Barclay James Harvest sprang to life in the mid-1960’s and were considered one of the innovators of Progressive Rock music along with label mates, at the time, Pink Floyd. In the next 40 years, Barclay James Harvest went on to create and break records, being the first group to perform an outdoor festival in Europe, setting the mark for the number of paying attendees during a continuous tour cycle and performing in front of a reputed 275,000 audience on the steps of the Reichstag in West Berlin in 1980 with an estimated similar number listening on the East side!
In 1998, the group underwent a transformation that saw a new line-up to accompany the Barclay James Harvest featuring Les Holroyd album “Revolution Days” recorded in 2001. Since that time, the band has performed around 150 shows, mostly in Europe, up to June 2007 and released a live album and DVD from the 2002 tour.
Sadly, founder-member drummer Mel Pritchard passed away in January 2004.
2006 saw the return of the band performing with an orchestra during a short tour of Europe with the City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra. Following that success, another tour with the PPO was undertaken in December 2006 which delivered the material for this CD (DVD).
In the Spring of 2007, the band gave their first UK performances since being Special Guests at four shows given by Asia in March 2005. Having only had time to play for one hour in 2005, this gave the band time to play more of the songs that have been featured in the extensive European touring schedule over the last few years.
The tour in November and December 2007 will feature many old favourites, including some not heard live for many years and will have the first airing of at least two songs from the new studio album coming out in 2008.