TalkAwhile - The Folk Corporation Forum

Ah, the problems of being an occasional visitor to this board...they might have been announced and every bed within 100 sq miles of Banbury taken already.

But I can't see anything on either this board or on Fairport's site about the dates for Cropredy 2007.

Anybody know when they will be confirmed - have they been announced already?

I have to be there. You know, 39 years of liking this team's music!!! (Only 39...yeah, well, I was still West Coasting in 1967 and it would be 'Meet On the Ledge' that sucked me in in very late 68.)

So, please....anyone know...? :o

Always the same : 2nd weekend in August.

2007 will be 9th-11th

Absolutely simple: same as this year 9, 10, 11 August. Thursday, Friday, Saturday. See you there!

I don't know. You give a perfectly good reply and some troll comes out of the woodwork to say the same thing ;)

Come on Simon, there's an album to record and promote, three tours to plan and a festival to organise. No more Internet for you today. :D

Unless Princess Ann needs the toilets.

Paul

9th aug 2007

is that farnish being escorted to the banbury bus?

I have a feeling 2007 is going to be sold out. Friends of mine who haven't been for years are asking if tickets are on sale yet.

People who want to come next year have been asking me already................................

I'
ve already got money down fr a sell-out next year....and I think Simon is going to be ecen busier than mentioned above....

Already marked it in my calender...reckon on a sell out too ! 40 years is a big one   8)

It will be definitely sold out next year. Everybody I know who ever was at the festival said he/she will be there for the big 40.

40 years.

Oh dearie me..... :o :o :o

Ahhh, but to some the years have been kind Jude   ;)

Is Alan Bennett going to write the programme notes?

Naturally: we're working on getting David Hockney to design the cover as well and invite them to bookend the stage on the PA wings during our set. Then you get to guess which is which!

I have never actually seem in them in the same room!

Lets hope they have more toilets on the campsite then Jamesc

Not worried about getting up on that stage again, are you, Jude?....

Several posts removed, because they were way off topic (and then some).

Careful Chris  :)

What I meant by that was two-fold....

That Jude may be nervous about guesting at CRopredy, rather than exclaiming about the 40 years....

And if I was right, I was going to then say that JUde oughten be nervous as she's been there a few times now!

Ah, all is clear now with the full explanation.  :)

As for me I read it that Jude was expressing 'mild concern' about the passage of time rather than nerves. Tempus Fugit and all that.

That was it Mike, but no matter how often I climb on any stage I still wonder what on earth I'm doing there and if I can get out of it.... ::) :o ;D

Well, you can't get out of it and we're all very grateful for that!

;D

Rats! ::) ;D

Just confirmed by RT's e-newsletter that the Richard Thompson Band is confirmed for Cropredy 2007. Not really a surprise though. Peggy's mentioned a probable couple of early-FC hours (Hi Jude!), so I guess that's all the headline slots lined up.

My joy cannot be expressed in words. My enjoyment of RT has been growing since seeing him at Crop 2005, I'm going to be bursting by next August!

What with the double bill FC, there is no way I'm drinking after 6 now.

That's right. More room for legal mind expansion after six I reckon.

As Cropredy 07  is clearly going to be huge celebration of the past 40 years, the debate regarding who we would all like to see on stage is gaining some momentum. This is just an idea, I wonder if anyone else agrees with me.  ;D

How about inviting as many of the musicians that have featured as guest artists on the winter tours as time permits.
I'm sure like me many would be delighted to see them grace the Cropredy stage again.
Some names that spring to mind,
David Hughes, Beryl & Roger Marriott, Vikki Clayton, Fraser Nimmo, Andy Gutteridge, Mundy Turner, Steve Tilston, Simon Mayor & Hilary James, Martin Simpson, Bob Fox, P.J.Wright with (LJE) AnnA RydeR, Keiran Halpin and if Peggy can get Hugh & Tony Williams to reform especially for Cropredy that would be fantastic. Plus RT + band and two FC sets, it would be quite a line up  [;-)
 

No kookaburra's please.

Only thing is Martin, all the ones in bold I didn't think much of at all:

David Hughes, Beryl & Roger Marriott, Vikki Clayton, Fraser Nimmo, Andy Gutteridge, Mundy Turner, Steve Tilston, Simon Mayor & Hilary James, Martin Simpson, Bob Fox, P.J.Wright with (LJE) AnnA RydeR, Keiran Halpin

I don't think we need any more headliners to get the crowds and I would much rather see a contrast between the old and the new, rather than just a load of mates.

Steve Tilston! Wash your mouth out, Farnish!

Like Keith there are some of the names that Martin mentions that leave me cold but let's not forget that whoever is on the bill we will be there (all things being equal) enjoying a celebration of the band and it's history; additionally, while there may be names present or not present this is also a party for the band and I think it would be fair to assume that everyone who plays over this momentous weekend will be giving it their all.

Even if Kate Bosh turns up  :-X though I would rather see Percy make an appearance  ;D

Well said Stu. But if someone could persuade Huw and Tony Williams to regroup I would be more than a little chuffed. As Tony seems to have given up performing for lecturing and Huw only plays occasionally with Crasdant it seems another dream will go unfulfilled   :( :'(

Never mind tho, I can hope for Percy  ;D

St Agnes Fountain. Complete with artificial snow and Cxxxxxxxs trees.

20,000 voices ringing out God Rest Ye on a blazing hot August day. Now that would be something.

Oh yes.. can we have crackers and mulled wine too??

Oh heavens no!  :-[ :-X

Tilston left me cold. That's life.

Percy is getting to be a bit like Dylan, off and on days. I don't see what the big deal is now - his voice is nothing like it used to be and has not gained anything with age.

Bit like John Martyn then  ::)

Well, last time Woody played there was 60,ooo singing I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday, fake snow and all.

Jackdaw

No it's not.

It's my life

(c) Dr Alban

Can't agree with this at all.  Firstly, he's not like Dylan or Van Morrison or the Dead in as much as he doesn't change the set every day..his sets are remarkably consistent and have been since the early days of the Priory of Brion project.  Secondly, yes, his voice has changed, but I wouldn't say for the worse.  He does different things with it these days.  Actually I'd like him to mix things up a bit more, take a few more risks, change things about a bit more...that's what I like about great performers...I guess Ryan Adams is probably the best example of that at the moment...very hit and miss, but it's well worth waiting for him on form!  And yes, I know this is a remarkably inconsistent argument!

Umbrella, sou'wester, wellies & raincoat added to packing list...  ;)

Ryan Adams is a total maverick and probably up there with the few actual geniuses around today. His gigs have to be seen to be believed, every one totally different. To see him do a take on the Strokes and then do Like a Virgin as a slow piano blues, followed by My Sweet Carolina (surely the greatest ballad ever written by many a mile). Pure genius. Pull out the stops, get him for Crops. He might bring Gillian Welch with him!

How many times, exactly, have you seen Robert Plant play live in the last twelve months, Keith?

He was on form at Cornbury I know that

I've seen him and he was alright I suppose. But I preferred Robyn Hitchcock.

He was indeed!!   and the years have been a hell of a lot kinder to Percy than Dylan (mind you Percy started with a massive advantage) ;)

Mic

There's a show from this recent Cardinals tour (Manchester if I remember correctly) that Ryan covers a Billy Ocean track followed by Ronnie James Dio one.  Somehow he manages to pull it off!  As I'm sure you know he also plays with Phil (Lesh) and Friends and throws in a few Grateful Dead tunes these days.  Been doing Stella Blue a lot and a Franklins Tower even found its way into the Cambridge show.  And he allows his SBDs to be downloaded for nowt.  Love him.  I just love him to bits...the most exciting performer around today.

Some of the Phil Shows can be downloaded from Phils site for free along with good quality colour sleeves. Wish more bands could do that.

He sounds pretty good on his most recent album.

He was on fine form when I saw do a gig last December, still got it as far as I am concerned.

Mr Kirk, I work with the co-founder of Tight But Loose, the definitive Led Zeppelin fan site, who has seen Zep and Percy dozens of times over the years. This is his view, and I'm not going to argue with that.

I was setting a comparison with some singers whose voices have changed but gained something over the years - Simon Nicol and Richard Thompson are good examples. But granted, not as unpredictable as Van or Dylan.

Ryan Adams would be great though. Love Is Hell is a masterpiece of our times.

So, none then? Imagine if we all believed everything we were told.... ::)

If someone is trustworthy and relatively authoritative then, yes, I do tend to believe them. Sometimes you do have to take someone's word for things, otherwise you end up spending your whole life (and savings) trying everything out. Apart from beer, that is :*

That hole that you are digging for yourself is getting bigger and bigger...

I shall take the shovel away from you before you hurt yourself with it... or is it a spade ?

I'm trustworthy and relatively authoritative! There now!

Why so? I stand by everything I say. If someone doesn't agree with me then that's up to them - it doesn't offend me.

What do you think Cocker?

I'm building up a body of opinion so I can announce the definitive 2nd hand view of Robert Plant live.  ;)

He's right you know

 ;)

Well, for my halfpenneth, I have seen Led Zep and Percy live several times over the years (not that I am obsessed or anything ;)), and I last saw Percy live at Cornbury this year doing what I thought was an amazing set.

Unlike many of his contemporaries he did nearly as much of his own new stuff as he did the old Led Zep songs, and the Led Zep songs he did do were all arranged in a new (to me anyway) way.

I suppose if you want to hear a reproduction of Percy singing the old Led Zep back catalogue exactly as he did with Led Zep in their heyday then you would have been disappointed. As it was I thought it was a brilliant set that took things on to a new level. Whole Lot Of Love, was a particularly exciting example, with overtones of jazz and the middle eastern influences that both Plant (and Page) have always been interested in.

Bring him on at Cropredy 2007, I say, and to h*ll with the detractors. If you don't want to listen there is always the Brasenose.

Sandra

The reason Page & Plant were so interesting, and the reason Percy is still worth seeing live today, is because he WON'T do the Led Zep stuff in the same way they used to.  Page is a much more conventional musician...just look at his collaborations with Black Crowes and David Coverdale to see that..it was Percy who has always pushed for new ways of doing things, new collaborations, new instrumentations and so on.  That may well be partly because one's voice does change, unlike the guitar for instance, but whatever the reason Plant is the one that keeps that music alive.  In that way I think he has a lot more in common with the 60's West Coast bands he loves so much, than a lot of people recognise. 

JPJ has also been an innovator of course, but he prefers to do it in entirely new areas of music...

Not wishing to offend at all!!!  But what's 2nd hand about the views of people that have seen Robert Plant live within the last 12 months, err? wouldn't that be 1st hand (or am I now entering the last stages of senility?) ???

Mic :)

Think Keith means his own 2nd hand opinion of Planty, garnered from our 1st hand opinions!  ;) Don't worry, senility not setting yet!

I'd still be in the front row, though - just to catch a glimpse of his lovely leathery cheeks  :)

;) ;) ;D

So would I to catch his, er, cheeks, of course (nothing else, you understand). ;) ;) ;) ;) ;)

Don't suppose you'll get a chance to see them.

I would have thought that as an experienced singer he would keep his face to the audience.  ;)

Paul

You weren't listening to 'The guy from down the chip shop swears he's Elvis' as you wrote this were you ?

 :D

The real title of that tune is 'There's a guy from down the chip shop swears he's Elvish' about Hobbit-run businesses.

'Bout time this thread got resurrected....

It's being reported on Longdogs (http://www.longdogs.co.uk/forums/index.php?showtopic=3723&view=getnewpost) that the RT Band are playing on Friday night, which may mean no second helping of early Fairport....possibly?

And apparently, Show of Hands are also playing Friday.

But didn't the early Fairport play as support act one year on Friday

Superb news  ;D ;D ;D ;D. Do you know if its the duo or the band format Chris?

No news on that - but I guess Miranda is very likely....

If this is correct then I don't really care if they book St Winifreds School Choir for the rest of the day ;) RT Band AND Show of Hands on the same day!! Can't we book our tickets now

rachel

One of the best gigs I've been to in recent years has been Percy and band at University of East Anglia about 3 years ago- precisely because this wasn't  a Led Zepelin show, (apart from one encore number) but a set that showed an original talent, and a love for seemingly obscure but great blues-type songs. Can you imagine Mick Jagger doing gigs like this?

Show of Hands  ;D ;D   Woopeeeeeeee ;D ;D

I'm quite happy at that possibility, does it show?

Mic ;D ;D

This made me smile...but in a nice way  ;)  If this is the gig I think you mean (and I'm pretty sure it is the only time Percy has played at UEA in recent years), the gig took place on 14th Oct 2002.  Percy ACTUALLY played the following 5 Led Zep songs...4 Sticks, Going to California, Celebration Day, Babe, I'm Gonna Leave You and Whole Lotta Love.  The fact that you remember it NOT being a Led Zep show, to me shows just how valid Percy's reinterpretation of his own back catalogue is....  The details are on the tight but loose website http://www.tightbutloose.co.uk/tbltourwfs.html

David

David,
I guess you are right- I think it was around 2002. But yes, it didn't feel like anything to do with Led Zep, but now I remember that, yes, he did do "Going to California" etc. What struck me was how he seemed to really enjoy this (comparitivly, to big, silly, stadiums) small college gig with his lack-of-big-names band.
As an after thought, I took my teenage daughter, aged 17, and her mates to see some heavy metal band in London the other night, and was pleasently surprised to hear how much they knew/liked about Led Zepelin and their collaboration with Sandy Denny on Led Zep 4.

Does that mean 'itch' Ulla??

The Bonzos reunion tour has been gathering excellent reviews - similar to that which appears here (http://www.iconicmusic.com/) on the Iconic website.

THe FC list is hot with requests for them to appear at Cropredy - I'm definitely voting yes - what's everyone else's thoughts?

Yes please. I couldn't make their Liverpool gig due to other commitments but would love to see them. Just such a shame the front man aint there but you can't have everything. Apparently Jupitus and Edmondson are superb

I'd like to see the Bonzos. I have seen Neil Innes solo, and he is very funny.

Paul

We're seeing  them on Wednesday - will report back

Hi all,

I certainly would also welcome the Bonzo's at Cropredy 2007. I went to see them at Leicester last Saturday and they were fabulous.

One thought however, the Bonzo's provide so much spectacle on stage using text and visual imagery and the cropredy field is big; so in order to see this strangeness take place binoculars would need to be standard issue to those at the back .... But bring on the Bonzo's.

I had the pleasure of seeing the Bonzo's in Bournemouth last weekend and yes they were absolutely superb up close and personal, in a theatre setting.

However a large part of their show is visual mad cap comedy and not particularly musical, therefore I don't think it would work in a out door festival setting where a large part of the audience would have no idea what was occurring on a stage 100 or 200 meters distant.
If anyone can recall the Indian group Musafir that played Cropredy in 2001, some members of FC had seen them play in a theatre and considered them worthy candidates for Cropredy. However it was unanimously agreed by those who booked the act that it just didn't work in the larger arena. Anyone back beyond the sound tower was completely mystified as to what was going on on stage.
For a such a visual novelty act, one solution of course would be to install the big diamond screens that we have debated here previously. However the cost of hiring screens would inevitably mean an increase in ticket prices. Personally I would prefer the organisers not to go down that road and realistically it's not likely to happen just so as they could book such an act.

I believe it's a German expression of joy. Ulla used it in 2005 referring to my flashing badges  :)

Did you notice that from your cross-references of all Talkawhiler's utterances, Farnish?

Weird!

I just have quite a good memory  :D

Remind me not to write anything about your flashing badges in 2005, Farnish.

The Bonzos at croppers would be great even though the visual aspect of the act may be lost on us olduns up the hill.
I think it would however be somewhat different to the Musafir thing a while back as the music content of that band was little known to most of the crowd where most would be familliar with the bulk of the Bonzos stuff.
Could this be a good time to raise the question of a screen again??

Thanks Keith.. just couldn't find it in my German dictionary  ;D

What are you thanking Keith for, woman, he'll remember everything you said you know.

Wish I could remember what day it is sometimes!!

Keith, you are right.
BTW: Where did I put your lovely flashing badge??????????????

NOt for one act...the quotes if I remember were in excess of £20K, weren't they?
Masybe they could just increase the size of their props?....

Not so sure anyone under 40 would be familiar with any of their material.

Do they need to be?.....(serious question)

  If the person is question is out of range to see what the f**k is happening onstage, then the answer is probably yes.

I agree that some of their entertainment value is visual, but it certainly won't be anywhere near as bad as Musafir were - and could be solved by enlarged props (oo-err, Missus!)

I watched a bit of the tribute with Phil Jupitus et al, and didn't really find it funny. The Goons and (most) Monty Python makes me laugh still, but the Bonzos seem to have dated in a rather odd way. It's definitely one for the fans of their time.

Now if only we could see Circulus, Guillemots and Bellowhead at Cropredy I would die happy.

Chris don't get me wrong, I'm not knocking the Bonzo's, I thoroughly enjoyed their Bournemouth opera house show on November 5th.
Ade Edmondson and Phil Jupitus were great, the  musicians in the band are all very capable, what they do is very clever and entertaining. However my point is this, the Bonzo's performance probably consists of 50% pythonesque visual mayhem, the other 50% has a fairly unusual  musical content.

 Neil Innes did announce from the stage that the Bonzo's are in discussions about doing a couple of festivals in 2007 he didn't name the festivals but I have a notion that Cropredy could be one of those in the frame.

 My concern is this, the act may not reach out far enough in to the arena, to an audience situated say, beyond the sound tower. At Cropredy in 2007 that inevitably will include a lot of people.
I can also tell you, some of the existing props the performers use, the robots are a prime example, are quite large, I doubt it would be feasible to rebuild the props for a one off performance.

 If I'm proved wrong, I for one would be delighted...................
Debate

Nobody here seems to have enjoyed Musafir? I thought they were excellent.

Were you near the front Marky ?
The problem was for the folk who were at the top of the field, from that far away they had absolutely no idea what was happening down on stage. The walking on broken beer bottles, walking on fire etc. For that type of act to be entertaining, the audience needs to be able to see what is happening.

Musafir used to be a restaurant in Liverpool - what does it mean?

Or indeed what does it all mean?

 ;D

Yes, we were actually, quite near.

"Musafir" is a Farsi word - meaning "wanderer" - so does that make Waterloo Wonderer... Mersey Musafir?

WW - where was the restaurant? - I left (Crosby) in 1984 & don't recollect it at all...

I was at the Labadou festival in Belgium when they supported Fairport and we all sat in the front row and could not believe how good they were. When they came off stage Peggy booked them straight for Cropredy.
But nobody thought of the problem that you just can enjoy the show when you are close to the stage. All other people had just 2 hours of Indian music on their ears. I remember that somebody asked me in Cropredy: "Which drugs did Peggy take before he booked them?"  ;)

Cave would be good though  ::)

Just thought I would drop that in  ;)

Roger Hodgson who in recent weeks has been touring on the other side of the pond, will according to his website, be touring in the UK in autumn 2007.    hmmmm  ;D   now there's a thought.

The artist formally known as Cat Stevens has a new album out, Gez was his drummer......I can dream.  ::)

... and Maart also played on Cat's album...

whey hey, well that's that sorted then  [;-)

We can but hope!

Maybe you just answered your own question, Martin?!? If they got one or two more, possibly?

who knows ? not me for one
 should i try again? nah cant be arsed, it wasnt worth posting in the first place

Made me chuckle......

then it was all worthwhile 8)

It would be wonderful if Saturday night featured an extra long Fairport set with the feel of the Band's "Last Waltz" - one great guest after another - Plant, Anderson, Hodgson, the artist formerly known as Cat Stevens, Loudon Wainwright, Shirley Bassey, Tom Jones, Kenny Dalglish, Pavarotti, etc etc.

With hopefully a bit less cocaine backstage...and if Scorsese's finished his Stones docu by then, maybe he could drop by?   :D

Scorsese - pah!! Once you've been directed by Ken Russell nothing can match up  ;D

Jackdaw

just scrolled through the thread. Seems strange that no-ones mentioned Ralph Mctell for 2007 given some of the songs he's contributed

I'd certainly appreciate him playing in a mid-period Fairport set, as he did write some great songs, but I'm not sure he would want to play a solo festival spot, based on recent experience.

What recent experience Keith?

A little reluctance to play to a festival crowd, I believe.

Cave wouldn't be reluctant.......

                                                ..........I'll get me coat  :-X

THey paying you too, Stu? :-)

Saw the Bonzos last night in Manchester - absolutely brilliant and Edmondson was a hoot. Only a small amount of the set (Music for the head ballet, robots) would be lost on those further up the field at Cropredy and as the set was about 2 1/2 hours long some would have to be cut anyway. Nice to see the excellent Andy Roberts sitting quietly at the back playing guitar. Neil Innes doesn't seem to have changed but Sam Spoons looked like Uncle Albert! Legs Larry only appearred sporadically but what he did was great, and Vernon Dudley Bowhay-Nowell's saw playing.........
Book 'em now please.
Just heard the Get Cape, Wear Cape, Fly album - book him as well.

Who are these Cave coves?

Ooh lucky you, Nick! The Bonzos played Cardiff recently but I was unable to get there :(

What a wonderful review - COME ON BOOK THEM FOR CROPREDY - PLEASE!

Of couse one act that will definitely be playing Cropredy will be the Young Folk Award Winners - any guesses as to who may be on the list?

Jackdaw

 Totally agree with the Bonzo's for 2007!  [;-)

 Just off to play "Cornology" now!  ;D

Nope... just being an Irritating Bastard

But they are good

Who?  ;)

Cave, I think.

Cave? Are you sure? Stu so very rarely suggests them.

Cave, eh?

;)

Simon took a look at, and a liisten to Cave, at the Banbury Canalside Festival this year.
They've been added to the "guest list".
Gregg was working backstage at Cropredy this year, and is certainly prepared to play a storming set.
The band have gone from strength to strength this year, appearing at Folk On The Pier, Sidmouth and Banbury (where we saw them twice!).

Jules  :)

I think the finalists are on the Young Folk Award part of the BBC website. Who will win - final is on 1st December back at the Union Chapel. Tickets were available (free) from ther BBC Ticket Unit website - not sure whether they still are though.

I thought Cropredy wasn't supposed to be a "folk" festival any more? Just a music festival. Personally I found there to be too many similar sounding traditional bands this year and in the end got a bit bored with them, although they were all very good in their own right. It would be like playing the same album 6 times over. There's nowt like a bit of variety.

I think Cropredy is a roots festival by and large, you may get the odd covers band / tribute band, but the music is pretty well taken from the folk / blues genres.

Jackdaw

I think the mix was pretty good this year. I didn't like some acts, but that's regardless of style. If Oasis played Cropredy, for instance, then I would probably go down the pub instead.

IMHO this years line up was excellent, wide range of styles and something to suit everybodys tastes.  Objective achieved as far I can see  ;)  [;-)

Providing the beer doesnt run out, I think I can cope with nearly any music from the stage!

I have found that some bands/artists do not come over as well on the festival stage as when they do at smaller more intimate venues.  Its probably great at the front, but not where I have been sitting.   

This could also be down to me drinking too much beer though ;D

Is the Union Chapel still doing music then? I thought they had been forced to stop because of local complaints.

Good news if they have - its not exactly local for me, but a cracking venue.

Correct - but that doesn't mean no folk.....


Got a licence back, under new conditions. Not sure what they are, but I suspect it's a decibel limiter. Ralph McTell is in there in the middle of next month too.

Shame - that's the night The Boy and I are off to see Tool in Nottingham  :o

Now there's an interesting band...  They offered Fripp a berth on the UK dates (and on his diary he described them as the one band that still makes him want to strap on his guitar and rock out) but unfortunately he is off soundscaping to Japan I think with Porcupine Tree....  I have to admit I find it quite hard to listen to a whole album or a whole show, but I do like them...Unlike most, for want of a better word, 'metal' they have an intelligence and a sense of humour about them...

Where you would be able to listen to the likes of Leatherat and Spank The Monkey!
(As well as drink some fine ales.)

Jules  :)

I can do that at home! Why come to Cropredy to go to the pub? There's good ale and music in the concert field and you've paid for it.

WHAT?  I've been getting this wrong all these years...the b*ast*rds behind the bar insisted I had to pay them every time I went...and all the time, it was included in the cost of the ticket....  To say I'm gutted is a bit of an understatement.  Now I'm off the booze, can I get a reduction in the price of next year's ticket? ;)

With responses like that you could be the next David Cameron, and there will be one pretty soon!

All the more space for me, I'd be down the front  ;D

Now nobody said suggestions had to be an acheivable so I'd love to see Bob Dylan please.  ;D His latest album is excellent and I can see him being backed by JD and RT.  [;-)

I took my daughter to see Oasis in Nottingham earlier this year.  Great gig actually...I've only got the first two albums but there are more decent singalong anthems on them two than most bands have in a lifetime.  Starkey on the drums and Andy Bell (what a waste of a great talent) on the bass give them a really good live sound...

The only time RT has backed Dylan was at that big bash in Spain wasn't it?  Early 90's...there's a clip on Youtube somewhere...Not particularly inspiring...If I remember correctly the Humphries book says Richard was a bit disappointed and didn't enjoy it much as Bob wouldn't rehearse and didn't want to speak to him.

Correct & correct. Seville was the place.

its amans job keeping up with the zim these days, especially on stage
sometimes even he doesnt know what tune or key he's using, but hey theyre his songs

Last night I had a chat with Rob Braviner at the Lewes gig, where he gave me the latest news regarding Cropredy 2007.
 Rob said he would be happy for me to inform members of the Talkawhile board that the Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band have (subject to contract) been booked for Cropredy. It is anticipated that the Bonzo's will appear on the Thursday evening, Rob also added interestingly that he is still expecting/hoping to book another act to headline and close the show on the Thursday night !

Wonderful news. Getting excited already!

Some of you know Dennis, those that do, imagine him being told this news, then bouncing around the house shouting at the top of his voice, 'there's going to be a giant parrot on the stage at Cropredy!!!!'  An awesome sight, but he is a BIT excited, :o ... well so am I...

The parrot spends most of the time in the audience!!

The parrot participated in a spot of crowd surfing at the Bournemouth gig.

Blimey! I am still pinching myself - can't believe I just read this :o

The Bonzo's at Cropredy! (yes, I know, subject to contract). Woo hoo! {:-) 8)

Marvellous news.... I'll be down the front for sure and will slap the first one that bangs on about how, without Viv Stanshall, they should retire gracefully - Nonsense, and that's something else we need more of  ;D

well thats swung it for me
 better get looking for digs as the better half wont rough it(like i will ::))

Jim's coming to Cropredy at last!
First time since the launch of this board, Jim?

fraid so, it will be the 10th anniversary of my other cropredy

The Bonzo's playing at cropredy? Surely our cups floweth over ;D ;D

     Now that Viv' is no longer with us, how about sugestions for a replacement?  Think keeping a straight face through 'canyons of your mind', not to mention 'Mr Slaters parrot'

     I nominate.....ROWAN ATKINSON 

Less is more...

        ...someone once told me.

You are quite entitled to nominate who you want, but I strongly imagine you'll be getting Phil Jupitas and Ade Edmondson who have just done the recent tour...  ;D

Thanks for the tip David. Why pay top dollar to see them at leicester when i can catch them at cropredy ;D

why bother at all?

The Bonzos are now talking to Stuart Mc. on 6 music.

Now.

. . .and Paul Merton.

I saw that in the Guardian today (a review of the London gig I think)...although I don't think he did the whole tour...

Might get Stephen Fry too.

That, I WOULD love to see.....he did the original reunion last year didn't he?

He did indeed.

Let me get this straight......

The Bonzos
Paul Merton
Stephen Fry

All this, AND JIM TOO :o

And one of the dates (Shepherds Bush Empire) on the recent tour.

hold hard! ive not sorted my digs out yet

Softy! Come and camp it up with the rest of us! And no excuses about spouses not liking it. . .for mates of ours last year it was their first camping experience and they LOVED it!!!

Nooooooooooo, please, nooooooooo

Crikey Jim, all you need is yourself, some of the denizens of this board bring portable mansions suitable for entertaining royalty  ;D Or you can just kip in a bog cubicle  ;)

OOerr.. I wonder if anyone's ever done that DV??

 ;D ;D ;)

Can't think, I just kip on the floor much easier  ;D ;D ;D

Would be nice to meet that cheeky young chappie (The Manc) always a great comment to throw in and a fountain of knowledge....I'll make him a cuppa tea anytime .....if he makes it to Croppers next !!!

Camp it up? :o

Speak for yourself young man.....I will be joining the more butch denizens of these parts for a manly pint or six at the bar to put the world to rights, discuss the on-stage antics of whomsoever happens to be on stage at the time. I am sure that our no-nonsense Mancunian correspondant will be doing much the same (What is the going ale conversion rate Vs. a copy of a rubbish Fairport related album?) .

Oh, and Jim, if you are still short of lodgings, you can come and share our groups tents. We normally have space for about 10 between the 4 of us and enough cider to float a battleship.

Yes, Jim. No slacking.

If the worst comes to the worst, Jim, I will offer you the top bunk of the camper van (head height 2foot six, length 5 foot six, width 4 foot - I am sure you will fit in!) or even use of our flat in Oxford just to get you there you old b******.  ;D ;D ;D

Otherwise the Travelodge at Bicester services on the M40 currently had rooms at £26 a night (http://www.travelodge.co.uk/find_a_hotel/hotel/hotel_id/12/BicesterCherwellValleyM40).
or a selection of hotels here http://www.booking.com/city/gb/banbury.html?aid=303948;label=banbury&gclid=CK-Q46qL2IgCFQNoEQodGRKlhw

Get dialling NOW.

Sandra

Dysentry Daventry is only 15 miles away, there's quite a few hotels there, probably more between it and Cropredy.

Err, well, Mmm, yes!   Sort of :-[
But not for the whole festival :o
Having said that, Mmm? let me think now...............Bog cubicle v airbed in tent :-\

THE BOG WINS  ;D

http://www.fairportconvention.com/news978.htm (http://www.fairportconvention.com/news978.htm)

Chill chaps. This is the right place for speculation and rumours.  ;D
Official channels are there to set us right.

Inded - I made no comment, just placed it in the public domain.

As did Rob B the other night apparently.

Chill everyone, what will be will be.

And we'll all be there in August anyway  [;-) {:-)

I really hope that Seth Lakeman will play...I was listening to the title track from Kitty Jay last night, and imagining how it would sound with the massed ranks of Ric, Swarb, Chris and others......it would be epic! ;D

Adam

In the 'business' section of the Fairport website I noticed this little paragraph:

"Note to traders. For Fairport's Cropredy Convention 2007, all trade stands have been let."  :o

Now if that isn't an indication of success then I don't know what is.....very impressive stuff!

This man is class
http://www.anthonyjohnclarke.com/
Go to his gigs site for Aug 2007
Kevin

And a quick look at DM's (just) updated website reveals that someone quite important will be also there....

(Apologies if everyone's spotted this already.)

Charlie Watts??

now then, charlie at cropredy, that would be good  8)

And if Steve Smith brings the rest of his band.....

.....Mind you, I don't think that's Journey any longer  :-[

He is indeed - well spotted, Kevin. If you check his datesheet in October 2006, you may find where the band spotted him....

Talking of class, our local young'uns Kerfuffle have announced a Cropredy Festival date of Thursday 9th August 2007.
http://www.kerfuffleonline.co.uk/dates.html
All 4 are great musicians and in young Sam Sweeney they have a front man who is up there with the best.

(Presumably they are using Cropredy as a warm up gig for their headline appearance with us at Coal Aston Village Hall on November 10th 2007 !)

And this lot will be there.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio2/events/youngfolkawards2007/interview.shtml

Apparently, Cherwell District Council have provisionally identified campsite field 4 for housing in their new draft plan....The Parish Council are revolting....

WHAT????******!!
(I can't find a 'smiley' with smoke coming out of its ears....)

Oh My Gawd...!!! :o :o :o

And for anyone trying to remember where field 4 is..

http://www.fairportconvention.com/crop/cropmaps.htm

Do we know what they mean by provisional and when does the draft plan start from?

Good grief. Time to start applying for World Heritage Status. Housing!!!

Seems pretty daft to me given the frequency of flooding in that field.

Jackdaw

I think this deserves a thread of its own.

Spot on Jackdaw. The British Association of Insurers have a rolling policy of not insuring "at risk" properties. I banged on about this for ages while I was running the Thames Gateway Information Group - essentially houses built on floodplain fall under caveat emptor status. They may find that one day there is no insurance and thus no possibility of getting a mortgage.

Maybe they should just make extra moorings for the narrow boats and divert the canal.

Maybe archaeologists will find some interesting coins in the shape of bottle tops or anything really.

Seems daft to me but I suppose the market will have it's way.

But have they learnt anything from building on other flood plains.

Maybe a Friday night residency from RT at the next five r so Cropredies will convince them of the folly of their ways. Flooding in August again.

As agricultural land the field would be worth around £5,000 per acre, but as building land with planning permission up to a million. With taper relief, the tax payable on the sale would be a maximum of 10 %. The words lottery win spring to mind! What would you do?
However, if there are doubts about the insurability of the properties would planning permission be given in the first place?

All Planning Applcations have to be accompanied by a Flood Risk report and its contents carry great weight in determining applications. The Environment Agency will also be circulated with Planning Applications, so it might be no bad idea if they are put on notice now.

In view of the floods in Banbury a very few years back, water up to level of platforms in railway station etc, which was blamed in the Press on flood plain building, I can't imagine this would pass the test.

Some of the land use allocations around the country are barmy, but this one tops the list.  Access on to a narrow country lane, narrow bridge, boundary of village envelope etc.

Insurability wouldn't be considered by the Planning Committee, who don't bother themselves with commercial aspects.

I suggest that all every single villager writes objections to the plan, copy to the local newspaper and that Chris date-photographs the field every time it floods.

Isn't it the site of the Battle of Cropredy Bridge? Maybe some historical preservation society could get involved, too?

I think it was further south, the other side of the road.

That would probably not stop the planing permission, just slightly delay the building, as they can insist a dig is carried out first.

Paul

Could Cropredy have it own "Battle of the BeanField" as happened at Stonehenge all those years ago!

It is a shame that the sleepy village of Cropredy could end up like so many other places just a bed in the country for city slickers as I don't suppose the houses will be affordable to local young people.

It is also a shame that if planning permission is granted and then, what, a couple of thousand people move in that will probably mean the end of the festival; certainly as we know it.

Another reason to buy our tickets early.

What are the odds that as soon as they are built, some Nimby will complain about the noise from the festival...

dont joke about the beanfields. no, cropredy couldnt, wouldnt and shouldnt for many many reasons.

Just in case there's anyone here that doesn't know... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_the_Beanfield

thanks GB, and pour me a vodka, i think i have steam coming out of my ears >:(

You're welcome, have a double, it still brings tears to my eyes to this day.

As for the Cropredy debate, I'd be very surprised, not to mention extremely disappointed if permission was given.  If the village must expand, surely there are more suitable directions for it to expand in.

Objections have been raised, not least by the Parish Council. It is just a proposal which should be examined in Committee - but the Council argues that if they didn't identify areas everywhere they could then be held to be favouring some over others, which IMHO, is a fair point.

Personally, I feel this proposal will fall on the flood-plain issue once it is examined in Committee. A proposal that won't get any further, methinks. But Prescott still wants millions of houses in the South East - and Cropredy is (just) part of that area.

This business of building houses in villages is a sore point, as usually the locals can't afford them, and they go either to townies moving in, or to townies as a second home. The young locals move the other way, into the towns.
No doubt there will be some "affordable" housing or "social" housing at Croppers as a sop, but really our whole system is in a mess. Houses are too expensive, to buy and to rent.  >:(
I feel sorry for the youngsters, a 2 bed semi round here is 150k, and this is a low wage area of the Midlands (ish), what a nightmare for them. :( Developing all those villages in the last few years hasn't really helped get the balance right.

I don't know the answer btw, I just know we are in a mess. ???

If the developement does get the go ahead, in whichever area it'll be well beyond the price affordable by locals and I sometimes wonder if this isn't part of Prescott's overall plan, homes in lovely areas for his City pals, also the 2nd home syndrome contributes massively to the run down and eventual demise of rural areas, as it has in so many areas of Devon and Cornwall.
It would be sad to see any village anywhere swallowed up by expansion and developement, it would be understandable if there was some small expansion solely with the locals in mind (enabling the young to stay), but overpriced housing for rich incomers (who don't necessarily spend their wealth locally, whatever the hype), is, quite honestly, obscene!

But to give them their due, most youngsters *want* to live their early years of freedom in urban areas, where the social life is, without needing to drive there through lack of transport. Very few want to settle straight into rural life.

Not sure I agree with you there Chris-In my experience loads of young people would like to stay around their home area where they have a support network. They are used to travelling for their entertainment and are forced to move into towns and cities for work and housing.Given a choice many of them wouldn't move.

I dunno Chris, what you say applies to some but not all. My nephew is a farmworker, he would struggle to afford a house in a town, no chance of living near where he works. That can't be right.
Mix is right about rural areas now, people come in, often use the place as a second home, so schools, churches, shops, post offices, all suffer.
We have a government which is very urban in outlook, they care not a jot for the countryside or it's people.

Did we ever have a Government who did?

Um......erm.......I'll get back to you on that one. :)

I totally agree with you but I do know how very easily the Police over react to situations and although I wouldn't want or advocate anything like that if there were some form of protest, however peaceful, it only needs a very small incident to escalate into something horrible.

Here's hoping sense, about the whole issue, prevails.

PLEASE REMEMBER WHAT THE MANOR HOUSE IS CALLED?
DOES THE FAT BLOB OF GREED WANT ANOTHER HOUSE?
PRESCOTT OF PRESCOTT MANOR, TOTAL SOCIALIST RING TO IT.
PLENTY OF ROOM TO STORE THE JAGS?
WE HAD THE REINACTMENT OF THE BATTLE OF CROPREDY BRIDGE AFEW YEARS AGO.
WE ARE READY TO SINK THE BLOB.
I WOULD REQUEST A BATTLE SONG PLEASE.
RED AND GOLD PART TWO.
KEVIN

Shhhhhhhsh  ;)

THROUGH CROPREDY IN OXFORDSHIRE THE CHERWELL TAKES IT COURSE,
AND THE HOUSES THAT PRESCOTT ORDERED THEY DO SINK
AND THE DREAMS WE HAD WERE OF NEW LABOUR,
NOW OUR LITTLE VILLAGE IS SECOND ONLY TO MILTON OF THE KEYNES,
AND THE DREAMS WE HAD WERE OF NEW LABOUR.

I HOPE THAT YOU ALL CAN DO MUCH BETTER,
WE LOOK UPON YOU AS OUR VERY OWN,
AND THE DREAMS WE HAD WERE OF NEW LABOUR,
 BUT THEY JUST LIED AND LIED AND LIED.

NOW THE SOCIALIST PRESCOTT HAS TURNED COLOURS,
HE WANTS HIS OWN MANOR HOUSE,
AND THE DREAMS WE HAD WERE OF NEW LABOUR,
HE WILL NEED SOME FOUR BY FOURS IN THESE SUCH MUDDY FIELDS

AND THE DREAMS WE HAD WERE OF NEW LABOUR,

KEVIN

Oh do please STOP SHOUTING

the police dont need to over react anymore, they have nothing to fear, as the laws implemented as a ditect result of the beanfields will ensure that it never happens again.
what kind of confrontation were you anticipating anyway?  the sleepy village of cropredy to erupt into a suddenly seething mass of lefty petrol bombers maybe?  or the entire attendance of cropredy festival 2007 to refuse to leave site, thus losing their jobs in the process, not to mention running out of toilet paper.
no i didnt think so.  i could go on but suffice to say the two scenarios are, at best, worlds apart and at worst, laughable and insulting to try to compare them with each other.

back on topic.
the possibility of losing one field to development is a blow for the festival, a liability for anyone who buys a house there, but surely the start of a slippery decline for the village of cropredy. because sure as s**t, it wont stop at field 4, whether it all sinks or not.  we have a similar situation here in higham.

Sorry slight topic drift (although not thread-of-the-topic drift)

Here in Barry in the beautiful Vale of Glamorgan we've lost hundred of acres of ancient woodland to development and there's no sign of Mr Wimpey et al slowing down. The woodland had badgers, many species of birds including sparrowhawks and buzzards as well as the other "wee folk" as my Mum used to called them. It was a joy to wander through the wood with it's carpet of ransomes and bluebells, listening to the birds, but now it's all gone. There's one tiny pocket left and there's intense pressure to build on that as well. In other areas the developers have at least keep little pockets of woodland but here it's been wholesale murder. They also cleared huge areas 5 years ago but haven't built on these areas yet - why couldn't they leave them until they were ready to build?

I doubt very much if any of us will be able to stop developers from moving into Cropredy, but 20,000 signatures might delay things a bit.

We'll have to make 2007 the Best Cropredy Ever, just in case .... {:-)

Kevin actually looks exactly like Mr Noisy. No, really.

He's gone back to sleep now, so all tiptoe away quietly.

Now there's a thought Bridgwit. If this issue is still around next August and not pushed though before I wonder what the feasibility of having a petition at the wristband tent is?

Andy Leslie,
              Sorry for the capitals, had capslock on and didn't notice.
Hope your ears are OK , any help would be appreciated, we all go ice skating on that field when it freezes.
It holds about a foot of water, shows the level of intelligence of some of these plonkers?
The more they build upon land like this the worse the flooding will be lower down towards Oxford.
The land is naturally holding back the water.
I think if the press realised that Prescott manor overlooked this field , they could have a birthday with it.
Many people died here at the battle, fighting for what they believed in, on both sides, Why dont we stand up to these idiots now?
Isnt this our England, wobbly carrots and all.
I thought folk music was all about protest songs and about battles etc, it was in the sixties.
Kevin

I live for protest - and some of the old grizzlies at Cropredy have been in the thick of them for years. Keep us up to date (as I'm sure will Chris) - if this can be stopped on the floodplain principle then that's a lot of unsuitable development also stopped around the country, and maybe a few more people realising the impact of climate change in the future (think baked earth and thunderstorms).

K.

[/quote]

the police dont need to over react anymore, they have nothing to fear, as the laws implemented as a ditect result of the beanfields will ensure that it never happens again.
what kind of confrontation were you anticipating anyway?  the sleepy village of cropredy to erupt into a suddenly seething mass of lefty petrol bombers maybe?  or the entire attendance of cropredy festival 2007 to refuse to leave site, thus losing their jobs in the process, not to mention running out of toilet paper.
no i didnt think so.  i could go on but suffice to say the two scenarios are, at best, worlds apart and at worst, laughable and insulting to try to compare them with each other.

[/quote]

I wasn't comparing them just using it as a metaphor as it "meeting your Waterloo" ;D or whatever.

It is however as much a sign of the times as what you wrote about how the law has been manipulated.

The march of the developer is everywhere as the market dictates really.