Eighteenth Day of May

English folk-rock quartet the Eighteenth Day of May construct alternately rousing and pastoral songs in the tradition of Fairport Convention, Pentangle, and Steeleye Span. The international collective formed initially around the trio of American vocalist and flutist Alison Brice, Swedish multi-instrumentalist Richard Olsen, and English multi-instrumentalist Ben Phillipson. They added drummer Karl Sabino, bass player Mark Nicholas, and violist Alison Cotton in 2004 and began work on an album. Their eponymous debut was released on Hannibal Records in 2006. ~ James Christopher Monger