Solstice

Formed in 1980 by Andy Glass, Solstice is a progressive rock band with heavy folk and new age touches. Playing many outdoor festivals, they were a perfect musical match for the underground "crusty" movement in Britian in the 1980s, which was similar to the hippie back-to-the-land movement in the U.S. in the early 1970s. A sporadic recording career and many personnel changes, though, have plagued the band over the years. Guitarist/songwriter Glass and violinist Marc Elton have been the only constants in the group. Luckily, Glass has an eye for talent and on each album has assembled skilled players with high levels of musicianship, always with gifted female vocalists (no less than six have occupied this slot). After a promising beginning leading to appearances on television and radio, their first album, Silent Dance, was recorded. Though it received a positive response, the band was generally unhappy with it, and when lead vocalist Sandy Leigh and drummer Mark Hawkins left the next year the group floundered and disbanded until 1992. The re-release of Silent Dance prodded Glass and Elton to put together a new band and record the optimistic New Life album, which was released in 1993. Circles followed in 1996 and a collection, Pathways, two years later.