TalkAwhile - The Folk Corporation Forum

First night in Tewkesbury went really well. Chris played a blinder in the first half. Anyone familiar with BL should not be disappointed & those coming to it new are in for a real treat.  Some slightly rough transitions, but that between "Sailor's Alphabet" & "John Lee" was seamless. I'd have been happy going home at the end of the set.  As expected, lots of material from "The Festival Bell" in part two, some of which is instantly appealing, some may take a few listens, but overall good fun & proficient as would be expected. If they played this well on day one, by the end of the tour it should be faultless. Simon provided a very nice "WKWTTG", before a coda-less "Matty" & "Ledge" for dessert. Great venue, great crowd, great set & great start to the tour.  :)

Totally agree with everything Ian has said, the chaps certainly got off to a flying start last night. The show was quite different from that which we have recently grown accustomed, where FC as a band have in the main remained within a certain comfort zone, performing material which both they and the audience have been familiar.

The BL set was performed with equal measures of both power and passion, complex certainly but it also really rocked. The transitions proved a little awkward at times but they will become slicker with practice.

The second set in the main showcased the new material from Festival Bell, like the BL set, this too was the first time the band had played the majority of these tunes in front of an audience, so it must have been incredibly stressful. Their ability to memorise that much new information gets my absolute admiration, (I can't remember my phone number) It's no exaggeration to say they did a fantastic job.

The best analogy I can think of is that of the swan, all was serenity and calmness on the surface, one can only imagine and be full of admiration for all the hard work they must have endured to make it work so seamlessly.

The guys can be very proud of this performance and the really exciting thing is, when they become more familiar with the material, they will get even better.

I wish them every success on this their annual winter excursion around our fair isle, catch them if you can.

Well I have a long wait until March 2nd to see this tour in Cardiff - but my appetite has certainly been whetted. Bring it on!  ;D  A close watch will be kept on this thread in the meantime.  ::)

But at least we'll get the lads even more well-rehearsed and tighter than a tight thing.... ;D

I will see the last gig of the tour in Birmingham and can´t wait to see a brilliant show.
Enjoy the tour.  :-*

Last night at Hayes was an unexpected bonus. A first aid course finished early and there were still tickets  :)

Babbacombe Lee was a delight, although there was confusion in the audience as to whether to applaud between numbers. The Chaps did introduce it as a single piece and I think were expecting to treat it as such. A brief indication in the intro might help. The performance itself stood out, not just for the pleasure of hearing this seminal work live, but also for the harmonies between the three singers and for Simon playing his Strat rather more than has been the norm in the last few years.

I hadn't listened to The Festival Bell before the gig, although some songs were familiar from having an airing at Cropredy. After hearing the selection that was played last night I'm rather looking forward to giving the album its first airing.

I particularly enjoyed the fact that apart from the usual Matty and MOTL, the entire set was songs that have not previously surfaced on a wintour (or perhaps the odd song from Babbacombe Lee has). Stand out favourites from this listener were Around The Wild Cape Horn, with its power and foreboding and the delightful tune Albert & Ted. It was also great to hear the Fairport treatment of Mark & Caz's Celtic Moon.

Ah, but do we get Danny Jack's Reward? I bet we don't, but my son and I would both love to hear it live!

 
Yes, Ric does perform his latest cosmic offering Danny Jack's Reward and if you like that, I reckon you'll also enjoy Ric & Peggy's, Albert & Ted.

Fantastic news! Thanks Martin!

Here's one - http://www.wordmagazine.co.uk/content/fairport-convention

I am really pleased to hear that a large chunk of the new album is getting an airing as, after all, there are an awful lot of laurels that it would have been very easy to rest upon.  

Re: the audience "Grey beards were much in evidence, and I suspect very few will see 50 again. Happy, smiling folkies of a certain age."  ;D

Surely by definition no one will ever see 50 again...

A little late, and I can only echo Ian & Martin's comments about Tewkesbury - band in good form, full house, good atmosphere, JBL was excellent (BTW, I wonder whose voices are used for the intro & reading?)  Good to see Simon playing the Strat!

A couple of minor slips in the new pieces, but hey - first time out for some of them - and to the chaps' great credit, these pieces are not easy to play.  Bravo to all - and a hearty well done to the sound guys - from seat D5 the sound was really good.

Another great calegramme (or is is progendar?) this year; amazing to see 2 pics of Simon 40 years apart at Ainsdale & Crosby (which incidentally are more like 10 miles apart, not 3!) - so at least 2 of us at Tewkesbury were at both those gigs...

If you haven't got a ticket for this tour, I recommend you get one.  Soon!

any chance of a set list?

I reckon I can manage the First Half for you...

I believe the judge is the voice of David Hill (no, not the Slade fella), actor. Don't know about the female journalist.

female journalist?

Yes, for some reason the spoken word news report preceding Breakfast In Mayfair was performed by a woman rather than the original being used. No idea who it was, though- Jan Leeming maybe?

I suspect that is  the guy who used to be in Eastenders who is a friend of someone in Steeleye? He was at Cropredy the last time that they played.

Another late message from Tewkesbury... ;)

Very little to add to comments above, other than to mention the set by Katriona and James. No disrespect to any of the musicians involved, but some of the "openers" in recent years have taken a while to settle. This duo were up to speed from the first note and they had some pretty strong material to play. Coupled with BL, musically probably the best first half we've seen for many a year...we'd also have been happy to go home at the interval !  Having said that, the second half was equally as good, with, as others have noted, lots of new material making its first live appearance.....Danny Jack's Reward (should be Revenge!!) is brilliant !!

Thoroughly enjoyable evening (and a couple more to look forward to ... :) )

S&J

Can anyone remember whether Kat and Jamie sing Fleetwood Fair please?

They certainly did.....managed to mention an award that they had been nominated for at the same time   ;)

S&J

YouTube clip of Danny Jack's Reward from Tewkesbury filmed by Nev Bull, via FC facebook page.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=twkjbD6OCj4

Reporting in from the well over 3 hour show at LBT Huddersfield on Sunday 30th Jan. (3 rows back in front of Peggy & Chris)
 First half started with a 5 song set from Katriona Gilmore & Jamie Roberts which did include 'Fleetwood Fair', a good line on badgers and a mention for this board and the Hancocks awards. The duo are such a good team and now on their second CD.As already mentioned an inspired choice for support.

Kat & Jamie were then joined by FC for the now usual 'transition  number' which I think was called 'Nothing At All'. Again a good song.

Simon then introduced 'Babbacombe Lee' with the hint that we could 'react to the songs as usual rather than wait until the end of the whole piece' whilst Dave chipped in with the fact that a few rounds of applause 'would make the changeovers smoother'. The reaction throughout reflected the effort that all the band had made. For example there was excellent electric work from Simon , some great vocals from Dave alongside Chris ( what a memory that guy must have) and Ric and Gerry just dovetailed into the violin & drum parts of the first folk-rock opera. A thundering reception at the end shows how well this was received. This tour makes history for the first half as previous posters have mentioned.

At the interval I bought 'The Festival Bell' along with the programme (plenty to read today and comparable to HTFC's journal for value). One of my friends thought they had bought a calendar by mistake but after a 180-degree transformation realised that the programme was in the same format as last year i.e. combined with a useful calendar if read the opposite way.As Paul T. has mentioned it's there to be marketed under another name! Nigel Schofield's article on the background to the 1971 album was a highlight.He was name checked by Dave & Simon.

Second Half included 9 out of 14 tracks from the new album in roughly this order:

The Festival Bell
Mercy Bay
Rui's Guitar
Albert & Ted
Wouldn't Say No
Celtic Moon
Around The Wild Cape Horn
Danny Jack's Reward
Dark side Wood

The 'big finish':
Who Knows Where The TIme  Goes? (Stunning)
Matty Groves (L & L length)


Encore: Meet On The Ledge (with Katriona & Jamie)

This tour and album are to be heartily recommended

What more can I say?  Only decided the day before to go to the Huddersfield gig (after someone offered me a lift) and had a great evening.  I don't see FC indoors very often and it was good not to be wet and/or cold!  I loved hearing Babbacombe Lee live - I don't know the album particularly well, even though I do own a copy (slapped wrist).  Must give it more of an airing.  I really liked the new material too, and may well be purchasing the Festival Bell.  I didn't realise there was a programme for sale, but had no spare cash anyway, so probably a good thing.  Kat and Jamie were great (as ever) and I thought it was a nice touch that their set dovetailed into Fairport's with the chaps being their backing band for one song.

Also got to see number two son for about 2 minutes outside the theatre!

Oh, and our very own red shoe wearer Carolyn got a namecheck of course!

No Reunion Hill :(

Two out of three of my favourites from the new album! ;D

Glad we've already got our tickets for Colchester as it is sold out!  Katy is coming home for the gig so plenty to look forward to! :D




Please tell me they didn't dress-up! ;) ;D



I must remember to buy two this year.

Thanks... great  {:-) 8) :)

Huddersfield 30/1/11

1st half - BL

2nd half - probably not in exact running order and from memory:

The Festival Bell
Mercy Bay
Rui's Guitar
Danny Jack's Reward
Wouldn't Say No
Around the Wild Cape Horn (complete with no less than 2 false starts and one mid-song lapse of memory of lyrics on SN's part!)
Celtic Moon
Albert & Ted
Darkside Wood
WKWTTG
Matty Groves
Meet on the Ledge

Good gig - first half was great, the second up and down, depending on where you stand on the new album. Great to hear so many new songs but personally I would have limited them and perhaps replaced Celtic Moon with more of a established favourite - but still good to have such a different set-list.

Sorry Jamesiegang - I seem to have rather copied your earlier post - it didn't show up on the iphone for some reason!?

they are really hammering the new stuff in the second half, arnt they

Hardly surprising, considering they have a new album to promote.  ::)

yes i know ,but i do seem to sense a bit of overkill, did the previous records get hammered like this one on the wintours, cos i dont seem to remember it was quite as blatant
and yes i do know that BL is standing in for a lot of back catalogue

I think so, the difference this time is that it's all condensed into one half, rather than spread over the two like it has been before.

Good thing too. There'll be plenty of time for old stuff at Cropredy. It's a working band - the more new stuff the better.

I remember on the XXXV Tour they played all but two tracks from that album (they left out Neil Gow's Apprentice and I Wandered By A Brookside). They played most of Over The Next Hill on that tour, but only about half of Sense Of Occasion on that album's tour

Personally I think that's a good thing. The new material is musically interesting, and it stretches the band, focuses their performance, and avoids the lazy 'best of' feel such a long running band could fall for.

It also suggests confidence in the material - which has to be good.

No problem..Good to know we agree on the songs in the 2nd half if not the order ;)

I think it's a brilliant move on their part. That's how they keep from becoming an oldies act. Not sure why, but so many bands steer clear of playing too many new songs for fear (pure speculation on my part) of alienating their audience. Having Cropredy gives them the oldies but goodies outlet and allows them to showcase new material on tour.

Wish they'd comes to the states.  :( Until then, the dvds will have to do.

Stuart

YES!!!

My exact words on the way back home from Huddersfield!

I found a link on Katriona and Jamie's Facebook page to these photos taken at the Huddersfield gig...

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=330332&id=692637246

Does anyone know which Kat and Jamie song they perform with the chaps?  I always like that bit...  :)

On Sunday in Huddersfield it was "Hunter Man" from their first CD "Shadows and Half Light" (I think - I just remembered hearing the title of the album in the song!)

I can see that working, it's a wonderful song!

Got to be honest, I'm more excited about this tour than I have been for some time.  The combination of JBL, the new album and Kat and Jamie...  Roll on Margate!

Stuart, save your cents and make the trip to Cropredy. There's a welcome for you there.

This just in from our York correspondent (Rosie) at the break:

"Half-time! Really good support was one of Tiny Tin Lady and friend. Babbacombe Lee was brill even not knowing it. Leaping up and down to let people back into their seats."

And in response to my query about it being well attended our correspondent writes:

"Very full! I'm about a quarter of the way into row J and I can't see an empty seat. Everyone seems to know each other - the York folk scene clearly! Lots of Cropredy shirts."

The enthusaism of youth! Mind you I'm paying for her ticket  ;)

PETER WROTE: Stuart, save your cents and make the trip to Cropredy. There's a welcome for you there.

A trip to England has been on my wish list for quite some time. Exchange rate is killing me. Need to save dollars and not cents to make it happen.  ;)

I do wish that I had discovered Fairport at the time I discovered Lindisfarne (early 2000s). The guy who promoted their tour in the US was also handling Fairport at the time. I would have traveled to a Fairport show in a heartbeat.

Looking back, I am so thankful I was able to see Lindisfarne Acoustic in Cleveland in 2003 (I think that's when it was) as the band called it a day shortly thereafter.

Stuart

Really enjoyed the show at Crosby last night. I'd like to start by saying how good Katriona Gilmore & Jamie Roberts were, and we're now hoping to travel to darkest Bury to see them on their tour in April.
 It was great to hear Babbacombe Lee in its entirity and it made for an interesting first half of the show. Talking to the band afterwards, they all seemed very enthusiastic about having the opportunity to play it live. I thought 'The cell song' was a particular highlight. The new material in the second half sounds pretty strong on first hearing (although I'd probably heard at least half of the songs before at various times), and although it might have been nice to have heard a couple of more familiar songs, the show didn't finish until 10.45 anyway, so I can understand why they didn't play them. All in all, it was a most enjoyable show, and I'm looking forward to the acoustic tour in May in Birkenhead and, in the unlikely event that I can persuade my wife to spend a few nights in a tent, Cropredy. Finally, can I say what thoroughly nice people all of the band are when meeting and greeting after the show.

So great to hear such wow reviews. Looking forward to the Margate gig soooo much. There are only a few tickets left so if you want to come you should give them a call asap. Some of the remaining tickets will have a slightly restricted view but don't let that put you off. It's a beautiful old atmospheric theatre but with great acoustics, so it won't ruin your experience. These seats are cheaper too (£13.50)!

Enjoyed the show at The Beck Theatre in Hayes
Looking forward to catching the London Show at Union Chapel further down the line.
Especially looking forward to seeing  again the Excellent Katriona and Jamie .
How does he DO that!!!

The Burnley Mechanics gig last night was excellent, I can't add anything that hasn't already been said about both Fairport and Katriona and Jamie (if you get chance to see them grab it, they were enthralling), we introduced 'a newbie' friend to them and she really enjoyed the evening.
Can't wait for the Bury Met performances for both.
 
Ian

Great evening at the Assembly in Leamington last night. We thought Tewkesbury was good, but the whole set is much,much tighter afer a weeks work! Brilliant performances all round, Kat and Jamie are a great choice to open, BL just gets better and better and most of the Festival Bell material makes for a strong second half. Special mention for Chris who must have the most incredible memory for lyrics and some sublime bass from Peggy on WKWTTG.

Thanks to Ric for showing us the bass uke - the strings are like bootlaces, amazing piece of kit.

.....and lovely to see Martin Driver again, he must put in as many miles as the chaps themselves!!

S&J

So i'm the bloke who still wants early 70's Fairport but that's my problem not theirs.
I was also at Leamington last night, fabulous venue incidentally.
John Lee  was just very very good. The piece occassionally has creaking 70's concept album issues but the quality of playing, harmonies and musicianship was just outstanding. Gerry was simply stunning all night.
Sheena felt she missed some vocals early in JBL. I didn't but maybe knowing the lyrics helps! 2nd half of JBL was very strong. Ric still over elaborates for me occassionally but i am being picky. Chris sang really well , putting real meaning in to the piece.
2nd half , delighted they were showcasing new material, makes them a working band not their own tribute. Pleasant, with 'pop' tinges and enjoyable live but nothing to really make me think that's a killer song or hit me with any power. Folk rock it wasn't.
Peggys bass playing was awesome on Rics piece but i didn't get in to it. People I was with loved it.
Chris played really melodic fiddle. PJ was in the audience and (i still have my fantasy of Chris replacing Ric with PJ on guitar, but that would be  a different band.)
Generally a really good night. best I have seen them play for ages. Bits of JBL will stay with me for a long time. It was folk rock.
A really excellent WKWTTG. Probably the best i have heard Simon sing this , in the 40+times I have heard him sing it.

That might be a little unfair to Ric after a mere 25 years in the band!  ;)

Can't say we've heard it 40+ times, but it was pretty awesome - Simon's vocals, Peggy's bass and the two fiddles just worked perfectly together......

S&J

Even though I have now missed them (in Llandudno) on this tour and won't make it elsewhere (money issues), I know for a fact that I agree with this review 110%.  I also realise that's a preposterous thing to say (but that's never stopped me before...)

 ;D

Was going to post this in the wintour section but its locked.  Just booked tickets for the 18th at Farnham where tey are playing two nights. The night before they are apparently going to have a different second half with songs not currently played on the tour.  Unfortunately I can only go to the one on the 18th.

Just wanted to say a big thank you for the welcome we've received on the tour, and all the positive comments on here. We're having a whale of a time, we're very honoured to be doing the tour and it's good to know that you're enjoying our music as well as Fairport's!  
Katriona Gilmore & Jamie Roberts

Fear not: that statement was issued without complete consultation with the band by our very good friend Chris, who runs the gig. It's not a condition of the contract!

If we do a little tinkering with the running order, well, that's our prerogative but we do have a set list, a plan for the evening's music, and as it doesn't seem to be broken, why fix it?

Look forward to seeing you and all of our friends.

Wheehee! Morecambe and the Isle of Man ( for the first time ) later this week for me!!
And my daughter Eilidh is going to the London gig next week. Look after her....she's only 15....

I love the Isle of man am very envious, will you have time to look around?

Hi Zoe, probably just Douglas itself.
Travelling over on Saturday afternoon then back on Monday morning. Looking forwards to it though!!

I used to live on the Isle of Man. I'd recommend looking at more than Douglas if you possibly can; the capital isn't representative at all. My favourite town is Peel, but that's just me ....

The Gaiety Theatre, if that's where the chaps are playing, is absolutely lovely.

Again, much appreciated Peter. Not sure if time allow. By the time the ferry gets in, it'll be dark. Then I suspect that lunch may be high on the agenda for us all on Sunday. Then gig.....who, indeed, knows where it goes?

Excellent in Chichester tonight, and they certainly gave good value.Nearly eleven when we came out.

Babacombe Lee was excellent, and the stuff from the new album sounded very good live. I might have to listen to the CD now. I particularly liked Wild Cape Horn. Danny Jack's reward was good too.

Jamie and Kat did a good job of getting us going, they are both very talented.

Nice to see Bill Claire and Adam.

Paul

Wish I had been there - apparently tonight was the biggest gig of the tour. We are all so looking forward to seeing the boys here in Margate again. We're 99% sold out already. I'll just have to suffer and read all your reviews till Feb 26th. All looking excellent so far!

Tonight in Chichester, Fairport Convention confirmed why they are one of my "desert island" bands ! Kicking proceedings off, Katriona & Jamie were very good (loved Jamie's percussive guitar when played on his lap), then Babbacombe Lee was performed in its entirety with seriously loving attention to detail, Ric playing bass uke and Chris playing fiddle in the nautical section...

To perform a concept album about The Man They Couldn't Hang and then play a set of mostly new material is to ask a lot from an audience, but the guys pulled it off with gusto, highlights being Danny Jack's Reward, Wouldn't Say No, Darkside Wood, Rui's Guitar and Red Shoes' lovely Celtic Moon. A fine version of WKWTTG, a relatively straight version of Matty G and a well-earned MOTL finished things off.

The guys are in the middle of a purple patch musically, and they seem to be having the time of their lives on this tour, their energy, enthusiasm and quality of musicianship would put many to shame. It would be a shame to miss them on this tour, catch it if you can !

Do fantasys have to be fair?

I've told myself a million times not to exaggerate but 25 cropredys, other tours and individ gigs from the 70's. I may have included times i heard sandy sing it. 40? but it's close.

[/quote]
I've told myself a million times not to exaggerate
[/quote]

 :) :)

S&J

Had a terrific time at Chichester last night. It looked pretty much sold out.
"Babbacombe Lee" was faultless and for me, the decision to devote almost the entire second half to the new album really worked.
The band were on top form throughout but I think a special mention should go to Chris who, due to the material chosen, took on the majority of the vocals.
Good to meet up with Dan,Martin and Paul too!

This is a belated report back from the Lincoln gig last week.

Firstly, it looked like a full house to me.  Thoroughly enjoyed the Babbacombe Lee set.   It was such a rare opportunity to hear the completed work live – although audience reaction did seem a little muted.  I think this was as much do to with the “should we clap yet?” anxiety that some seemed to feel.

I wondered what some of our friends less familiar (or completely unfamiliar!) with Babbacombe Lee would make of it – but they seemed to really enjoy this.

Before the gig I must admit to having reservation about the report of a second half comprising mainly new material – but The Boys confidence in The Festival Bell material was completed vindicated!  

It just shows how strong the new album is that many songs already sound like an established part of the repertoire (which I'm sure they'll become!).

Bought a copy of the new album on the strength of the gig – which was one of the freshest FC performances for years!

These reviews are wonderful.  :D  I am looking forward to the Cardiff gig so much. Bring it on!  {:-)  (Note to self: must give BL a spin soon. It's been a while.)

We saw them at Leamington on sunday at the Assembly Rooms :). Firstly. I would like to say what a wonderful venue, it was so Art deco and beautifully designed. (It even had Tammy Wynette's chrome caravan under the stage). Apparently she had it brought there but then things got built around it and now it can't be moved! Anyroad, I thought BL was performed with a passion that brought a tear to my eye, Chris's vocals were sublime and he gave it his all. The harmonies from them all were the best I have heard in many a year and they all seemed to be having such a great time. Simon's redition of WKWTTG was one of the best I think I've heard from him; it was an emotional evening all round, great to catch up with them and hear "Festival Bell" played live, John Gale on the desk did them real justice. I'm sure you can imagine how we must have felt when a certain song was played, I was very good and never cried once but did need a very large glass of wine afterwards to stop my heart racing ;D. All in all a very surreal experience for both Mark and myself - Wished my mom and dad could have been around, they would have been so chuffed :'(. I'm looking forward to seeing them at Brum Town Hall and going through it all again.

C x

Good idea - there were a couple of moments from BL I'd forgotten before last night !

Good for you. It's a top song. I saw its FC debut in Tewkesbury and thought Peggy sang it beautifully. I'm looking forward to hearing it again in Chesterfield tomorrow night.

Thank you, they really are on fire at the moment and I would say "Go and see them folks" they are what we know and love at their best  :)

C x

They were great at Chichester last night, especially Babbacombe Lee, which I'd been listening to a lot for the past couple of weeks.
Nice to catch up with Dan, Martin, and Paul.

I wish we didn't have to wait until 1st March.

Come to Chesterfield Andy... only just up the M1 from Lessduh!

hmmmmmm, Brum as well????

I wish I didn't have to wait until August.  :(

Ann (From Lancs) and I went to the Mechanics at Burnley on Saturday - an excellent venue, not too big, not too small. It was her birthday too! Life doesn't get better than that. Looked out for any familiar faces but alas, surely there must have been some Talkawhilers there? Excellent night - enjoyed Katriona & Jamie too! Ah yes, The Festival Bell - I love that song.

Chi was brill !!!!! Do you know I had forgotten that Babbacombe Lee was my intro to Fairport back in 19frozentodeath.... It brought back a lot of memories .... I have to say that Ric was incredible ......
Well they all were but I sitting Ric side .....well done lads [;-)
DaveP

Babbacombe Lee. Swindon. Ace.

You must have been near me.

Not the best venue for seeing the band, or setting up the sound. Simon did thank John Gale for the difficult job he had done. Sound seemed fine, and most vocals were clear.

Paul

Just realised missing our Llandudno review:

Fairport Convention
Venue Cymru
WHEN Fairport Convention rolled into town last Friday one thing seemed sure... it would be a far from usual Fairport gig.
On their 27th consecutive winter tour one might think a band of their longevity may be going a little stale in places.
But nothing could be further from reality.
Fairport have been pioneers of British folk rock for an amazing 44 years. Since their inception in 1967, they have adapted and changed but never disappointed.
The first half of the set – a full 45 minutes – was a complete reworking of their 1971 folk-rock opera Babbacombe Lee – performed to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the album.
The set was stunning both musically, as a lyrical folk tale of 19th century John Lee – the man they could not hang -  and highlighted by Chris Leslie's beautiful vocals.
The second half was equally profound, but a world away with a packaging of Fairport's brand new album Festival Bell.
For a full 35 minutes the audience was treated to at least eight songs from the new CD including the haunting Mercy Bay and Carolyn Evans' equally moody Celtic Moon.
Meanwhile Chris While's stunning Darkside Wood and McTell's Around the Wild Cape Horn were powerhouses.
Violinist Ric Saunders entranced with the quirky and Danny Jack's Reward...  the juxtaposition between his fiddle and Peggy's bass was stunning.
We may have missed Chris' reworking of Sandy Denny's Rising for the Moon, but the audience was soon foot thumping along to concert regulars Matty Groves, Who Knows Where the Time Goes? and the timeless Meet on the Ledge.
Fairport were supported briliantly by a 25 minute set from upcoming folk duo Katriona Gilmore and Jamie Roberts, who left most of the audience spell bound by their confidence and sheer musical brilliance. Hunter Man, Fleetwood Fair and Travelling in Time are all brilliant songs.
A great evening of music.

Out of interest, this review of FC in Chichester was printed in the Portsmouth area local paper The News yesterday :

By and (c) Phil Riley, The News

Published on Thu Feb 10

"Not so much a band as a force of nature, Fairport Convention brought their annual Winter Tour to the rather reverential atmosphere of the Festival Theatre.

A more or less permanent fixture on the folk rock scene since their formation in 1967 the Fairports – who ‘did for real ale what the Grateful Dead did for LSD’ – are in truth best suited to a summer’s day with a flagon of beer and space to jig to the upbeat elements of their set.

They have a loyal following – you could probably have counted the number of first-timers in the audience on the fingers of one hand, this reviewer included – and that loyalty was surely tested at the opening of their set by a large chunk of their 1971 ‘folk rock opera’ Babbacombe Lee.

If you ever needed an explanation for the rise of punk, this rambling, interminable ‘concept album’ guff was it.

After the interval, however, the Fairports showed that they can still cut the old English mustard. The gig lifted off with a stirring Mercy Bay, off their new album Festival Bell, written by multi-instrumentalist Chris Leslie, a relatively new recruit with drummer Gerry Conway, who has brought new creativity to the band of veterans Simon Nicol, Dave Pegg and Ric Sanders.

It’s to Fairports’ credit that they showcase rising stars in support, and award-winning duo Kat Gilmore and Jamie Roberts did, as Nicol said, raise the bar."

Overall, not a bad review, but "rambling, interminable 'concept album' guff" !!! Pah ! Mr Riley's first Fairport gig, he just doesn't understand, does he ?  ;)

I thought they were very unfair about Babbacombe Lee. Everybody I have spoken to thought it was brilliant. I met a guy at the concert I did on Wednesday who was so impressed he has booked for Farnham.

Paul

Oh yes, he was certainly unfair about BL, but at least it looks like the reviewer has done some background research into the band, the LSD quote, spelling everyone's name correctly  ;) - reading between the lines the tone of the review says to me "overall a very good gig, the band are preaching to the converted, not my cup of tea, but well-played and those who went had a good time." Could've been so much worse !

The FC virgin with us on Tuesday enjoyed it so much we were halfway to the car park when she decided to run back and get a cd, and was very excited to have it signed by the guys !  :)

FC Chesterfield Winding Wheel

I came away from the gig last night feeling as though I’d been thoroughly Babbacombed and Belled… it was a great feeling.  I’ve always enjoyed the Wintours, but sometimes felt that each was similar to the previous year’s.. not this time!

I can’t add a lot to the previous posts, but here’s my view…  To open with Kat and Jamie… what a great start.. they have a promising career ahead of them I’m sure.  I bought both of their cds and will listen carefully today.

The lights went down and that eerie voice announced JBL’s sentence.. it was almost spooky.. and felt timeless…  we could have been back in 1971.  The whole set was powerful and true to the original.. just brilliant.  I’m so glad they did it, it really was stunning.

The interval gave me time to chat and buy and celeb spot…  Ashley H was there along with Blair, and Freddie Baker was lurking somewhere too!  I bought the new Wintour programme combined with the 2011 calendar.. which is printed with all the dates I really need to know!

The Festival Bell songs were very well received, a first outing for many of them, though some already familiar.  Fantastic to hear Peggy singing Celtic Moon...  I did think of Carolyn and Mark then! Again all played and sung superbly.  John Gale did a great job on the sound at the back again.

It was a Wintour to remember.. thanks again chaps X

We felt there were probably quite a few there who were new to fairport. I don't know if it was this, or the acoustics, but I felt the audience were a bit muted.

Paul

Critics know all about rambling interminable guff.  ;)

Okay ... good idea to proof the review here first!!!  ;)
Noticed three more spelling glitches and I can only relax in the knowledge that hopefully our page readers would have spotted them before publication.
So here is the final proof of the review. A review of Festival Bell also on the appropriate thread.

Fairport Convention
Venue Cymru
WHEN Fairport Convention rolled into town last Friday one thing seemed sure... it would be a far from usual Fairport gig.
On their 27th consecutive winter tour one might think a band of their longevity may be going a little stale in places.
But nothing could be further from reality.
Fairport have been pioneers of British folk rock for an amazing 44 years. Since their inception in 1967, they have adapted and changed but never disappointed.
The first half of the set – a full 45 minutes – was a complete reworking of their 1971 folk-rock opera Babbacombe Lee – performed to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the album.
The set was stunning both musically, as a lyrical folk tale of 19th century John Lee – the man they could not hang -  and highlighted by Chris Leslie's beautiful vocals.
The second half was equally profound, but a world away with a packaging of Fairport's brand new album Festival Bell.
For a full 35 minutes the audience was treated to at least eight songs from the new CD including the haunting Mercy Bay and Carolyn Evans' equally moody Celtic Moon.
Meanwhile Chris While's stunning Darkside Wood and McTell's Around the Wild Cape Horn were powerhouses.
Violinist Ric Sanders entranced with the quirky Danny Jack's Reward...  the juxtaposition between his fiddle and Peggy's bass was stunning.
We may have missed Chris' reworking of Sandy Denny's Rising for the Moon, but the audience was soon foot thumping along to concert regulars Matty Groves, Who Knows Where the Time Goes? and the timeless Meet on the Ledge.
Fairport were supported brilliantly by a 25 minute set from upcoming folk duo Katriona Gilmore and Jamie Roberts, who left most of the audience spell bound by their confidence and sheer musical brilliance. Hunter Man, Fleetwood Fair and Travelling in Time are all brilliant songs.
A great evening of music.

Possible pedantry here too but do you really want to use the word "stunning" in two consecutive sentences? Similarly "brilliance" and "brilliant" later on.

Other than that it has whetted my appetite for Union Chapel next weekend.

A wonderful evening at 'The Platform' in Morecambe last night.  Kat and Jamie were superb (I especially loved her voice, and the song about her grandfather) - never seen them before.

Babbacombe Lee - what can I say.... fantastic.  What a treat to hear it in it's entirety 'live'.  I'm now listening to the BL album while I have my breakfast (but I'm not in Mayfair!).  Really enjoyed the new material, too, but I still had the memory of the first set bouncing around my head, which detracted from things a little.  Am looking forward to hearing the Festival Bell album.  

Absolute highlight last night - among many - was Chris Leslie's absolutely magnificent performance of Cell Song, which I just can't get it out of my mind.  It was spellbinding.

Well done for a fantastic gig, guys!  

I was at Morecambe too, along with my 12-year old son, parked right in front of Simon on the front row. I agree with everything you have to say. Normally, I can't wait to get support acts out of the way and move on to the main attraction, but that certainly wasn't the case last night: Kat and Jamie were absolutely superb. It felt a real privilege to be seeing the Babbacombe Lee performance, and you're utterly right about Chris's performance of Cell Song.

The second set was a real winner too, and I loved Ric's joke about Chris and the whoopee cushion (found my level there!). Peggy and Chris seemed to be having a whale of a time alternating solos in Celtic Moon, and Danny Jack's Reward was stunningly audacious (or audaciously stunning, I don't know which).

At then end of the Festival Bell material, Simon thanked everyone for their open-mindedness in allowing the band to play so much unfamiliar material. I made a point of telling him straight after Meet on the Ledge, as he gathered his things together, that in my opinion such thanks really weren't needed, as the material is all fantastic. I jolly well meant it too.

I'm so glad I braved the rain, and hope the chaps had a good crossing to Douglas.

That's probably the best crowd I've seen at the Morecambe Platform for a music gig. Marcus Brigstock filled the place 2 or 3 years back but it was certainly a much bigger crowd than the last time Fairport played there. Ric introduced Kat & Jamie and mentioned their success in the Hancocks. Fleetwood Fair was probably my favourite track from their set tho partly as it's the song of theirs I've heard the most. We didn't get there til 7:20 so were sitting way over on the left side. The sound for their set wasn't great but acoustic acts do struggle in the Platform, it being such a big space.

I woke this morning with the Captain Pugwash theme (aka the Trumpet Hornpipe) going thru my head along with Sailor's Alphabet. John Lee and Dream Song were the highlights for me from the first set. Of the new songs I enjoyed Rui's Guitar and Wouldn't Say No having heard them prior to the gig but Celtic Moon and The Festival Bell also sounded good.

Ric's whoopee cushion joke went down well with us and when Gerry was a bit slow at the start of one number, Dave's "come on Ringo" made us laugh too. I was most impressed with Ric's little acoustic bass guitar which he played when Dave was on mandolin. It took a while to realise he was playing bass as I though it was a tenor guitar or something similar. Can anyone give me some more info on that instrument? Would he have been playing it thru an octaver effects pedal?

As everyone has been saying, the chaps are in stunning form and for me they're neck and neck with RT for best gig of the year so far. On our way out Mrs B even said she might be interested in going to Cropredy this year. Simon has promised that the sun will shine!  :)

We got there at 7.00, and there was already barely a seat left in the central block.  Luckily, we just about managed to find two seats there (we don't like sitting at the side at the Platform - it's an odd space at the Platform, I feel).

We were just getting in the car when we realised we had completely forgotten to buy the new CD.... have now ordered it, though!

No octaver pedals or trickery involved...Ric was playing a bass ukulele for the nautical section of BL and Celtic Moon, an example of which can be found here :
http://www.musicroom.com/se/ID_No/0706229/details.html?kbid=1582

I wonder if they're aware of the venue at Lancaster University? The Great Hall I think it's called. I've seen Show of Hands there and it's a much better venue than the Platform.

Ditto re the cd. I got into a discussion with a friend afterwards about the early line-ups. He was convinced that MOTL was written after the motorway crash (Mrs B thought the same) and that Dave Pegg was in the line-up at that point. I managed to convince him that Ashley played on that song but I really didn't have the energy to go thru the line-ups album by album up to B Lee! Not after 3 hours of fabulous music. T'was home time.

PS Thanks for the bass uke info Dan. Mmm, want one of them! Bit pricey tho'.

It is called the Great Hall, yes. I imagine it would be good, though I've only ever seen classical concerts there. I've often wondered why the chaps don't play the Grand Theatre in Lancaster. I know Steeleye have played there in the past, and I would have thought it's about the right size.

I don't much care for the Platform as a venue. It has a certain character, but the room is too long and the acoustics a bit naff. And those seats are unusually productive of unpleasant posterioral aches!

I forgot about the Grand but yes, you're right, it would suit them down to the ground. I've heard that the Guildhall in Preston is under threat of closure but I must admit I've never been to a gig there.

I was pleasantly surprised by the number of youngsters in the audience last night. I saw one couple with quite a young kid leave before the end as it was doubtless way past his bedtime!

Martin Simpson in Kendal tonight. Not seen him since he played at the Glasson Dock Festival back in 2005. Should be a good one.

I've seen Fairport there in the past. The acoustics are dire for amplified music, though I'm told it's good for orchestral music.




I had one in tow myself, as mentioned above. If you saw a young chap in  a Led Zep t-shirt, you saw him. It was well after his bedtime by the end, but you've got to educate your kids, haven't you? :)

Siobhan beat me to the computer today but I feel a need to add my bit about last night in Morecambe.

BL has always been one of my favourite Fairport albums - it has some of Swarb's best vocals, I reckon, and some of those wonderful musical moments, and really powerful lyrics, that send real shivers down my spine every time I listen to it.

I think I remember the band performing the whole thing at Cropredy in the early 1980s, and enjoying it, but last night was just extraordinary, mainly due to Chris' vocal performance in all the Swarb parts.  He made it his own, while also staying faithful to Swarb's approach to the songs - which can't have been an easy thing to achieve.  And in places (I too would pick out "Cell Song" in particular), his singing was nothing short of exquisite.  

And yes, the shivers down the spine were there too.  Thank you Chris and Fairport!

Friday, 13 August 1982 (when, incidentally, Fairport 'supported' Home Service...)

I may as well chip in with my Morecambe related thoughts, I came in half through the fine support slot obviously from what previous posters have said the doors open at seven thirty was a bit bogus. Ended up out at the edge where the sound was sub optinal bt hey ho! Thoroughly enjoyed JBL with HUGE thumbs up for Chris Leslie for an outstanding performance.  :)
Great to hear so many good new songs as well, although I will go on record that I prefer the original of "Celtic Moon"
I left before the end as the combination of early shift at work and the most uncomfortable seats in the world took their toll on my aching body but felt I surely got my money's worth!

Hi everyone,

I thought the Chesterfield gig was superb, particularly perfect renditions of 'Sailor's Alphabet', Matty Groves, and 'Who knows where....'

The fellas were on form (musically and wit!)

Cheers

Mick

The Maltings was packed.  The seats hard and the queue for the bar and toilets long at times.

A very good evening, though JBL is not one of my favourite albums, it was nice to hear it through and it was not as i remembered it. The standout track for me last night during bl was the sailors alphabet.  The new stuff was a lot better than I expected and I didnt really miss any of the old favourites. The second half flew past finishing with the wkwttg, mg and motl.  Except for Ric's bass uke it was also virtually a uke free zone.

Kat & Jamie were very good and I am looking forward to seeing them again sometime soon in April back at the maltings.

According to Fairport the weather in a certain part of Oxfordhire is going to be drought like for most of the sumer and the only problem forseen is the clouds of dust kicked up by the audience.  A good proportion of the audience laughed :)

Just spotted Mr Nicol in the Wetherspoons across the road from the venue. He's not who I am here to meet though. 8)

Think he missed the fight. Oh dear!  :(

I know I started it, but back on topic please.
I'll write more later.

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Judging by Colin's photo he was up in the posh seats so will be interested to hear what it was like from up there. We were down in the stalls, about 6 pews back in front of Simon. It seemed like a pretty full house downstairs.

I thought Katriona & Jamie were really good and am looking forward to listening to their new CD, the only song I'f heard before was Fleetwood Fair and they got a big round of applause for their Hancock award, although I wonder quite how many people knew what a Hancock is. Perhaps a few nerves on show, but nothing wrong with that.

Not much point in going through the Fairport set, everyone else has already said what is on offer. I looked at the set list, of which there were several lying around on various desks, before we started and saw no surprises, but one disappointment was that we didn't get WKWTTG - presumably the time went.

Babbacombe Lee was prefaced by a quick resume by Simon who also told us it would be OK to show our appreciation between items if we were so moved, I think this helped avoid any uncertainities and there was the occasional hiatus for instrument changes. One of these went on longer than anticipated due to instruments in the wrong place. Cue Peggy's stamping on the stage and muttering about "this scaffolding looks a bit dodgy" (or similar). Much applause at the end, especailly for Chris who played hte part of Dave Swarbrick very well, and then off for the trip to the merch table. I think this is where the time went as we got longer than 15 minutes.

Back for the second half and lots of new stuff, although some has been aired before of course, and it all went down well. Ric's jokes don't get much better although we did enjoy the spoonerisms. Having only heard Rui's Guitar once before (last Agust in the rain) I was interested to see how familiar it seemed, that Chris Leslie writes a good tune. No instrumental wig-outs - the nearest we got was Danny Jack's Reward with its highlighting of the rhythm section. A big cheer for My Lord Gerald of Conway. We finshed with a basic Matty and then community singing for MotL, with added cornet and the return of Kat & Jamie.

My only negative comment is that the sound wasn't as clear as has been in the past - especially the vocals, and the bass was rumbling rather than clear notes. I don't know if this an effect of the Union Chapel. Other than that it was all as good as usual and great to see a band preparped to take chance on playing osmething really old alongside something really new. Let's hope some of the old favourites have enjoyed their rest and we'll be able to welcome them back next year. Roll on Wintour 28! If it's in the Union Chapel I must remember to take a cushion.

PS - celebrity spot, we had Alun Armstrong sitting right behind us so when he spoke or laughed it was if we'd entered an episode of New Tricks.

For a minute there Colin I thought you meant you'd started the fight!

Not much to add to the above review other than that we were up in the gallery as a result of arriving a little late. The sound was really not great up there. Very boomy and echoey. Fascinating venue though. Special praise should be given to Peggy's backing vocals during BL. He has to sing and remember almost as much as Chris and it was highly effective.

Enjoyable night. I just wish I could have heard it with better sound. The new and unfamiliar material got a bit lost as a result.

Day started out badly. John Lewis  :P
Things improved rapidly at the salt beef bar in Selfridges.

The Union Chapel is a very atmospheric venue, but the acoustics are awful. It's mostly the vocals that get muddied dreadfully by the echo. About half way through Babbacombe Lee something was tweaked and that improved things a bit.

Katriona & Jamie were great, but I now want to hear them somewhere with a clearer sound.

The set list has really revitalised the Wintour.
Viv (Lady YaBB) had only ever heard the 'hits' from Babbacombe Lee, so I was a bit wary as to how the whole thing would be received, but she really liked it. She was also very happy that we got comfy seats in the bar and a couple of drinks. Forty years seemed to flash by.

I think Festival Bell is definitely the strongest album that Fairport have done this century, so tracks from it filled the second half without any problem. (Still not sure about Darkside Wood.)
Lots of changes in instruments and vocals, with some particularly fine bass playing from Peggy.

The journey home was also entertaining thanks to the Crawley Town supporters, who had been on a grand day out to Manchester.

Two thoughts. I hope that BL is reprised at Cropredy and, notwithstanding the new album, I hope they put out a recording of the new interpretation of BL at some point. I've even got a name for it. The Man They Couldn't Hang: Live!

->

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Don't remember that set at Chesterfield  ???

Totally agree about last night.  Perhaps the winter tour had got a little samey and the changes really gave it a lift. Nice to hear an unadorned Matty again, but the big surprise was just how strong the new material was. The new album gets better every tme and how nice to see Simon on electric more.

Not as passionate about JBL as some on here as I didn't know it at the time, but really enjoyed it and do agree a new recorded version would be good to have. (Hope this isn't going to be a trend for album based evenings - don't fancy the Gottle of Geer tour!)

Took friend of son who had never seen Fairport before - another one won over!

Cambridge last night was good....very good! Was thinking I wasn't going to like BL but it was great; the muscianship shone through more than ever and Chris's voice superb!

Loved the whole show, refreshing and so different.

On a personal note, please don't let Peggy sing (other than backing or duetting.  ::) Having said that its the first time I had my eyes opened to what a fantastic bass player he is, must be the new pink/mauve guitar!

Loved Simon on electric, definitely wanted more of that, especially on Wild Cape Horn, I liked Fairport's version but felt it needed more 'drive' and less chorusy singy-songy if you get my drift?! I think Simon should play the electric guitar on that one!Still haven't bought the new album, maybe tempted now.
 
Good to chat with Ollie, Diane and of course Martin Driver  ;) Think Ric stole his Pirate jokes from Pugs  ;D

Katrina and Jamie were good and the Hancock award was mentioned at least twice.

It's a strange thing isn't it. I thought his harmonies and backing vocals were terrific on Saturday night but it just does not work as a lead voice.

But if Ringo got a song on every Beatles album and Keith gets one on the Stones records I'm sure we can allow Peggy to sing occasionally. It doesn't last long.  ;D

I was at the Union Chapel too.  I've been there quite a few times and I've never heard the sound as bad as it was when the set started on Saturday.  To my mind, the initial problem was simple - it was too loud!  Maybe I'm getting old, but the sheer volume was killing the music.  It did settle down though.

"Babbacombe Lee", my favourite FC album, was excellent, some of the harmonising was superb.  The new songs were much better than I expected and "Rui's Guitar" seems to have taken several strides forward since last year's Cropredy.  It's the first Wintour I've been to, somewhat shockingly, and I really enjoyed it.  Nice to see the chap with the trumpet (whose name I can never remember) at the end - is he a regular fixture?

The guy who played the trumpet was Edmund (Whitcombe, I think).  He guested on MOTL with FC last time we saw them at the Union Chapel.  He has played several times at Cropredy ... see the Fairport@Forty DVD ... sublime Red and Gold.  I like what he adds to the sound but then I do have a soft spot for brass, especially the trumpet as that was Dad's instrument of choice - he used to say if you can play one you can play the lot ;)

Really looking forward to Colchester tomorrow night.  I've waited a long time for this ... although I'm not expecting Chris While to turn up! ;D
 

Re: Wintour 2006 Set?
« Reply #16 on: January 09, 2006, 08:35:53 AM » Quote  

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I'd like to see the first half completely made up of old material - a mixture of very old and very rarely played songs/tunes.  (Babbacombe Lee or L & L would fit the bill nicely but I'd settle for other stuff!)  Chris While as guest singer.  

The second half would be completely made up of new material - a combination of songs/tunes written by band members and non-band members, with a few 'new' traditionals thrown in.  

The encore would consist of Matty Groves (done in the way Jim describes) and Meet On The Ledge.  

I know it won't happen because it would require much rehearsal time, which has not been available as most band members have been busy with other projects right up to Christmas.  

We've got tickets for Tunbridge Wells on 4th Feb.      

Review, of sorts, from the Evening Standard.

http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/music/review-23925253-fairport-convention-are-big-influence-on-brit-scene.do

No stereotyping there then!

Cambridge was indeed excellent, and I agree with most of what JJ said (I quite like Peggy's voice).

Kat and Jamie were incredible, will definitely look out for them in future. Jamie's guitar playing in particular was astounding.

Babbacombe Lee was excellent; hearing the whole thing live really helped bring out the deeper meaning of the songs and really helped me empathise with Lee. The new stuff was also good, though it was nice to return to familar ground at the end. As a musician, Albert & Ted made my brain hurt.  ;)

Good to see Dianne and JJ at the end, and to have a chat with Chris again.

Had a great time in Cambridge last night, coffee at Carluccios and a box of amarreti brought for me, then onto the gig, enjoyed very much, the first full Fairport gig I have ever attended.

Loved Babbacombe Lee, loved the new stuff and the old stuff, struggled with WKWTTG, only heard it sung with female vocals before.

Loved the curtains in a sale last week line, and watching a steward hovering ready to tell Kat off for taking pics on her mobile, Steward got all the way over to her side of the auditorium only for Kat to put it away and go back stage again. ;D

Kat and Jamie - excellent. The song about her grandfather, 'Travelling in Time' was beautifully observed, and heart-breaking in the images it evoked.

As for Fairport - I think it's the best I've seen them play for years! I'd have gone home happy after BL, but there was a second half too! Wow!!

The intensity and power of Chris' singing seemed to reach new levels in BL..........stunning.

It wasn't safe, it wasn't cosy......(words that have been levelled at them recently).........it was new, innovative, along with the usual excellent musicianship.  IMO - they just ROCKED!! ;D ;D

(I would like to hear Ralph singing WCH with them - with a bit less 'jolly playing' - although this version is growing on me .)

I wonder what dad will make of it next week??

I am amazed that such lazy nonsense gets through any editorial meeting - since whern was Bonny Black Hare a hit ffs, and I would be prepared to lay good money there were hardly any aran sweaters on show.

I wonder what Simon Nicols would have to say about that...

Whoever wrote that also needs to look up the definition of falsetto...

Well, there was one Aran sweater there, being worn by the GLW, although technically it is mine but knitted by her. It was a chilly evening!

It really is a pretty rubbish review - but then the Standard is now a freebie so any editorial standards it might have had have been trimmed to the bone.

Tim ,its people like your GLW that reinforce stereotypes, did the folk fashion police(clancy brothers branch) not advise her to change into something less comfortable? ::)

seriously bad and lazy revue in the rag

I just found this rather short review of the Morecambe gig though it does show the cavernous interior of The Platform quite well. Imageacoustic are also local promoters who have brought Show of Hands and Martyn Joseph to Lancaster.

http://www.imageacoustic.com/index.php/the-platform-morecambe/

If you search for "The Platform" and scroll down there are more photos of the chaps plus Kat & Jamie. Good pic of Ric (no 33).  ;D

operatic storytelling ???

A nod to Babbacombe Lee I suspect. It is being constantly referred to as a folk rock opera. It is actually no such thing. It is a song cycle. Possibly. ;)

I'm getting some disturbing images in my head of a Fairport video a la Bohemian Rhapsody.  :o

GubGub:

Almost certainly my fault. I sometimes use the phrase in my introduction, using what I consider are vocal parentheses, heavily ladled with self-deprecating irony.

Can't help it if a reviewer borrows my shorthand. Not even Swarb would have imagined he was writing something in the pantheon of Verdi or Mozart..

My comments were not in any way intended as a criticism Simon. BL seems to be routinely referred to as an "opera" in print. I remember Pete Townshend having similar issues with "Tommy". I'm not sure who started that particular argument but you are in good company.  ;D

It's quite extraordinary to me that people get so confused about what constitutes an opera.

There is, as far as I am concerned, definitively only one "opera". Which is to be found here (http://bit.ly/cw8rTo).

I'm sorry, Simon, you just can't compare. (Although you could show this at a Cropredy break ;D)

Why stop at BL? Why not Matty the Opera... mind Simon would have to put on a few pounds...

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Not much to add to the previous reviews in terms of the Colchester date, aside from that Chris Leslie does an absolute tour de force of a Swarb impersonation in terms of vocals for BL and from a brief interval conversation it is clear that Peggy is really enjoying doing the whole thing, and was fulsome in his praise for Gerry’s similarly diligent work on the DM drum parts. I suspect we got a slightly curtailed show due to the venue’s curfew and so I was unable to make any judgement on the enduring stageworthiness of Ukulele Central, but Ric’s faux-bass work was certainly impressive enough to free up Peggy for a number of mandolin-based songs which made an interesting diversion. Pleased to hear a whole raft of things from the new album and Reg wil be pleased to hear that, of the new material Celtic Moon certainly got the most rousing and fulsome response. I did see Jamie Roberts at the bar but unfortunately wasn’t quick enough to crush his over-talented fresh young hands with my £3.25 can of IPA, so it looks like they’ll be able to carry on absolutely wowing the audience for the remainder of the tour. They're a definite you must get there on time support act!

ps It was odd to hear in conversation, especially given Simon's acknowledgement of something like their 27th consecutive Winter Tour, that a friend was a "big fan of Fairport Convention" but had "...kind of lost interest when Sandy Denny left".  ::)

I should point out, for the benefit of interested parties, that the Babbacombe Lee CD is currently available for £4.99 at HMV. Other music retailers are available.

For the terminally lazy, its a pound cheaper at Amazon...

An unfortunate by-product of last night was, however, the realisation that the lyrics to Squeeze's Cool for Cats fit perfectly with the verses of The Hanging Song. Try it, in Swarb's voice, in your head.  ;D

 
Shane i think i hate you  ::)
it just wont go away :o
make it stop :o [;-) ::)

Always happy to help, Jim!  ;D

All together now!

The Sweeney's doing ninety 'cause they've got the word to go
To get a gang of villains in a shed up at Heathrow
They're counting out the fivers when the handcuffs lock again
In and out o' Wandsworth with the numbers on their naaaaames!

Shake the holy water, summon up the guard...

If anyone's there tonight, by the way, please do check - I'm sure Simon finished last night's show (in Colchester) with "Thank you Norwich"...

I don't remember that :-\

Probably a trick of the acoustics.  ::)

“If you want to live your life you have to flirt with death.”

Many of the songs last night were about death:  I counted 7 actual deaths and several others that were remembered, anticipated, commemorated, alluded to or escaped from ... and that was just the second half!  The first half was entirely devoted to a man who should have died but didn't.  

However, death was not the theme.  To me it was all about living – stepping out into the unknown, taking risks, challenging oneself, surviving.  And I believe that is exactly what FC have done on this tour.

Tackling Babbacombe Lee and most of the songs from the new album was a brave undertaking.  No wonder the chaps seemed nervous at the start.  Concentration levels were high throughout and they only visibly relaxed when they reached WKWTTG and the home straight.

It was a huge success.  I loved every minute.

Okay, so Simon forgot a few words (it really didn't matter – I sung them for him in my head ;)) and when Chris introduced Wouldn't Say No, I felt a twinge of guilt about my lack of compassion towards the cop.

Kat and Jamie were excellent. We bought their CD. It's very good but I was a bit disappointed to find that the song about Kat's grandfather was missing.
  
I've only just finished reading the programme – there was a lot to get through and I've been entertaining relatives today. I've never heard of Karl Paulnack but what he had to say about music and its purpose certainly resonated with me.  I've been feeling quite stressed lately and last night I slept better than I have done for weeks.

Thank you Fairport.

Isn't it the last track on the album- "Travelling in Time"?  I was totally knocked out too, when I heard them play this live last year- I think it it the same track on the album (not played it that much) - maybe the studio version is not as powerful as the live version.
I wished I had gone to the Norwich leg of the Wintour the other night, but it had already sold out. Was also a bit short of cash, and ears were still ringing from seeing an indie band- "British Sea Power" the night before. Now looking forward to Fairport's set at Cropredy this year.

It is indeed called "Travelling in Time", it is the last track on their first album, Shadows and Half Light. They also had their new album on sale on this tour.

Not up to me: but I'd like to apologise to anyone who can prove I made such a clouting geographical error.

"Rock on Cleveland" maybe....

If that's not an invitation to the 'youtubers', I don't know what is.  Is anyone any good at lipsyncing?  ;)

Ah, that would explain it - Katy's Dad picked up the latest one - Up From The Deep.  Thanks.

It is very wrong of you to do this to me!

Literally just arrived home from their stop off in St. Albans:

the support act were ok, to be quite honest a bit meek and mild. they were technically skilled with their instruments and songwriting however the singing and general feel of the song lacked spirit; the guitarist had a tendancy to sing over the microphone meaning i couldn't hear what he was singing and the violinist was extremely static in all aspects. i liked the songs however they needed a more "oomfy" performance  :-\

being a younger fairport fan i did enjoy the songs from Babbacombe Lee that i recognised, however it felt very dominated all the way through; i understand that they wanted to play it to acknowledge its 40th annivesary, and of course they played tracks from Festival Bell because it's their new album. however i pined after just a couple of old favourites to add some variety; they didnt really showcase the Fairport i know and love. the arena was half full and i felt half happy with the evening; the guys ofcourse played and hosted fantastically as usual, the choice of content for me was poor.  Unbeknownst to me our neighbours were seeing them for the first time, i wonder how different our image of the band will be.

I agree, not the best support in recent years. Others on the list seem to have enjoyed them, I wonder if they were just having a bad night?
I know it is heretical but I liked the second half of Fairport better than the first. Babbacombe Lee has never been one of my favourite albums and nothing changed last night. I did like the new stuff.
I was surprised at the spare seats in the venue given that other venues seem to have sold out.

Got to disagree with the St Albans comments - thought it was a cracking show. It's a decent-sized hall, and there were certainly more people there than a couple of years back.
As for the support, I thought they were excellent. Astonishing guitar player and the fiddle player had great (if understated) presence.
As for the chaps... superb throughout. I used to think that Chris Leslie singing Renardine was the most beautiful thing I had ever heard, and I still do. But golly, his rendition of the Cell Song comes a very close second.

Well I thought Chris did a cracking job overall but I still think the audience was as thin on the ground (or thinner) as I have seen at the venue.

I cannot comment on St Albans, obviously, but their performance at Colchester did not fall into the manic, hyperactive category which we are so often subjected to these days.  It was more restrained, more measured and dare I say it more meaningful - quite refreshing really.  During the change over piece Kat and Ric shared some synchronised fiddling, leaning towards each other, eyes meeting, smiles exchanged - it was all good fun.

St Albans was defenitely less populated than I can recall in the ten+ years I've been attending there. In the past it has been a sell-out (or close to it).

Thought Kat & Jamie were ok, liked the song about her grandfather particularly.

BL was the highlight for me - when I bought the album originally I kicked myself for having passed on the original tour when I had the chance, so I've been waiting for this opportunity for the last 40 years, and I wasn't disappointed. For me it has lost none of its impact in the interim, and I have to agree that Chris's vocals were superb, ably backed up by the rest of the band.

Sadly for me, the second half left me cool, if not cold. I'm afraid none of the new material really grabbed me (although mostly being heard for the first time). So I'll probably pass on the CD.

I do, however, have to mention Simon's guitar playing, which in both halves impressed me no-end, I think he's sometimes underrated, which is a shame.

DC

Worth mentioning that Rui (of Rui's Guitar fame) was in the audience at St Albans and, naturally, got a special thanks from the stage.
But I'm afraid I don't follow the good Doctor's logic - didn't much like the new stuff because he hadn't heard the CD... so he won't be buying the CD? Hmmmm...

Honourable mention for Rui's Guitar, which I did quite like (song and instrument).

To expand - I'm afraid the new material falls into the same category as the last two or three CDs (OTNH, SoA) (IMHO, of course) which I did buy but then didn't play after the first few listenings because there was other music I'd rather listen to. Currently I don't see much point in buying another CD of broadly similar material which is not going to please me sufficiently to want to listen to again and again. Illogical or not, it makes sense to me (especially as it's my money).

DC

Oddly enough I was sort of the opposite. I thought the new stuff was pretty good live so I bought the CD only to feel a bit disappointed by it. Having said that, I still think two thirds of it are a step up from any of the other albums by the current line up.

Someone described the album as a parson's egg, and I guess that translates to the live renditions of the songs. Mercy Bay and Festival Bell work well, and Jack D's Reward is a real blast of instrumental glory. I even bought into Celtic Moon, which I don't much like on the record. But Darkside Wood and Cape Horn I could live without. Maybe playing Rising for the Moon would be an effective compromise between old and new...

Oh, and for those who were at St Albans... I've just heard that the queue for the gents is nearly finished. Never thought I'd regret supping a bottle of Old Speckled Hen, but blimey it was close...

Or was it a curate's nose?  ;)

Exeter was really good last night.  I'd been looking forward to hearing Babbacombe Lee ever since I found out they were going to be playing it in it's entirety and I wasn't disappointed.  I think it also was made slightly more poignant by the fact that they were performing it in the city where the attempted execution took place. Chris' vocals were quite brilliant.  They thoroughly deserved the standing ovation at the end.

I enjoyed the second half and it was good to hear the new songs.  My only disappointment was that they didn't play Reunion Hill or Rising For The Moon.

Amazing tonight in Margate. For me, there were three highlights: Celtic Moon, Rui's Guitar and Chris' voice throughout Babbacombe Lee. I don't understand why the original Danny Jack's has been abandoned. The original raw, drunken version was much better, and I think any 2010 recordings will go down as rare classics, e.g. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4AVXCfaJeV8. Lovely sound tonight, well done. I can't agree with some of the previous comments about Peggy's singing; I thought it was great. Kat and Jamie are very competent and will go far; they were an excellent support. Fairport, we'll so miss you next year but it's been a treat in the meantime - I hope Margate can entice you again somehow.

Keeping it for the acoustic tour maybe.  I hope we get all the missed-out ones plus some old favourites as well.

The lads were in top form in Margate last night! They really did the Babbacombe Lee album justice, and I thought Chris and Ric did a cracking job of doing Swarb's parts. I was also really impressed by Simon's Guitar playing. I suppose the real reason for this is the lack of Electric guitar in Fairport's set over the last couple of years. But the BL set has plenty, and Simon really proved how good a guitarist he is! The 'slick' transitions were, shall we say, very well rehearsed!

The second half was equally as blinding! Been listening to the new album for much of today, and I would probably say it's their best album release in about 20 years. Interestingly enough, I found a lot of it to be very reminiscent of 1980's/90's Fairport (particularly the instrumentals and Mercy Bay) and the pure energy that the band put into their performance shows how pleased they are as a group with the new material, and I was very pleased as well! It was interesting to see a straight version of Matty Groves, with no attached instrumental, I think it works well!

I came away from the show feeling most pleased, the most pleased I've been with a Fairport show since the Wintour '08!!!

Brilliant review Dan, I agree the Chaps at Margate were superb and it has jumped straight into my top 5 Fairport events and the new album definitely gets my thumbs up. The little Theatre in Margate is quite awesome and shall be quite missed, though I am looking forward to seeing them back at the new Marlowe next year.

Fairport Convention, the Waterside, Aylesbury - 27th Feb.

It really doesn't get much better than this!

Great new venue, crystal clear sound from Simon Yorath and terrific performances from Kat, Jamie and the chaps. To borrow a quote from Simon, not only have Kat and Jamie raised the bar for Fairport support, but the band themselves seem to have moved up a gear on this tour.

Impossible to single out any individual or song for praise - all highlights from the opening All I've Known to the IKEA Matty which closed the second half.

Just a thought, as it seems common practice for shows to be recorded from the desk, what chance of a limited release (or download from the FC site) of the "new" Babbacombe Lee?

S&J
(Now really looking forward to the Birmingham gig.

Very high chance. In fact, Simon and Ric confirmed it on Saturday night.


 ;D ;D ;D

Oh, fantastic news!  I shall look forward to that.

Yes, we had a very broad hint from another band member last night... ;)

S&J

Ooh! Which, though? CD or download?

They said they had recorded some of the shows from earlier in the tour, so most likely to be released on CD

Yippee!!

nice write up in the Birmingham post ahead of Saturdays gig
http://www.birminghampost.net/life-leisure-birmingham-guide/birmingham-culture/music-in-birmingham/2011/02/04/revisiting-the-past-with-fairport-convention-65233-28094911/

Interesting snippets like Peggy saying that "for Festival Bell we haven’t actually been in the studio at the same time"

Frustratingly, can't view this, at least in the van.

Very disappointed with the headline though...

Revisiting the past with Fairport Convention

Andy Coleman chats to folk rockers Fairport Convention about their upcoming tour

Something old, something new. That’s the theme of Fairport Convention’s current tour that visits Leamington Assembly on February 6 and Birmingham Town Hall on March 5.

The veteran folk-rockers will mark the 40th anniversary of their ‘‘folk opera’’ Babbacombe Lee by performing it in its entirety during the first half of the show.

The second half will then feature new material from forthcoming album Festival Bell.

‘‘Babbacombe Lee is something that we’re very proud of,’’ says bass player Dave Pegg. ‘‘When I think about it, I can’t imagine how it came about. We were 21 and 22-year-olds writing a folk opera. Most of it was written by Dave Swarbrick, our former violinist, but Simon Nicol, who’s still in the band, and I helped out quite a bit. Re-learning it has been fascinating stuff, it’s been really interesting.’’

The record tells the true story of 19th century murderer John ‘‘Babbacombe’’ Lee.

‘‘It was the first thing we did after Richard Thompson departed the band,’’ Dave, who was born in Acocks Green, Birmingham, recalls. ‘‘He and Dave Swarbrick had been the main songwriters and Dave finding this collection of old newspapers and suggesting we use it as the basis for an album really bought the four of us together because we immediately had subject matter that we could write about. It was a very unifying thing to do.

‘‘It was well received critically as a concept album at a time when The Who were doing Tommy and there were other types of conceptual albums around. But Babbacombe Lee wasn’t the most poppy story that you could have chosen. In typical Fairport commerciality it was a bit of a dark subject to make a musical album.

‘‘Over the past five years we’ve been taking individual songs from Babbacombe Lee and playing them during the set. It’s always gone down remarkably well but it’s quite difficult to take one song from the album and play it because it’s out of context.

‘‘But people have said we should have a look at it and do it again. We did once do it at the Cropredy Festival, around 15 years ago.

‘‘In 1970 albums only lasted 37 minutes so with extended bits we’re looking at around 45 minutes, which is always the length of our first half on the winter tour so it fits perfectly.’’

Fairport’s first line-up when they formed in 1967 was Richard Thompson, Simon Nicol, Ashley Hutchings, Shaun Frater and Judy Dyble.


Over the years personnel came and went, with the likes of Ian Matthews, Dave Swarbrick and Sandy Denny becoming part of Fairport history.

Dave Pegg was recruited in 1970 and has been a part of the set-up ever since.

He’s joined in the line-up by guitarist Simon Nicol, violinist Ric Sanders, multi-instrumentalist Chris Leslie and percussionist Gerry Conway.

Some of the new material, which will be showcased in the show’s second half, was inspired by the Fairport-organised Cropredy Festival which takes place every year in the Oxfordshire village.

‘‘The album’s title track, Festival Bell, is a song about a bell that was presented to the Cropredy church, St Mary’s,’’ Dave explains. ‘‘The church needed a bell renovating so a lot of people that come to our festival had a collection and we did a fundraising concert to boost the appeal.

‘‘The village kindly named the bell ‘The Fairport Convention Festival Bell’ so when our festival kicks off the bell is rung to signal the opening.

‘‘This year Fairport is going to be on the stage because we’re going to be opening the festival ourselves and when we hear the bell we’re going to sing Festival Bell.’’

Another new song, Albert and Ted, was penned by Dave and Solihull-born Ric.

‘‘Albert and Ted were the names of our fathers,’’ Dave reveals. ‘‘I first heard about Ric’s musical adventures when my dad, who was the caretaker at Hartfield Crescent school, met Ric’s dad, Ted Sanders, who was a teacher there. They got talking and it transpired that both their sons were musicians – and we finished up in the same band. The song is a little instrumental dedicated to our folks.’’

The album also contains a cover of Sandy Denny’s Rising For The Moon, which is the title track of Fairport’s 1975 LP.

Says Dave: ‘‘We like to occasionally do Sandy’s songs to help keep her memory alive, she was a remarkable singer and a great writer.’’

The Festival Bell album was recorded in a way that was new to Fairport Convention.

‘‘We’ve moved into modern technology, it’s a totally different way of working for us,’’ Dave laughs. ‘‘I’m 63 and I’ve been making records since I was 16 so we’re kinda old school in our approach to recording. The way we used to make records was to sit around, learn the song, then try and put it all down at the same time.

‘‘Now everything’s done separately and for Festival Bell we haven’t actually been in the studio at the same time. It was something I didn’t think would work but I’m amazed how successful it’s been.’’

What became of Shaun Frater?

http://www.talkawhile.co.uk/yabbse/index.php?topic=32417.0

Quite a good article. Although I don't recall Babbacombe Lee being played 15 years ago, (someone will prove me wrong, no doubt) To my recollection it's nearer 30.  :)

13 Aug 1982...

Thank you.

Well it was an excellent night in Loughborough yesterday.  BL was fantastic, it was really something to hear it all the way through.  Instrument changes were tight, and tehre was (for me) a real feeling of the chaps being confident in the home strait of the tour.  I will echo the earlier praise for Peggy - some of you will know I'm not always the biggest fan of his voice, but last night he was superb.  Praise of course to Chris, who carried the whole thing with real flair.  As others have also said, it's great to see Simon on the electric a bit more.

Second half was more relaxed, with plenty of good form banter.  I loved the new material on CD, but live it really shone - somehow much 'rockier', and I wasn't the only one finding it hard to sit still!  Simon's clearly got a bit of a block going on with Mercy Bay, but he coped in fine style.

Praise also to the support - CD purchased!

All in all, excellent night - still bouncing!

Having heard the new material live first, I thought the CD was a little 'clinical'.
Yes the CD is well recorded, but the channels do seem a little bit too well defined and separated. Especially in the instrumentals.

Wouldn't you expect that, as this was the first time all instruments were recorded at seperate times.

Paul

Pink Floyd seemed to manage ok.

I'll echo H's review, a truly excellent night at Loughborough. I must admit I had my doubts whether Chris could carry BL, but he did a magnificent job. I like the new album, but live it took it to another plane. There's plenty of life in FC still. Enjoyed Kat & Jamie, though they did seem to have sound probs at the beginning.

Best gig of the year so far and going to be difficult to beat.

I'm taking the 'old man' tomorrow!

Thanks for reposting that in a van-friendly format. Better than the headline led me to expect but it don't make no matter anyway in the long run.
These kind of interviews get shared around within the band with the "oldest" members doing the majority, aso it's nice to have a peek over DP's shoulder on a thing like this...

I was at the Margate show on Saturday & I was impressed with Chris's vocals on BL he seemed to sing with a stronger voice than he does on his own songs.

The whole show was brilliant except Simon's electric guitar seemed to have been lost in the mix I could hardly hear it. Well done Kat & Jamie a good set.

Going tomorrow, bought tickets more to see Kat and Jamie than FC if completely honest - but having just listened to Babbacombe Lee absolutely loved it so definitely looking forward to that hugely as well. :)

Was at the Cardiff show last night - I loved the whole evening.  My 27 year old daughter (brought up on 'Red & Gold' and 'Jewel in the Crown' on the car cassette player) was with me as well.  She doesn't really know 'Babbacombe Lee' and hasn't heard the new album yet, so I was wondering how it would go, considering the 2nd half was 99% 'Festival Bell' songs.  - she was a bit bewildered at first, but she thoroughly enjoyed the show.  

Fairport took a risk, but it paid off.  Jamie and Kat were excellent too.  I love the way he plays the guitar on his lap and does the percussion parts as well.  Excellent evening.

Dad loved it - and the chaps were great to him - at Milton Keynes tonight. ;D

I was also at the MK gig yesterday. The Chaps were on fine form but I can't really add anything that hasn't already been said before (this late on into the tour), it was all good.

I was spellbound by the support act, Katriona Gilmore & Jamie Roberts, who I thought were brilliant.

All in all, a wonderful evening. :)

Going tonight Can't wait! just wondering if I can get the guys to sign my cropredy wristband i am still wearing  :o but I don't think there is enough space on it! Anyone else still wearing theirs?

A wonderful gig at Cardiff on Wednesday night. A front row seat in a warm theatre sure beats a damp cold field in Oxfordshire, which is where I last saw The Chaps.

Support act Katriona and Jamie were enjoyable enough, very competent musically of course, but I can't see myself buying their CD. Maybe I need to give them a few more "listens"?

I had been looking forward to this gig very much, particularly after reading so many wonderful reviews on this board. I was not disappointed. "Babbacombe Lee" was a real treat and, as others have already said, Chris Leslie did sterling work on both vocals and mandolin. His rendition of the poignant "Cell Song" moved me to tears. His voice seems to get better and better, and let's face it, it was pretty good in the first place.  ::)

We had a fair smattering of cringe-worthy jokes from Ric, but somehow he gets away with it! It must be that cheeky grin of his.  ;D Lots of great harmonies from Simon and Peggy and some terrific playing also.

I was delighted to discover how much I enjoyed many of the "Festival Bell" tracks during the second half. Particular faves are "Rui's Guitar", Danny Jack's Reward", "Albert and Ted" and the title track itself. Special mention must be made of "Celtic Moon", of course.  ;) I bought a copy of the album before the start of the show, but have not yet had a chance to listen to it from start to finish.

I thought the audience response was a tad muted at first, but by the middle of the second half they had really warmed up and gave The Chaps a (partial) standing ovation! (By that I don't mean they were partially standing but that only some stood up..........oh please yerselves.  ::))


Managed to get some signatures in the bar afterwards. Thanks Chaps! What a wonderful night out.


 

Yes, me.  :D

Ditto!

I'd certainly recommend giving Kat & Jamie more of a listen. They have a bigger sound on their CDs due to contributions from other musicians. The downside of downloading albums is I have no idea who plays what on which track! But on their leaflet you might have picked up at the gig it names PJ Wright on pedal steel and Cia Cherryholmes on banjo.

Never seen the appeal of the whole autograph thing though I did get John Entwistle's at a music fair in London many years back. I happened to be passing as he sat down (promoting Rotosound strings or somesuch) so was first in line. As Henry Rollins said, the only time you should ask for someone's signature is when it's at the bottom of a cheque.  :)

Shrewsbury last night? fantastic! Really on form! Loved the BL first half- agree with all that's been said. Jamie and kat were as fantastic as they always are. Second half- we escaped Ukulele central! Had a WKWTTG but no rising for the moon. Simon particularly seemed sad it was all ending tonight in Brum- Said how much he enjoyed the tour. Had a guest appearance from Maart for meet on the ledge- playing electric mando which was great to see!
 ;D ;D

Just leaving for Birmingham. Should be good.

It was good!!

Kat and Jamie were excellent, as Simon said, raising the bar for Wintour support acts. And, not satisfied with the rigors of a 6 week tour, have one of their own planned.

I enjoyed both of Fairport's sets - but the second more. Particularly memorable was Mercy Bay.

The surprise guest of the night was Swarb, on Rick's fiddle.

A well deserved standing ovation at the end.

The only down side - the staff seemed desperate to get everybody out afterwards.

Have to say that Brum was the best Wintour date I can remember for some time.
Due to car park payment issues, I missed the start of the Kat and Jamie set, but what I did catch was excellent.I'll make sure I catch them at Cropers, can't be hard as they play immediately after acoustic FC.Shame I couldn't see Jamie's lap guitar thing, as I was on the front row and there was a monitor wedge in the way.(Ditto Gerry).
B.L was awesome - I sure hope a live version is released as hinted elsewhere - and the second set confirmed that live music is where it's at - the album is great , but live everything cooks on full power.Plus stage invader extraodinaire The Swarb!
Chris kindly let me have his setlist which he'd had for all the dates on this tour, which all the chaps signed afterwards,this will be tucked into the plastic sleeve housing my vinyl copy of BL.
Thank you guys,see y'all in that field in august.

you would think they had homes to go to ::)

We will post a review when I've stopped grinning and having palpitations ;D ;D

C x

Sometime next year then! ;D

Well we thought it was a great night out!

It started off well when we bumped into Swarb outside the venue on our way in - he was then given a name-check at the end of the BL set, and (as mentioned elsewhere) borrowed Ric's fiddle to join in on MOTL (Ric then borrowed Chris's fiddle, as Chris was on mando duty for that number.

For whatever reason (or reasons), the whole performance seemed much more together than at St Albans last week, for one thing the sound was much better balanced (whilst St A didn't seem bad at the time, hearing it done so much better in Brum made a real difference).

Still preferred the first half though, not greatly enthused by any of the new songs. Will await with much anticipation the release of the postulated new version of BL.

DC

Swarb will be relacing Ric when Ric retires at this rate.  :D

Pretty much sums up not only Saturday night but the whole tour !

Standing ovations at the end of BL, for the arrival on stage of Swarb and at the end of the show (to include Kat and Jamie) were all really well deserved.

Quite possibly the best Wintour we've seen.

S&J

Birmingham, Saturday: without question, the best I've seen this line-up play; crisp, together, great sound and really challenging themselves - and therefore appearing to have a lot of fun.

The amount of rehearsal they must have done on BL and the new material has obviously given them a new edge.

BL was better than the original. Chris's singing was incredible. It's great to hear them play without slowing down to chat - the cumulative energy was terrific.

The new stuff in the second half was, well, the best new stuff I've heard for ages. . .the instrumentals were inventive, and the narrative songs really drove along.

Kat took her verse of MOTL beautifully and, I know I've said it before, but when there's a female vocalist in the band, it just looks and feels right.

And Mr Swarbrick ambling onto stage at the end was just the icing on the cake.

I've seen Fairport many, many times since 1970, and this was right up there with the best of them.

Forgot to mention Ric's thumb whilst playing some of the fills on the bass uke on Celtic Moon.I spent quite a long time on sunday trying to make mine go that fast, just couldn't do it.
I suspect that being of a jazz background,Mr Sanders has spent time in front of the mirror pretending to be Mark King of Level 42.
Or maybe not.

We have a video of a song on the last night in Brum. Should we post it here or on youtube clips of interest :-\

C x

Anywhere. Did you post it?

Someone put it up on FC related youtube stuff  :)

C x