THIS year marks the 43rd anniversary of the release of the very first Strawbs album.

The band, comprising David Cousins, Dave Lambert and Chas Cronk, burst onto the scene in the 1970s.

They scored chart success in Britain with huge albums such as Grave New World and Bursting At The Seams.

From the mid 70s the group concentrated their attention on the United States and Canada where their albums, including the classics Hero and Heroine and Ghosts, spent more than a year on the Billboard charts.

During that time they toured with the likes of Santana, Peter Frampton, The Eagles, REO Speedwagon, Joe Walsh, Blue Oyster Cult, King Crimson and Frank Zappa.

By the end of the 70s they were one of Britain’s most successful international folk-rock bands.

After that, and still to this day, the original band members continue to tour as the Acoustic Strawbs.

David Cousins, band frontman, was awarded BPI platinum discs in recognition of worldwide sales of the band’s albums.

He was also elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts in 2002, and was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award on behalf of the Classic Rock Society.

The band will be playing at the Artrix on Saturday, March 24 at 8pm.

Tickets cost £12.50 from the box office on 01527 577330 or via artrix.co.uk.

For more information on the band, visit strawbsweb.co.uk.