By Kieran Hadfield
Credited with forging the folk-rock genre, Fairport Convention first took to the stage in 1967’s ‘Summer of Love’, and now, 50 years later, they are still touring to sell out audiences across the country. Over the past five decades, the band have released numerous albums, embarked on multiple critically acclaimed tours and seen many line-up changes, but their passion for live performance has never wavered.
This dedication and passion won the band a coveted Lifetime Achievement Award at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards, saw their groundbreaking 1969 album ‘Liege & Lief’ voted ‘The Most Influential Folk Album of All Time’ by BBC Radio 2 listeners, and has inspired multiple documentaries, including the 2013 BBC Four documentary, ‘Fairport Convention: Who Knows Where The Time Goes?’. The band also host an annual music festival, the ‘Fairport Croperdy Festival’ in Oxfordshire; a dedicated one stage event featuring music from folk and roots, to rock, and everything in between.
To mark their 50th year, the band’s golden anniversary tour will see them play a selection of tracks from their latest album, titled ‘50:50@50’, as well as a host of old favourites from their extensive repertoire.
Fairport Convention’s current line-up features Simon Nicol on guitar and vocals, Dave Pegg on bass guitar, Chris Leslie on fiddle, mandolin and vocals, Ric Sanders on violin and Gerry Conway on drums and percussion.
Come along and celebrate a golden anniversary with the fathers of folk rock at the Corn Exchange, Newbury on Tuesday, October 24, 7.45pm. Tickets are £24 and to book, visit the Corn Exchange website, www.cornexchangenew.com or call the Box Office on 0845 5218 218.