Twelfth Night - M.M.X.

In December 2009, just days after the publication of the band's official biography, Twelfth Night's long and complicated history took another turn when they agreed to headline the first night of the Classic Rock Society's Progeny Festival in Leamington Spa in May 2010. This led to five more dates being arranged between April and September 2010. But early in 2010, it became clear that founder-member Andy Revell would be unable to take part this time. Acting quickly, plans were soon in hand to implement a long-standing idea: to expand the band to a six-piece. The revised line-up was in place by mid-February 2010. Core members Brian Devoil, Clive Mitten and Andy Sears being joined once again by Mark Spencer, providing continuity from the 2007-2008 concerts, though Mark would now be taking a more prominent role performing bass, lead and rhythm guitar as well as some keyboards. Roy Keyworth and Dean Baker, both members of the Bournemouth-based progressive rock band Galahad (who had been on the same bill as Twelfth Night at Tiana in 2008), were invited to fulfil lead guitar and keyboard duties respectively. The first rehearsal of the new-look Twelfth Night took place in February 2010, with the new, fuller sound immediately clicking into place. With the extra person came the opportunity to completely revise the set list for 2010, Take a Look returned, and Last Song, Theatre, and The Craft (all songs from the XII album) were performed for the first time since 1986. Other changes meant that CRAB, an early piece dating from as far back as 1980, was slipped in after Fact and Fiction, and perhaps most significantly, the band's epic song The Collector returned to the live set for the first time since early 1984. Twelfth Night's first gig for almost two years was in their old home town of Reading on 30 April 2010, their first in the town since October 1984, and their first ever as a six piece, where, partly thanks to the some excellent promotion from the BBC, the gig sold out two days beforehand. The following week, Twelfth Night headlined the first day of the 3rd Progeny festival in Leamington Spa, topping a bill that included Here and Now and The Elves of Silbury Hill (effectively Hawkwind playing a set of rarities). Later that same month the rejuvenated band performed storming shows at the Luminaire in Kilburn (28 May 2010), and at the Montgomery Hall, in Wath-upon-Dearne (29 May 2010). Both gigs were promoted by the Classic Rock Society. This new CD, over 2 hours long, recorded at the Wath gig, shows the six-piece Twelfth Night at it's full power, performing many of their classic songs to an enthusiastic audience. Andrew Wild, Author Play On: The Authorised Biography of Twelfth Night Rainow, Cheshire, July 2010.