Crooked Oak were a North East English folk group formed in the early 1970s by singer and multi-instrumentalist Steve Evans. Rooted firmly in traditional song and tune, the band combined clear, unaffected vocals with acoustic textures drawn from guitar, whistle, mandolin, dulcimer, and bass. Alongside Evans, Paul Bagley and Jim Fraser helped shape a sound that was direct, melodic, and unembellished, avoiding fashionable excess in favour of strong material and musicianship. Their privately issued 1976 LP is now regarded as a minor classic of British folk, praised for it's atmosphere, sincerity, and emotional depth. In 1977, The Foot O'Wor Stair followed, closing a remarkable chapter for this extraordinary band.