FRESH from the award of an MBE in the New Year Honours List, singer Maddy Prior is preparing to return to Worcestershire to promote her new album Arthur the King.

A gig at the Huntingdon Hall, in Worcester, on Thursday (April 12) forms part of a spring tour by the artist, whose MBE was recognition of three decades of contribution to folk music.

She describes her new work as perhaps her most ambitious to date, a song-cycle based on the story of the legendary King, coupled with reworkings of traditional songs like Reynardine and Lark in the Morning. It follows hard on the heels of Ballads and Candles, a live album bringing together some of the musicians Maddy has worked with during her career.

She began her musical career as part of a duo with Tim Hart, producing two albums before joining Ashley Hutchings and Gay and Terry Woods in a new venture - Steeleye Span.

Steeleye proved incredibly successful with a succession of hits, gold and silver discs and world tours. During this time, Maddy also collaborated with June Tabor, among others, and produced solo work, working with some of the best folk musicians in the business in the process, notable results including A Tapestry of Carols, together with the Carnival Band.

1997 proved a big year, with Steeleye Span scoring success with the album Time and completing two UK tours. But Maddy made her last appearance with the outfit after 28 years to concentrate on a series of independent projects.

For this tour, she is joined by Nick Holland on keyboards and Troy Donockley on uillean pipes, guitars, cittern and whistle. The Worcester concert starts at 8pm. Tickets are £12.50 (£11 concs), from 01905 611427.