In marking the anniversary of the death of David Cousins on 13 July 2025, Witchwood Records is absolutely delighted to announce the release of the first recording from Strawbs 50th Anniversary – Grave New World Live on 9 October 2026. It will be released as a limited pressing, just 1,000 for the world, gatefold LP with booklet – presented libretto-style, as was the original studio album. The album is the first of a series of recordings to be released from Strawbs 50th. This release captures the only ever concert rendition of this landmark record.
Probably, David’s favourite song of all his songs was ‘Benedictus’, and the album he was most proud of was Grave New World. What he wanted to achieve at the 50th Anniversary celebration was to tell the story through a live performance of Grave New World. This was, as we are sure you will agree, achieved in this live version, with the narration on which Wesley Stace and David Cousins collaborated. He had hoped that it would lead to a series of Grave New World concerts, but this release now represents the only chance to hear the work rendered in the live setting.
The record was produced by Larry Fast (Peter Gabriel, Foreigner, Nektar, Bonnie Tyler, and Hall & Oates), and mastered at Abbey Road by Geoff Pesche (New Order, Dire Straits, Gorillaz, Coldplay, Mike Oldfield and Kylie).
Grave New World Live, is a piece of audio history achieved through the talents of Larry Fast, in his post-production of the album, mixing the live multitrack recordings to both stereo and the vinyl LPs as well as to other and audio formats. It is unlike many other “live” albums, as the ethos behind the performance and production was dedicated to presenting the most honest and realistic reflection of the music on the night. Blue Weaver, in his studio, contributed additional post-production restorations for isolated song elements that hadn’t been adequately captured on the day of the performance.
The album brings you a faithful document of an historic performance by David Cousins and Strawbs, through the only, actual live performance, as played at the theatre in Lakewood, New Jersey on April 27, 2019. The performance brought together John Ford, Blue and David, who had all played on the original Grave New World album in February 1972, together with the talents of Brian Willoughby, Cathryn Craig, Tony Fernandez and Eric Bazilian, and with Wesley Stace as Narrator.
David’s royalties resulting from this album will be given to the University of Leicester and Bangor University, in accordance with his wishes as expressed in his Will, to further the opportunities for musically talented young people.
In appreciating Grave New World Live, we ask you to observe the request to the audience at its performance at the 50th Anniversary, and to refrain from any applause until the end – “The Wanderer has far to go…”
