Ahead of the release of the Woodbine & Ivy Band album, we're releasing the band's version of Spencer the Rover, featuring a lovely vocal from Fay Hield, as a digital single. It will be available from iTunes, Amazon, eMusic and all the usual suspects from 14th November. We'll also be making it available via our Bandcamp page.

We have the slightly grandiose notion that it would make a great Christmas hit single... and we reckon the last time there was a folk rock Christmas hit was way back in 1972 when Steeleye Span took Gaudete to No 14 in the UK charts (we're conveniently ignoring the Pogues' fantastic Fairytale of New York for the purposes of this story, of course). 39 years is, of course, far too long.

We've started a Facebook page to support the single, which you can find at http://www.facebook.com/Spencertherover. If you use Facebook, please 'like' the page, post a link on your wall and spread the word.

The album will be out on 28th November. More news on that to follow.

Thanks for reading. Please indulge our preposterous scheme!