harvest to form the Albion Hair Band.

Stop it you are all getting very silly  ::)

Yes - let's Allbeon topic..............

I hear Graeme Swann is forming the No Bail Band...

I'll get my coat, and Albion my way...  ::)

That sounds quite all white.