June Tabor & Oysterband – ‘Ragged Kingdom’ Vinyl Reissue Set for October 2024 Release
To celebrate the 85th anniversary of Topic Records, a special edition of the acclaimed album Ragged Kingdom by June Tabor & Oysterband will be released on limited edition crimson vinyl. Scheduled for release on October 4, 2024, this reissue marks a significant moment in British folk music history, revisiting the remarkable collaboration between the legendary June Tabor and the folk-rock innovators Oysterband.
The original album, Ragged Kingdom (2011), was a highly anticipated follow-up to their critically acclaimed 1990 collaboration Freedom and Rain, which has long been hailed as one of the finest folk collaborations in decades.
The chemistry between Tabor’s masterful vocals and Oysterband’s rebellious roots style was rekindled in 2010 during a live performance for fRoots Magazine’s 30th anniversary. This magical reunion led to the creation of Ragged Kingdom, an album that seamlessly weaves together traditional and contemporary influences.
The album features a stunning mix of genres, with traditional folk songs such as ‘Bonny Bunch Of Roses’ standing alongside more modern interpretations like PJ Harvey’s ‘That Was My Veil’ and an acoustic rendition of Joy Division’s ‘Love Will Tear Us Apart’. Additionally, listeners will find a heartfelt version of the Scottish classic ‘(When I Was No But) Sweet Sixteen’.
Both Tabor and Oysterband had evolved as artists in the 21 years between the two albums. Tabor had developed into a widely respected interpreter of eclectic material, while Oysterband delved deeper into their acoustic folk roots. This growth added richness to Ragged Kingdom, which was recorded at Rockfield Studios in Monmouth and Metway Studios in Brighton, with the production handled by Al Scott.
Speaking about the reissue, John Telfer of Oysterband said, “What unites the material on Ragged Kingdom is finding the story in the song and the exact drama in the story. Pop songs are often story songs too, and we sought out lyrics with depth and meaning. Tracks like ‘Love Will Tear Us Apart’ and ‘The Dark End Of The Street’ exemplify this.”
This reissue is part of Topic Records’ 85th-anniversary celebrations and coincides with the announcement of Oysterband’s ‘A Long Long Goodbye’ tour, marking the band’s retirement from live performances. The tour, featuring special guest June Tabor, kicks off in the UK this October before concluding in Germany in March 2025. Several of the UK dates are already sold out, signaling the strong legacy of this iconic collaboration.
UK Tour Dates:
Thu 3 Oct – Birmingham Town Hall
Fri 4 Oct – Bristol Beacon
Sat 5 Oct – Bexhill De La Warr Pavilion
Sat 12 Oct – Manchester RNCM Concert Hall (SOLD OUT)
Sun 13 Oct – Sunderland The Fire Station
Tue 15 Oct – Leicester De Montfort Hall
Sat 19 Oct – London Barbican (SOLD OUT)
Sun 20 Oct – Canterbury Festival
For full tour information and tickets, visit: A Long Long Goodbye Tour.
Pre-order the Ragged Kingdom vinyl here: Pre-order Link.
Side One
1. Bonny Bunch Of Roses
2. That Was My Veil
3. Son David
4. Love Will Tear Us Apart
5. (When I Was No But) Sweet Sixteen
6. Judas (Was A Red-Headed Man)
Side Two
1. If My Love Loves Me
2. The Hills Of Shiloh
3. Fountains Flowing
4. The Leaves Of Life
5. Seven Curses
6. The Dark End Of The Street
Phil Aston | Now Spinning Magazine
