Avalon previously known as The Medium Wave Band, was a Scottish folk rock

Folk rock

Folk rock is a musical genre combining elements of folk music and rock music. In its earliest and narrowest sense, the term referred to a genre that arose in the United States and the UK around the mid-1960s...

 band that started in the 1970s under the original name. It reformed in the mid 1980s and throughout the 1990s under the name Avalon, releasing a number of successful albums. Band leader Erne Parkin died in July 2009.

The Medium Wave Band

The band was founded as The Medium Wave Band. The original line-up Erne Parkin (singer), Les Cockburn (fiddle / mandolin), Steve Moss (guitar) and Richard Chernes (of Runrig

Runrig

Runrig are a Scottish Celtic rock group formed in Skye, in 1973 under the name 'The Run Rig Dance Band'. Since its inception, the band's line-up has included songwriters Rory Macdonald and Calum Macdonald. The current line-up also includes longtime members Malcolm Jones, Iain Bayne, and more...

 fame, keyboards).

The band had much success, playing gigs all over Scotland

Scotland

Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...

, but later on came under pressure to go professional, ultimately leading to a split of the band.

Group Avalon

The band reformed in the early 1980s, with members Parkin, Cockburn and Moss and new members Billy Milne (drums) and Roy Martin (bass guitar). Their first single, "Ballrooms of Romance" was released in 1984 when the band changed its name to Avalon. The band had a number of successive albums, including Rocky Roads (1986), Heavy Hearts (1987) and Higher Ground (1992) and SEcond Sight (1998).

Discography

(all albums under the name Avalon)

1986 - Rocky Roads
Released on the Lismor label, code LIFL 7013

1. Overture
2. Jack in Irons
3. A Travellers Tale
4. Greenpeace
5. Bruntsfield Link
6. Leith Link
7. Open Roads
8. Ballrooms of Romance
9. Blue Highways
10. Road to Dingwall
11. Another Encore

1987 - Heavy Hearts
Released on the Lismor label, code LIFL 7015

1. Litany
2. Anton the Fox
3. Heavy Hearts
4. On the Field of Broken Dreams
5. Candy Row
6. Sea Link
7. The Knerbs of Bettur Medley
8. So Still the Scene
9. Silver and Steel
10. Just Between Friends
11. Sandgate Lass

1992 - Higher Ground
Released on the Iona Records label, code IRC 017

1. The Lion of the North
2. Sons of the Sea
3. The Last Gasp Medley
4. Into the Mists
5. A Soldiers Dream
6. The Barloch Reels
7. Palais de Dance
8. Stretch the Bow
9. The Wild Cherry Tree
10. Ellis Isle

1998 - Second Sight
Released on MWRecords, code MWBCD2001

1. The Alchemist
2. Shipwreck
3. Salmon Run
4. Stepping Stones
5. Tom Rakewell (Martin/Borland)
6. Missing You (Borland)
7. Songs of Stone
8. Skylark and the Rose
9. The Astor Set (Borland/O'Rourke)
10. Gypsy