Jan Dukes de Grey

The Profile

English acid/prog-folk group from Yorkshire formed by multi-instrumentalists Derek Noy and Michael Bairstow in 1969. They debuted with Sorcerers and followed with the darker, more expansive Mice and Rats in the Loft (1971), blending woodwinds, twelve‑string guitar, improvisation, and orchestral colours.

Known for adventurous acid/prog-folk and the cult-status album Mice and Rats in the Loft (1971).

Giona frames Mice and Rats in the Loft (1971) as a pinnacle of acid/prog-folk by the English group Jan Dukes de Grey. The review charts the shift from the folkier Sorcerers to a darker, improvisation-friendly trio sound with woodwinds, 12‑string guitar, and orchestral touches. Track highlights include Sun Symphonica and Call of the Wilds, culminating in the unsettling title track. The verdict is an emphatic endorsement and a lament that such a gem remains underappreciated.