Steeleye Span

Aside from Fairport Convention, Steeleye Span were the most successful and enduring British folk-rock band. The parallels between the groups are numerous: both updated traditional British folk material with rock arrangements, both featured an excellent female lead singer (Sandy Denny for Fairport, Maddy Prior for Steeleye Span), both frequently employed multi-part harmonies, and both mixed original and traditional songs. Although Fairport were more innovative in their early days, Steeleye Span were arguably the more interesting group after 1970, when personnel changes gutted the original Fairport lineup. Steeleye Span, too, went through numerous personnel changes even at their peak, and both bands continued to tour and record well into the 21st century.