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The Edge of Alderley, a dramatic red sandstone escarpment with England’s oldest known metal mining site at over 4000 years, lies just a few miles from the North Staffordshire border into Cheshire. Many fascinating myths and legends are associated with this beautiful and mysterious place. It was immortalised in author, Alan Garner’s, trilogy which began with ‘The Weirdstone of Brisingamen’ (1960).
In the 1980s local musician, songwriter and artist, Joe Beard, founding member, in the1960s, of the band The Purple Gang*, set to work on composing his masterpiece in expressive music, song and narration – the highly acclaimed Gothic Folk Opus/Suite, ‘Legends of The Edge’. It was performed at many festivals and other venues, received praise in the local press, including The Guardian and City Life Magazine and also broadcast twice, very successfully, on BBC Radio.
A few years ago Joe moved down to near Tamworth and became a regular performer at Tamworth Folk Club in 2021.
In October 2023 ‘Legends of The Edge’ was revived at the club and performed by professional musicians Joe, Karen Pfeiffer and Paul Walker with Malcolm Robinson as narrator. It was given a fantastic reception and received many favourable reviews.
Cut to September 2024 and with a generous grant from Tamworth Borough Council and the support of Tamworth Literary Festival it was performed again by the same quartet in the atmospheric Tudor Room at Tamworth’s Castle Hotel.
For example, two of the many stories featuring are the legend of The Wizard & King Arthur’s Knights and the origins of ‘The Eagle and Child’ now the name of many pubs and hotels across the country.
“A haunting and beautiful project”…..David Marsh, The Guardian
“On The Edge of success?”…….Don Frame, Manchester Evening News
“Let me congratulate you on a brilliant project”…..Joe Boyd, Hannibal Records
“Your “Legends of The Edge” CD is in my car and should be heard on national radio”……..Eddie Baird formerly of “The Amazing Blondel”
Two CDs of the original “Legends of the Edge” are available from the Epona Records website, both in radio show format, and performed by The Joe Beard Band and by Kings Ransom band
Tamworth Folk Club - Folk At The Tap 