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Traditional English songs and dance tunes
performed on acoustic instruments
Club, concert and festival gigs 2012
see us in Reading, Birmingham, Loughton, Teignmouth, Sidmouth, Broadstairs...
New CD "The Robber Bird" now available
The new Magpie Lane CD "The Robber Bird" was released in December 2011:
more details latest reviews buy online
Magpie Lane perform traditional English music and song. They combine powerful vocals
with vigorous dance tunes - inventive arrangements on acoustic instruments.
Magpie Lane appear regularly at top national Festivals - including Sidmouth, Towersey,
Fylde and Chippenham - and have recorded six CDs on the Beautiful Jo label.
In my opinion the finest English Folk Band for concerts... Magpie Lane release a much-anticipated CD which still manages to exceed our high expectations... if I want to show someone why I love English folk music, I can play them this.
Flos Headford, Shreds and Patches
quite the best offering of English traditional songs and dance tunes that has come this way in many a day... a well chosen and balanced programme, full of change of pace and variety
Vic Smith, Sussex Folk Diary
more of what we have come to expect from this talented group... fine vocals and atmospheric arrangements
Sue Swift, English Dance & Song
Magpie Lane have turned their hands to many different themed projects down the years and are every bit as listenable here as ever. They are equally effective singing in permutations from solo to full ensemble and (a big plus in my book) make good use of a cello in their arrangements.
Nick Beale, fRoots
this Oxfordshire sextet represents the very best in the English country dance and song tradition
Sing Out
they do sterling work dusting off England's traditional songs and tunes
Verity Sharp, BBC Radio3
release consistently good albums of English songs and music
Mike Harding, BBC Radio 2
"Traditional English songs and dance tunes performed on acoustic instruments". These modest words of theirs tell only a small part of the story. The Oxfordshire-based quintet marry a deep love of their material with an unflashy musicality and a seriousness of purpose that is never solemn. This is traditional music with nothing taken out and just the right soupçon of seasoning.
Jon Boden & Fay Hield, Royal Traditions, Dungworth
Thanks for another great evening. Every time Magpie Lane appear at Ringwood Folk club we are near to capacity, with plenty of great singing from you and the audience. It's really good to hear proper Southern English Traditional music played so well.
Rod Biggs, Ringwood Folk Club