Lindisfarne

Lindisfarne are a British folk rock group from Newcastle upon Tyne, active from 1970 to 2004. They are associated with folk rock, British folk rock, folk, art rock and progressive rock.

Formation and early line-up

The group forms in Newcastle upon Tyne in 1968 and the original line-up includes Alan Hull, Ray Jackson, Ray Laidlaw, Rod Clements and Simon Cowe. Their debut album, Nicely Out of Tune, appears in 1970.

Albums and releases

Their second album, Fog on the Tyne, is produced by Bob Johnson, who has also worked with Bob Dylan. At the time, Alan Hull is compared with Dylan. After their third album, Dingly Dell, the group splits, and a Mark II version continues with new members and releases several more albums before disbanding in 1975.

Re-forming and later years

The original group reforms in 1978 and releases Back and Fourth, which includes the hit single “Run for Home”. This line-up continues for many years. Marty Craggs joins for the 1986 album Dance Your Life Away.

Personnel changes and final period

Ray Jackson later leaves to work in London, and Simon Cowe leaves to run a brewery in Canada. Jackson also becomes an artist known for colourful paintings of buses and plays mandolin on Rod Stewart’s “Maggie May”. In the mid-1990s the group celebrates twenty-five years of performing at Newcastle City Hall. Alan Hull dies of a heart attack less than six months later.

The band then continues with Billy Mitchell, Dave Denholm and Ian Thompson, returning to a more folk-based sound. This line-up lasts for several years until Marty Craggs departs. The remaining three members then tour as an acoustic trio before the group ends with a final performance in 2004.