Solstice - 2026 - Clann: The Stables Gathering

(90:03; Solstice)

All the way back in 1993, Progressive Records sent me first a copy of Solstice’s second album, ‘New Life’, then afterwards sending me a reissue of their debut, 1984’s ‘Silent Dance’. I think it is safe to say that neither I nor Andy Glass could have imagined that more than 30 years on the band are finally reaping the dividends they so richly deserve. It has been a long road for Solstice, with many struggles and a few line-up changes, but 2020’s ‘Sia’, the first album for seven years, was the first with a new singer, Jess Holland (everyone else was involved with ‘Prophecy’), and it all came together majestically. 2022’s ‘Light Up’ saw the addition of more female singers, with only a minor change in line-up between that and 2025’s ‘Clann’, a set now known as the ‘Sia Trilogy’. What we have here is a record of the ‘Clann’ concert recorded on home turf at The Stables, Milton Keynes, on 30th August 2025 with the band expanded by the addition of a brass section, meaning that on this night there were 14 musicians onstage!

They are one of the few bands around who have three female singers (four if you include Leoni who also provides guitar), which means there is a heavy visual aspect as well as musical, with all of them commanding the stage yet harmonising beautifully. It is possible to see this as well, as every format comes with a link to the 135-minute-long concert movie. The majority of material comes from ‘Clann’, but longtime fans are not forgotten as we also get “Earthsong” and “Cheyenne” from ‘Silent Dance’ (now more than 40 years old),  “Mount Ephraim” from 2023’s ‘Light Up’ and “A New Day” from 2022’s ‘Sia’. Now, before 2021 there had been just two live albums from the band, but this is the fifth in quick succession, so is it too much? The simple answer is “no”, as when a band is on fire as much as they are then each of these releases is an absolute delight from beginning to end. They are a heavily layered band with complex arrangements which somehow feel quite simple, and given their recent success it is possible to overlook the small matter that Andy has of course been there since the very beginning, drummer Peter Hemsley played on 1992’s ‘New Life’, while he was also on 2010’s ‘Spirit’ with Jenny Newman (violin), Steve McDaniel (keyboards) and Robin Phillips (bass) so here we have a band who have been incredibly stable and are finally getting the rewards they so richly deserve.

They produce music which is fulfilling and huge, with Jess in the middle in full control of the whirlwind, and the result is progressive rock which contains elements of Neo, Folk, Symphonic, Crossover and so much more. Arguably one could say there are some elements of Mostly Autumn here and there, but given Solstice had been around for well over a decade and had released two albums by the time that band were formed possibly it is the other way around? Solstice are finally getting the kudos they deserve for keeping the prog flag flying long after many others would have thrown in the towel. This is polished and beautiful music which can be savoured by all fans of the genre as they continue to push in different directions to many, following their own path. This is yet another superb live album, with guest Theo Travis and a brass section just adding to the ambience. I love it. 

Kev Rowland, March 2026

Links:
https://www.solsticeprog.uk/