In the pantheon of modern English folk music the name of Ashley Hutchings belongs with Martin Carthy, Norma Waterson, Richard Thompson, Ralph McTell and Dave Swarbrick.

He formed Fairport Convention with Simon Nicol in 1967, left after the band's hugely popular Liege and Lief album featuring the singing of the late Sandy Denny, formed the influential folk-rock band Steeleye Span, left in 1971 and then formed The Albion Band.

That's more than enough for anyone's career. But in 2004, at the age of 59, he retired the band and formed Rainbow Chasers, an acoustic folk foursome featuring Joe Topping, guitar and vocals; Jo Hamilton, viola, guitar and vocals; Ruth Angell, fiddle, guitar and vocals; and Hutchings, bass and vocals. They are appearing at Saltaire's Victoria Hall this Sunday.

Ashley said: "When I wound up The Albion Band that was the end of 37 years of folk and folk-rock music. What I really want to do now is write contemporary songs.

"We all write. One of the strengths of Rainbow Chasers is they have an old head - me - and I have their enthusiasm, their energy."

They played Victoria Hall once before, soon after forming, but getting the band known has taken time.

"We don't do a lot of gigs because we are still trying to establish ourselves. We need to put the word around that Phil Beer, from Show of Hands (nominated for the third consecutive year for Best Duo in the BBC2 Folk Awards) called us the best acoustic group in the country," he added.

That acclamation is now on posters and flyers announcing Rainbow Chasers' existence.

In a career of more than 40 years, starting out in 1964 with Dr K's Blues Band, he only once packed in the music business, becoming a postman.

However he soon bought himself another guitar. And in all that time he said he had only one moment of doubt.

He said: "When I left Fairport in 1969 we had just done Liege and Lief. We were on the front cover of Rolling Stone as the new British folk-rock phenomenon. I had regrets initially, but I formed Steeleye and we had a lot of artistic and commercial success in a few years.

"Since then I have enjoyed moving on, working at the National Theatre with The Albion Band, acting in a one-man show. I have had great fun, made some wacky albums. It's been a full, rich life."

He said he had not made a lot of money out of the music business. But he was so well known that he had no trouble getting a recording label or gigs for himself.

Simon Heginbotham, who organises the live folk and traditional music shows at Saltaire, offered the following assessment of Ashley Hutchings.

"He has consistently done what he has musically wanted to do. He left Fairport because he wanted to take a more hardcore English folk route, yet Liege and Lief was voted the most influential folk album of all time in a BBC poll last year.

"He has maintained his musical integrity. The bands he left are the bands that people still look to. He really is a legendary figure."

  • Rainbow Chasers are playing Saltaire's Victoria Hall on Sunday, supported by Last Orders. Doors open 7pm. Tickets from Fanny's Ale House, Saltaire, or by ringing (01274) 588614.