Since the release of their debut self titled album in 1970 the history of progressive rock journeymen, Barclay James Harvest has been a long, and sometimes difficult one. By the early 2000’s the band had split into two distinct factions, Barclay James Harvest featuring Les Holroyd (formed in 2002), and John Lees’ Barclay James Harvest. This latest Esoteric Antenna 2CD set features the latter incarnation led by founder member, guitarist and vocalist John Lees along with his latest line up of Craig Fletcher (vocals/bass/guitar), Jez Smith (keyboards/guitar/vocals), and Kevin Whitehead(drums/percussion) joined by the sixty-nine piece Slaithwaite Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Benjamin Ellin, each of whom are listed in the sleeve notes, captured live at the Huddersfield Town Hall.
Over the years many musicians have tried the live orchestral approach with varying levels of success. Scorpions, Moment Of Glory, Metallica, S & M, and probably one of the best known, Deep Purple’s, Concerto For Group And Orchestra. Progressive rock has also dipped its toe into this pool via Rick Wakeman, Emerson Lake and Palmer, and following the release of their Baby James Harvest (1972) album, Barclay James Harvest. BJH symphonic early catalogue leant itself to the addition of full orchestral arrangements, but as so many have found, such projects are expensive and highly difficult to pull off. Although their 1972/73 tour was a creative highpoint for the band the soaring budget almost bankrupt them. However that didn’t stop John Lees’ Barclay James Harvest taking to the stage on 23rd September 2023 to give it another crack.
Philharmonic! The Orchestral Concert features the two sets performed that evening which unsurprisingly pulls heavily on the bands 1970’s era, with only two tracks, ‘On Leave’, and the bass rich title track ‘North’ from JLBJH’s latest (at the time) studio effort, and one from their 80’s output, in the shape of ‘Fifties Child’ from 1983’s Ring Of Changes. Both sections of the concert lead off with rousing orchestral overtures, Shostakovich’s ‘Festive Overture’ for part one, and ‘Hornpipe’ from Handel’s Water 
Music for part two, giving a pure Wakeman feel to the initial launch of each of the CDs, and introducing the orchestra to the crowd with obvious appreciation. As with any project of this scale some transformations are more successful than others, but it has to be said that on the whole Mr. Lees and his crew’s efforts are an overall triumph. Despite being slightly extended, tunes like ‘Galadriel’, and the bouncy ‘In My Life’ are still short and sweet, before the critic baiting ‘Poor Man’s Moody Blues’, the afore mentioned ‘North’ where the orchestra take a back seat, and particularly the mood shifting ‘Summer Soldier’ give the band and orchestra room to stretch their legs a little. The closing duo from Barclay James Harvest And Other Short Stories, the ethereal ‘The Poet’, and tale of Armageddon ‘After The Day’ do the same task here sending the punters for their “cup of cocoa” at the end of the first half with smiles aplenty.
During the second set two rarities which haven’t been performed since the Royal Festival Hall event in 1973 make an appearance. “Woolly” Wolstenholme’s ‘Moonwater’ benefits immensely from the full force of combined strings, brass, woodwind, and percussion, with the pleasing twist of Emleanor Sanders female lead vocals, while ‘Dark Now My Sky’ from BJH’s self titled debut once again takes on further Wakeman-esqe vibes with the eloquent oration of BJH archivist, Keith Domone prior to its percussive intro which drives Lees expressive soloing. The ever popular, and uplifting ‘Mockingbird’ is followed by ‘Loving is Easy’, and despite it sounding uncannily like Free’s ‘Wishing Well’ in places, it does provide the riffs sometimes in short supply from BJH’s form of progressive rock with a small “r”. ‘She Said’ retains the Hammond swing from its Once Again origins, with the group needing little input from the other assembled players until about half way through, and even then they only supply a purely supportive role. The same is true of the piano led B-side ‘Poor Wages’, but once the deep strings, and moving vocals of ‘Medicine Man’ come in the band and orchestra fully engage. As expected it is ‘Mocking Bird’, and the worthy coda ‘Hymn’ with their more subtle but strong orchestral backing which supplying those “hairs on the back of your neck” moments, with the latter’s emotional tribute to fallen comrades taken to soon leaving many listeners with a tear in their eye as they leave the hall for the final time.
Originally released back in 2024 with accompanying Blu-ray and DVD, the concert is now available in stand alone 2xCD format via Cherry Red Records. With their long awaited return to the studio for the Relativity album which arrived via Esoteric last October, despite retiring from touring, John Lees and his ensemble still appear to be studio active, and Philharmonic! The Orchestral Concert is a great option for those yet to invest, to fill the void until the band next venture out into the world. Barclay James Harvest have a great track record with live recordings and although Philharmonic! Isn’t up there with their Live ’74 release, this surely ranks up there amongst their best of the new millennium.
- Reviewed By Peter Brockwell
- Philharmonic! The Orchestra Concert is released via Esoteric Antenna/Cherry Red Records on 31st July 2026
- John Lees’ Barclay James Harvest
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Track List:
Disc One:
1. Festive Overture – Shostakovich
2. Fifties Child
3. Galadriel
4. In My Life
5. Poor Man’s Moody Blues
6. North
7. Summer Soldier
8. The Poet
9. After The Day
Disc Two:
1. Hornpipe – Handel’s Water Music
2. Moonwater
3. Mocking Bird
4. Loving is Easy
5. She Said
6. Poor Wages
7. Medicine Man
8. Dark Now My Sky
9. On Leave
10. Hymn
