Maddy Prior and the Carnival Band

Southport Arts Centre's now traditional concert of seasonal music with a folk flavour is the perfect way to start your festive holiday! Maddy Prior, possessor of perhaps the purest voice in English folk music, is now almost as closely identified with her association with The Carnival Band as she is with that seminal folk-rock band, Steelyeye Span.

The Carnival Band are accomplished musicians with a lust to bring vitality back to the medieval and renaissance music they tackle, mixing ancient, modern and ethnic instrumentation with a refreshingly cavalier attitude and humour aplenty. What began as a one-off Radio 2 special led to an album - Carols & Capers - that proved so popular that the partnership has now spawned four further albums and regular Christmas tours.

"Maddy's voice is clear as a bell. It actually sounds as if there's a celebration going on" The Guardian. "A truly superb pack of musicians" Dirty Linen Magazine (USA).