Spirogyra

Spirogyra originated in Canterbury, England, during 1970 as part of a wave of emerging progressive folk acts that B&C Records contracted alongside Steeleye Span. Martin Cockerham, who handled songwriting, joined forces with singer Barbara Gaskin along with Julian Cusack and Steve Borrill to establish the group. On their first record from 1971, drummer Dave Mattacks contributed. Both St. Radigund’s and its successor Old Boot Wine evoked the early sound of Strawbs while incorporating progressive elements reminiscent of the Incredible String Band. Their tracks carried a fanciful English character, enhanced by the clear and pristine quality of Gaskin’s vocals. Cockerham and Gaskin handled the recording of the band’s last release, Bells, Boots And Shambles, which appeared in 1973. Subsequently, Gaskin collaborated with Hatfield And The North and, together with Dave Stewart, achieved an unexpected number one position on the UK charts in 1981 via their rendition of Lesley Gore’s ‘It’s My Party’. (NB: Not to be confused with the US jazz rock group Spyro Gyra.)