Interest generated by a CD reissue in the nineties
led to a Solstice renaissance, with two studio releases – New Life
and Circles – and a live album – The Cropredy Set –
documenting their return to the big festival stage.
Pursuing an intense involvement with traditional
music, guitarist Andy Glass once more put the band on hold in order to
put his energies into the critically-acclaimed 3sticks, but things have
once again come full circle. A long-awaited DVD release of the Cropredy
performance set the stage for a renaissance in 2007, with the entire back
catalogue being remastered and issued in greatly expanded ‘Definitive
Edition’ form, tapping into the current ascendance of musicians
mixing traditional influences with contemporary elements, drawing a wider
audience for a band who the cognoscenti have loved for decades.
This rich musical heritage provides the foundation for the next stage
of the band’s development. With club and festival dates in the UK
and, for the first time, mainland Europe, Solstice are playing to a larger
audience than ever before, including – the latest in a tradition
of bizarre gigs – to the Queen at the refurbished Milton Keynes
Bowl. Whilst Her Majesty was unavailable for comment, an unconfirmed rumour
suggests that Prince Harry has ‘Time for a Toke’ on his iPod.
And for the future? With coverage in a number of major music magazines
and the new studio album, Spirit, getting great reviews, things are looking
very bright indeed.
Oz
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