Ashley Hutchings Rainbow Chasers is rejuvenated by the recent addition of multi-instrumentalist Joe Topping.

"Joe has brought a new impetus to the group," says Ashley. "We anticipate a furious bout of new group composing and a few surprises."

The band has been working on new material and revising arrangements of their existing repertoire.

Joe is steeped in the acoustic scene (his father is a musician and runs a folk club) and he has performed throughout the UK as a soloist and with his own band. He has also worked with some of the best in the genre including Chris While and Julie Matthews, John Wright, Chris Leslie, Gerry Conway, and Maart Allcock.

Chris While describes Joe as "... one of the most talented new generation musicians around...(with) one of the most beautiful voices I have heard." As well as his polished live performances, Joe's songwriting has received critical acclaim and he has released two albums, Love, Loss and Alcohol and Take Me Home.

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The original 1960s line-up of Pentangle will perform an anniversary concert in London's Royal Festival Hall next summer.

The band features founding members Jacqui McShee (vocals), Bert Jansch (guitar), John Renbourn (guitar), Danny Thompson (bass) and Terry Cox (drums).

The concert will take place on 29 June 2008, forty years to the day after Pentangle recorded the live album Sweet Child at the venue.

Pentangle's influence and musical impact remains strong. In February this year the five-piece reunited for a special performance at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards where they were presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award by Sir David Attenborough. A lavish and definitive four CD box set, The Time Has Come, was released in March.

Sunday 29 June 2008, Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, London SE1 8XX.

Doors 7.00pm.

Tickets (£30/£25/£15) go on sale at 10.00am on Thursday 8 November from the Southbank Centre Ticket Office on 0871 663 2500 or www.southbankcentre.co.uk. (Transaction fees apply except for Southbank Centre members).

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“The Folk Beatles…The greatest and most adventurous acoustic ‘supergroup’ of their time” – The Word (April 2007)

“Pentangle still rule the roost” – The Times (9 February 2007)

“Pentangle revolutionised 60s music” – MOJO (April 2007)

“The godfathers of English folk music…unquestionably the core template for today's blooming nu-folk scene” – Metro (23 March 2007)

“Pentangle was electrifying, particularly at a time of unprecedented free thinking in music. Together they created an intoxicating instrumental force” – Jazzwise (April 2007)

“One of the most experimental and influential bands of the Sixties” – The Sun (23 February 2007)

“Pentangle rewrote the Britfolk rulebook…America has nothing to match them” – The Daily Mirror (9 March 2007)

“Britain’s Grateful Dead” – The Guardian (16 March 2007)

I've uploaded some of the photos I took at Peggy's 60th Birthday Gig, there are also a few in Paul's Gallery

If anyone would like to submit a review we'd be really grateful :-)

Janey 

guidemaster@schrodingers-cat.com 

On Monday 8th Oct 2007, our good friend and fantastic young musician, Damien O'Kane, had his beautiful "Erin" banjo stolen in Newcastle Upon Tyne. I'm sure you will appreciate, the true value of an instrument goes way beyond any issue of money; it's a devestating loss. Below is a description of the instrument stolen.

A rare "Erin" banjo, from the maker Phil Davidson, made from bird's eye maple with a celtic design on the bottom of the neck and the name "Dee" inlayed behind the celtic design.

Please, please keep your eyes peeled for a banjo matching this description, there's every chance it will surface on ebay or in a music shop somewhere across the land. If you do come across it, send word to us here at Flook, by emailing sarah@flook.co.uk, or call this number with any information you might have: +44 7791141542

Thanks for your help everyone.....

Sarah, Brian, Ed and John Joe

We've changed the Gallery to make it better and easier to use. Please bear with us while we repopulate the photos.

Janey & Paul