HAPPY BIRTHDAY, FAIRPORT

On Sunday, May 27 it will be forty years to the day since Fairport Convention played its very first gig.

Formed in north London, Fairport Convention's first public performance was at Saint Michaels Church Hall, Golders Green, on 27 May 1967. The original line-up was Ashley Hutchings (bass), Simon Nicol (rhythm guitar), Richard Thompson (lead guitar) and Shaun Frater (drums).

Simon Nicol is the only member of that original line-up still playing in the band. Today (27 May), he will lead Fairport's three-piece acoustic line-up on stage at The Iron Horse in Northampton, Massachusetts.

After the inaugural gig in 1967, Shaun Frater was replaced by Martin Lamble (a member of the first audience) and the line-up was soon augmented with a female vocalist, Judy Dyble.
 
Fairport Convention rapidly became popular during the 'summer of love' and by end of 1967 had secured a record deal and released a debut LP. The band was a familiar act at London 'underground' clubs such as Middle Earth and UFO.

UFO was run by Joe Boyd who got the band its first recording deal. "We went from amateur to professional very quickly," says Simon Nicol. "We started out in May and were in the studio by September."

Ashley Hutchings adds: "We were happy to be making any kind of music. We started out by playing covers of west-coast acts like Jefferson Airplane but soon, against that background of flower power and psychedelic music, we came round to the idea of fusing centuries-old British folk music with rock."

Fairport Convention embraced folk influences enthusiastically. Sandy Denny, a leading light on the London folk scene, replaced Judy Dyble and traditional fiddler Dave Swarbrick came into the band's orbit, later joining full-time.

In 1969, Fairport Convention recorded Liege & Lief, consolidating its pioneering position at the forefront of British folkrock. The seminal album has received a Gold Disc and been voted 'Most Influential Folk Album of All Time' by BBC Radio 2 listeners.

Happy anniversary, Fairport, from all at Iconic!



A VINTAGE CROPREDY
Fairport's Cropredy Convention takes place on 9, 10, 11 August 2007 and will celebrate Fairport's fortieth anniversary with a special one-off performance on the Friday evening (10 August). Fairport Convention's 1969 line-up (Ashley Hutchings, Dave Mattacks, Simon Nicol, Dave Swarbrick and Richard Thompson) will be joined by Chris While in place of the late Sandy Denny to perform Liege & Lief in its entirety.

Established for over 25 years, Fairport's three-day festival has become one of the UK's best-loved rock, pop and folk events. The Sunday Times describes it as 'a great way to while away an August weekend'. We wouldn't argue with that!

The uniquely-friendly festival of rock, pop and acoustic music takes place in beautiful countryside just outside the village of Cropredy in Oxfordshire (three miles from Junction 11 on the M40 motorway). This year's acts include:

THURSDAY 9 AUGUST: Kerfuffle; Wishbone Ash; Seth Lakeman; Jools Holland's Rhythm & Blues Orchestra with guest vocalists Lulu and Ruby Turner
 
FRIDAY 10 AUGUST: Mad Agnes; The Demon Barber Road Show; Last Orders (winners of the BBC Young Folk Award); Viva Santana; Show Of Hands; Fairport 1969 performs Liege & Lief; The Richard Thompson Band
 
SATURDAY 11 AUGUST: Richard Digance; Give Way; The Bucket Boys; Iain Matthews; The Strawbs; Bob Fox & Billy Mitchell; Fairport Convention with special guests



'EARLY BIRD' DISCOUNTS
Cropredy tickets are on sale now: in fact, if you're quick you can take advantage of the pre-June discount. Order before 1 June and pay £67 for a three-day ticket, £57 for a Friday-Saturday ticket, and £37 for a Saturday-only ticket.

If you order between 1 June and 31 July the prices are Sat-only £41, Fri-Sat £61, three-day £71. After 31 July the prices are Sat-only £45, Fri-Sat £65, three-day £75
Tickets for children under 12 years old are free.

Online sales: http://www.fairportconvention.com

Postal sales: PO Box 8413, Bilsthorpe, Notts NG22 8WY 

Tickets are also sold at the festival entrances subject to availability.


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