The Albion Band

The Albion Band name originated strictly as a billing device for the backing musicians engaged to support Shirley Collins during 1971, only later developing into a standalone ensemble. Central to its formation was bassist Ashley Hutchings, already responsible for founding and then exiting both Fairport Convention and Steeleye Span. Drawing on acoustic and electric instruments alike, the players generate a folk-rock texture comparable to that of Fairport Convention while remaining more consistently English in flavor. The same collective has appeared under the successive titles Albion Band, Albion Country Band, and Albion Dance Band.