Fairport Convention may have done the running as the first British group to
shape the UK folk-rock genre, but Steeleye Span - named after a character in the
famous traditional folk song Horkstow Grange - weren't far behind. Indeed,
unlike Fairport, Steeleye were mainly comprised of musicians already well versed
in traditional folk songs having cut their teeth on the folk club scene. Nominal
leader Ashley Hutchings left Fairport Convention because he wanted to explore
the English folk tradition more deeply and the initial Steeleye line-up included
married Irish duo Gay And Terry W...