Steve Hackett’s annual performances at Trading Boundaries, in Sussex, UK have become something of a tradition for the legendary guitarist in recent years. Presenting stripped down material, and showcasing his acclaimed classical compositions, these unique and intimate concerts have become a highlight of the year, beloved of his fans.
As Hackett himself explained: ‘It’s always a joy for me to play at Trading Boundaries, a magical intimate place full of beautiful lights and exotic imagery, illuminating the darkest time of year over Christmas and New Year… It’s the perfect location for my acoustic set.”
Live Magic At Trading Boundaries is set for release on 17th January 2025, and collects various recordings from these shows from over the years, and also features appearances from regular collaborators including brother John Hackett on flute, Roger King on keyboards, Rob Townsend on flute and sax, and Amanda Lehmann on guitar & vocals. The release also coincides with Hackett’s next two live appearances at the venue, on the 18th & 19th January 2025.
To celebrate the announcement, a recording of the track ‘Ace Of Wand’, originally from his debut solo album Voyage Of The Acolyte, has been launched, and you can check out the video to it here at RAMzine.
Live Magic At Trading Boundaries will be available as a limited edition CD digipak, gatefold 180g 2LP & digital album, mixed by long-time live sound engineer Ben Fenner. It can be ordered here.
Tracks featured are: ‘Improv’, ‘Blood On The Rooftops’, ‘The Barren Land’, ‘Black Light’, ‘Horizons’, ‘Jacuzzi, Supper’s Ready (Excerpt)’, ‘After The Ordeal’, ‘Hairless Heart’, ‘Jazz On A Summer’s Night’, ‘Gnossienne No. 1’, ‘Walking Away from Rainbows’, ‘Poulenc Organ Concerto (Excerpt)’, ‘The Red Flower Of Tai Chi Blooms Everywhere’, ‘Hands of the Priestess’, ‘Memory Lane’, ‘Only Happy When It Rains’, ‘Ace Of Wands’, and ‘The Journey’,
Over the course of these tracks, Hackett explores various facets of his catalogue, including Genesis classics, stripped down solo material, and renditions of his much-acclaimed classical catalogue like ‘Black Light’ and ‘The Journey’. As a result, this album shows a completely different side to his playing: “Somehow, you can feel the special atmosphere through the sound of the music on this new live album, which is a complete contrast to my live rock shows,” he commented.
:I love the delicate dreamlike quality of this show with John and Rob interplaying beautifully on flute and sax, interspersed by surprising moments of power, such as the point when Roger’s keys become the sound of a full blown pipe organ! The album also features two performances of tracks from Amanda Lehmann’s most recent solo album Innocence And Illusion, Amanda’s lovely vocals on her own spellbinding songs also provide a special contrast.”
Hackett has recently been reissuing his classical catalogue, and the latest two in the series, Metamorpheus and Tribute are available now. Both albums have been newly remastered for vinyl, and are available as gatefold 180g LPs in both black and limited coloured vinyl editions for the very first time. New digipak CD editions are also available, and they can all be ordered below: here and here.
They follow hot on the heels of his critically-acclaimed new studio album The Circus And The Nightwhale. A rite-of-passage concept album with a young character called Travla at the centre of it, the 13 tracks have an autobiographical angle for the musician who says about his 30th solo release: “I love this album. It says the things I’ve been wanting to say for a very long time.” It is available here.
