Steeleye Span St George’s Hall

Goodness gracious! No Gaudete! But there was plenty more to revel in at Steeleye’s regular appearance around Christmas in Bradford.

Led, as ever, by the soaring voice of Maddy Prior, the band appeared fresher than ever playing new material from their collaboration with Sir Terry Pratchett and his Wintersmith novel.

And it was scintillating stuff, with supreme musicianship, terrific changes of pace within the folk rock genre and totally mesmerising.

The first half ended with a rocking number, Dance The Dark Morris, which featured black-faced Morris dancers accompanying the band.

And after the break, more Wintersmith material which has definitely given the band new impetus, and showcasing all the amzing dexterity of all five band members with decades of experience behind them.

Oh, and yes, there was All Around My Hat to finish off for the diehards!