Acoustic Strawbs w/Special Guest John Wesley Harding

As Strawbs move gracefully into their fifth decade of music making, it is still difficult to categorise the unique sound that has made them Britain's most successful international progressive folk-rock band. David Cousins, who leads the group, has been described by the influential All Music Guide as: "the most talented Dylan influenced songwriter to come out of England". Strawbs are often mentioned in the same breath as progressive rock bands like Yes, King Crimson, and the Moody Blues. It is well documented that Rick Wakeman left Strawbs to join Yes but returned to appear at Strawbs 40th Anniversary Celebration. However, beyond progressive rock, Strawbs have another key component in their in their complex and intricate songs, in that they emerged out of the British Folk movement of the mid-1960s. The band started life as the Strawberry Hill Boys playing bluegrass, before moving into the mainstream by making the first Strawbs album with Sandy Denny in 1967, a year before she recorded her first album with Fairport Convention. The recording with Sandy attracted the attention of A&M Records in Los Angeles who signed Strawbs as the first British band on the label! Strawbs has a devoted fan base that continues to grow on the strength of albums like Grave New World, Bursting At The Seams, Hero And Heroine, and Ghosts, and classic songs such as Lay Down, A Glimpse Of Heaven, and Benedictus. Acoustic Strawbs comprise David Cousins, along with lead guitarist Dave Lambert, and the astonishingly versatile Chas Cronk, who together formed the front-line of the classic 1970s line-up of the band.

Official Site |

JOHN WESLEY HARDING
John Wesley Harding has released 17 albums, ranging from traditional folk to full-on pop music. His album The Sound Of His Own Voice (Yep Roc, October 2011) was recorded in Portland in November 2010. The album features 13 new songs, backed by an all star band, The King Charles Trio, featuring members of The Decemberists, Peter Buck, Scott McCaughey, Rosanne Cash, Laura Veirs, and John Roderick. John Wesley Harding has been joined onstage by Lou Reed, Iggy Pop, John Prine, Bruce Springsteen (with whom he recorded a duet on his album Awake), Joan Baez, Evan Dando, David Baddiel, Rick Moody, Tanya Donelly, Josh Ritter, Andrew Bird, Rosanne Cash, Colin Meloy, Scott MacCaughey and Robyn Hitchcock, among others. He has appeared on Late Night with Conan O'Brien, The Late Show with David Letterman, and The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. His songs have been featured in films (including High Fidelity) and covered by other artists. His series of "Cabinet of Wonders" variety shows, inaugurated in spring 2009 in New York, featured appearances by Rosanne Cash, Graham Parker, Josh Ritter, Rick Moody, Colson Whitehead, and Jonathan Ames. It's "a brilliant evening of laid-back fun" (Village Voice) and "one of the most whip-smart variety shows on the market" (Portland Tribune). Two further series in 2009/10 featured among others: A. C. Newman, Colin Meloy, Rhett Miller, Eugene Mirman, Tanya Donelly, Patrick McGrath, and Todd Barry. The Cabinet of Wonders has now moved to City Winery in Manhattan. The next series features appearances by Craig Finn, Ted Leo, Howe Gelb, Andrew VanWyngarden (MGMT), Todd Barry, John Darnielle (The Mountain Goats) and many others.
Official Site | Twitter | Facebook | iTunes | YouTube

Buy Tickets
Tickets are also available via phone at 703.255.1566