The Strawbs - Full Electric Show

Event information

The Strawbs have had a rich history since they were formed around forty years ago. Originally named The Strawberry Hill Boys, they started out as a duo comprising Dave Cousins and Tony Hooper playing bluegrass music. Bass player Ron Chesterman then joined them and they recorded an album with Sandy Denny which was released several years later.

Sandy then joined Fairport Convention and keyboard player Rick Wakeman, bassist John Ford and drummer Richard Hudson joined The Strawbs in 1970. This line-up lasted for two albums until Wakeman left in 1971 to be replaced by Blue Weaver, formerly of Amen Corner. The album "Grave New World" followed in 1972, after which Tony Hooper departed and Dave Lambert joined. The next album contained two hit singles, "Lay Down" and "Part of the Union" which was written by Hudson and Ford. Hudson and Ford left the band and formed a moderately successful duo as Hudson Ford producing a handful of hit singles. Blue Weaver also left to join the Bee Gees, so three new members were drafted in; Chas Cronk on Bass, Rod Coombes on Drums and John Hawken on keyboards. Two albums, "Hero and Heroine" and "Ghosts" were recorded with this line-up before Hawken left the band. The quartet of Cousins, Lambert, Cronk and Coombes produced a further three albums, "Nomadness," " Deep Cuts" and "Burning For You" followed by "Deadlines" on which Tony Fernandez replaced Coombes on drums.

Dave Cousins then accepted a job as programme controller at Radio Tees, effectively spelling the end of the band, despite the addition of Brian Willoughby on guitar. Occasional line-ups performed during the '80s and '90s i"ncluding the Dave Cousins and Brian Willoughby duo which released two albums, Old School Songs and "The Bridge."

The 30th anniversary concert at Chiswick in 1998 brought together nearly all the past members of the band for a musical feast and since then The Strawbs have been touring, either as a six-piece electric or a three-piece acoustic band. 2001 saw them release a new acoustic album, "Baroque and Roll."

We welcome Dave and company to The Brook with their full electric set for this gig.

Preview by Peter Ashton