Iconic Archived News

Pentangle reunion

Pentangle's original line-up

Iconic artist Jacqui McShee, a founding member of Pentangle, is to join the other members of the original band for an exclusive live performance at the 2007 BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards.

It is now 25 years since this line-up of Pentangle last played together. The groundbreaking folk-jazz-rock group was formed in late 1966 and featured Jacqui on vocals, Bert Jansch and John Renbourn on guitars, Danny Thompson on double bass and Terry Cox on drums.

Although that line-up split after seven years, Pentangle continued to perform throughout the 1970s. The personnel included Mike Piggott, Nigel Portman Smith, Peter Kirtley on guitars and vocals, with Jacqui McShee and Bert Jansch from the original line-up.

In 1982/3, the original five members played together again, including a performance at London's Barbican.

In the 1990s, Jacqui formed a trio with Gerry Conway on percussion and Spencer Cozens on keyboards and their debut album 'About Thyme' reached the top of fROOTS magazine's British folk chart. Expanded to a five-piece and renamed Jacqui McShee's Pentangle, the band has continued to tour and record ever since. The present line-up is Jacqui McShee, Gerry Conway, Spencer Cozens, bass guitarist Alan Thompson and saxophonist Gary Foot.

The special performance of the original line-up will take place at the Folk Awards ceremony in London on Monday 5 February and the show will be broadcast on Radio 2 in a special programme hosted by Mike Harding on Wednesday 7 February between 7 and 9pm.

Pentangle will also receive a Lifetime Achievement Award for its contribution to the genre.

"I'm really looking forward to singing with the old band again," says Jacqui. "This one-off will bring back memories of the great times we had together."

Pentangle's Folk Awards reunion was suggested by Folk Awards executive producer John Leonard. "Pentangle were one of the most influential groups of the late 20th century and it would be wrong if the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards did not recognise what an impact they had on the music scene."

Story published 18 Jan 2007