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Fairport Convention – Wyvern Theatre, Swindon
It’s spring, so it must be time for the annual Fairport Convention Wintour.
As with last year we headed up to Swindon early to partake of a meal in the venue first, and yet again the food was superb. Unfortunately we didn’t have time for coffee before heading downstairs for the support act, Katriona Gilmore and Jamie Roberts who were very good.
They were joined for their last song by their "backing band" better known as Fairport Convention who stayed on stage and launched into a complete run through of their 1971 folk-opera album Babbacombe Lee about the life, and subsequent failure to hang, John Babbacombe Lee.
A 30 minute interval gave us time to get the coffee we missed earlier, before the second half of the set which comprised the vast majority of their new album, Festival Bell. Finally they finished off with the obligatory trio of Who Knows Where the Time Goes, Matty Groves, and Meet on the Ledge. As always, it was a superb night. Same again next year?
Posted in Fairport Convention, Gigs
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Fairport Convention – Wyvern Theatre, Swindon
An early departure for Swindon to ensure we’d be in time for a meal in the restaurant before the 7:30 start.
The support act, Dark Horses were good, and were joined on stage by Fairport for a rendition of Si Tu Dois Partir. Fairport then continued on their own for an hour before the interval which was followed by another hour of Fairport. We were entertained with plenty of good tunes and some witty and self depreciating banter. The finale was the obligatory Meet On The Ledge with Dark Horses joining in on stage.
All too soon we were back on the M4 heading home again.
Posted in Fairport Convention, Gigs
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Fairport’s Cropredy Convention 2009 – Cropredy
This year we did the full three-days at Cropredy, heading up on the Thursday morning for the 4pm start. The weather was a lot better this year, sunny on Thursday and Saturday, and overcast on the Friday. Due to this I came home with a sunburn rather than soaking wet kit which made a nice change from last year.
A few brief comments on the bands.
Thursday
Harlequin – Too much talking, and too much Michael Jackson
4 Square – Good
Ken Nichol and Phil Cool – Rubber Faced Irritant
Buzzcocks – Raucous, load, shouty, fantastic
Steve Winwood – No idea, I went to bed
Friday
ColvinQuarmby – Irritatingly over-enthusiastic twat, death by jazz-hands.
Megan and Joe Henwood – Good
Scott Matthews – Thom Yorke does folk, badly.
The Bad Shepherds – Fantastic
John Jorgensen Band – Fret-wank frenzy
The Dodge Brothers – Skiffle-tastic
Richard Thompson – Superb
Seth Lakeman – Accomplished
Saturday
Richard Digence – The usual songs, the usual jokes. Amusing start to the day
Churchfitters – Eclectic selection of instruments
Feast of Fiddles – What a lot of fiddlers
Dreadzone – Sunny fun, very good, fitted in surprisingly well.
Nik Kershaw – We now know who is to blame for Chesney Hawkes.
Ralph McTell – Good, played his one hit fairly early on.
Fairport Convention & Friends – Very good as always, guest spots from Yusuf, Richard Thompson and others.
Posted in Bad Shepherds, Fairport Convention, Gigs, Richard Thompson
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The Battle Of Evermore
Fairport Convention with Robert Plant and Kristina Donahue, Cropredy 2008
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Fairport’s Cropredy Convention
We only went for two of the three days so missed seeing Supergrass on Thursday. The weather for days we were there couldn’t have been any more different. Friday I needed sun cream, then at one point on Saturday I was wearing three coats at the same time in an attempt to keep dry and warm.
Various highlights:
- The Family Mahone introducing every song as “this is a drinking song”.
- Robert Plant turning up to sing The Battle of Evermore with Fairport Convention.
- Midge Ure with just an acoustic guitar singing Vienna.
- Matty Groves re-enacted with Mr Potato Head
Time to wash off three days worth of mud and grime.
The only real casualty of the weekend was my tent, consigned to a bin bag and left with the rubbish.
Posted in Fairport Convention, Gigs, Levellers
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