Guitarist Bert Jansch’s Avocet was first released in 1979. Marketed as a concept album, the release begins with its 18 minute titie track, which was inspired by the traditional song “The Cuckoo”, and the pieces making up the rest of the album are all named after birds: ”Lapwing”, “Bittern”, “Kingfisher”, “Osprey” and “Kittiwake”. Avocet was recorded in February 1978 at Sweet Silence Studios in Copenhagen. The album also features Danny Thompson (with whom Jansch worked in the original line-up of Pentangle) and the late Martin Jenkins. Jansch died at the age of 67 in Hampstead, London.

Avocet will be released on 5 February by Earth Recordings. The vinyl edition includes six high quality lithograph prints by UK illustrator Hannah Alice, representing each of the birds the tracks are named after. Coinciding with the release, the Bert Jansch Foundation will be presenting a two day event as part of Celtic Connections: Bert Inspired: A Concert For Bert Jansch. The first, on 31 January, features Robert Plant, Bernard Butler, Ryley Walker, Pentangle's Jacqui McShee, Graham Coxon, Karine Polwart and Martin Simpson, and has already sold out. However tickets are still available for 1 February, which features the same artists as the previous night, with the exception of Robert Plant and Bernard Butler.

Jansch undertook The Wire's Invisible Jukebox, tested by Mike Barnes, in The Wire 276. Subscribers can read the feature at Exact Editions.

Update: tickets for both events have now sold out