PLEASE NOTE: This site is NOT run by Ashley Hutchings, but is an UNOFFICIAL site, run in deep appreciation of Ashley's music and his HUGE contribution to English folk music and dance.
Ashley Hutchings' remarkable and incredible contribution to the British Folk Revival has often been compressed into the shorthand, that goes something like this: Father of Folk-Rock, Alchemist of Electric Morris,The Guv'nor, founder-member of Fairport Convention, Steeleye Span, the many Albion Bands, The Ashley Hutchings All-Stars, The Ashley Hutchings Big Beat Combo,The Ashley Hutchings Dance Band, and his many solo albums, though even these have many members of the various bands associated with Ashley.
This, however, does not even begin to detail the full scope of his accomplishments. Ashleys' enormous importance and contribution, as band-leader, arranger, musician, and above all popularist of English-based folk music is centred upon his own particular blend of tradition and innovation.
Ashley Hutchings was born on 26th January 1945,in Southgate, Middlesex, and spent his early years in the Muswell Hill area of North London. His father, Leonard, was a pianist with his own dance band - Leonard Hutchings and His Embassy Five. The young Hutchings followed his passionate interest in all forms of popular music. During the early sixties he led a number of short-lived groups - the Still Waters, the Blue Reeds, Dr. K's Blues Band, Tim Turner's Narration and the Ethnic Shuffle Orchestra. Skiffle, R'n'B and the singer-songwriters of North America provided the repertoire for the early bands that eventually became Fairport Convention, or as rumour had it, very nearly, Electric Rhutabaga.......
Ashley Hutchings being interviewed by Bob Harris in 2006....in which Ashley talks about his entire career.
And here are Ashley Hutchings Rainbow Chasers singing DAMN THE DAY at Cropredy 2007
Thanks for adding us - whether it's the re-union with Fairport for Liege & Lief or Rainbow Chasers, the involvement of Mr H is always a guarantee of quality.
Thanx for your kind comment about the Wrapper Band.
I've remastered and uploaded 2 more tracks.
Richard Mosscroft's Waltz - with Ralph on melodeon. I never mnaged to find a manuscript of that.
Olde Haile's Hornpipe, spendid multipart Double Hornpipe, out of John and the Greeny Cheshire way...
Hope to maybe see you around sometime at a festival or just in a pub.
As we do every year we will be at Sidmouth Folk Festival in August. We are normally found in The Swan near the Ham Marque on the first weekend. If your able to and are actually there come along and say hello. You'll know who I am, I'm the tall young guy with long hair and a melodeon.
Regards,
Matt
(Shawn is our masgot, for each pint we drink we put 5 pence into Shawn. Then at the end of the year the money goes to charity)
