Rare 'home' show for multi-million selling band, MAGNA CARTA
MAGNA CARTA – ‘in concert’
Rare UK show - SAT SEPT 2ND; RIPLEY, Town Hall Harrogate HG3 3AX Standing/Seated £15 (members) £18 non-members & guests Doors 7.30pm https://ripleylive.com/index.php/upcoming-events
Following the resounding success of their performance at The Great British Folk Festival, 2016 UK, Netherlands and Spain tour dates, Magna Carta are celebrating the continuing success of their new album, ‘The Fields of Eden’.
Former Steeleye Span and Albion Band member KEN NICHOL will be lending his not inconsiderate talents to MAGNA CARTA for their ‘live shows. Guitarist Ken, who left Steeleye in 2002 after four albums and having toured the world with the band, has subsequently worked on his successful solo career alongside regular musical partnerships with the likes of PHIL COOL (with whom he performed as a duo for Fairport Conventions’ 40 date 2009 UK Tour) and long-time associate, ASHLEY HUTCHINGS. Ken’s drama production, ‘The Glass Chronicles’ was first staged in 2011.
Magna Carta founder, CHRIS SIMPSON is delighted to welcome Ken into the ranks for the up-coming ‘live’ shows: “Ken is a true heavyweight. That he is held in such high esteem by Maddy Prior, Martin Carthy, Ashley Hutchings and Ralph McTell should be enough, but rehearsals have sounded SO good. I can’t wait to get out there and play!”
Central to Magna Carta has always been songwriter/poet/singer/ acoustic guitarist, CHRIS SIMPSON, whom MOJO writer Fred Dellar once described as ”the English Paul Simon”.
The band have played in 78 countries, including performances at the Royal Albert Hall and Montreux Festival (with Santana and Cat Stevens). The bands’ ‘Seasons’ (one of three albums featuring later ELTON JOHN guitarist, DAVEY JOHNSTONE) and ‘Lord of the Ages’ albums (released on the iconic Vertigo label) sold in their millions, with total Magna Carta worldwide sales in excess of 8,000,000. Another track from ‘Seasons’ – ‘Airport Song’ - has had almost 50,000 hits on just one YouTube link. ‘Seasons’ itself has had in excess of 80,000 hits
“’Lord of the Ages’, is arguably one of the greatest albums of its kind ever made” (Rick Wakeman)
‘Lord Of The Ages’ and the anthology, ‘Tomorrow Never Comes’ (both with covers by design legend, Roger Dean) are now avialble on vinyl by Repertoire Records. The album has annually been placed in the ‘Top 100 Albums of All Time’ on Dutch radio.
Magna Carta still retain massive respect for those and their subsequent recordings, right up to date with their most recent album ‘Fields of Eden’ (Talking Elephant, 2015) – with respected journalist and author, Nigel Schofield reflecting: “No need for comparisons; this is their best”. Featuring Elliott Randall (Steely Dan, Doobie Brothers) and Alan Thomson (John Martyn), Schofield goes on to say in his review that Chris Simpson is “one of the greatest lyricists on the planet. He often uses soliloquys as a means of not only championing the spoken word, but making the point stick”.
‘The Fields Of Eden’ has 16 (and counting) 4 and 5 star reviews and Record Retailer called the release “one of the finest 'folk' albums in many years. 5*****.”
Twitter : @BandMagnaCarta
