TalkAwhile - The Folk Corporation Forum

Having watched the BBC4 doc, it occurred to me that there must be some TAWhilers (apart from Jude, obviously!)  who saw Fairport play live in '67, '68 and '69 (that 'golden age', if you like) but I've not come across any personal recollections on this board. I was a fan in the 70s, but didn't actually see them live until 1983 and would love to hear from anyone who was there at the beginning.

So, did you see Fairport in the 60s? Where was it? What was the atmosphere like? Were they good? What did they play? Did you think you'd still be seeing them in 2012?

Memory Lane is now open to traffic...

I can remember seeing Fairport in the late sixties, but sadly I can't remember anything about it. I think they were supporting another band but can't remember who. Since 1995 I've been keeping a log of all the gigs / festivals I go to and who we saw. Back then - sadly no.  
And as for your last question - I didn't even think that far ahead! (well at that age you don't do you?)

I'm an old so and so who did see them back then. Once in Leeds, at a club long since closed. It was somewhere close to Leeds Infirmary, and I've looked and looked to see if there is any building left that could have been a club. I have to report my failure to find one. Cant remember the set list but I'm confident that it would have been stuff from 1st album, and probably some of the second one. I got there early, and knew I'd found the right place because they were unloading the equipment right outside the door. I gave Simon a hand carrying some amplifiers up the stairs. I also remember a large Alsatian dog that I kept well clear of. There was not a huge audience that night, so I was able to stand right at the front. Hope I didn't scare anybody that night by staring. Were they good. Silly question... The biggest memory was that I deliberately missed the last bus home to see all of the performance. It meant I had an 8 mile walk home that night.

Bradford University was another concert. I most definitely recall listening to Sailors Life as a showcase to end the set. It was stunning... Bridget St John was also on the bill, as I think, were Principal Edwards Magic Theatre, but I'm not certain. I seem to recall some way-out band playing for far too long... Androgyne or something like that comes to mind... It was a John Peel Dandelion sponsored thing.

Harrogate keeps cropping up, but I'm beggared if I can remember why. Festival Gardens would have been the venue. The mind sometimes plays tricks...

Yorkshire was a long way from London (still is, unless one of them has moved), so the opportunity to see them was limited.

I haven't seen them this year, or for a number of years for that matter. But was I expecting to be still talking about them in 2012? Frankly, no. Am I glad to be? Absolutely...

Fantastic! If there was a 'Jealous' smiley, I'd use it now.

When I'm next in touch with my old friend Steve Airey who played in the Ethnic Shuffle Orchestra, I'll ask him if he saw Fairport at that time.

Oddly enough, I saw Screaming Lord Sutch 8 times between 1962 and 1964 and can still remember each occasion vividly - now what did I have for lunch today???

I've been in touch with a mate who was at that concert with me. The name of that "other" band was ANDROMEDA. They were parc he reminded me. And he was right too.

Unfortunately not.But I have seen Fairport in their sixties.Some of them at least.

I saw them several times at Mothers in Erdington and another club that I can't remember the name of in Birmingham plus I also used to visit London quite a lot and eventually moved there for a short time in the late 60s and I saw the band at various clubs there.

I first got into them as I was a huge fan of west coast American bands like the Lovin' Spoonful, the Byrds and the Airplane etc. and Fairport were the nearest thing to them that we had of our own.

I would love to tell you what I remember of them in detail but they were one of many bands I saw round that time and sad to say the memories, with a few exceptions, all seem to have melded into one big gig, but they must have impressed me enough for me to seek them out.

They really hit me though at the Bath Festival in 1970. Their entrance there was impressive to say the least, the atmosphere was terrific and they played a blinding set, with Swarb and Richard bouncing off each other like maniacs.

And no, I didn't think I would still be seeing them now.

Nope. I always managed to miss them somehow, mostly due to the fact that I wasn't born until about 25 years later  ;D

According to the gig guide book that I have been putting together for the last couple of years, I first saw Fairport at the Barn Barbecue Dance at Thurmaston in Leicestershire on Easter Monday 1968.  This one day festival was headlined by John Mayall and featured Fleetwood Mac, Soft Machine and various soul and local groups. My memories of this are a bit vague, but I remember most of my friends and I had gone to see the Blues groups,Soft Machine and the Fairports.   The only other gig that I can remember in the 60's, was at a converted cinema in Market Harborough called the Frolickin' Kneecap. I think this was in September 1968, as I had seen Family there the same year.   I remember the set at the Bath Festival in 1970 very well, the guys were on top form that day, but didn't that festival over run!

No, it was 70 and 71

Aargh! I shouldn't have had that brown acid.  I'll go and dig that Festival Programme out. :-[

Sorry Andy I wasn't replying to your post.
It was 70 ,71 when I first saw Fairports.
Apropo of nothing Sheen saw the Farinas (pre Family) at a club in Kibworth in the mid 60's. I was playing with Charlie (John) Whitney in a pub in Ashby Folville , 10 yrs ago ish and he remembered the gig and was amazed Sheen had a Farinas single which is,apparently, now worth lots.

1967 at the Malvern Winter Gardens in Worcestershire. Probably about 200 people there.
Then I got a boyfriend with a car, so went a couple of times to see them at Mothers.

Sadly, I never saw Fairport in the sixties. But I have seen them in MY sixties. Does that count?  ::) 8)

Memory very dodgy here too...
First saw them at a college gig in Brighton I think, 67/68? Vague memories of a hot basement and just loving the music.
I know I bought WWDOOH when it came out, and had been to a gig on the tour that was pictured on the sleeve, Sussex/Warwick Uni? Also Oxford Town Hall? probably 69...
I remember being amazed when Swarb joined them as I had seen him at various folk clubs and it was a dream team for me then. Not being into music press, the first I knew was when I saw him on stage, but where and when???
Many times and places since, but I vividly remember Sandy at the Dome on her last tour... -sadly not at her best, and I thought that would be the end of an era! How very wrong!

Well wrong in one way, but right in another.   :(

Jules

I saw them in 68 at, I think the Marquee. A very hot and sweaty evening as I recall. It was the original lineup with Jude. We spent the entire evening staring at RT's fingers, amazed at his runs all over the neck. This was very much the 'English Jefferson Airplane' era, and that indeed was one of the things that inspired us to go.   We were all into the Airplane/Dead/Quicksilver/Byrds/Tim Buckley/Country Joe thing at the time.

We then saw them in 69 at either the Festival Hall or Queen Elizabeth Hall on the South Bank. It was their first gig without Sandy - the five man lineup.  If my memory serves me correctly, John and Beverley Martin were the support act???.........well, it was a long time ago.  

The Sandy lineup played at the Festival Hall with John & Beverley and Nick Drake on 24th Sept 1969 which was I think the L&L 'launch' so to speak.

The first major live performance of the Full House band was at the same venue on 14th Feb 1970.  Not sure if the support was also John and Beverley?

support was Dudu Pukwana.

Nope...didn't know that.  

The amazing thing about all this is the time scale...From Albums 1 to 5 and all those lineup changes in months...quite amazing.  

For all of L&L's longevity and influence it was but a blink of an eye in the history of the band really,wasn't it...

That's always amazed me.  How long was Sandy in the band for (the first time)?  Max of two years, wasn't it?  And three classic albums released in one calendar year.

Yep...definitely less than 2 years  :)

I didn't but know a man who did (more or less). This particular friend, Chris, was a student in Brighton in the early 70s and one day he noticed that Sandy Denny was playing a gig in town - this must've been in around 1970. He told me that the gig wasn't very well advertised and he turned up expecting it to be a solo performance but discovered, to his delight, that her backing band were all Fairport chaps.

Chris was actually responsible for introducing me to the the music of Fairport and RT as he lent me his copy of (guitar, vocal) and I bought the first two FC albums after hearing 'Time Will Show The Wiser' and the alternative version of 'Mr Lacey' on that RT compilation. Chris's one big regret from that time was not going to the Isle of Wight festival to see Hendrix, telling himself he'd rather wait until Jimi's next UK tour....

Not being born til 66 I definitely didn't see them - but like Annie I do keep a log of all the gigs I've been to (going back to 1981). People take the piss but I wouldn't be without my gigs spreadsheet!

I saw them only once at the RFH in I think 1969 but may have been 1970 - after that I emigrated.  Sandy had the entire hall enthralled in the palm of her hand.  I also seem to recall virtuoso duets by two electric violinists playing multi string - quite a departure in those days.  Duncan

I was buying the albums from the start but first saw them live in 1970. I did see Sandy play solo , 1972 I think , with John Martyn as support.

Where have all you guys been getting the information about gigs in the sixties? Is there an online source somewhere? Would love to try and pin down what I saw and when.

On James Taylor's film/slideshow/q anda tour he showed a pic of the LA Troubadour and said " this is the Troubadour, where I appeared many times in the sixties.................apparently".

If Sandy was with them, it was probably was '69 Duncan.   Somebody, in an earlier post corrected my ageing memory for me.   ::)

Last RFH with Sandy was 24th September '69. Next appearance at that venue, which was my first show, was 14th Feb '70.

There used to be an on-line list of all Fairport gigs being constructed by an individual, but I can't seem to find it any more, it hadn't been updated for a couople of years last time I saw it.

Clinton Heylin's "Gypsy Love Songs & Sad Refrains" is useful & reasonable accurate for the periods of RT & SD incarnations.

This is not a complete list but may be useful

 http://www.songkick.com/artists/396525-fairport-convention/gigography?page=27

Grrr! Despite wishing myself younger with each passing, more painful day, I read posts like this and STILL wish I'd been born 5 year's earlier...

I know, I know... :-\

... rogue apostrophe alert  ::) Sorry, pedants... ;)

Time passes quickly enough without wishing for it. ;D
I wish I was a lot more than 5 years younger, despite the kids having fled the roost, mortgage paid off, and business loan paid off. ^-^

I hear what you're saying, Nick Reg. The grass is always greener/there's no such thing as a 'golden age' etc.

Still - JM supporting Sandy... Grrr!  ::)

Now worked it out. It was a YES concert at Harrogate.

I was trying to work out (mostly medium and astrology)  :o I think I bought Holidays in 1970 and then in 1972/3 History... there was the single of Rosie somewhere around there as well  ^-^.. Now when did I first see them?? hmm thats even more difficult .. I am sure it was the 1971 line up (Mattacks Pegg Nichol Swarbrick) IT must have been De Montford Leicester (Though it could have been Birmingham) I'm afraid the lager was winning in those days. So in the Sixties .....no  ;)

I really wish! I've plenty of theatre programmes from then, but nothing from any of the gigs, wish I'd kept a diary.

Same here. Looking at the replies maybe the male of the species is better at retaining this sort of detail than the female (it's a joke, before the barrage begins) ;D ;D ;D

I wish...but that concert at the Barbican a couple of years ago must have come close to what it was like. Ranks as one of my favourite events...shame it was never released.

Decent recordings were well circulated though.

It was indeed near perfect (and I had fantastic seats - right in the middle of the front row of the circle).  It was only the late sulky withdrawal of Swarb which slightly marred it for me, although Chris deputised brilliantly.

My fave memory of that was Jude nearly jumping out of her skin when Ashley's bass kicked in.  He was loud.

A Sailor's Life alone was more than worth the price of admission. If that wasn't truly psychedelic, then I don't know what is...

One of the finest Fairport-related concerts ever !

Yep, absolutely cracking night. Got to agree with David about A Sailor's Life, it was incredible :)

Hearing it for the first time, in February 1969, way before Unhalfbricking was released (July '69 I think), was a jaw-dropping experience. Never having heard it before, being there (almost) at the birth of something incredible, is now a special memory.

I have to send a message of thanks to Gouty for allowing me to bring this one back "out of the vaults". Cheers Captain...    :)

But then again, being a Fairport fan before even the first LP was issued puts me on the list of the really early followers. All thanks to John Peel, Top Gear, and If I Had A Ribbon Bow...

It is to my eternal regret that the pre gig beers kicked in at about that point and I heard the first half of A Sailor's Life via the surprisingly good acoustics of the Gents toilet at the back of the stalls!  :-[

I was back in time for the noisy bit though. Had I known there was about to be an interval I would have crossed my legs.  8)

I can confirm that the acoustics in the downstairs toilets are equally as good.  :)  Mind you, I knew there was an interval coming up and meant to beat the rush.

Now you come to mention it, I believe they were downstairs. I thought you looked familiar!  ;D

Phew - for a minute there I thought you meant you were yawning in technicolour.

I remember being up at the bar when Fairport did Time Will Show The Wiser at Croppers back in 2007.  By the time I got back to the front of the stage the song was over and Jude was gone.  I was seriously bummed.  Love that song.

Jules

I was at Bradford University from 1967 and saw them there - more than once.  One time, they were announced but the curtains stayed closed but you could hear cymbals being played.  The curtains slowly drew back as they launched into 'A Sailor's Life', the first time I had heard it.  Talk about spellbinding!  Amazingly, the gig just got better and better.  They were always great favourites.  I was never sure whether the reference to 'Bradford' on the cover of 'What we did..' was about the town, the uni or Ian Matthews playing for Bradford Park Avenue.

I alway thought Bradford was the dog.  :)

Jude confirmed in a seperate thread that Bradford was indeed the name of the large dog.

He was a GS (or Alsation as they were called in them days) and Harvey the roadie acquired him in Bradford. He chewed the buttons off my coat. Bradford(the dog) not Harvey  :D

At the Leeds gig I helped Simon carry a cuople of amplifiers up some steep narrow steps into the hall. Bradford was keeping a close eye on things, and despite being told that Bradford was fine, I sort of kept an eye on him meself...

Wow, thanks everyone!! For over 40 years I've been wondering about Bradford.  I remember the dog dozing on the stage during one performance, not at all excited by the wonderful music going on around it.

Jude, I realise  this question is in the wrong section, but do you happen to remember if 'Harvey the roadie' went on to work for Arthur Lee and Love on a British tour later in his career?

No I'm afraid I don't know what happened to him other than I believe he was convicted of dangerous driving, but no idea what happened to him after that..

Thanks anyway Jude.  

Most of the Baby Lemonade 'Love' guys (Mike Randle, Rusty etc. and Johnny Echols too) are on Facebook....you could always ask them.

If we're reminiscing about visits to the Gents during this show, I had to make a dash for it during Teddy Thompson's rendition of Genesis Hall - luckily I seem to remember the foyer and the Gents were equipped with a speaker system so I managed to hear it all !

I didn't think of that David, thanks.

Thank goodness there wasn't a reciprocal arrangement....  ::)

Its one of the notorious hazards of giving elderly clergymen radio microphones for taking services...