WHERE WERE YOU WHEN THE POPE DIED?

Most people remember where they were when President Kennedy was shot or when the dreadful events of 9/11 took place. Strawbs will never forget where they were when the Pope died.

Strawbs in their acoustic line-up were onstage in a mediaeval library in Olgiate Comasco, near Lake Como in Italy. They were just finishing 'The Antique Suite', written by Dave Cousins about the death of an old doctor friend, when the lights dimmed. The chair of the library came onstage to announce the death of His Holiness and asked Strawbs to take a five-minute break. In difficult and moving circumstances they returned to sing 'A glimpse of heaven' and 'Lay down'.

Strawbs are well known for the depth of emotion and spirituality in their songs. The latest album 'DEJA FOU' was released last summer and re-unites David Cousins, Dave Lambert, and Chas Cronk, the front line of the classic 1970s line-up of Britain's most successful international folk-rock band.

Strawbs first hit the charts in the UK and Europe in the early 1970s with 'Grave New World' and 'Bursting at the Seams', each selling 100,000 copies in the UK alone. From the mid-1970s Strawbs concentrated their attention on the United States and Canada where their albums, including the classics 'Hero and Heroine' and 'Ghosts', spent over fifty-two weeks on the Billboard charts. Strawbs toured with the likes of Santana, Peter Frampton, The Eagles, REO Speedwagon, Joe Walsh, Blue Oyster Cult, King Crimson, and Frank Zappa.

Rick Wakeman played with the Strawbs for two years before moving on to achieve world-wide success with Yes, and as a solo artist. The much-loved Sandy Denny made an album with the Strawbs before she joined Fairport Convention.

Strawbs appearances in the US and Canada have received rave reviews:

"If you were at NEARfest [headline appearance] this past year
you probably witnessed the outpouring of affection for the Strawbs."
(Exposé - March 2005)

"Hearing the brilliant Strawbs [at the Edmonton Folk Festival]
was like a tutorial in UK folk music from the past 40 years.
(Edmonton Sun - August 2004)

"Unlike many groups that are past their commercial prime and churn out inferior,
dispirited versions of the hits from their glory days, the acoustic Strawbs stand out
as a band that performs their old material with passion and precision.
Furthermore, they have broken new ground by harnessing the power
of their electric incarnation in an acoustic setting."
(Chicago Tribune - May 2003)

Check out Witchwood Records online at www.witchwoodrecords.co.uk