Strawbs to play arts centre (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Strawbs to play arts centre

THE Acoustic Strawbs come to the Swindon Arts Centre on Thursday, January 15 at 7.30pm.

The Classic Rock Society recently presented Dave Cousins, leader of The Strawbs, with the Lifetime Achievement Award, celebrating 30 years in rock music.

The award was presented by former member of the band Rick Wakeman.

Thirty years on from their huge album hit successes Grave New World and Bursting at the Seams, The Strawbs are currently touring with an acoustic line-up.

Dave Cousins on guitar, dulcimer and vocals; Dave Lambert on guitar and vocals plus relative new boy guitarist Brian Willoughby, who took over on lead guitar in 1978 when Dave Lambert went solo.

The Strawbs have enjoyed major success on both sides of the Atlantic. In the early 1970s as well as the hit albums, their hit singles Part of the Union and Lay Down topped the charts.

From the mid-1970s they spent more time in the States and Canada where their albums charted for five years as they toured with, amongst others, Santana, The Eagles, Peter Frampton, Blue Oyster Cult, Joe Walsh, King Crimson and Frank Zappa.

Acoustic Strawbs have recently toured Italy to critical acclaim and played three nights at the Edinburgh Festival.

The trio has also finished recording their first studio album in ten years including several new songs such as There Will Come the Day written by Dave Cousins for a film on human rights for the Council of Europe and Not All the Flowers Grow which reflects on the Aberfan tragedy, together with new acoustic versions of classic Strawbs tracks.

Tickets from the box office on 01793 614837.