The well known song All Around My Hat doesn't make an appearance until the encore and I just can't get this little shouty voice out of my head. They must have had to play this song at every gig since 1975 and you can only imagine what it must feel like after thirty-four years. Of course the song itself is much, much older than that, but in this place, given it's folk-rock interpretation, all I can think is Maddy Prior thinking Thirty-four Fscking years! Every gig for Thirty-four Fscking years!

But this is Steeleye Span , legends of the electric guitar-tinged folk tune, playing a variety mix of prog-folk, trad. folk, 80's-folk, even a bit of cringeworthy country-folk. They are no strangers to the reworked tune or playing a song that's hundreds of years old as if they've just invented it. Some of the music does seem very dated, but this is the stuff that sounds like every band did in the 80's - all clean power chords, pads and strings. It's a weird mixture of styles and eras (I'm not a big Span groupie so I don't know all the songs) but there is certainly some good epic story-telling, impressive fiddle-work, a few jigs and reels and Maddy Prior's phenomenal voice, just as powerful as it always was.

Certainly the audience (primarily of a 'certain age') are enjoying themselves, singing along and getting involved. The usual sort of crowd smugness abounds, as fans outdo each other in lyrical knowledge and generally it is a good night, though somehow not as electrifying as it should be.