TalkAwhile - The Folk Corporation Forum

Hi Dave

Something that is often discussed here is the Fairport set list. Understandably you need to plug a product on a tour, and also play the songs most people like to hear, but given the huge range of Fairport's output over 40 years, is there a particular reason (apart from the lack of a female vocalist) why certain songs don't tend to make it on the set, whereas others repeatedly do? And are there songs you would have liked to have given more exposure to, but rarely get the chance?

Thanks very much.

Keith

Hi Keith.Good question.  The songs in the set have to be songs that Simon and Chris feel"they can do justice"to. in the case of older material(Sandys stuff especially) a male voice despite being as good as they both are just doesn't work. I am not a singer, but if I wasa having to do lead vocals would have to be able to "live the song" whilst performing. We do try and ressurect older stuff but to be honest love to play new material and music that has been created by this line up. I know that sometimes it's hard when you are in the crowd and hearing material for the first time. When I go to gigs by acts whose music I am familiar with, I like the comfy shoe effect of songs I know.
  It would be nice for T.A.W. to come up with a "wish list" for a set, especially for the 40th. anniversary. I think this may have been done in the past so if anyone knows please tell me. It is hard planning the set  and because there is a wealth of material to choose from, inevitably some people get dissapointed. All views welcome. Cheers, Peggy.

Thanks Peggy. Someone's probably on to it already - I wonder if Colin could dig up some of the old lists...

For my part, I'd love to hear "Book Song", "Summer Before The War" and "Red Tide"  [;-)

Cheers.

Keith

We've done it before, but in December we'll have a go at a set list, but try to make it practical.
Pace it, with not too many instrument changes and comfort breaks.  ;D

But it will have to include, 'Sir Patrick Spens', 'The Happy Man', 'Red Tide', 'Bridge over the River Ash', 'Everything but the Skirll', 'The Swirling Pit' and other stuff.

Yeah, and 'Where Is Colin?'.   :)

And BONNY BLACK HARE.. please!! :-*

Seconded, please :)

Why not do what Show of Hands did a couple of tours ago and rather than come up with a set list perse, let everyone choose say 10 songs they would like to hear and then forward the top 10 to the chaps so they could include at least some of them at appropriate points during the set.

As Colin points out to come up with a set list requires variety etc etc.  This way I feel we would have a better chance of hearing some of our suggestions.

Just a thought.

Cocker - thats not a suggestion for a special guest is it? I'll second it if it is  ;D ;)

If you're feeling really confident, halfway through the set why not shout "Any requests?"   :o  ;D

Cheers

Nick

A Bird from The Mountain please. Cocker can do the intro speech... ::)

Why not play stuff from the new album in the first half and then for the second, pull from a hat, songs which the audience have nominated during the interval?  Very exciting for us and very scary for you!  And only about 300 to rehearse ...  ;D

On a more practical note, maybe you could limit the choice, a tear-out voting slip inside the programme, we could pay a pound for every try and the money could go to a charity.  A bit gimmicky, I suppose, but it would tick a few boxes.  :)

Polly On The Shore

I'm sure Simon would do an ace take on it.

And Bony Black Hare

oh, and Bring Em Down

And how about revisiting some of the other tracks from Jewel In the Crown other then the title?