TalkAwhile - The Folk Corporation Forum

While this year's vibe is fresh...

I'd really like to see Whapweasel

Iris Dement
James Taylor
Loudon Wainwright
Arlo Guthrie

Gerry McAvoys band of friends,
Graham Parker and the Rumour,
Dr Feelgood
Wilko Johnson(if fit)
The Lee Thompson Ska Orchestra
And last but not least CHEAP TRICK

10cc

Christy Moore

Madness

Seconded!  ;D

Now Marillion & The Waterboys have been on the bill I'm running out of bands I really want to see at Cropredy..............

Elbow
Runrig
The Alarm
Skerryvore

Elbow would swap it....festival is too small for a band that bg

Gilmore and Roberts - with band
Leisure Society
Beth Nielson Chapman with band
Lady Antebellum
Darius Rucker
Leatherat - surely deserve another main stage slot
Andy Fairweather Low and the Low Riders
The Mummers]#
Quill
Talon (Eagles tribute)
Jim Moray


Thursday headline - Richard Thompson Band
Friday headline - Jasper Carrott Stand Up and Rocks

I presumw the Richar Thomspon Band are a tributre act? ;) ;D ::)

I agree, sadly not enough Elbow room!

Ray LaMontagne
Chris Wood
A second shout for Christy Moore
Treacherous Orchestra
Karine Polwart

Le Vent du Nord  {:-)
Melrose Quartet
Dhol Foundation
Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain
Show of Hands

The Airborne Toxic Event   ???   Who you say.
They're American and would really rock the place in a late night spot. Example here. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sVlEt9WdM3A&feature=fvsr)
Part rock, part acoustic and they put on a great show. (Chris Bates agrees, so I must be right.)
However despite the fact that they can sell out 300+ seat venues in the UK, I doubt they would sell an extra ticket at Cropredy.

BTW just listing artists isn't going to have much effect. Writing a couple of lines as to why, might just get somebody's interest.

No RT until 2017, I heard from an impeccable source....

Given the boost to ticket sales from the proggy contingent this year I imagine they'll try to do the same thing next time, find three or four related acts to make it worthwhile for genre fans.  So you could have say Steve Earle (with band), Emmylou Harris, Rodney Crowell and Mary Chapin Carpenter.

And then he woke up...

Merry Hell
The Unthanks
Gong
The Keston Cobblers Club (Bob Harris is a fan)

For a return visit:

The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain
Richard Thompson (in any form)
The Strawbs (runs and takes cover)
3 Daft Monkeys

I agree, but I can dream!  :)

Good call for the Treacherous Orchestra btw, they would get the place bouncing.

You presumw?

A fellow fat finger sufferer? ;)

Well, the tribute band Arse are very good... I can't tell them apart!  ;)

I guess Madness could be too big also?

I'd like some decent reggae/dub (not UB40), and maybe some African hi-life or a Latino vibe.  And some Morris.

A longer set from FC - though the concise 2-hour set on Saturday was one of the best I've seen them (the current line-up) do.

A lot of my long-time 'wishes' were on this year, so I'll have to keep thinking about this.

Merry Hell would be fun, I suspect!
'Bout time the Oysters came back, I reckon, failing them Steeleye.
Show of Hands would get my vote too.
I've heard good things of Keston Cobblers Club too, though I haven't seen them myself.

Now we've had Al, how about Bruce Cockburn?
Or Jackson Browne?  (I can dream, can't I?)
Maybe Mark Knopfler could drop by?
Time for Jez Lowe to put in another appearance as well.
One of the versions of BJH that are going around (either Les Holroyd's or John Lees')
Camel have got together and played some dates recently too
And Tri Yann are still on my list...

Jenny Lewis

Hot Club of Cowtown

Merry Hell would love to play. I can supply the managers phone number and email address.  ;D  ;D

Conor Oberst
Steve Earle
Kinks
Martin Stephenson
Ryan Adams
Mott/Hunter
Natalie Merchant
Baskery
Teenage Fanclub
Boo
Del Amitri/Justin
Tom Petty
Gillian Welch

Ace

My needs are simple :)

The Enid because they are FAB! and I'm an Enidi so it would give the chance to catch up with a few others
Elbow - because they are fantastic
James Taylor - he's the man!
Deacon Blue - fab singles band and would make up for them not getting independance :)
Roger Daltry and Wilko Johnson
Robert Plant and Band of Joy
Madness - for dancin'
A Ska Band - for skankin'
Leatherat - move them up the line-up a bit
Jim Moray but with his full electric band
Bellowhead
Peatbog Faeries
Jamie Smith's Mabon (they've come on a lot)
Turin Brakes
Ben Folds but watch the bad language ;)
Blackbeards Tea Party to a later slot
Don't mind tribute acts but only 1 per festival - Eagles, Thin Lizzy, AD/DC (oh yes!), Brit Floyd, Who

No country please! It's depressing  :'(

Steve Harley and Cockney Rebel. Full band and maybe Orchestra and choir? Well they got all Joe Broughton's lot on!

Everyone knows most of the songs so plenty to dance and sing to. Thursday night headliner?

Seen him a few times and enjoyed him before but in June 2014 he was dreadful. Stroppy bugger too.

I've njoyed this Cropredy, but then again I've enjoyed every one that I've been to, Leningrad Cowboys notwithstanding. I'd like to see:
 Maart Alcock solo
 Ric Sanders Trio
 Seth Lakeman
 Duncan Chisholm

 and the bigger acts 'Dream List':

Mark Knopfler
Nick Cave
Steeleye Span
Caravan

Having thought about it some more, also:
Dry The River as they would get the place energised early Friday evening or mid-Saturday afternoon;
Four Men and a Dog, just because they are splendid live entertainment, any time;
The Mighty Doonans (remnants of Hedgehog Pie) for a livener on Thursday afternoon;
A Transatlantic Sessions slot 'cos along with Ally, Phil and Jerry you get a stageful of other great musicians and they should get together in the summer months, not just for Celtic Connections in January, admittedly factor 50 suncreme would be one of the necessary riders, it would also be something featuring Sir Danny Thomson, which has to be a good thing;
Flook (as they are playing together again) because that would get Hendo to buy a ticket....

Peter Knight's Gigspanner, although the field might be a tad big for their sound.

Steeleye were bloody great at Skeggy last December.

And, since I missed everything this year, Australian Pink Floyd.

Ok ill expand

Gerry McAvoys band of friends, brilliant set of Rory Gallaghers songs done by Rory's bass player and drummer with a great guitarist
Graham Parker and the Rumour, The english E St Band, great songs great players they would be amazing
Dr Feelgood, well it would give the tribute band moaners something to moan about but they still deliver and would rock the joint
Wilko Johnson(if fit), Storming performer, norman watt roy on bass and a peerless back catalogue maybe not the same year as the feelgoods though
The Lee Thompson Ska Orchestra, Wonderful ska set the field wouldnt be able not to love them
And last but not least CHEAP TRICK, cruelly underrated but one of the best working rock/pop bands anywhere with a huge catalogue of top choons

Who can go in the "Gonzo Theatrical Rock Band Slot" to follow on from Alice and the Aussie Floyd? One name comes to mind: KISS!

Not saying I want it, or that it's possible, but there you go...

Another vote for Hot Club Of Cowtown
Carolina Chocolate Drops
Dap-Tone Super Soul Revue (so you get a taste of all the bands)
St. Paul and the Broken Bones
Altan
Alan Doyle of Great Big Sea
Donnie Munro

be nice to see the Bushburys back again

well, another pretty please for Christy Moore
then a re-visit of Pauline Black
supported by the likes of
Red Hot Chili Pipers or Saor Patrol or even Corvus Corax - they would get the arena bouncing.

For the mad jumping around slot I'd love to see Johnny Kowalski and the Sexy Weirdos.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UKXPeKUVAqY

Pointless saying this again of course, as I'm sure they'll never perform together again but Robin and Barry Dransfield.

Home Service
Dougie Maclean
Brit Floyd
"Rise up Like the Sun" incarnation of the Albion Band
Gryphon

Just realised I missed someone and they were sat just to the left of me on Saturday afternoon too!

Plumhall - Their debut CD is superb

Nick Lowe
Goodnight Lenin
and lets get Roy Wood back for a good time singalong
and Ocean Colour Scene doing Moseley Shoals

Oyster Band
Jeff Lynne
Red Hot Chilli Pipers
Steeleye Span
Mott The Hoople
Moody Blues
Bryan Ferry
Steve Harley and Cockney Rebel
Graham Parker and the Rumour

and of course Small Engine Repair


Cheers Nigel

That's 2 of us who'd like to see Corvus Corax... and/or their alter ego Berlinskibeat.

Oysterband - latest CD shows they've still "got it"

And if there's a Weather Report tribute band out there...

PS - a return visit from Robert Doyle would be good - 2017, maybe?  ;)

Working on convincing the Mrs already Paul...so probably in the cards. Just need to promise lots of retail therapy in return  ;D

Not sure Banbury shopping mall can compete with NYC!

How about:
The Magic Band
Judy Dyble
Alan Stivell
another vote for Tri Yann

And I'd gladly buy a hatchet for Swarb and the chaps to bury.......

Caravan Palace.

I bet they dont have a poundland in the big apple

They have the 99c store :-)

Which proves my point, ahem ::)

Gotta be Percy again, he's due back I reckon.
Madness.
Someone like Passenger would be great too.
Amy Mcdonald.
The Demon Barbers.

Gotta be Percy again, he's due back I reckon.
Madness.
Someone like Passenger would be great too.
Amy Mcdonald.
The Demon Barbers.

Ian Anderson/ Curved Air/ Steve Hillage covering the Prog slots.....
Robert Plant, 3 Mustaphas 3, Tinawiren  (I've heard she's good),
English Beat, Steel Pulse,
Doobie Brothers.

How about Billy Bragg
 Eliza Carthy
Maddy Prior (and assorted friends),
 Seth Lakeman
 The Smoke Fairies
Medieaval Baebes again

 ;D

May I also add Ric Sanders and John Etheridge? and Hawkwind for Thursday or Friday night??

Oh yeah Billy Bragg please.
Eliza  and Martin Cathy in some incarnation.
Imagined Village.
Seth again.
Maddy ,with Freeborn John.

But please not Hawkwind lol. I have been going back to the tent at bike rallies for years at the first bars of Silver Machine!

That seems like a list I could concur with, along with Show of Hands, Thea Gilmore and Billy Mitchell

Funny, we mentioned Hawkwind at the weekend as a good Thursday night headliner...

I'd like to see Seth Lakeman back. And a new band I've seen recently - The Rough Island Band from the Scillies. They're excellent.

Gogol Bordello would go down a storm too :)

Its Time for Runrig as Thursday headliners.

also Frank Turner and the sleeping souls, Oysterband,

What about the best Darkwave german folk rock of all time (the Potsdam Bulls would probably cost too much and they've never played Britain ) but go on boys we need a show now you've had Alice and Aussie Floyd. So Gareth and Peggy please make my century and book the mighty Subway to Sally.

Lower down Becky Mills writes and sings great songs. Jim Moray is good. Skinny Lister I would love.

And if you liked Ben Volke Thomas or Blackbeards we have an up and coming big act in Denbighshire..book the Goat Ropers..original ,high octane and loved by all.

The Trembling Bells
Eliza Carthy
James Yorkston
The Furrow Collective
Alasdair Roberts
Chris Woods
Merry Hell
Fleet Foxes
June Tabor & Oysterband
Martin Carthy and Dave Swarbrick
Richard Thompson
And Emmylou Harris would tempt me back possibly.

What about The Destroyers, another act out of the Birmingham Conservatoire.
Skinny Lister for me too, and CC Smugglers

Oxford based Ska / Surf combo The Nine Ton Peanut Smugglers would be brilliant

Melissa Etheridge.

Should have added Martyn Joseph to my list

And (ducks)

Bellowhead

Join you - not in ducking - but in calling for
Bellowhead

I'd also vote for Skinny Lister, but given their performance at Cambridge they may need to be on restraining leads.
Two other thoughts occured: The Spin Doctors for Thursday night and The Saw Doctors for Friday night. Both would provide a good level of feelgood.

The Full English Band must be high on the list of possibilities I hope.

Someone I have suggested before
Johnny Clegg (the white Zulu from Accrington!) if he could be persuaded to come over from one of his french tours.


 http://www.johnnyclegg.com/

Totally agree  :)

Along with

Jeff Lynne
Porcupine Tree
Mark Knopfler
Rufus Wainwright
Kate Rusby
Yes
Roger Waters (Building a wall across a cow field would be interesting )  :)

Great shout for Nick Cave too (May need to be heavily censored though. Think Stagger Lee may be  off the menu  ;) )

....and The Unthanks

Decemberists: To celebrate the fact they are back and also because they are one of the best live bands on the planet

Steve Earle: (Preferably with the Dukes & Duchesses): We'll never get The Boss, so why not the next best thing?

Smoke Fairies: One of our best homegrown duos who seem to be more well known in the USA. Perfect for a sunny afternoon.

Joe Jackson: He may have slipped below the radar, but he still occasionally gets back on the road with his old band and when he does they are superb.

The Men They Couldn't Hang: They wow every other festival but have never played Cropredy. I know for a fact that they would like to.

Boo Hewerdine: Terrific songs and a razor sharp wit. An absolute must for the pre- Fairport solo spot.

The Crazy World of Arthur Brown

The saw docs are on a much extended break and have been since the xmas tour of 2012, rumours of a reunion are, at the moment, just rumours.
    Anyway, and much as i love them its only 2(will be 3) years since they graced the stage.

Steve Earle and the Dukes...bring it on! And that's not a second best vote!  :D
I'd go for Boo Hewerdine as well, but stretch it to State of the Union, as I enjoyed Brookes Williams last time (2013)

We need some Folk Metal!

It won't happen but...... Eluvetitie (yes I know I've spelt it wring.)

Defintely The Full English band, then maybe KT Tunstall or to liven it up a bit Rock Salt & Nails

Having heard their live album, I think the singer would have to tone down his language somewhat!

Alternatively - Korpiklaani or Tanzwut?

Greg Melrose.

No other takers for the exceptional Svbway to Sally.

You want Metal Folk why not have the best. Although it would probably bankrupt the festival just to transport the pyrotechnics.

They have a singer called Fish and The Smiths play for them. (Not Johnny Marr and Co, but Herr and Frau).

They really would blow the late Thursday and Friday slot away and people in Birmingham would be complaining of a nearby explosion.

Check out "Das schwarze Meer" my favourite track.

Bring Berlin's top act to Britain just once in my lifetime , please.

Oh and Faun are better than Eluveitie ,they'd do too.

Seconded, so long as they have Grimethorpe Colliery Band with them. King of Rome at Cambridge a couple of years ago was one of the most moving musical experiences of my life. I was in tears, even though I know it turns out as a happy ending!

Greg Lake with his band - they're very good
Shpongle
Edward II - we won't charge 'em to have a wee!
Ukulele Orchestra of GB
Porcupine Tree
Steven Wilson (does he do live?)
Rush
Ozric Tentacles
Peter Gabriel. He doesn't have to sing, just sit in my campervan..... What??

Agree with so many suggested. Headliners from Madness, Ray Davies, Mark Knopfler or even Tom Jones - saw him last week and he was brilliant, great new music and sprinkling of hits. Nick Lowe in the slot before FC or possibly Billy Bragg. Unthanks (with brass band), Imagined Village and Runrig as big folk names. And Graham Parker in the where are they now slot.

As general point though, it struck me the line up was incredibly white this year. Would benefit hugely from more diversity. Bit of soul or world music would go down well as have been far too under represented to date.

Please God no more Prog!

We need some more reggae & ska

The Specials (If not them then the recently departed from them Neville Staple who has a great band doing a mixture of Specials and other classics)
Roddy Radiation (Also now ex-Specials with his Ska / Rockabilly band)

Some Blues:

Gary Clark Jnr maybe?

And my final request for now:

The Modfather himself Mr Paul Weller.

After Cromer Folk On The Pier 2013 I said T wanted to see Joe Broughton's CFE - never thinking it would actually happen.

So from Cromer 2014 - The Young 'Uns and for something completely different Mrs Ackroyd Band - their cluedo version of Matty Groves had me in tears

As every year I'm going to start with , a Jack the Lad reunion,  but the Billy Mitchell band would be excellent,

Home Service
Show of Hands
Plumhall
Runrig

Great big sea !!   but probably the Alan Doyle Band (going to his Borderline gig in London later this month)

I remember Osibisa getting the crowd up and dancing a few years ago - something similar would be great.

DW

Great Big Sea's status remains tenuous with the departure of Sean McCann, though Alan Doyle would work very nicely. He was one of my picks too.

No tribute acts and (a lot) less prog.
More diversity - some reggae, maybe the Afro-Celt Sound System, Tinawarien or someone else from North Africa.
Some proper blues/blues-rock.
The Decemberists - or at least Colin Meloy.
Loudon Wainwright and Richard Thompson in the pre-Fairport slot.
And a Fairport set with staggeringly surprising guests.

And Alison Krauss

I think (hope) the reason people are saying "no prog" is that there was too much of it this year so they got overload.
I don't think any genre of music should dominate - it needs a good mix with something for everyone. A bit of folk, rock, prog, blues, reggae etc.

And James Taylor :)

For that matter, how about some straight up blues. Loads of amazing blues bands out there that would go down well.

Be careful what you wish for. Fairport my ask their chum Whispering Bob to round up some Alt-Country.  :o
(Only joking (, although it would sell a heap of tickets (and big hats)).)

Anyone know of any alt-country prog bands.....  :o

I believe the Decembrists are touring next year. Failing that, Colin Meloy solo.

The Oysterband, Great Big Sea, Chris While and Julie Mathews and Kellie as well.   And a duo called Mochara ;D

I'm starting saving for 2015 now, I never want to miss another Cropredy due to lack off funds)

Seth Lakeman and Elbow jane

Tedeschi Trucks?

Wilco with Nels Cline?

I'd be there

Definitely Afro Celt sound system. Got first 3 albums but not heard a lot from them in a while. They still out there??

Along with Shooglenifty??

Every flippin year I suggest Colin Hay but at least he got a cameo (Land Down Under) in the Australian Pink Floyd intro video to WYWH. Hugely underrated solo artist, great voice and pretty good with a tale or two. Can someone please take the hint this year.

There's been a Madness shaped hole in the lineup for a couple of years too. As the festival has diversified over the years, got bigger artists and still kept its feel they seem like a good choice for a spot of fun. I like the idea of Paul Weller too.
David Byrne would tick a lot of crossover / diverse-taste boxes as would Chris Rea and Mark Knopfler

Oysterband thoroughly deserve to be back, there's a lot of affection for that band and I'd hope it would go some way to make up for the apparent demise of the Big Session (I hope someone corrects me).

Under the heading of returning heroes, RT, Steve Winwood,
Plant and Krauss

For those suggesting the various Lakemans, Kathryn Roberts, Kate Rusby et al, can I make a suggestion we persuade / demand Equation reform as a one-off especially as Seth didn't make it when they did appear.

My usual perennial favourites of the 3 Daft Monkeys, Dreadzone, Treacherous Orchestra, Ellen and the Escapades, Urusen. I've not heard Shogglenifty live so I'd suggest them too. (EDIT, how funny someone else for the Shoogs as I was composing this)

Mike Harding as compere for at least one stint.

Any number of smaller bands that deserve a bigger audience, Green Diesel for one as they're fresh in my mind.

And ladies and gentlemen, out of left-field, I bring you... Sparks  ;D
 
As for fantasy artists, I'd love one of the hugely big names to secretly guest, do a couple and disappear leaving us all gob-smacked. I hear Kate's back on the road, she might get a taste for it. :)


Yours hopefully....

Kathryn Tickell for the bagpipe fans?

and/or Red Hot Chili Pipers or Saor Patrol  :)

Roger McGuinn.

There's a resident band that could back him if appropriate and he did play with RT some time ago in one of the "Guitar Legends" concerts, so there's precedent for that too. After all, something has to be done to match the guitar standards set by Tim Renwick and David Nachmanoff this year!

How about Robert Cray?

And as RT anounced that there wil be a family album out sometime soon, how about Linda, Teddy and Kami (with RT as well, obviously) - excellent Friday night headliners for me

Trying to keep my wish list as small as possible :D

Gigspanner
Feast of Fiddles
Dean Friedman
Stackridge
The Proclaimers
Elvis Costello
Billy Bragg
The Pretenders
Fleet Foxes
The Magic Numbers
Frank Turner
Jim Moray
Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain
Weird Al Yankovic
Larkin Poe

Good call!

Blimey, I hope they don't invite Jess Morgan as support given her song about The Thompson Family Singers.

O'Hooley and Tidow
Shooglenifty
Martyn Joseph
The Enid
Focus
Natalie Duncan
Robb Johnson
Show of Hands
Big Big Train
Beverley Craven
Strawbs

I'd second Big Big Train and also repeat the earlier call for Korpiklaani.
Emily Portman or The Furrow Collective
Show of Hands
The Buffalo Skinners - http://thebuffaloskinners.bandcamp.com/
Half Man Half Biscuit

I will stop campaigning for Subway to Sally. For a mega outfit there would need to be a wow from everyone, they and their fire based show would cost a fortune, and this side of the channel there would be a collective ..Who ..not Wow.

Those campaigning for acts like Korpiklaani and Eluveitie might agree on Faun. I've seen them and they are brilliant. Something very different.

Me..... In the afternoons Id like Imagined Village , Billy Bragg and the Blokes, Skinny Lister and The Goat Roper Rodeo band. Becky Mills and the Young'uns.

Headliners from ..Runrig..Frank Turner &the Sleeping Souls..Full English..Oyster band..

We had some good prog lets have some Metal...Saxon.

Also there are rumours of ,3 doors down and Tom Petty &TH coming over to tour,the dates might fit.

Well, music is always taken in a subjective way.  Which is good.
Subway To Sally doesn`t do it for me due to the singer's voice. A bit too much falsetto.

In Extremo however, they are worth their money.

Eluveitie on the other side is very much restricted to growling (IMHO)

With Faun, I join you, they would be great.

So, how about a section with Corvus Corax, In Extremo and then Faun to guide you into Friday night for instance ?

 

Mr Bridgwit says I have to suggest The Proclaimers so there you go.

I've just been listening/watching Leatherat from 2010 when they were on the Big Stage - they were brilliant and must surely be due a revisit - and this time a bit later on in the day?
Come on Mr Pegg. Book 'em, Danno!  

My wishlist for 2015 :

Frank Turner (as long as he tones the foul language down - I'm not a prude but I saw him earlier this year, and while the music and the band were great, he came over all unnecessary between songs)

The Stranglers

Fish - now we've had Marillion, how about Fish and his band by way of contrast ?

Chris While & Julie Matthews - duo, band or (even better) Blue Tapestry : it's been too long !

Show Of Hands - again, been too long (2004)

PJ Harvey - slightly left-field, but why not ?

Suzanne Vega

Ozric Tentacles

The Zombies

Teenage Fanclub

Ashley Hutchings All-Stars present "By Gloucester Docks I Sat Down And Wept"

Albion Band 1978 present "Rise Up Like The Sun"

Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers

Alison Krauss & Union Station

Robert Plant in whatever incarnation he chooses

Yes

Fleetwood Mac

Brian Wilson & His Band

The Beach Boys

Mmm...maybe there's one or two realistic choices in there  :)

Christy Moore
The Kennedys
Eddi Reader
O'Hooley and Tidow
Amy Macdonald
Madness would be ace - great idea
Nick Heyward (better than Nik Kershaw)

Has anyone mentioned Limehouse Lizzy yet?

Black Star Riders
Manran
Shooglenifty
Alan Stivell
Horslips
Horslips
Horslips
Robert Plant

Mozaik with Gregg's choices!

Steeleye rock these days where FC don't - new fiddler plays a mean tune too. Excellent in Witney last Thursday!

Dreadzone
Fay Hield and The Hurricane Party
Lucy Ward
New Rope String Band

Seconded...

Can I put in a vote for The Bootleg Beatles.

Please No

John Cooper Clarke

Ian Hunter and the Rant Band
Gigspanner
The Young Uns
Slade
The Full English
Judy Dyble
Jefferson Starship
Thea Gilmore
Gaz Coombes
Goodnight Lenin

Are Jefferson Starship still playing? Or even alive?

they were on at Butlins Rock and Blues festival earlier this year and went down a storm. I was hugely impressed http://www.jeffersonstarshipsf.com/

So yes, I'd travel to see Jefferson Starship...maybe not across a whole galaxy, but definitely to Oxfordshire.

Fraid you're going to have to .

They are on their 50th anniversary tour in Brazil during Cropredy week.

However,

The excellent 3Doors Down might be on a European US airbases Tour.

Brad and the boys would go down brilliantly I think. When Im Gone or Away from the Sun would be one of my Desert Island discs. Hard to choose wich.

Dick Gaughan - a real  folk troubadour and stalwart of the folk rock movement with Five Hand Reel. Played in our theatre to a well-deserved standing ovation recently.

Slade - yes...
Proclaimers
Planxty (though unlikely to stage another comeback tour..)
(in my dream of dreams)  Fruupp  
Amy McDonald - yes (she's gone quiet recently)
Imelda May (Irish rockabilly with talent and bubbly personality to win a Smiths warm-up artist over)
R. Cajun and the Bearcat Stompers) - pure Cajun and Zydeco raw driving energy

Enough for now..

Madness
Human League
Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain
Steely Dan (Nearly Dan will do if they can't get Steely Dan)
Sons of Clogger

The Bully Wee Band
The Home Service
Feast of Fiddles
The Mull Historical Society
Big Big Train
Robert Plant

I don't normally contribute to this thread, as it is mostly pissing in the wind, but I did see a band at Wickham that would go down very well.

Caravan of Thieves.

The music has a sort of 1920s Paris type feel, but with many modern twists. They are touring the UK at the moment, so you could get a chance to see them. They did a short but storming set on the first day, and were then asked back to deputise for a poorly Luka Bloom. The crowd loved them, and their encore on the first day was so good, they were asked to reprise it.

Paul

Agree with Paul, Caravan of Thieves would definitely be suitable for Cropredy

...and a third call for BBT.  :)

Michael Chapman

Is that too much to ask?

Jimmy Cliff-satisfying the need for some reggae and also a connection via Peggy.

Like.

Much as I love Michael (and I'm very much looking forward to seeing him play at the end of my street in Tod on Sunday!) I can't really see him managing to engage a field full of people who'd probably prefer to be watching Status Quo or The Australian Pink Floyd...  :-\

I take your point, David, but he did just fine at Green Man on the main stage. All to do with good scheduling and managing expectations....

If I really can't have Michael, though, I'm going to demand The Handsome Family to be flown over instead

Very different festivals and audiences though...  I'm unconvinced that an acoustic solo/duo act from a 'folk' background (I know that doesn't really cover MC but it still stands) could hold the attention of more than a very small segment at Cropredy any more...

Definitely Peter Knights Gigspanner! & perhaps Keston Cobblers Club?

I'd like to see Skinny Lister there. They played a blinder at Beautiful Days. They proved they could well cope with exploding generators as they suffered a power cut in the middle of their set and carried on regardless - just jumped into the crowd and played acoustically in a circle!

And what's not to like about a band where the double-bass player goes crowd surfing ... with his bass!  8)

Cheers

Nick

The perfect Cropredy band. Would have the same effect on the audience as Blackbeard's did this year.

I don't disagree with you, David - I just think it's sad and a bit odd.  Bigger festivals than Cropredy - and more 'rocky' festivals than Cropredy - still manage to accommodate acoustic solo/duo acts from a folk background on the main stage - and hold the attention of the audience.  Are we really that intolerant or easily bored?   As I said in my last post, I think the answer lies in good scheduling and managing expectations.

I guess they'll have to fly The Handsome Family in instead.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ZYh6jj99Z4&list=AL94UKMTqg-9AQZvrbna7Iq1o0mcrktv8j

Really? Al Stewart did a pretty good job. As did Edwina Hayes.

I've just got round to Googling 'Tod' and figured out that this is the gig Michael Chapman is doing with Julie Byrne. Julie played Green Man as well, though - sensibly - on one of the not-so-big stages.

Hope you enjoy the Tod concert, David.  This is good gig to muse over the question 'why does the Yorkshire folk singer sound American, and the Chicago one sound English...?'

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M3DjMKLiFDE

Thought of one more who would go down a storm and who will no doubt be doing lots of touring around her new album-Imelda May.

Like I said above, she'd melt all the hearts there with her vibrancy and personality - she'd be a perfect Cropredy turn.

New thought...how did I forget to mention Ireland's best kept secret, Paul Brady?

Paul Brady played a few years ago...2009 or 2010 I believe

Now, I admit to a certain fondness for the youthful disdain of Susan Sulley and Jo Catharall circa 1980 but at Cropredy????

I once had a 3-way conversation with Imelda May and Eddie Reader. Eddie is as tall as I am, and Imelda is ... not quite so tall. She was on tip-toes while we stooped slightly awkwardly.

She'd be dead good though, as would Eddie of course

Cheers

Nick

Sounds an ideal candidate.

Having seen them at the weekend, Seeed - absolutely perfect for a field. But don't just take my word for it...

On their UK debut they waste little time in calling for the crowd to dance and are the ultimate good time festival band. Dressed in sharp suits they are like an endless parade of good time boppers- this is a big band boogie in dub and an orchestra of dance with a commitment to entertain with their machine like groove and their honing down of all the constituents that are needed to turn a sceptical audience into a frenzied dance pit. - See more at: http://louderthanwar.com/seeed-beautiful-days-live-review-number-one-german-band-make-big-impact/#sthash.7B07c0E1.dpuf

In my dreams:

Thursday:
FAC (a given)
Ukelele Orchestra of GB
UFQ
Karine Polwart
The Decemberists (or Alison Krauss and Union Station)

Friday:
Young Folk Winners (a given)
Skinny Lister
Bella Hardy
Gigspanner
Trembling Bells
St Agnes Fountain (Christmas in August)
Deborah Bonham
Rodrigo y Gabriela
Madness

Saturday:
RD (a given)
Feast of Fiddles
Jimmy Cliff
Tinawarien
Thea Gilmore
Larkin Poe
Loudon Wainwright and Richard Thompson
FC (with RT and Thea throughout - I did say in my dreams)

Every time I see someone has written Skinny Lister, the Birdy song Skinny Love pops in my head..........

Not that birds song,  you lot.

Originally a Bon Iver song.

How about these ladies?
http://youtu.be/ZegM9F9kqPs

Thought I was the only person who'd ever heard of Fruupp - and saw them quite a few times  - always far better live than on record. LIttle chance of reunion though!!

Now if we're talking Irish bands from the 70s for a dream lineup:-
Planxty
Mushroom

The prince of Heaven's eyes is in my top three all-time -  I still find it magical. Saw them once in Wigan casino - they had yto finish before the Northern soul all-nighter. I "found" them when John Peel played "the Perfect Wish" through my old trannie..

One of them is now a born again Christian evangelist in America...

Planxty - they did a big reunion  about three years ago - one or two nights in Dublin turned into about 20 due to demand. I was at the last one. Pure exquisite musicianship from men at the top of their game with nothing to prove. Unlikely to happen again though.

Mushrooms?? hmmm...overt to Google now    ;)

How about Stackridge?  

Good call....especially as it's now a progfest.  :P

Oh and add this band to the list...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kprl0CECykA

Oh my goodness, yes. That's awesome. Thank you.

Here's another one, just to make the point. You know what, this would really set that field alight!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bdr1kKu-fBY

You're right...some serious grooving material there.  :D

Mike has suggested Kiss  :D

And why not?

Absolutely!

Saw Mari & band play a superb set at Musicport a couple of years ago. Hypnotic. And that drummer! Seriously gets into the groove.

Bring em down from the arctic circle and get em on!

Cheers

Nick

What is really needed is a little bit of Oregonian music.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z5SaFxETji4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kVqamA02MUs

Neil

Because Simmons is as vile a human being as there is on the planet.

I've heard Sven Svenson is good!! ;D

He's O.K....but he'd be nothing without Sven Svensson.

Can't remember if someone has said Ray Davies with or without the Kinks.

Never seen 'em apart from on the telly. Everyone who has seems to rave.

Crop has had a habit of filling in gaps in my concert going.

I reckon there's a great big Madness sized hole in procedings

Love that
........and (still) Eluvetitie. If you loved that you'll love them.

A good point, well made.

without resorting to the google, why?  

I've seen Kiss three times over the years, because they put on a good live show with the make up and all the spectacle and everything, but in reality, the music is average at best. They have made a handful of decent songs, none of the original band are particularly good musicians, Gene is not a great bass player, singer or songwriter, but he has an ego the size of Jupiter. They have put out live albums that are largely studio creations - not just touch ups, but pretty much fake, used session players and misled the fans that it is the original members on studio albums. From the late Seventies, through the Eighties and into the Nineties, the bands popularity has waned, and they tried to jump on the bandwagon of the latest musical trend, and come up with BS 'following our creative impulse' reasons for doing so. During this period, it was Paul Stanley who carried the band, and eventually even he had a go at Simmons for profiteering from his own hard work. So, basically, Simmons is rich as Creosote (as Terry Pratchett would say) but not necessarily because he earned it through hard work or talent as a musician. However,most interviews he does, he is arrogant in the extreme, boasting about how much money he has made, how many women he sleeps with (4,600), and is quick to put down anybody that shows any signs of being less than perfect. He really has a high opinion of himself. Most of the money Kiss has made has been through merchandising...they have put out everything from a Kiss lunchbox to a Kiss Kasket (coffin). It is pretty much impossible to read an interview with him and come away thinking positive thoughts about him.
Just recently, he has said that if he saw somebody standing on top of a building, obviously suicidal because they are finding it impossible to cope, he'd be the guy to say 'Jump'. Obviously lacking in any sort of empathy. Also recently, he called Robin Williams a coward for ending his own life....but has been forced to make a pathetic back tracking apology, due to pressure from the public and radio stations refusing to play Kiss songs, so it hit him where it hurts...in the wallet.
There's probably a lot more I could say, but you get the picture.
The only thing I would add, is that he is so up himself that he even called one of his solo albums this:
A**hole.
He's right on that score.

Sorry if this is a bit much - it's nice to be nice - Jim nailed it in one sentence.

At the risk of being serious I would hope there are no covers/tribute bands but then again the bands I want to see probably wouldn't pull  a large enough audience.
I would like to see an undercard that had bands like the Willows, Fred's House on it and it is time Lucy Ward did Cropredy........anda ska band called 'By The Rivers'

Thanks Mike. I get the, er, picture  :-\

I'll tell my Mike (Mr Bridgwit) to shut the folk up in future! His next suggestion was Hue & Cry so it's not improving :)

Looking on the bright side, they are very unlikely to be asked to play Cropredy anyway, and pretty certain to decline if they were asked...

Fantastic! Bring it on.......

Whilst here I will make my usual pitch for Le Vent du Nord. Croppers would rock!  {:-)

Michelle Shocked would be a treat for me.

Yuk...you do realise she's gone 'Born Again', makes statements against same-sex marriage etc etc etc.  No thanks.

Oh....no I didn't....Suzanne Vega then.

Having spend a very pleasant couple of hours with Kate Bush last night (admittedly electronically rather than in person) she would be worth seeing, I would imagine. And maybe Bat for Lashes?

I really think Fascinating Aida would go down a storm  ;D

Nice one - very different but would suit nicely

Quite, in the Chas and Dave slot

Madness

Gigspanner

Altan

That would do very nicely thanks.

Well she's gone from Mormon to Lesbian separatist through punk and Occupy protester, let's hope this is another phase.

I think Roy "Chubby" Brown as compere and Kevin "Bloody" Wilson to develop from Digance, Chas & Dave ( I hear some saying that trio has potential) mainly due the fact I don't think I will make it next year.

Mr Bridgwit's suggestion of Kiss came from me playing God Gave Rock'n'Roll To You in the car the other day. He thought it was Kiss, but it was the original (and best) and I suggested it would be a cracking singalong at the end of a Cropredy day.

So, I would like to suggest Russ Ballard with Rod Argent and Colin Blunstone. The latter two tour anyway with a band so it would just be a simple case of getting Russ to join them....

Couple of choruses of Hold Your Head Up, Woman and I would believe in miracles  :D

The Zombies did all the Argent /Blunstone hits at Weyfest a copuple of years ago.  Including God gave rock and roll to you, which was great.  (Nearly said Fab but gu those youngsters would have no idea what I meant)

Ooooo so it could happen then....!  8)

I went to Weyfest thinking ok about 3 songs i know, and seemed to singalong to the whole set.

Moody Blues still tour...

Just been listening to Passenger. He'd be good.

I said that! But you have to catch these trendy types while they are still trendy. Sort of.

Can we have people who are not 108! (well 70!)

Bob Fox
Huw Williams and Maartin Allcock

Madness
Petula Clark

Beach Boys
Joe Monabassa

It's eclectic and unlikely! I presume Joe Monabassa is a Joe Bonamassa tribute band/ ;)

Aynsley Lister and Skinny Lister. No relations except a Leicester connection!

Skinny Leicester?

Is that a tribute town?

Wit Jimbo, wit  ;D

We do, but some of us were too young (  8) )to see these bands in their heyday so to see them now sort of makes up for it. Plus I think a bit of nostalgia at Cropredy is nice - makes you feel all warm and fuzzy.
 ::)

Yeah, but nostalgia ain't what it used to be... ::)

I see no-one's yet suggested Robert Zimmerman...

Elvis Costello
Nick Lowe
Dave Edmunds
(even a Rockpile reunion?)

Elvis with Larkin Poe would be great.

And while they're beautiful? lol

On the basis of "see them before they / we die", how about

Mott The Hoople
Chuck Berry
Shane McGowan
Van Morrison ( he's been reduced to doing dinner dances in Belfast - needs the work obviously)
AC / DC

Those two could do a side project about charm, good manners and respect for the audience.

Make sure Mike Love is in on that one too.........

Ocean Colour Scene playing Moseley Shoals
The Blues Band - surely they should have played by now
Mitch Benn instead of Digance
Goodnight Lenin
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club

Headliners:

Thursday: KT Tunstall

Friday: Mark Knopfler

Take a bow, MickF and Jim. Genii or whatever the plural of genius is.

I'll stick my vote in for Skinny Lister as well. Oh blimey, that would be a turn.
I'd go with Human League too, I've seen and heard them live but from a distance and they held the crowd well, not just the hits but some of the lesser known tracks too.

Actually, the last time Show of Hands played Cropredy was in 2007, and a cracking set it was too, just before Richard Thompson if I remember correctly.

Nonetheless, it certainly has been too long since they last played Cropredy: Surely they're overdue a reappearance by now? Steve Knightley made a humorous comment on one of their recent standing tours about being invited back to every festival except Cropredy!

Given how much I and the rest of our group enjoyed the impromptu appearance of Jasper Carrott for a 20 minute stint before Fairport in 2013, something I would really like to see is a half-hour slot for a different stand up comedian each year, just before Fairport on the Saturday night. The rut of miserable sounding singer-guitarists (personal opinion, of course!) that we seem to have become mired in for the pre-Fairport slot in recent years are a real downer after we've nipped back to the field from the frivolities of Leatherat down the village. Could do with something more upbeat!

Speaking of which, if we could get Bob Fox and Billy Mitchell back for that pre-Fairport slot, that'd be brilliant. Sticking with my native North East England, it'd also be good to see Jez Lowe, preferably with the Bad Pennies, back up on that stage again.

Another vote from me for Maart Allcock and Huw Williams. Steve Tilston, too.

Actually, if we could go back to Cropredy being more of a "Fairport and friends" weekend in the country then I would be as happy as can be. I know it's not relevant now, but for the short time that they were with us I thought that the "New" Albion Band would have been an absolutely shoe-in for Cropredy. I was surprised when they never found their way onto the bill.

Funny isn't it? I much prefer the festival now it's not just a "Fairport and Friends" event. I accept I'm a bit of Johnny-come-lately, but I find it far more diverse and entertaining now. I love that we get Alice Cooper, the Buzzcocks, Quo, Steve Hackett, Bellowhead, Seth Lakeman to name but a few.

I like the way it's going. Just so long as we don't get any X-Factor winners!

...and headlining Cambridge

I agree on both counts!  ;D

Now, is there any chance of getting Kate Bush on for 2015?  ;)

I think I just saw a whole herd of pigs flying past the window...

You've been hambushed!

I can't agree enough!  My first visit to Cropredy in 1993 was as a total Folk Virgin ( other than the sky boat song and Val Doonigan  :o ) I was instantly hooked and been coming ever since - Illness sabbaticals non withstanding- and it opened a new door to a genre of music that has become a totally enriching part of my life
. As an ageing progger at heart ( sixth form common room Floyd,  Genesis,  Yes,  Camel etc blah blah) this was my favourite festival I've witnessed.  Having said that (don't know how I can top it) I will continue to come to this festival for as long as these aching bones allow and no doubt Continue to be bowled over , as I am every year,  by the astounding talent that graces that stage.
Hence,  for me,  This festival is so much greater for its diversity.  Long may it continue

Without going back to check whether they've been suggested already...how about Black Star Riders for Thursday night?

I agree 100 percent sis! Especially the highlighted bit.

Hi Brij/Andy, I am wary of rehearsing opinions that have already been aired.
Interesting that you started going in 2004 cos that was the year the fest changed for me, Dave and Christine Pegg splitting up, Christine no longer running the fest. This may be a completely spurious assessment on my part but it was how it felt to me.
The whole reason d'etre of the fest was to bring people associated with Fairports over the years back together, this included artists including Roy Wood and Robert Plant.
Fairports overriding presence at the fest is waning and with the exception of it being just one stage, it is becoming like many other fests. I have said before that I think this is inevitable and I accept it, it is just no longer the Cropredy I remember or recognise. An enjoyable proggy fest, I'm sure it was this yr..
I shall be at the fringe next yr, I've already booked camping . I might even buy a ticket for the field depending on line up but I wish I could have shown you the fest in the 80's and 90's when it was , imho a far more relaxed beast.

I know we'd have loved it then too, hendo. I can't believe it took us so long to get to a festie of any kind, and Brij had been talking about going for about ten years before we actually made it to Cropredy.

Cheers Andy, the last thing I want to sound like is an ' old f**t'' and I'm sure I do.
I suppose what I miss is that vaguely 'hippie' 'do it yourself' feel to a fest, 'the big village fete' feel . As someone asked in the early oo's, 'where have all the crusties gone?' and again I use the term with  real affection.
There are other small fests that now give me and Sheen that 'fix'.
I accept that in many ways the lineups are stronger, 'more commercial' ......
My 1993 T Shirt reads (from the bottom up)
Comperes, Bobby Bragg and Geoff Hughes.
 (Saturday)Fallen Angels / The Buttermountain Boys / Stockton's Wing / Robin Williamson / The Martin Barre Band / Fairport Convention with Vikki Clayton, (Friday) Clarion / The Leningrad Cowboys/ Richard and Danny Thompson.
Even I accept some of those would struggle to be on at the fringe now.
Sorry to ramble Andy, I have a lousy cold which is disrupting my sleep, I am banished to another bedroom (!) and this is good therapy!
Oh...and it was £26 including camping! (starting to sound like my mother )The first Cropredy  was £2.50! ( Horlicks was a halfpenny, gas masks had been reduced, small boys, carrying bread,skipped up hills, ...............goes off in to distance, muttering incoherently)

Aw hope you'll be better soon, hendo!

Got to gig tomorrow anyway!

It is (I expect) a much more commercial exercise than it ever was in the early days, as you say, you can probably tell when the balance shifted. I started to appear about the same time as Andy and also regret not coming earlier even though I knew it existed.
At least one of the Buttermountain Boys is there most years, by the way! They were a great band weren't they? :D

Went every year from around 1986 to 2007, which was our last year. I remember fondly the early years, turning up at a reasonable (not stupidly early) time, telling the stewards "oh, we always camp down by the stream" and then being allowed to just choose our pitch, right by the stream. The stream has long since been fenced off (health and safety), and the last year we went, the camping space we were allowed to have was hardly big enough for our tent.

Of course I completely understand why and how things change, and the Cropredy festival (was Fairport Convention Reunion) is apparently now a very slick and commercial operation, but I don't think its for me anymore. Having said that I was really tempted by the line-up this year, but as it happens it was sold out, and we weren't around anyway.

I've got a couple of photos of the early years, but haven't been able to find the "attach" button, or maybe I'm just not allowed pics yet.

Click on Additional options under the message box, you'll find the photo bit there  ;D

Our first year at Cropredy (2004) I knew hardly any of the acts so didn't know what to expect, but I clearly remember the feeling I had when I first walked onto that field. It's hard to describe but the closest I can get is that I felt amongst friends. I still get that feeling, in fact I can't say I've noticed a massive difference in the way the festival is run now from back then.

I've been to smaller festivals (not many granted) but I still like Cropredy the best. And the music just gets better and better. I am still on cloud 9 about Steve Hackett...   ::)

Long may it continue :)  {:-)

On the basis of last night in York I'd recommend booking The Rails, inviting RT along and seeing whether he and Kami and partner felt like being a trio. That was how the show closed last night, excellent.

Nice.  What did they play as a trio then?

Thanks Jude, but under Additional Options I only get: Notify me of replies, Return to this topic and Don't use smileys, nothing about attachments.

Anyway, no worries - I have never had the possibility of starting a new topic either. I can only reply to existing ones, so I guess I must be way far down in the pecking order here. Probably a good thing, that.

After you have made 10 posts you can normally do most things, and you have 175 posts...
Can you not see Attach Choose file (in a box) (more attachments) etc underneath all those things you can see?

No, sorry, just these three, Notify me of replies, Return to this topic and Don't use smileys with tick boxes. I'd post a screenshot, but ...............  

I got that feeling the first time I went in 1990...arriving on the Thursday (in the days when  when there was no music on until Friday), and that was just from getting off the bus outside the Brase and walking through the village and onto Field 2, way before I even got into the arena field the following day. It was 16 years before I attended another sizeable outdoor festival other than Croppers.

If you'd like to, try it again now.

Cheers

Nick

Thanks Nick - Attach dialogue is now in the righteous place. Pleased to post a couple of not very exciting pics of Cropredy in the 80s.

[Photo over 400 days old. Removed by Admin.]

And the stream..

[Photo over 400 days old. Removed by Admin.]

Awww, lovely...now, that's my Cropredy  :)

Actually I've now found dozens of ancient Cropredy pics .. Forgot I'd scanned all my negatives ages ago. I should probably try to start a new topic, but anyway here's one more of our favourite camping spot and our ancient blue tent, by the stream. And we're still alive to tell the tale ...

[Photo over 400 days old. Removed by Admin.]

Assuming it was the same as they closed with at Gawsworth Hall last month, it was a new song from the forthcoming Thompson family album. Not sure what the title is, but possibly something like Times Are Tight.

Always tents, very few caravans or motorhomes in old Cropredy pics :) and no straight lines

In was at the first "Farewell" in 1979. Same (arena) field, but everything and everyone was in it. We were camped at the edge of the field on the left, and a tree fell on my friend's tent and squashed it. Luckily she wasn't in it at the time. She had a word with the organisers and they bunged her twenty quid or so for a new tent. Eeeeee, things were different in those days (and tents relatively much more expensive..)

Hardly like to say this as I'm enjoying the old Crop photos but a bit off topic old beans! New thread?

OK sir, quite agree, I was sidetracked...

So, saw the Emily Portman Trio recently ( https://www.google.co.uk/?gws_rd=ssl#q=emily+portman+trio+youtube&revid=62745951 ), and very pleasantly surprised. Twee and wholesome folkies on the outside, dark and mysterious under the skin

Just seen the Felice Brothers at Moseley.  Perfect Cropredy band.

Morning Brij, I am enjoying the conversation but I do feel I am repeating things I and others have already said.
As I said by 2004 the changes had started  happen. becoming a 3 day fest altered the camping, no longer could you roll up at 9.30 and get the field you wanted, half way down field 2 please!
Then health and safety changed and you had to queue to get on the field. I remember running down the field carrying chairs etc to get our usual spot, on a slight ledge (see what we did there ;) just level with the bar etc etc. and thinking , why?  One of my Cropredy Highlights, back in the 90#s was strolling on to the field about 10.30 one morn cos I could hear RT sound checking. 30 of us stood in front of the stage while he asked what we'd like. Beeswing and Black Lightning at 10.30 in the morn, magical.
I walked on to the field at 7.30 pm on the Sat this yr and for the first time ever was amused by the seried ranks of people in chairs, listening to Marillion,it just seemed a little surreal.
I completely agree how you feel about the field and Mike about the village. It's been a magical , escapist, healing place for me. Friends and new friends helping me through a nasty divorce in the early 90's, starting  a new relationship and realising how much we loved the same things, art, music, people, sounds a bit pretentious doesn't it? I could ramble on.

I'd love to see
Natalie Merchant
Breabach
Anais Mitchell
Bob Fox and Billy Mitchell
Beth Orton
Dreadzone
James
...David Gray for the pre Fairport slot?
Brass Monkey
RP & Sensational Space shifters
Ta very much!

Here's a fantasy one! It seems they can never decide if they have split for good or not but if they haven't how about The Stone Roses.

why put poor David Gray in the graveyard slot, he does a brilliant live show!

He'd be a great Thursday night headliner! Very mellow :)

Hendo - I've only just seen your comments. I think we need a new thread....

probably....... but we're going to see Ange Hardy and Luke Jackson tonight in a scout hut!!!, I've only just 'discovered' both of them and I'm far more excited by that than I was by Cropredy ( Waterboys excepted) ......and a jam afterwards!!

Enjoy the camp fire!

All together now - "we're rolling a gong on the chest of a slave" (misheard Gang Show lyric).

Watch yer ging gang gooleys, Hendo!

Back on track (swiftly!): another shout for Corvus Corax, and how about a repeat visit from Jah Wobble?

I'm racking my addled brains to think of a line-up that would tempt me back to Cropredy. Discounting the silly asks (Neil Young, Pink Floyd etc), and also the sadly passed on (John Martyn, Bert Jansch, Jackie Leven etc) it does become difficult. Especially when you add in the bands that have split or retired (Bluehorses, possibly LJE?)

I suppose a Richard & Linda reunion might do it. Maybe give the Thompsons a whole evening, and let Teddy, Kami, Richard, Linda & Zak perform in various permutations. With Iain Matthews as well. For the hallowed old pop band slot The Zombies would be good. I'd like to see Jah Wobble back too, although you can never be quite sure what form his set would take. The Decemberists would fit nicely, especially as Colin Meloy has always been into "English" folk. Otherwise Midlake, preferably playing the whole of the Courage of Others opus.

The addition of tribute bands never fails to put me off. And give Richard D a miss too. And bigger pitches too, please. Don't mind paying a bit extra for a pitch that my tent might actually fit in.

why put poor David Gray in the graveyard slot, he does a brilliant live show!


so there's something good to see on Saturday evening

Cropredy would be an appropriate vehicle to launch the Thompson Family Album that Linda has referenced on her FB page.

Oh yes to Midlake ,  perfect for a sunny afternoon slot.

But don't get me started again, camping at Cropredy is up to you, you can have as much or as little room as you like, you just have to know how to wangle it.
It is, IMHO, one of the best set ups of all the festivals and we really shouldn't moan at all.

That might have been true in the 80's , but has certainly not been my experience when I was going in the noughties.  I've suffered at the hands of very inconsistent and dictatorial yellow jackets before.

Chris, it starts to scare me that you know everything. Fire was great. Review in recent gigs.

If that was actually the case, I would still be attending.... I'm not moaning, just voting with my feet.

Judie and Bailey Tzuke. I was well impressed at Butlitz last year.

Need a few million!!

I'm a part of the "new order" of Cropredy myself, relatively speaking, but whenever I start drawing up dream line-ups for the Cropredy festival I always find that they draw heavily from the broader "Fairport family": Your Maart Allcocks, Steve Tilstons, Ralph McTells, etc.

Not that I am in any way complaining about the marvellous line-ups that we are treated to each year. Cropredy is about so much more than just the bands on stage anyway, and I have and will continue to attend on an annual basis for the forseeable future as a result of that intangible something that is the spirit of Cropredy.

In fact, there is even something to recommend a "mediocre" year at Cropredy as regards the line-up, as it gives you that extra freedom to wander around the field, and nip down to the village for a few pints at the Red Lion and catch up with the Fringe, without the anxious feeling that you are missing out on something great on the main stage.

Oooh, yes please. That would be absolutely perfick.  ;D

I'm still yet to see them live as, ironically, the last time they played locally was the Thursday of Cropredy!

Dawes would be good if they happened to be in the country.

That would be interesting. I love those Youtube clips of Dawes, with RT guesting, doing Calvary Cross. I don't have any of their albums, could someone recommend a good starting point, please.

I don't think there's a huge discography, David, and I think it's all listenable. Personally, I think 'Nothing is Wrong' is their best album (2011), but I started off by borrowing 'North Hills' (2009) from our local library. There's one more album 'Stories Don't End' (2013). Why not spend some YouTube time spotting your favourite tracks, then splash out on the corresponding album?

I haven't heard North Hills, but have the two later ones.  Of those I'd agree that Nothing Is Wrong is the better, though the newer one is still very listenable.  I'll have to look out those Youtube clips - haven't seen them.

After last night's display in Hyde Park, Jeff Lynne's ELO, perhaps ?

and/or Chrissie Hynde

Definitely - the guitarist in Chrissie's band is James Walbourne, (The Rails, Dead Flamingoes, The Pogues, RT's son-in-law) so should be a shoo-in. Hang on a minute...has anyone suggested The Pogues/Shane McGowan & The Popes yet ? Now there's a thought...

More names to pop into my head after Proms in the Park and Radio 2's Festival in a day;-
Earth Wind and Fire,
Billy Ocean,
The Dhol Foundation

and of course ELO

Cheers Nigel

ELO looked very good last night. Also on my wish list---
Runrig
The Outcast Band
Peckham Cowboys
First Aid Kit
Steve Hillage

In hope
Steve

At the risk of upsetting some, why not Paul Weller for an absolutely top notch live performer and Thursday night headliner. Definitely have the place sold out. Although there may be the need to ship in a few more trees in order to bag him as his recent summers have been spent playing in Forestry Commission venues.

I'd be well up for this! Paul Weller for Modredy on Thursday and Madness for Madredy on the Friday!!  :D

I'd rather see Madness on Skaturday ::)

 I can see that, depending on what it costs.....

 ;D

Watched it on telly last night...I've never been a huge ELO fan, but have to admit to being very impressed...Sounded ace !... 8)

Not sure the budget would stretch to having the BBC Concert Orchestra on stage though ?... :-\

Joe Broughton knows a few people who could take care of that.

Janis Ian put a link to Salut Salon on her Facebook page - they would be great fun for a late afternoon slot.
And it would be great to see Janis Ian too  ;D

I remember seeing ELO at Birmingham Odeon in the early 70s, just after Roy Wood had left and before they went mega. It was a great concert played to a half empty theatre.

I have memories of seeing them at that time also (Lanch Poly in Cov).......absolutely dire! First gig I had ever walked out in the middle of, and I wasn't alone, with Jeff L pleading 'No, don't go! It gets better....'

The band was Take That's/10cc plus Erica from the Wonderstuff, should be cheaper than Alice.

The percussionist was on Chris Evans' show on R2 this morning and didn't deny that there might be a tour following...

From such small acorns do great big rumour oaks grow :)

Sunday's ELO Hyde Park lineup included bassist Lee Pomeroy who's played Cropredy in 2010 with Rick Wakeman.
One of his smaller audiences as he also plays with Take That when not progging it up with Mr Wakeman or It Bites.

He also deps for Nick Beggs in Steve Hackett's band too.

The Stranglers, with special guests Hugh Cornwell and his old schoolmate Richard Thompson.

About as much chance of that as seeing, well, another Full House reunion live on stage.........

Unlikeliness isn't normally a barrier to posts in this thread, but point taken. Are there any previous line-ups that are now possible? I'd look it up but I'm an asker not an answerererererer today

lets not forget Weller also has a place as an Imagined Village artist singing John Barleycorn and was pretty good as well so he does have folk form for the purists.

The Stranglers appearing, though, gets the thumbs up from me !

Saw them at Guilfest a few years ago. They make a good festival band and play all the well known classics you can sing along to.

Fairport...?  Well, everybody alive but Swarb would seem to be about it...The Barbican show would seem to suggest there's a very able dep in the current lineup (vocally and instrumentally).

I got the impression after the coffee table book episode that Swarb would take a lot of dragging. I agree on the dep.

Any line-up from Gladys's Leap onwards, surely?

Angel Delight and Babbacome Lee line ups COULD still reform, as could Bonny Bunch and Tippler's Tales - they never will of course due go health and other reasons ...

Also the 25 Anniversary Cropredy Lineup could play ...

DW

Madness or Stranglers as Thursday headline

E L O Friday headline

Yusuf as Saturday pre Fairport but as a full set (say 20.00 til 21.30)
then FC 21.30 - 24.00

Not to mention the wonderful Ralph McTell at any point in the proceedings

...then a long stagger back to base camp say 00.01 til 02.00, fitful sleep until either the rain/wind whips your tent away or the first engines splutter into life, then - roughly - 07.00 - 19.00, drive home on motorways.

09.00 Monday morning;

Say 'Oh, bugger..!'

 ;)
 

Hey Gary,you are with me all the way, , Just had a Whizzzzz idea, ELO but with Willbury entourage ie Dylan and Petty, I feel that the bit between night and day may be gone. good old Croppers style.

Wish list

The Imagined Village
Christy Moore
Show of Hands or Phil Beer Band
Seth Lakeman
Marie Claire Berreen and her husbands
Baka Beyond
BJH (Derivative of some kind)
Caravan
Loudon Wainwright

In my dreams
Tom Petty..........

Yup. I'd go to that.............................might have to miss BJH though and after seeing their gig last night I'll add the Old Dance School.! and i seriously think  Jeff Lynne's ELO may be a possibility!

They'll have to hurry up - Stackridge have announced that they intend to call it a day at the end of this year, after 45 years of playing.

Jules

A half of which they were silent for...

 :(

I love the way reformed bands tend to skirt o er that sort of thing

Stackridge were great at Cropredy wheneveritwas.
With the added excitement of one member putting his hand down a festival bog, to retrieve a dropped phone.  :P

They definitely played in both 2000 and 2008...not sure if that's it or not?

They played Cropredy in 2000 after a period of disbandment. That Stackridge had, I think, three earlier members (commemorated in the limited release "Pick Of The Crop"). That prompted Mutter Slater to rejoin and, for a short time, this was once again the glorious band I recall from my youth. That was the band that appeared in 2008* (which you can listen to here (http://www.stackridge.net/podcasts/lummy_days_016.mp3). But Mutter bowed out a few years ago now and he, for me, was the heart of the band. That period is best exemplified by the "A Victory For Common Sense" album, although featuring a Korgis track ("Boots and Shoes") presaging their forthcoming demise,  heralding a full time return to the Korgis brand by James Warren and Andy Cresswell-Davis, which is deemed more commercial.

*2008 also had Stackridge opening at Glastonbury, commemorating their opening and closing(!) in 1970 at the first Glastonbury (rather smaller in those days)

So, basically the same band will now go out as The Korgis?  Is that right?

I never knew there was a link between the two bands until now.

Jules

I saw Katzenjammer in Glasgow on Saturday night and am now convinced they'll be the star act of Cropredy 2015. 4 Norwegian girls who play a multitude of (mainly acoustic) instruments between them. 3 of them played drums, 3 played bass (including a weird 3 string bass balaika) and all of them played everything else (guitar, mandolin, banjo, ukelele, keyboards, accordion etc). Oh and the first 4 songs had 4 different lead singers. An incredible live show!!  

There's a lot of it about. I, personally, was disappointed when The Strawbs didn't open their 2007 set with Nice Legs, Shame About the Face, to be honest...  ::)

I didn't know about that one either, though I do recall really liking Hudson-Ford as a kid.  Pick Up The Pieces was a terrific pop song.

Jules

James Warren and Andy Cresswell-Davis are the core of both bands and I believe that the same backing musicians will be touring with them. I'm a but out of touch as I abandoned them after Mutter quit (again). Andy C-D was keyboard player for Tears for Fears and Goldfrapp in his "downtime", by the way.

I find it hard to believe there is a much bigger audience for The Korgis than for Stackridge, but what do I know?

Personally, I think you're spot on. However "Everyone's got to learn sometime" (their hit) continues to keep Korgis in pocketfuls of smarties, especially as it features regularly in US TV programmes and films. RT covered the song as part of his 1000 Years of Popular Music, describing it on stage as the only good song to have been released in the 1980s. I don't know how many smarties they still earn from original sales and cover versions (Beck covered it for Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, whilst the original was featured in an episode of House MD), but consider Gerry Rafferty was still getting in £84,000 a year from "Baker Street" when he died in 2011, 33 years after that was a hit. Stackridge never had a hit, so the income from that brand is worth considerably less than the Korgis brand, at least that's my guess. So, by once again appearing as Korgis, they may boost their income to the level of Twix Bars. Or something. And why not? We all have bills to pay.

When I saw them in Cardiff a year or two back (as support to Racing Cars, actually) the evening started with The Korgis before a quick change and voila, Stackridge were on stage. Very good, too. I have loads of Stackridge stuff on CD and vinyl, both old and new - but for me, you just can't improve on the first three albums.

Out of interest, what was the change?

The Korgis did all the Korgis stuff (I know that sounds obvious) which was mainly quieter, low key numbers - It was Andrew and James, with another keyboard player. Then Stackridge came on with the full band and proceeded to present us with full on silliness and rhubabrb thrashing! It was clearly a different band. I'm not explaining this very well am I?