Est'd 1969

"Unlike many long established bands who only add a few songs off any new album into their set lists, Steelye Span have added nearly all of 'EST'D 1969' into their current set list ... Steeleye Span are sailing with confidence into their fiftieth anniversary, backed by this very enjoyable album and the band's seemingly endless love of getting out and performing live in order to keep their songs and traditional music alive".

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"As folk-rock acts go, they may be less recognisable than, say, Fairport, yet Steeleye Span merits your attention. Here, they celebrate their 50th. Put aside cheery memories of them doing "Gaudete" on TOTP, though; this is big and bold, folk with a prog edge, more Curved Air than big jumpers. Singer Maddy Prior fronts a seven-strong band that includes the likes of drummer Liam Genockey, with 30 years of band history, rock multi-instrumentalist Julian Littman and solo and Bellowhead star Benji Kirkpatrick, son of 70s Spanner John Kirkpatrick".

"A reinvigorated Steeleye Span set their stall against an illustrious past with Est'd 1969 and it's up there with the best. Class Span, in fact, with Jethro Tull's Ian Anderson throwing some flute shapes across the prog-folk of 'Old Matron'. The highlight of the set is the haunting setting for Child Ballad 36, 'Mackerel of the Sea', a haunting, spine-chilling companion to Span classic 'Alison Gross'. Around it are wrapped another Child Ballad, 'The Boy and the Mantle (Three Tests of Chastity)', and `The Cruel Ship's Carpenter', on which the lead vocal goes to Benji Kirkpatrick, an excellent recent addition to the band ... There's a strong flavour of 70s folk and prog-folk, and veteran drummer Liam Genockey knows how to strike those skins, with plenty of room for some retro riffing, shredding and a harpsichord solo. It's great that they've hit such a vital current for the 23rd album of their career".