Steeleye Span bringing new old songs to live show in Burnley

As the current line-up featuring singer Maddie Prior prepares to come to Burnley Mechanics next Thursday - the second night of a UK tour - guitarist Julian Littman gave his thoughts on the band’s enduring appeal.

“The thing that we always say is that we are not a tribute band,” he said. “We are all, in a way, curators of Steeleye’s music but Maddie is the keeper of the keys. She’s very protective of the Steeleye legacy and the songs - all in a good way.

“But we also have a responsibility to keep things fresh. It’s so important that we don’t just sit back.”

The band’s most recent album The Green Man Collection is the perfect example of that, revisiting songs from Steeleye’s extensive back catalogue. The title track is a song written more than 40 years ago by Bob Johnson, a key member of the band in the early years.

“It never went on a record and was just languishing around,” said Julian. “When it was suggested it might work on the new album we listened to it and realised what a great song it was. It’s also way ahead of its time as it covers the subject of climate change.

“But things like that happen all the time with Steeleye. I think there are three or four obscure songs which we will be performing as part of the tour. You are always on a voyage of discovery.”

Steeleye Span are acknowledged as being one of the most influential folk and folk rock bands of all time and the band’s influence continues to be felt today.

“There are a lot of great young, modern folk musicians or musicians who draw from folk in all sorts of ways at the moment,” said Julian. “What is so great for us when we play live is that you see all these kids in the audience.

“You realise that their grandparents listened to Steeleye and in turn their parents.

“I’ll often say at a show - ‘I know why you’re here, I bet you had Steeleye on in the car on cassette when you were going on holiday’ and invariably I’m right.

“It’s so great that it makes them feel good to come and hear us live. Quite a few people were brought up on Steeleye. I call them ‘the brainwashed’.

“But it’s for them and all the other fans that we are constantly injecting new/old stuff back into the set.”

Julian has picked up the title of ‘album co-ordinator’ but he is quick to play it down.

“Don’t be fooled,” he said. “It’s basically because I’m quite good at the technical side of things. Because the band lives all over the country we will send files around as you do these days and I try to keep it all together.”

Julian has been part of the Steeleye line-up for 14 years - “I’m just a newbie really,” he laughed.

But being part of one of the most famous folk outfits of all time is just part of an impressive CV.

“When I first started out I described myself as an actor musician,” he said. “But now I’m more of a musician than an actor.”

Julian’s CV includes working with Madonna on the film Evita.

“I was her brother in the film,” he said. “We’d go out to dinner and hang out on set. It was a long time ago now -1996 - but she was great.”

He also appeared alongside David Bowie in a BBC production of Brecht’s Baal and has appeared in the West End.

As a musician he has released a number of solo albums, most recently The Goblin Market. He tours with singer Charlie Dore whom he met at drama school. He has also been part of Dexy’s Midnight Runners and toured with Gerry Rafferty.

Perhaps his most intriguing claim to fame is that for two years he was on the children’s TV programme Rainbow, writing songs and appearing alongside George and Bungle for two years with Charlie Dore and Karl Johnson.

“They did ask us to stay on but we hung up our dungarees and let Rod Jane and Freddy take on the mantle,” he laughed.

Steeleye Span, Burnley Mechanics, Thursday, May 2. Details from www.blcgroup.co.uk