TalkAwhile - The Folk Corporation Forum

Good performance at Tewkesbury tonight. 1 new song, quite rocky. A few relative obscurities from the dustier drawers of the repertoire, and some new gags from Ric. Winter Wilson, despite a few first night nerves, did really well, seemed to be making quite a few new fans...

Care to share?  Behind a spoiler alert?

We're going to Southport tonight, so would appreciate any info as to what to expect (except the punchlines to Ric's jokes!)

Me too! I'll wave from seat C8 Peter  ;)

OK, for David and Peter...



The chaps referred a few times to feeling refreshed after the "big year" and wanting to get back to mixing up the setlists - they certainly seemed to be eager to "get on with it" to coin a phrase.

Sounds good.  Wish I could get along to a Wintour gig this year, but I don't think it's going to happen.  Maybe the acoustic tour though.

I'll wave back from J11/12/13! Enjoy the show.

They did say that the setlist for May/June will be much different from the Wintour set. And they are playing with the choir again... Fri 12 Oct at Tewkesbury Abbey.  Probably best if they lay off the aquatic-themed songs, given local sensibilities. And indeed Down in the Flood!

Very much enjoyed tonight at Southport - I thought that the band were much rockier and louder than I've seen in a while - nice to see Simon's electric guitar quite high in the mix and I liked the new song too.

Loved every minute. Great music and atmosphere however you are not allowed to rock in your chair, cos it upsets people. Looking round at the cardboard cutouts I am glad I rocked out on my chair, I  enjoyed the total concert and did not have a face on me like a slapped a..se, as some people apparently had!

I find this rather strange.
I never like to know the set list prior to attending a gig.
It’s like asking someone to tell you the plot of a book before reading it!

I agree Bill.
I am working on a screen play. Titanic 2 , The Voyage Home.......

I prefer not to know. Spoils the surprise for me and I then keep waiting for songs rather than enjoying what is being played.
It takes all sorts, and that’s ok.

“I’m reading this great book at the moment!”
“Oh, whatever you do, don’t tell me what it’s about”.
Said no-one, ever.  ::)

I’m with you. A friend of mine once got terribly upset at a gig because he knew what we were about to miss as the encore, while I was busy celebrating what we’d actually heard. Although he does have a point when it comes to Iron Maiden and advance planning his toilet breaks.  ;D

I ordered this book, ' how to ignore your neighbours. Unfortunately  I was out when it was delivered.'

The funny thing is that, on balance, I'd prefer not to know in advance, but then I'll always look at a set list if it's posted. Just irrational I suppose. Grateful Dead concert-goers never had this problem.

Been to Southport & Buxton, really enjoyed both and the new song definitely benefits from a second hearing. Winter Wilson are as good a support act as I can remember Fairport having, bought 2 CDs and having played them both it was money well spent, hope the recent trend is bucked and they get a slot at Cropredy.  Buxton Opera House is a great venue,  been once before but didn't take time to appreciate it.  I think it is staffed mainly by volunteers and they are all brilliant.  Will definitely find a reason to go back there.

We go to Buxton twice a year to see English Touring Opera productions which I would recommend greatly.

 Is  there any news of the iceberg????

It won't be appearing in the sequel after making a fuss about its fee for the original film.  It claimed that the human stars were paid way more, and that it is a blatant example of Hollywood non-anthropoidism :)

I know the lack of anything new happening is a bit tedious, but this is getting a little off topic.  ;D

First gig of 2018! Lovely to see the boys back in Nottingham after a very long break. Just felt weird catching the bus home! Winter Wilson were an excellent opening act, a great start to yet another wonderful Fairport evening.

Good gig in Morecambe last night. I’ve missed a few Winter Tours, so it was good to be there again. The chaps seemed relaxed and happy.

I had planned to get there early for a good seat, but chaos reigned on the trains, so I wasn’t in the best of positions. Still, the Platform isn’t the O2 Arena, so even at the back you’re OK. We were a little blighted by various irritating audience members, though not enough to ruin things. I won’t list what they were all doing, in case any are on here! I will say this, though: if you think it’s a good idea to embellish the melodies a band is playing with your own exceptionally tuneless and loud whistling, you are wrong.

Surprised that Peggy didn't tell them to shut up. Shame that the malaise of pockets of anti-social behaviour has spread from Cropredy to the tours.

Yeah, they would only really have been audible to the people immediately around them. What I think they also ought to have avoided is this:Fairport are funny guys, and I enjoy the onstage banter, but the people by us would insist on contributing their own unfunny and banal comments amidst the banter (again, only at a level that it could be ‘enjoyed’ by their immediate neighbours). Add this to a separate chap a few seats away who, mystifyingly, spent the entire show (and I do mean that literally) reading stuff on his phone.

Anyway, those minor irritations aside, it was a good night. Splendid to hear some more unusual numbers, one of which I had never heard live before.

The new song was quite good, though it’s the second time the band has incorporated elements of Summertime Blues into a song if memory serves ....

Anti social behaviour at Cropredy???

Terrible the way the crowd shout Jack halfway through Festival Bell, and that waving of arms from side to side in Meet on the Ledge.
Someone could get hurt.

Seriously though , 20,000 people in a field , some drinking almost non stop from 11 am to midnight. I'm always amazed how trouble free it is.

Some start drinking as late as 11am?

I enjoyed the show at Milton Keynes the other night, but I will admit that I found the setlist a little bit too cosy. With the exception of the brand new song, which I really enjoyed, there was nothing in the set that they haven’t played in recent years. In terms of musicianship they were as tight as ever, you certainly can’t take that away from them, I just wish we could have had some slightly more adventurous choices from the repertoire.

Hawkeswood Army?

Sop at midnight ?? who is this ?? name the man  [;-)

That's how it starts, the dawn of realisation.

It was the saddest thing for me at Cropredy last year to have to ask a group of rowdies to shut up during WKWTTG. The new approach to going to a gig or festival is to completely ignore the music and just shout and laugh with your mates. Surely it would be cheaper to go to the pub?

Egg-flipping-zactly.

On the train back to Bournemouth after a great gig at the Union Chapel. Liked the new song, and they did indeed seem invigorated. V good set list in my opinion, and looking forward to Cropredy.

Yes we were at the Union Chapel last night too and thought the boys were well on form. Good set list and Simon was rockin’ on the new song. Chatted with Peggy beforehand and he’s looking forward to getting his hip sorted out soon!

I was at Union Chapel and really enjoyed the evening, musically brilliant, amazing acoustics. The 'Jerry Aid' raffle was drawn and an over enthusiastic Peggy made confetti of the box of tickets in order to shake them up a bit  ;D

Even Ric had some new jokes! Peggy said about getting his hip sorted in France, I replied it could be Hip-Hop music for the Spring tour.  ::)

I just cant believe that the talented P J Wright could write Fairport such a 'twee' song about the Cherwell but Simon was in great voice and was on leccy guitar for a good few numbers too  :) The set list covered old and new, I like the new song, the evening started well with Jewel in the Crown, great song.

The guys were very good indeed at Farnham Maltings last night - you could certainly tell the material was well played-in at this 3/4 stage of the tour.

Particular highlights were Crazy Man Michael, John Condon, Clear Water, Portmeirion, Doctor Of Physick, WKWTTG, Mercy Bay, Weightless, and storming renditions of Hawkwood's Army and The Gallivant.

Strangely, they've put a May 21 date in at the Union Chapel - second time in 5 months?....hmmm. £26 a pop

They are also playing Colchester Arts Centre on 20 May (£24 a ticket...quite high for CAC) but the gig is not on the F.C. website...curious  ???

Yes the May date was announced, Spring tour I imagine. I too commented that prices do seem rather steep. No doubt the set list will be similar for the 'acoustic' show?  ;) Peggy said it will be after his hip (h)op  ;D and the band will appear a bit more huddled together...  ::)

I've booked to see FC in Pentyrch, near Cardiff, on 23rd May. It's definitely part of the Spring Tour.

May well see you there! Get in early for their pizza too!

Has the support act for the Spring Tour been announced yet?

They don't have one...100% FC

Really enjoyed Tunbridge Wells tonight, it's a barn of a place but the lads seemed in great spirits despite a brief problem with the sound. The 'rhythm section' were on particularly good form, don't remember hearing a livelier Gallivant, and overall a well chosen mixture of old and new.

Perhaps the best Wintour set in recent years at St Albans last night. Thoroughly enjoyable. Has Peggy damaged his back or is it old age creeping up?

He’s done his hip and is having an operation in March

I’ve checked Setlist.fm and there are a couple of songs in there I genuinely can’t understand why they’re persisting with.

Name and shame Skirky (in your opinion miduck!)  ;) ;)

Every Summer Our Bus Rolln On To The Cherwell?

I like Our Bus Rollin On. Jolly and lighthearted bit of fun.

I like it too.

Let's just say that there are a couple of recent songs which* don't really match up to the calibre of those which surround them. I speak from a position of thorough approval of things like The Gallivant, Clear Water, Weightless, John Condon et al, which I consider some of their best work, not just recently, but of their career, so it's not really a case of Play Some Old!


*IMHO, OOAA.  

Every band has fillers. Rare for every song to be a classic. True, Fairport have enough in their back catalogue to not need to trot out the lesser songs, but hey, they might feel they are suitable. At least they don't return to London River or Gold!!!

Wish I could get along to a Wintour gig this year, but I don't think it's going to happen.  Maybe the acoustic tour though.