Ashley Hutchings, acclaimed by Dylan as a colossus of folk-rock, is 80
January 27, 2025
Colin Randall writes: Ashley Hutchings, a pivotal figure of folk-rock, has joined folk's growing band of 80somethings. Six decades of inspiring and often innovative endeavour has brought him widespread recognition includin multiple awards. A celebratory concert is planned for April ...
With apologies for being a day late Salut! Live and its Facebook group offer greetings to Ashley Hutchings on his 80th birthday.
As I said at the UK and Irish Folk and Acoustic 60s 80s Facebook group, Hutchings - also known as Tyger or, respectfiully, The Guv'nor, is an absolute star of the music we love.
His DNA is present in Fairport Convention and Steeleye Span, not to mention the various formations of the Albion Band. I will never forget standing in an Oxfordshire field - the Cropredy festival of 2007 - and watching Hutchings and the other male founding members of Fairport recreate track for track, with Chris While magnificent in the role of the late Sandy Denny, the groundbreaking 1969 album Liege and Lief.
He had, as I recall, stipulated that there should be no encore for that part of the weekend's programme, just as faithful as possible a reproduction of a great work 38 years after it first appeared.
As I wrote at Facebook on his birthday, we simply would not have experienced folk-rock in anything like the same way without him.
And what is more there is no need to take my word for it.
Bob Dylan, whose song Million Dollar Bash was covered by Fairport, has called him Million Dollar Ash, declaring on different occasions “Ashley Hutchings is the single most important figure in English folk rock” and "my friend Ashley Hutchings is the godfather or English folk rock. He made us a genre we can't refuse".
These are meaningful words of praise which find echoes throughout music. And not just music: along the way, Huchings's thirst for artistic adventure has inspired forays into theatre, dance, poetry and literature.
At the Liege and Lief concert, Cropredy 2007. By Brian Marks
April 18, Birmingham Town Hall, Hutchings's birthday will be honoured in a concert billed as Million Dollar Bash and featuring a line-up assembled by hos son, Blair Dunlop and rfeflecting key aspects of his father's career. Tickets are available here.
From a splendid body of work, I shall choose one musical clip and one interview.
The Gresford Disaster commemorates one of Britain's deadly mining tragedies, killing 261 men in 1934. You hear why Dylan so warmly praises the Guv’Nor’s bass playing.
And here is the man himself, chatting backstage to the radio presenter Bob Harris at the 2014 Cropredy festival:
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HAPPY BIRTHDAY ASH !!
Posted by: Tore Eng | January 27, 2025 at 06:02 PM
When I interviewed first Ashley and secondly Blair Dunlop and Ashley together I found - whilst music was playing - we also shared a love of football - they are Spurs supporters (and Fiorentina in Italy and Real Betis in Spain!)
Not sure what they would think to Postecoglou's sacking!!
Posted by: Dave Eyre | January 27, 2025 at 06:03 PM
Dave: can you lose at home to Ipswich and Leicester and not be sacked?
Posted by: Colin Randall | January 27, 2025 at 08:27 PM