TalkAwhile - The Folk Corporation Forum

Just been researching the Great British Folk Festival, Butlins, Skegness 30/11/12 -2/12/12 and found this:

Fake Thackray (John Watterson) is to open for Fairport on their 2013 Winter Tour.
Therefore a spot at Cropredy next year.

http://www.fakethackray.com

Check it out, he is rather good....

Interesting choice for support, I like the sound of him though :)

Saw him at The Acoustic Festival . Wasnt expecting to like him much but really enjoyed him. Well worth seeing.

He was at Crick boat show this year. Enjoyable to listen to. He is not a tribute act, more an enthusiast doing the songs. He does put a bit of his own style on them.

Paul

Hi Guys - thanks very much for the kind comments. I am really looking forward to the Fairport support tour and Cropredy next year - getting mildly incontinent at the thought! So grateful to the Fairport guys - what a lovely bunch. Hope to meet you at a gig sometime soon. Thanks again. John

He played Coal Aston Village Hall in April.
A brilliant performance with both music and patter delivered not just with full reverance to the Late Great Jake himself but with an individuality and charm of John's own making.
We loved every minute of it.
I reckon he'll be a brilliant opening support for the guys next wintour.

Wow - thank you Peter! Cheque is in the post! Hope to see you again soon. John

I haven't been to the last couple of wintours but the chance to hear Jake's songs might tip the balance.

DW

Same here  :) Let's hope the chaps do Cardiff

Or Pontardawe!

Looking forward to playing in Maidenhead next Thurs 5 July at Norden Farm Arts Centre 01628 788997.

Be nice to see any Thackerites if you can make it!

John  :)

www.fakethackray.com

Fairport playing the De Montfort Hall on February 13th.  Last time (acoustic tour last year) they played the Y Theatre which didn't sell out, capacty 360.  The De Montfort is 1500, maybe 900 if you don't open upstairs.  Hmm...

OK, I think I have steeled myself for the howls of derision now. I almost didn't say this, but decided in the end I wouldn't be being true to myself or my principles if I didn't, regardless of the reaction it will draw (I expect the words "It's just a bit of fun" to feature quite prominently).

I visited John's website after seeing this post, and watched the video on the front page. As a result, I have to say that I won't be going to any show on the 2013 Winter Tour. That's a shame, but I really thought this sort of insidious stereotyping had gone the way of the dinosaurs, and I'm disappointed at FC for promoting it.

Well you can't please everyone of course, but I think your criticism is a bit harsh. Your choice, naturally. As for "howls of derision", I don't do those. Maybe people won't be as displeased (or even bothered) by your views as you think they will?

How sad. Do you like Bellowhead?

I have never ever missed a gig because I dont like the support, or missed Cropredy because I dont like one of the headliners.
I'm going to Heaton Park to see the Roses tomorrow and they've got Plan B  on for Cliffs sake.

Some (and I certainly do) say the same about Digance but it wouldn't stop me going to Cropredy.Why not just stay in the pub for the first half?

I thought of that. But then, unless I got a fractional discount on my ticket, I'd be funding it, wouldn't I?

It's not a matter of not liking, though, it's a matter of finding morally objectionable.

Oh, I should be clear that I don't think anyone should be bothered about what I think, in the sense of being concerned to know what some bloke they've never met thinks--nobody would have any reason to do that. But there's a distinction here: people could quite sensibly not be bothered about what I think, while still sensibly caring about what I think, in the sense of caring about, so to speak, the content of the thought. And lots of people do seem to care about that. Some are virulently against the promulgation of pernicious stereotypes, and others don't see what the problem is, deriding the sort of concern I've expressed as an example of PC-thought-police reasoning. I've met an awful lot of people who have the latter view, so am always a little nervous that that's what my expression of my stance will result in. If it doesn't, I'm very happy!  :)

Did the fact Simon Nicol used to sing She Is Woman through the 80s stop you going to see Fairport, too?

I hadn't intended to look at the website until I saw this discussion but I am now intrigued. Presumably it is the content of Jake Thackray's original song (one of his most famous) that bothers you, rather than the performer himself?

I have known this song for many years and despite me notoriously being a bleeding heart liberal, it has never previously occured to me that it might be offensive to anyone. On reflection I can certainly understand why it strikes you that way but I do wonder whether describing the personality of a specific individual can really be categorised as stereotyping? I'm not so sure. Personally I have less of a problem with this than I do with the Rolling Stones Under My Thumb or Some Girls, to name but two.

I also think it is possible that some of JT's songs work a little like those of Randy Newman wherein abhorrent viewpoints are often espoused in the first person but the songs are sung in character and the audience are being invited to deride the narrator with their laughter.

I agree with Al's last para. I always assumed that Thackery's lyrics were firmly tongue in cheek and to be laughed at, not with.
We will see, as we have booked Fake Thackery for a Glooston Village Hall gig later in the yr, based on v good reviews.

Speaking on behalf of all Brigadiers (Ret'd), I reckon the chap Thackery was a scoundrel and a first class bounder. Let me tell you, if I had in my troop I'd have taught him a thing or two about respect; and if he had have been up in front of me in the magistrate's court I'd have had him bound over for his so-called witty observations and caricatures about stereotypes such as I! Glad it wasn't my village he lived in....

Thackery's songs are about characters, not a broad attack on any group of people. They are also often extreme and grotesque, with their views exaggerated.
One of the things that seems to have been lost in the paranoia of not offending anybody, is the age old practice of mocking people by taking their attitudes to absurd extremes.


I have far more of a problem with Digance straying into jingoism.

It all gets very silly. These songs were written in different times and the listener should take account of that.

It is absurd that current versions of "Walk On The Wild Side" by Lou Reed have the line "...and the coloured girls sing..." edited out.

Do they still keep the ".. giving head." line in?

On Moonlight Bay: "You could hear the darkies singing....." Wouldn't be allowed on prime time Saturday night light entertainment these days, but neither would the Black and White Minstrels that sang it. However, there was no irony in that lyric. Unlike the late great Jake's....

Well...
'Some Spade says 'rock n' rollers, they're all the same' Mott The Hoople
'Yellow Chinky' Blue Mink
'Bit of old skirt' Squeeze
Etc (I'm sure there are millions of examples).

Anyone who can write the line "bore the hind legs of a donkey, she could bore the balls of a buffalo" gets my vote.  Looking forward to it.

Yes!

that sucks

I find that hard to swa.....naah - too far off topic....Jake was a genius and I'm looking forward to Fake.

you pays your money and takes a chance .. I'm looking foward too ... I have liked most of the tour guests over the last few years and Jake was a great artist .. (Particularly like grandad :D)

As with a lot of humour Alf Garnett and Alan Partridge being prime examples.

I'll be seeing Fake Thackray (John Watterson) at the Moonbeams Wold Top Festival later this month.  

I'm not really au fait with the original Jake Thackray material, I know I'm a heathen  ;), but I'm really looking forward to John's set now after reading through this topic.  ;D

I have always seen Jake's work as being a mirror on society, the danger is when the misguided do not understand this and see their own biases being approved of. I think as a society we may be becoming less able to appreciate irony because of the preponderance of sarcasm in popular culture, we really are dumbing down ourselves as a society.

Neil

Jake was a genius, absolutly love his stuff.
I'd go and see fake Jake just for them songs......BTW has anyone tryed to play jakes songs, they are bloody difficult to do well.

I would encourage Peter to dig a bit deeper into Jake's ouvre before dismissing it out of hand. Check out 'The Hair of the Widow of Bridlington' and, for the definitive word on the "just a bit of fun" defence, try this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mQ9JNf5JF34

Falling into the "Thackray is a genius" camp, I don't agree with your appraisal of 'On Again, On Again' but in any case a listen to the above should give you a more rounded view of Jake's work.

If, after all that, you're still unconvinced you could still attend a Fairport gig without feeling your principles have been compromised. As stated in the last wintour programme, the support act doesn't get a share of the ticket price - the only income they get is from CD sales. So you can vote with your feet, stay in the bar and boycott John's CD, though it'd be your loss, in my view.

Jamie

Expanding on what Jamie said listen to country bus or the song about the north country farm labourer (can't remember what is called) True folk songs describing a dissapearing life.....I mean, c'mon busses after dark outside a town, yeah right!

I saw Jake at the cambridge FF in the late 70's he was brilliant

I only saw Jakeonce, in Mansfield.  But am so very glad that I did.. What an evening that was!

I am very much looking forward to seeing Fake too  ;D

Really?  Is this common practice, seems a bit harsh.  I know its all about exposure and that but given the profit margin on CDs that's not a lot of money for a night's work.

To try and hit this as hard as possible, lets go for Jake as the extremist that he definately wasn't -
Take a listen to "One Of Them" which in his inimitable way turns out to be, arguably, the very finest and incredibly subtle anti racist song.
Or "The Remembrance" which grabs you by the seat of the pants and puts you right on the spot if in any way advocating war as a solution to anything.
I know John (Fake) can deliver both of these songs if it suits but pretty well the entire Thackray back catalogue is full of gems so he's spoilt for choice. Some of the songs, already mentioned here, are as controversial now as they were way back then and others are just sublime works of art, eg "Yan Tan Tetheran" and "Old Molly Metcalf" from the Yorkshire Dales,
"The Blacksmith" inspired from Laurie Lee's Cider with Rosie and "The Gorilla" (from the writings of George Brassens) both hilarious with their inplausible/bizarre tales of love (and OK yes, some bestiality) "The Jolly Captain" "The Bantam Cock" and of course his classic "Sister Josephine" ................. wonderful and as Billy mentions a sod to play, there are dozens of them.
I would suggest to anyone that John's performance could be just the thing to help offset the effect of current wrongs of our world. Sadly Jake didn't have the foresight to write about the bankers but it'd have been a gasser if he had !  

Not only do the support on the Wintour command no fee, they have to provide their own transport and cover any accomodation with CD sales as their only income - but they also get the next years Cropredy Thursday spot which if you were to ask Bob Fox for example, can turn out to be rather a good leg up for the career.
  
(Oh, sorry I should have made it clear - I am a dedicated Jake fan and am now well impressed with John's work as Fake.)

Well 'The Bull' isn't specifically about bankers but if the cap fits...

Hmm, 30-odd gigs at an almost certain loss in the hope of bigger and better things in the future.  Probably best I don't say any more about this...

Opening acts are very rarely afforded any support I have always been given to understand. In fact, I have heard many the horror story from bands that were playing support, only to be treated terribly by the main act. Its only an "almost certain loss" if the support act treats it as a reason to go nuts, closing down the pub and staying in luxury hotels...just because they are support to somebody selling more CD's than them. If however, the support act treats it as one more gig in a full year of gigs travelling in the van, and eating **** food to save money, and staying with friends to save money, than how is it any different to any other gig they do throughout the year? In addition, Fairport Winter Tour openers have recently been lone singers with their guitars...or duos like Kat and Jamie. Not a lot of expenditure to run through for them as there is for a band. And I am willing to bet that no Fairport opener has ever slagged them off for treating them badly. Its an arrangement, and I'm sure its explained to them going into it.

You ask anyone of this parish whether they'd like to tour with Fairport, even at their own expense, and I bet 90% would say yes and 10% would live to regret saying no.

After learning about the WinTour support, I decided to search out a little about the late Jake Thackray...I can vaguely remember his "That's Life" appearances on the telly when I was a small kid, and taking very little notice of him at the time...My loss !...

This is exquisite...and moved me to tears when I watched it last night... :'(


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TiXINuf5nbI&feature=related

Prompted by this thread, I have just bought an MP3 download from Amazon of "Jake In A Box" EMI Recordings 1967-1976...A bargain at just £7.49 !

A really clever wordsmith, and some lovely tunes and fine guitar playing...Enjoying this a lot... :)

Having now been educated by John's performance at the Moonbeams Festival, I can safely say that I'm looking forward to his support slot on the Wintour.

John is also a really nice chap - Came and apologised to us when we were waiting for him to start as the festival was running a little behind schedule and his performance had been delayed slightly.

Really looking forward to Cropredy on Thursday - not playing so I can chill, chat and enjoy the glorious English summer - and watch the wonderful Kieran Goss, plus FC of course! Come and say hello.. or better still ... hello, would you like a beer......

Thanks for all the comments on here... well... MOST of the comments on here  ;)

John

Did this years Cropredy programme have the wintour dates in it? If so, can anyone tell me if they are playing the union chapel?

Yes they are. March 9th.

And St George's Church in Brighton which is a lovely venue. Feb 9th.  :)

I can't wait - have just booked tickets for the WT at St Albans.
I've seen the Fake Thackrays several times and they are a delight, and most respectful to the great troubadour that was Jake Thackray.

Could any of you kind folk do me a big favour? I usually meet up with an old schoolmate for the weekend of the union chapel gig. However, next year it clashes with my favourite half marathon. I was wondering if anyone could post the wintour Friday/Saturday dates? I could then try and agree with friend (and get permission from our respective missus) for an alternate weekend rendezvous gig. I live south coast, he lives east coast. Might help me avoid making a difficult decision as to running or watching!
Thanks!
Adam

Just a few suggestions
Sat 9th Jan St Georges Church Brighton
Fri 1st Feb Apex Theatre Bury St Edmunds
Sat 2nd Feb West Cliff Theatre Clacton

I think those dates are a month out. They should be 9th Feb & 1st & 2nd March respectively.

I can recommend The Apex as a venue. New concert hall, very nice building, and the sound is just superb.

Hello,

Does anyone know the date for:

St Albans
Stables - Milton Keynes
Wycombe Swan
Beck Theatre hayes

Aside from St Albans they do not go to the others automatically each year - but they often do.    Bit of pressure about St Albans as it will my 25th year consecutively so better book a day off from work in good time.

Thanks,

Paul

Not sure how these boards work entirely - why am I a Lama? - how does it know I have a season ticket for Whisnade and London Zoo?

Paul

I think it might be something to do with the time you joined this forum. Probably other things were keeping you all amused at that time, which are lost in the mists of ages.. You can change it by clicking on 'profile' (4th tab along under your name ) and then clicking on 'forum profile information in the box on the lefthand side of the screen.
then changing I am a llama to whatever text you want in the Personal text box

Hope this is reasonably clear  ;D

FC won't be visiting south Wales on the next Wintour, but they WILL be appearing at the De Montfort Hall, Leceister in January. Sounds like a good time to pay a visit to my daughter, Amy.  8)

Amy is your daughter?....:-)

THe UNion Chapel tickets are on sale for Saturday 9 March 2013.....£23+b/f

Now Mr B I know Shirl is a teeny bit older than me...  But not by enough for me to be her daughter...

 ;D ;D ;D ;D

Cheek! My Amy really is an Amy as opposed to a Jenny.  ::) ;D

Heeheehee......   ;D ;D

Errr....Seems as though the Union Chapel (? might be promoter) made a mistake 0- the tickets have just 'gone up' to £25 plus b/f

Pricing themselves out of the market?.....starting to, for sure.

and this is why Cropredy still seems pretty good value to me rather than the wintours. I get to see pretty well the same set as on the tours, plus the special guests, plus all the other bands for the price of 4 tour tickets.

I always do both, plus any other Fairport gigs that I can get to.    I had the Autumn-Winter De Montfort Hall brochure put through my door the other day, and they have got Keiran Goss down as support on the Wintour.... Oops!

I'm a bit disappointed they don't seem to be doing Lincoln this time - wonder if it might be added later?

There's Chesterfield and Leicester though Ann  ;D

I must try to get to WSM this year. Between ill health and snow I've never made it down there. :'(

Chesterfield for us again I think.

Got my tickets for New Brighton last night. Next February seems a long time off, but it'll be here before you know it. It's probably time to put the sprouts on a low light now.

When did they announce the New Brighton date? Can't recall seeing it in the gig list.  I'm trying to find my Cropredy program to see if its listed there. Its now on Fairports website gig list, but sure it wasn't a few weeks ago.  I've got tickets for Salford, but would have prefered New Brighton.

It was definitely in the programme, because we were trying to work out if New Brighton was anywhere Brighton. ;D

Paul

Thanks for letting me know, can't find this years Cropredy program. must have misread New Brighton as just Brighton. For the record, New Brighton is at the top of the Wirral peninsula, across the Mersey from Liverpool. The Floral Pavilion is a lovely venue on the sea front   8)

Looks like I may have to give it a miss this year. Chesterfield may be an option, if I can get the last train back to Sheffield.

Leicester should be OK, there is a train to Sheffield that leaves at 23.55.

I can actually see the Floral Pavilion as I type, because it's directly opposite the place I work in Bootle, but on the 'wrong' side of the Mersey. I could probably walk there in a few minutes if the river wasn't in the way. Instead I have to go into town , through the tunnel and back up the Wirral.
The gig is actually in the 'Blue lounge' at the Floral Pavilion which is a smaller multi function room with unreserved seating. I've been to a few shows at the main hall, inculding a fantastic show a few weeks ago by RT, but have never been in the Blue Lounge. I am seeing Show of Hands there in November, so will know what it's like by the Wintour.

Fortunately the Winding Wheel is only a few minutes' walk from the station, and the trains back to Sheffield run into the early hours. I've never had any problems getting back that way :)

The Winding Wheel in Chesterfield is a lovely venue too.

Ah ha, excellent. :) May well see some of you there then.

That's nice.

An old friend of mine has asked me if I would go with her to see Fairport at Tunbridge Wells. Evidently her husband can't make it, as he'll be out in the far cornfields, doing something.

Screwfix have got a special offer on long beaten swords at the moment, Colin. Just make sure you get the better of them and you'll be OK.   ;)

Erm... That didn't work last time, did it?

Nobble the servant!

Or at least take a pocket knife.

Don't get one with the handy tool for removing stones from horses shoes

Send an urgent message to Lord Donald/Arnold! telling him that his good friend Sir Patrick Spens has invited him to go on a short cruise.

Or an implement for removing surfs from nobles.

(I know it's my fault, but back on topic please kiddies)

I won't be going. A holiday and the first one of the year.

Despite having perused the Wintour dates more than once, it has taken the helpful observations of my mother to point out that there is no Birmingham Town Hall date this year  ??? What has become of it, Fairport "always" do that one?  :( Granted that there are other dates on the tour that I could attend - With an afternoon in the pub in either Leamington Spa or Shrewsbury sounding particularly appealing - But being at the end of the tour the Birmingham show has always tied in exceptionally neatly with my birthday for the past four years since I moved from the north east! 'Tis a shame to see this by now well established tradition missed next year  :(

Hmmm only Farnham and Brighton in hte south on this tour .. but which one???

Maybe a foray further North? De Montford is always appealing  (thats appealing not appalling!!)

or ..........all three :o  :o

what a dilemma ......................... ::)

I will be at the De Montfort Hall Dave. Come and say hello!  ;D

We'll probably be there too this year  ;D

De Montford it is then  [;-) {:-)

How could you resist!!

Tickets for Severn Theatre Shrewsbury are now on sale

 http://www.theatresevern.co.uk/default.asp?id=322&sC=page46

2 tickets for Tewkesbury booked (plus 2 tix for the Lock In at the same venue for only £2.50 each!)

My pal Phil has booked our seats at Gloucester Cathedral for June Tabor + Oysterband.

Chesterfield Winding Wheel tickets now on sale for 27th Feb. Front row stalls tickets available as I type!
http://purchase.tickets.com/buy/TicketPurchase?agency=POMEGRANATE_val=26786=list%20%3Chttp://purchase.tickets.com/buy/TicketPurchase?agency=POMEGRANATE&organ_val=26786&schedule=list

Thanks Neil.. will sort these tomorrow!!

Leamington Spa for me, Ma and the bears. ;D  Sad to see that Oxford, High Wycombe, Swindon and Chichester are missing from the list; ditto any dates in Scotland as friends up north of Edinburgh have found that their nearest gig is Berwick-upon-Tweed.:(.  Plus there's nothing at all near Robert (who is just outside Whitby) so it's not as if I can take him to a gig either.

Sadly we won't be going this year as we are moving very soon. The Stables is very near to us, and it's where we would normally see them but it's sold out, and the Tunbridge Wells venue is right near where we're moving to, but unfortunately, we are in a position where we don't know whether we will be down there by February, so we are giving this tour a miss. They are playing Dartford on the 'acoustic' tour however, and seeing as though there is very little difference between the 'acoustic' set and the normal set it shouldn't be too much of a loss.

Tickets obtained for The Union Chapel - slightly panicked when I saw a tweet indicating they were down to the last 100. Looks like it could be a sell-out - which is splendid.  :)

Here's an odd thing. I have just had an email from friends to whom I had suggested going to see Fairport to say they are not free on the date in question and I realised instantly that I don't want to see them badly enough to go on my own. I had already decided not to do Cropredy this year.

I have seen Fairport live at least twice every year for nearly 25 years but suddenly I am not bothered. What does all this mean?   ???

You've done your time, Al....simple as that.  It's happened to several of us over the years, I'm sure.  Sad, but there we are.  I still have a yearning for that yearning if you know what i mean, but as a great man once wrote, All Things Must Pass...

Doesn't have to mean anything per se Al. Was it the winter tour or the acoustic tour I seem to remember you missing out on last year due to illness? Maybe you equate Fairport with feeling ill  ;D I will gladly trade places with you however!

But seriously sometimes I get to saturation point on bands I like and I need to give it a rest for awhile, which means not listening to them, or giving them a pass live. Right now I can't tell you the last time I played Hot Club Of Cowtown, one of my favorite bands, whom I have seen several times (though not at your level of seeing Fairport). At this moment I just cannot bother to listen to them, but I know it will be the perfect thing to listen to one day again. As routine as the Fairport year can be-planning for Cropredy, Winter Tour, Spring Tour, maybe a few European dates scattered in there, maybe doing some recording, they can still come up with some surprises. Bet you wouldn't have said that two years ago when they were getting ready to do JBL live for example, and look how good that was. So my advice, take the rest if you really feel you need it, but don't think its a sign of anything in particular. And hey, as I type this Fairport towers just mentioned on FB the Thursday announcement is imminent!

It was the Wintour but I did catch up with them elsewhere last year. I am certainly not tired of the band. I play stuff by their various incarnatons all the time and, as you say, the JBL shows (& live album) were terrific. I just can't get enthused by the Wintour for some reason this year. I don't feel like it is going to offer anything new. The JBL shows aside, the gigs have been pretty similar for a decade or more. I think maybe the format needs a bit of a shake up.

Sums it up nicely, David.

I have no desire whatsoever to go to Cropredy again.  

I have great memories from the 24 that I did go to, though, and I don't want to spoil them by going through the motions.

For those who still love it, great.  I envy you that excitement and satisfaction.  But not for me anymore.

These comments appear to be particularly apposite re the Cropredy line up thread: I would bet that back in the 80's and 90's few Cropredy attenders based their decision on whether to go on the line up - basically it was a fun weekend out with a load of beers, FC and usually RT and guests.  Any other great acts were something of a bonus.  Now it seems the decision to go for some is based entirely on the line up, which I suspect reflects getting older, having other financial priorities and so forth.

If I happened to be in the UK in August I doubt I would go for the reasons expressed by Barry and also because my liver would explode a la Duff McKagan were I to spend 4 days knocking back beer and other booze..

It certainly has something to do with that. For me though it is partly to do with the format of Cropredy itself. In the context of other modern festivals Cropredy can be quite gruelling (single stage, big field, no shelter, general scale) especially if the weather does not co-operate. It was fabulous in 2012 but it needs a really special line up to overcome those reservations. I just don't find it relaxing any more in the way that it was when the bill consisted largely of people you had barely heard of and you could lie in the field in the sun without getting regularly trodden on.

I understand why it has had to change. The big names subsidise Saturday night which would no longer be financially viable on its own and is a justifiable self indulgence on Fairport's part but it has definitely changed and personally I no longer feel that vibe that used to keep drawing me back irrespective of who was on the bill.

For me it is simple - I haven't really enjoyed a FC gog outside of Cropredy for a few years now, last year I decided not to do the Wintour - for the first time since '88 or '89 and I really didn't miss it. There was a simple inverse proportion between cost (rising) and enjoyment (falling)

BUT

If anyone said to me they had nevrr seen Fairport and should they bother going I would absolutely say they should - just not for me any more.

DW

Just heard from John Watterson, AKA Fake Thackray, that he's going to be doing a blog while on tour with Fairport. You can subscribe by going to:

http://www.fakethackray.com/blog.html

If you're going to the Leicester gig and haven't got a ticket yet, De Montfort Hall are having a sale over the next couple of days and you can get £5 off per ticket.

Any reports from last night? Or a setlist? (I'm not going so I wanna know what I'm missing out on  ;D )

I'm going to New Brighton tonight, so I'll report back tomorrow

2nd night of the tour at Tunbridge Wells was fab  ;D Sound and lighting superb, Peggy full of anecdotes and fun, Ric still telling the cheesy jokes, Gerry has had a haircut!

As for a set list, I can only recall some but song after song made a wonderful evening. There were Fairport newbies sitting next to me who only went for Fake Thackery (not my cuppa tea but he was good...) and at the end they said "You are right they are brilliant, we'll come again!"

Think Simon may have the beginnings of a sore throat and his memory disappeared for a few lines on Mercy Bay but professional as ever that was the only blip! He remembered all the verses of Ralph's Wild Cape Horn! (no mean feat)  ;D

Songs that I can recall, in no particular order are John Gaudie, Patrick Spens, Rosie, Banks of sweet primroses, Walkawhile, Who knows.. Fotheringay, Matty, Danny Jack's Chase, Wood and the Wire, Festival Bell, Hexamshire Lass, plus a surprise song, never heard from Fairport by me was 'Eynsham Poacher' apparently originally brought to Fairport by Chris and his brother John Leslie when they were a singing duo in Banbury many years back.

You will enjoy the evening.

Met with Martin Driver at the bar.  ;D

"New Brighton & Salford Quays both SOLD OUT" (Fairport on FB).

Pangs of regret after reading your post JJ....sounds really good....unfortunately we couldn't make it to T.Wells last night :(
Maybe Margate...let's hope so :)

I can only second Joanna's report from Tunbridge Wells - great show last night in New Brighton, despite the limitations of the venue. The main hall is being refurbished, so we were in a temporary room - very low stage and flat seating, unreserved, so I'm glad we weren't near the back and stifling heat.

I wasn't sure what I'd make of Fake Thackray before the show, so I was pleased to find him very funny and entertaining.

It was nice to see Simon playing electric guitar a bit more than usual and , As Joanna says, Ric's jokes are terrible (but in a good way) and I thought the whole performance was fabulous.

I'll 'spoiler' the setlist in case someone doesn't wan't to know

Off to the Lowry this evening and really looking forward to seeing Fairport after reading that set list!

Well, that was every bit as good as I expected, plus a bit more!

A really good mix of songs, a couple I don't recall hearing live before, and some really interesting arrangments. If you haven't got a ticket, and there are still some available, I'd get yourself down to a show near you! :)

I´m looking forward to see the show in Leamington Spa.  {:-)

I'd just like to point out that the unwanted apostrophe in want is a typo - I was horrified when I saw it!

three more days s and its leicester  ;D Who else is going ?? what about a meet for a drink before during or after??

Will be there about 7.  bar on the left, but i can't talk sheen in to seeing FC for her sixteenth time.

I will be there with daughter Amy. Please say "Hi" if you spot us  :D {:-)

Looking forward to Cardiff, St David's Hall, next month.  In the meantime I'll be at the same venue on 20th February for Richard Thompson - not a bad warm up act!!!  ;D

We will be there  ;)

C

We might be there... not quite decided yet.

Come on Jenny. I made a last minute decision, cos we're not doing Cropredy main field this yr and bought a ticket on Mon ( as i said Sheena's not keen)
 I was delighted to be asked if I wanted to be in the circle or stalls. It means there's a decent audience in cos if not they would have closed the circle. I was a bit worried about FC in De Mont, after seeing them in much smaller venues and them playing Leamington the next day.
 Row M in the middle, all on me lonesome, eye level with the stage sounds alright to me. Friends are going but they booked tickets yonks ago and are near the front.
I may have to wear 'the hat' as per avatar for ident purposes!!!!!!

Haha Dave.. no it's cos I'm not sure re Puggs and work that day...  and we have got good tix for Chesterfield later  :D

Haven't made up my mind whether to go either. I'm going to have a very late night with my gig at the Musician the night before, plus I never know what time I may finish work.

I'll be seeing them at Cropredy and Butlins this year, so do I need to see them three times?

Yeah, sorry Andy at the moment I'm vacillating on your gig, much as I want to see Fay brotherhood again.

only 20 tickets left for Leamington - guess no Brummie gig means the Leam will get a good house.

DW

Looks like the same set list at Salford as at New Brighton under the Shankly Spoiler.
Fake Thackray (John Watterson with Paul Thompson on bass) played Sister Josephine as the 'transition' song with Fairport and came back on for Meet On The Ledge.Good choice for the support slot.
First visit to the Quays theatre at The Lowry and it is a great place for a concert. The main area (the Lyric?) had been used all day by Britain's Got Talent.Just as the doors for the Quays were opening, the bar and Fairport merchandise area were visited by the four BGT judges in two pairs with the cameras in tow.
Cue for some immediate banter from the Fairport gang which was referenced throughout the show.
Britain's Got Issues indeed to quote Mr. Nicol.
Could there be a bigger contrast in the attitudes of the 'celebrities'?
Fantastic Wintour show again,go for your tickets now.

Oh I thought you'd gone into yorkshire speak ;) ;D

row e middle (7.8.9.10) I'll try to get to bar for 7.00 (Left as you look at it ?) I'm the big guy in the big dave tshirt  [;-) {:-)

My dress sense is yet to be decided. Black probably. So you could look for an old fat, bald bloke with a beard dressed in a collarless shirt..............ah!That'll narrow it down

You forgot to add "with a Bodhran glued to his face"  :P  ;D

Please read to the end of this post.
My real love of Fairport is based on '69 to '74 ish for far too many reasons to list here.
I have loved Cropredy fest for many yrs for many reasons.
I have loved the rock in folk rock and always liked Marts contribution.
I have sometimes been disappointed by the present line up of the band, a lack of energy, power etc and said so.
So to tonight at De Mont Hall
It may have been the set list or any other number of imponderables but I found myself really concentrating on the music.
Perhaps the first time I acknowledged this line up of the band without any reference to history.
At last yrs Cropredy I felt Fotheringay was still Sandy's song, a woman's song but tonight Simon and the band really nailed it, as he did WKWTTG, the best I have ever heard him sing it.
 The playing,all night, was spot on, great harmonies. I tend to watch Peggy and Gerry and they were both just playing wonderfully. Peggy playing lead lines. Yes, there are songs I wouldn't have in the set. That applies to almost any gig i've ever seen.  Yes it's a v relaxed laid back presentation but the song explanations and the songs were at the core of it.
Simon, played a lot of electric, huzzah (although I would have liked it further up the mix , picky moi?)
I took an American friend who had never heard Fairports before! He judged them on what he saw  and he loved it and bought CD's.
The last winter tour I saw was Babbacombe Lee, special but the band doing history.
Tonight I just sat and watched a band on very good form, a real balance of material, and enjoyed it immensely.
We go to De Mont a lot and it can be a special space. This was a special gig for me for many reasons and I wasn't expecting it.
Seen the present line up 16 times. This was the best.(imho)
If you're going, enjoy and Fake Thackray sets it up well. Buy his album. The man is going to have to buy a new liver!! (See his blog)

Shirl your IM is full!

Great review Hendo - really looking forward to Chesterfield now!

Dave - "a band on very good form" - exactly what I said after Tewkesbury last week.
I doubt there's a better electric rhythm section playing live these days (and by that I mean Peggy, Gerry and Simon).  
A rock steady - yet so flexible - base for the melodies, harmonies & solos.
Bravo the chaps!  ;D

Cheers H. Enjoy.

Come on chasps, little bit of effort pleeeaaase!
I need your opinions of the Leicester and Leamington Spa gigs.

The Leamington Spa gig was superb in my opinion.  The venue has been substantially refurbished since I was last there and is extremely comfortable.

Lots of really awful jokes from Ric - one was so bad that it was absolutely brilliant.  Simon and Peggy were on fine form with the one-liners too.  The music was great; setlist has been posted elsewhere and, as I can't be bothered to search for the "spoiler" feature on here, I'll be cryptic.

Highlights for me included the really heavy rocking version of a morris tune close to my heart (as I live in the village where the poachers come from anyway), a really unexpected Swarb/Thompson composition which I don't actually recall hearing on any other Wintour (I expect I'll now be proved wrong), wondering whether there is a stringed instrument on this earth that Chris hasn't managed to learn to play, lots of songs on the theme of the sea, some old, some new, some borrowed... and the some blue were presented to us via Fake Thackray who I really enjoyed.  Such a nice chap too and is genuinely overwhelmed by the kindness of the band and the fans so far on this tour.

The person sat next to me was a Fairport virgin and was extremely impressed by the quality of their performance.  I found it extremely "together", the band enjoying themselves, a really well put-together setlist (courtesy of Mr Leslie I believe) and proof that you don't need gimmicks if you are competent.  The band may be in its 46th year but, in my opinion, they are sounding extremely strong.

I do endorse Dave's report . i did hear reports that the sound further up the auditorium was a bit poor .. Certainly looking at the stacks they seemed not as big as I have seen before but then again modern speakers are far more efficient than some so I am unsure . certainly from row E it was good . Sometimes Simons words were indistinct I feel this is a microphone issue and it doesn't always happen.  Because I know alll the words its no problem (though my friends noticed it) hmm I dunno how many times i have seen the lads in this line up it was good I do admit
Yess Fake Thackary was very good  a nice rendition of Jakes work and great playing by Steve his bassman
All in all it was well worth the expence of trip and hte opportunity to meet old friends . I am sorry I missed people  in the bar before the gig. I looked at faces  but there were many people ..It made me dizzy it'll have to be Cropredy please wear fez and tiara

Great gig in Brighton (Old Brighton that is)
Lovely Regency church, packed, literally to the rafters. Rather odd that Gerry was completely hidden behind the banks of instruments though.
- and just a shame the beer ran out!
Thought Fotheringay and WKWTTG have settled down now and I tingled hearing Simon put his heart into them - thought they were a bit raw last year.
All in all a jolly good mixture of old and new - just makes you think what a fantastic back catalogue there is to dip in and out of.

Arrived at the De Montfort auditorium just as the house lights were going down, but managed to shuffle our way into the middle of our row in the stalls before the action started.  ::)




Sorry to miss Hendo and Dave P. Bumped into Mark of Red Shoes with his lovely daughter Megan on the way out. Poor Carolyn was not well enough to attend unfortunately

Overall, I most enjoyable performance, but it seemed to lack a certain *bounce* in my opinion. I shall be seeing them again in Cardiff next month. Looking forward to it!

Disappointed there was no Brum gig this year and just viewed the spring tour venues to find nothing local either,  so will notbe seeing FC this year, let's hope the CD of 2012 does come out for May , if they're as  good as they were  on the spring tour and the Union Chapel concert it will be well worth getting. Hint to my wife for my birthday in May.

There seems to be a shortage of photos from this years tour. Here's a few from Leicester.



Edit: Images removed. Do not 'hot link' or link to. They must only be attached. Colin

Ooh - double bassists!  ;)

Smashing pics Neil.  8)

Simon's diary.  http://forfolkssake.com/blog/20929/artist-blog-simon-nicol-of-fairport-convention-blogs-week-two-of-their-uk-tour

He does write well.  I hope he puts pen to paper in earnest sometime...now that would be a Fairport book worth buying.

What's all this business about click tracks on fotheringay that has the list having heart murmurations?

Hi Jim, the FC list has got itself into a slight lather over v little imho.
At the De Mont show Simon announced that they would start Fotheringay with the recorded harmony overdubs they had used for the album. He was very upfront, to the extent of asking the guy on sound to push the red button. Again imho opinion it worked v well. As far as I was concerned it was the only time they used it. It was v obvious it was flown in cos band weren't even attempting to look as if they were singing it live.
It isn't a click track. At the risk of teaching my grannies a click track is simply a way of keeping a beat, a metronome effectively. Moon used one live for Baba O'Reilly. Nick Mason, halfway through Comfortably Numb at Live 8 takes off his headphones as he no longer needs a click track. etc etc
As far as I am concerned Fairports didn't use a click track. Fc list have just got their terminology confused.

cheers Dave, i can rest easy in my bed again O0

Blimey - has Maart rejoined the band with some new technology. Anyone remember the "fabulous Parker (?) sisters?

Time to give up when you get like that. Its hardly Milli Vanilli is it?
Tull appeared to be doing it years ago.

Sheryl and Sheila still regularly appear to me in my dreams.

Surely they did this last year as well? Full credit to Simon, he never pretended they could reproduce Sandy's fabulous intro, but having nailed a suitably atmospheric version in the studio they used it in the live shows and then relaxed into really lovely new rendition of a song they had always shied away from.

Sorry, here they are suitably attacked ;D



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And again.....


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Yes, they did, and again made a point of saying very clearly that it was the recorded intro from By Popular request.

Sidse Babett Knudsen will be getting jealous with talk like that David!!!!!!!!!   ;)

I'll never sleep again....

Is it me or is Simon morphing into a well known darts player....................................... Wolfie...
See picture attached to his blog of the tour......and a damn fine blog it is

Just back from Farnham.Brilliant ! Thoroughly enjoyed it.Great set with a few of my favourites.     ;D

We were also at Farnham, the lads were on top form and Fake Thackeray made me laugh loads,I had forgotten how funny the songs were.

Another superb evening of fairportificatious entertainment, Colchester art centre is a small (260) venue that the boys obviously enjoy playing, they were on top form with no signs of sore fingers. One of the best set lists for many a day (IMHO), my particular highlights, Rosie, wood and thd wire and honour and praise plus all the other great renditions. Congratulations to john watterson (fake Thakery) who was quite brilliant. And so to bed, aah......happydays.....

We've had a change of plan and have decided we are going to see the chaps at St Albans tonight :D anyone else going?

I was there! Great set, super set-list (IMHO), great sound (John Gale is a genius). Apparently the Alban Arena now has a state-of-the-art PA system built-in, and the output from the desk goes straight in to it - simples! The boys seemed on good form and enjoying themselves (as others have noted from other venues).

Surprised you managed to get in, Dan, it looked pretty close to a sell-out to me, they even had the balcony open this time.

DC

Me too! Yes, the sound system is much better, worked particularly well on Fotheringay and Sir Patrick Spens.  They (and I) obviously enjoyed "Festival Bell".  I stopped to say hello and thank you to Peggy, who offered to sign my programme - I mentioned I'd taken my daughter to Cropredy last year and that she'd be coming with her boyfriend this year (stop wittering on, I told myself, the man's busy!) but he asked me for my daughter's name and the date of her birthday and then wrote a little message to her on the date in the calendar section of the programme.

So you know how you don't have to be an alcoholic to be in the band but it helps........
John Watterson, 'Fake Thackray', seemed like a very ,very nice man when we had him on for a gig in Oct . Professional, no alcohol before the gig, just a couple of beers after......
then a couple of weeks with Peggy and Simon.
I'm no good with linky things but check out:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AOk2GJTSWQs&feature=youtu.be

and if it doesn't work,  try You Tube. John Watterson, 'Who knows Where The Wine Goes.'
It's also on John's blog of the tour on his 'Fake Thackray' website, worth reading.

Re Fake Thackray's .'Who Knows where the Wine Goes?'
Ian has very sensibly put it on Fairport related youtube thread.
Thanks Ian.
Now why didn't I think of that?

Chaps in fine form in Chesterfield on Wednesday.

Can only echo what others have said that there's an emphasis on the 'rock' this year, which is all to the good.  Simon in fine voice, and we only noticed one minor fluff of memory whereby the verse order to Wild Cape Horn went a bit wonky. Plus one non-musical and very painful looking fluff when Simon managed to nut a microphone when taking a bow.  Ouch.

I saw you there from a distance at one point H.

It's almost like a mini Cropredy at this gig on Fairport night...
each year there are more friends there to chat with.

Loved the music, the banter, the warmth going out from the stage to us.

With friends of ours was Lucy.. her very first gig ever.. she is 10.  
She was so excited and just amazed when they dedicated a song to her.

Later she had her photo taken with several of the band as they signed her calegram,
They were so incredibly good with her.. knowing just how to talk to an excited
10 year old!

I loved Fake's set too.. very pleased that he will be playing for Farnsfield Acoustic in May.

Off to Cardiff this evening to see the lads. Hope it's as good as the dates I've been reading about on here

A spur of the moment decision meant we saw the lads in Clacton last night  -  mainly because it was announced that tickets were still available and also because we can do that sort of thing these days with no little ones or older ones to look after.  I'm so glad we did because we had a great time and enjoyed ourselves even more than the last time we saw Fairport, which was only a couple of weeks ago!

It couldn't have been easy playing to a half-full theatre but John Watterson (Fake Thackray) set the right tone by telling us we were the creme de la creme of Clacton. I appreciated his set more this time - the difference being I could hear the words of the songs clearly and his gentle self-deprecating humour was even more charming than on the previous occasion.  I can't remember if we got the song about the Albert Hall in Colchester but it was a good one and it made me chuckle.

The first half was full of old favourites, some less often heard like Honour and Praise and The Eynesham Poacher and some more familiar to the ears like John Gaudie and Walk Awhile. Chris gave a moving performance of Rosie – I cannot/will not believe that such a beautiful, whimsical song is anything other than that which it professes to be.

The second half was even better with more sea songs. I love Mercy Bay and Fairport’s version of Wild Cape Horn is growing on me. The Irving Johnston videos on YouTube helped - I recommend giving them a watch if you haven’t already done so. Doctor of Physick is always good to hear. I don’t really know what it is about exactly but it thrills and unnerves me in equal measure – make what you will of that (I’m sure Freud would)! Best of all was Who Knows Where The Time Goes – Simon really nailed it in my opinion. Am I right in thinking that the positive and uplifting qualities of Meet On the Ledge are being emphasised this year?

I can’t help thinking, that on the back of the success of Fotheringay and Farewell Farewell, it would be a good idea for them to have a go at interpreting  a few other songs that this line-up have never attempted.  To Althea from Prison and  Sir William Gower would be top of my list but I’m sure there are plenty of others voted for that never made it onto By Popular Request.

P.S.
What a lovely little theatre The Westcliff is. The decor and impeccable manners of the staff are from a bygone age and I am sure we will return. Like Simon we managed to fit in a short walk along the sea front before the gig. Unlike him however  we were unable to enjoy a fish supper as we were in Frinton, so had to make do with a picnic courtesy of Mr Marks and Mr Spencer. We'll know next time! ;D

We were blessed with free tickets to last night's concert in Cardiff - probably the best I've seen the current line-up play  :) Thoroughly enjoyed Fake Thackery too.

Highlight for me was Mercy Bay and Honour & Praise which has long been a personal favourite.

No sign of them slowing down I'm glad to say  8)

Hello Bridget. Were you sitting in row BB in Tier 1.  I think I was sitting right behind you, in row CC.

It was a great night, wasn't it? My daughter, who came with me, was overjoyed at hearing 'Honour and Praise'.  

I'm beginning to regret not having made an effort to go and see them on this tour, with all the positive things being said.  Let's hope the Spring acoustic tour is as good!

Yes Mick we were, you should have tapped me on the shoulder!

I wasn't sure it was you, but at the interval my daughter said she thought she recognised you.   That threw me, because she doesn't use this board!!

We were at Shrewsbury last night. It sounds a very similar set to the one at Clacton described above.
Have to confess, this is the first time I've seen FC live.  Oh dear, why did I wait so long?  Really enjoyed it.  It was a brilliant gig.

SN sang 'Who knows where the time goes'  He'd just (in the interval) had news of a friend admitted to a hospice, it was dedicated to her but it nearly broke him up, had to leave the stage for a minute after it.

Hmm, can we get to Leek or Southport for the Spring tour.   :)

Fake (John Watterson) Thakray was brilliant too, yes offensive, sexist and very non PC but brilliantly funny.  He captures Jake's music and voice perfectly but he can't match the deadpan expression.

(Still prefer Ralph's own version of Wild Cape Horn  ;) )

facebook?

Maybe see you at the bar at Cropredy then   {:-)

A lovely evening at Cardiff. Front row centre seats. Woo hoo! Fake Thackray was a lot of fun. My friend's partner Jeff was a Fairport virgin and thoroughly enjoyed himself and has decided to join Pat at Cropredy this year.  :)

So that's two Cropredy virgins I will be bringing along this year! Loved John Gaudie, Farewell, Farewell, Albert and Ted, Sir Patrick Spens, Doctor of Physick, Danny Jack's Reward, Banks of the Sweet Primroses, The Wood and The Wire, Fotheringay and Mercy Bay. Others too numerous to mention!  :D

Thank you Fairport for yet another wonderful gig.  :-*

Yes, I am on facebook - and I'll definitely be at the Cropredy bar - I'll be easy to spot, I'll be the one with the beard wearing a Fairport t shirt!! [;-)

Yes I was there too! Great night really good set list. Chris took time out in the interval to speak to my daughter about his extra small chin rest she was dead chuffed!

Is it an extra chin rest that is small, or is it a chin rest that is extra-small?

It seems everybody was right. The music was really outstanding and jokes were worse.
The Union Chapel is a really atmospheric venue, they seem to have sorted out the previously dreadful acoustics and it was the largest crowd I've seen there.



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What a beautiful venue! Hope to see it for myself one day.

The second a chin rest that is extra small! ;D

I suppose it could also have been a rest for an extra-small chin, but I know that Chris hasn't got one of those.  :)