TalkAwhile - The Folk Corporation Forum

I'm saying Nile Rodgers. The hits are endless, he seems like a good egg, he has lots of friends, it would be a party.
I'm not sure how many extra tickets it would sell, because maybe people wouldn't realise what fun it would be.

Please fell free to add suggestions, but with at least a sentence to explain why and be practical. (Moderators just delete posts that just list names.)

A year or two too late.  He's fairly ubiquitous now, but he certainly (from what I've seen on the box at least) puts on a fantastic show.

Would Sir Barry Gibb be out of the league/price range of Cropredy?

Just because of the wide range of songs written and performed over the years and the singalong potential.

Jeff Lynn's ELO would be great. Doesn't Peggy know every Brummie musician that ever was?

Yes, I agree. How amazing would that be?

Last time I heard him Jeff Lynn's vocals they weren't always great, but with the right backup it's a good call. It would sell tickets, be huge fun and please the mob.

C'mon it's September 2018 ... this thread maybe a little premature don't you think?

Mark Knopfler. An enormous back catalogue and fab the last time we saw him.

Agreed, Knopfler would be my dream.
Or any incarnation of Lindisfarne
Or Caravan
Or Steve Hackett doing real Genesis again, but in the deserved place on the billing...

(In my real but knowingly impossible dream I'd like Fruupp to reform - but hey...
)

If Steve H does play there again, I'd like him to do more of his solo stuff in the set..Shadow Of The Hierophant, Everyday and Spectral Mornings. Then Spectral Mornings again, just because it's awesome.

A bit like getting ready for Christmas in January when it has only just ended. Which I do most years ( January sales)...maybe cheaper to book people further in advance, easier to get them?

Or maybe people are just enjoying looking forward to the next Cropredy, being such a high point on the calendar. No harm in that.

I’d like Crowded House or Deacon Blue, take us fiftyish people back to our college days. The days before it was called ‘uni’ ::).

By Christmas people will be expecting news of next years lineup and I expect that contracts are already being sorted out with some artists.

T’was just an analogy.  :)

Pretenders.

Loads of hits and plenty of veggie food available for Chrissy.

DW

And The Rails come too.  What's not to like?

Christy Moore please...  it's a while since we had a really big Irish performer and he is one of the best.

Failing that I would love a full set by Cat Stevens, a few years ago he gave us a taster which was great,
but a full set of his fab songs would be brilliant.

Saw Jeff Lynne ELO at Glastonbury couple of years ago and although the music was excellent (almost perfect!), very limited interactioin with the audience appeared very shy/overawed, fe
lt flat for me

Paul Rodgers playing Free and Bad Company. Class singer with a fine band, and lots of songs many of us will know. And Berlinski Beat... 1920s and 30s swing numbers, with added bagpipes. Dancing guaranteed...

That's a good call, I'd humbly suggest.  Can he play a couple of Firm tracks and get Jimmy up on stage as well?

What about The Stranglers? There is an old RT link there with Hugh Cornwell ( though I see he hasn’t been with them for ages, now) and a load of hits  we could all sing along to?

You do realise Hugh left the Stranglers in 1990? The band themselves still give good gig, even down to 2 as they now are (80 year old Jet's back having given up)....

Yes, I just added that he left, having looked it up, as it suddenly occurred to me that they probably aren’t in the original form. Have you seen them?

I saw them about 10 years ago...they were fun...high energy.  I've seen Hugh twice...once acoustic and once acoustic and electric sets.  He seems a bit 'precious'...but the electric gig included a few Stranglers tunes...but not many.  It was all a bit earnest.  Only time I saw the Stranglers in their prime was Reading '83... now, that was fun.

Paul Rodgers' current Free Spirit Band is Deborah Bonham's band (minus Deborah) who have played Cropredy in 2002 and 2006, so not entirely outside the realms of possibility - they'd just have to persuade Mr Rodgers to come for the ride...

I was once phoned by Hugh Cornwell's agent, which gave me an unexpected chance to express my opinion. The agent said that happens a lot.

This is a really difficult question. An artist is needed who will sell tickets, please the old irascibles and not cost the earth. The best suggestion so far is ELO. I think there are shortcomings, but it ticks the boxes.

Saw ELO at Wembley, and they were amazing, one of the best gigs I have ever seen.

I would love to see Nile Rogers.

Paul

What about Madness?  Have they ever played Croppers?  I'm thinking they maybe have.

Jules

It's a pipe dream, it's far too ambitious.

Almost certain they have and don't think it was a joyous performance but I wasn't there.

IMHO they dialled it in.

ELO are (currently, perhaps surprisingly) a Wembley Stadium (and Madison Square Gardens) selling out band charging 60 odd quid + a pop.  They are surely well outside the bounds of possibility for a Thursday night headliner at Cropredy?

Yes they played in 2016. I can’t remember how they interacted, as I was up the field, but enjoyed singing along.

What about Aha? Some good memories and  singalong tunes.

Alice Cooper played Cropredy in 2013 and tickets currently cost much the same price for much the same audience size.

Been looking to see big names touring at around the time of Crop ‘19. Not that easy.

Saw AHA earlier this year in Yeovil they were bloody awful and we left early. No interaction with the audience at all, deffo not a Cropredy band IMHO

My vote would be for ELO - I V+'d the Hyde Park concert and watch it regularly. He has a great band and he'd have everyone singing along.
I'd also love to see Paul Rodgers playing Free & Bad Company stuff but the younger people might not get it.

Everyone else I want is for selfish reasons and wouldn't appeal to enough people (Steven Wilson, Steve Hackett, King Crimson)

I was about to recall yours and someone else's (was it Gub?) recent gig reviews.  Besides which, they only really had one hit, and they're *very* electropop.

Jules

Jeff Lynne or Mark Knopfler would be amazing.  From the little I saw of Chic on the telly on New Year's Eve, that would probably be a fun singalong too.

Frank Turner and the Sleeping Souls please.
At that time all those offended by the occasional swearword should be nicely tucked up in bed.

Hugh is more relaxed about playing Stranglers' songs these days. His autumn tour is being billed as Set 1 - solo material, Set 2 - Stranglers. I find he's much better with a band than when he plays solo. Not sure about him playing Cropredy but I'd love to see him on stage with RT. I read that they bumped into each other at a festival a number of years back having not seen each other in decades and started chatting as if they'd met just the week before. Nice when that happens.

I haven't seen the latest line-up of the Stranglers. The last time I saw them they still had Paul Roberts singing with them which was a while ago now.

For a bit of fun and dancing I'll vote for Jools Holland and band.  Saw them earlier this year in Perth  - relatively small theatre so good close up and they fill bigger venues regularly.  They would definetely be a draw as well as a good fun act.  

On that basis can we have The Prodigy please? Such nice lads....

We've had them already!

Having missed out on tickets for the upcoming dates, I'd appreciate Nick Mason's Saucerful of Secrets.  :)

Oh yes!!!!

Interviewed by Whispering Bob for Sky, Jools and especially Lulu were somewhat snotty and ignorant about Cropredy when they came before.

The Specials might be a goer. Although the originals are now down to 3, Terry Hall, Lynval Golding and Sir Horace Gentleman, with replacements for the deceased and missing members they are still a good night out.

I might have been missing something, but I've not seen Alice selling out stadiums in the UK recently?

Ah well, outnumbered.....shame, as I saw them being interviewed and they seemed quite fun...must now ‘fess up...wasn’t too bothered about the music really...just wanted to gaze at Morten on the big screen for old times’ sake   :)


Agree...Mark Knopfler would just be amazing.

Saw them in Antwerp at the weekend. Absolutely amazing!

Dammit  - showing myself up as a newbie ::)  I take it this was a few years ago?  

Not that long ago...think it was with Lulu, so I left early as not a fan of either.......just checked, cripes, it was 2007!

2007 - our first visit. We enjoyed them but quite frankly we were determined to enjoy the whole thing!

Yes, I had just modified to add the date, having checked.

Paul Young? I saw him years ago, he has some lovely songs to sing along to.....oh, go on! Sorry, I am not really into ‘80s pop, but it fits the Thursday headliner singalong bill and brings back memories of teenage angst etc... to remind us how great life is now we are getting on a bit  ;D

His voice is shot.  And being as how that was the whole point of him....

80s stuff though?  As Scott Miller, himself an 80s music artist, wrote: "Eighties nostalgia has lowered my opinion of nostalgia."

Jules

I'm happy with some 80s stuff but Paul Young is dire these days.

I'm raising all yours with Mr George Thorogood. One of the best live acts I've ever seen and would have everyone boogieing daaan.   Cop a load of this https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_7VsoxT_FUY

Mr Bridgwit has asked for Lonestar but doesn't mind when during the weekend  :)  

Fair enough! I will try to find summat decent to recommend now... ;D

The Thursday night headliner seems to be becoming the main draw of the festival. I.e a band that will pull an audience outside the dwindling Fairport Audience. ( that's not a criticism, the Fairport audience is just ageing). So do you need a band that may cost a few bob but may also make the festival financially viable?
I was lucky enough to see Free at Man uni, 71 I think,when they were stunning and Rogers was just the classic great front man but I can't see him bringing those extra punters that Thursday demands. Chic is a good call ( not for me but it would do what it says on the tin) but let's go outside the box people . Kylie
anyone? Manics? Gaga? Kravitz? Kasabian?

Nothing to do with Thursday headliner but I would love to see Darlingside on next yrs lineup!

Howabout ZZ Top as a headliner - great band, singalong hits, big enough but not TOO big?

DW

Yeah, but you have to factor in a transatlantic flight.  Unless they're already over here, that would be prohibitive.  Mid-level American acts are touring Europe less and less these days.

Jules

Do you mean the country rock band ?
For a minute I thought you meant Lone Star, the band featuring Cardiff born Paul 'Tonka' Chapman, later of UFO, and for the second album, John Sloman, later of Uriah Heep. I guess that won't happen.

George Thorogood....well I'd love that, even if the rest of the audience wouldn't. I used to sing one of his tunes...'Haircut', with my band, and if I got to see him do 'Gearjammer' live, I'd probably pee myself and not be ashamed. (Note to all...NEVER listen to Gearjammer while driving - blue flashing lights in the rear view mirror are almost certain.)  

Yes the country rock band. He was playing them in the car the other day and we said, in unison, " these would be great at Cropredy!" and so they would!

Each to their own of course, but I belive Cropredy should be three days in the country without any country...  ;)

Along with rivers of gold, by the sounds of it.

Jules

ELO sounds like a good shout. I’ve always thought that James would be a good Thursday night headliner.

James would really fit with the Cropredy audience as well ... "Oh sit down .. ah, you are already ..."

DW

After much consideration, I'm going for Manic Street Preachers.  They're not the commercial proposition they once were, so they wouldn't cost the earth, and they're not only in it for the money anyway, plus they have a vast back catalogue chock-full of hits and anthems.

Jules

Elbow would fit the bill.

They are fantastic live, and all round nice chaps, plus they sell out arenas but don't charge silly prices for tickets so shouldn't break the bank - Less than £40 at the Mcr Arena last year!

They were great at Beautiful Days, even though they didn't play my fave Manics song -"La Tristesse Durera (Scream to a Sigh)"- but they DID play my favourite Cure, song ''In Between Days '' instead so....fair play.

(Rivers Of Gold..... ;D)

The Cure are touring next year - now that would be interesting.

DW

 :-X

Jules

Me too...............oh we're not supposed to do that...…………...

A bit 1980s for you, old chap?   ;)

( someone pedantic could step up and say they were formed in 1976...if some random pedantic person should visit TAW....so I said it for them)

A bit whiny and annoying is more to the point.

Jules

.......and a serious contribution... Can I just say...
WATERBOYS!

The Cure are great.  But they just sold out Hyde Park!

They appeared on Thurs 7th August 2014...can’t recall if they were headlining.

But J and I  loved it and we stayed down the front for the whole thing, so I am in favour of a return.

Just realised, glancing through,  there’s only about one female or so recommended in this thread.

(Scratches head and tries to think of someone other than the obvious about whom there are always myths!)

Well, yes, always.  Not sure they'd be a festival-saving draw, but yes.

Jules

So a quick think about late 70s-early 80s with loads of hits and the audience bouncing and singing factor (and females among them),though I've no ideas what they're all up to these days, so just a wish list really...

Elvis Costello
Blondie
Meatloaf
Eurythmics

Elvis has been quite seriously ill, but he seems to still be managing the occasional gig.

Jules

Crikey,  I hadn’t read the previous post properly and ‘Galway to Graceland’ was on Dan’s show. I momentarily thought you were a believer that the King was still with us!

I would like to see the Eurythmics. Lots of good stuff from them. I tell you who else I like, Joe Jackson. Does he still tour?

1978 acherley. They celebrated their 50 yrs this year at Hyde Park. I was there!! It was so amazing I’m still amazed.
If they came to Cropredy I would be in heaven.

Sorry (ish) to double post but thinking of ladies what could wow:

Kate Bush (I can dream)
Chrissie Hynd
KT Tunstall
Alanis Morissette
Bonny Rait (she would be FAB!!)
Stevie Nicks
Annie Lennox (not my choice)
Dolly Parton (yes I’m serious)
Norah Jones
Ann Wilson & Heart
Suzanne Vega

Lots of talent there....  {:-)

I never 'got' Bonnie Raitt.  Mind you, most blues does very little for me.

Jules

They did. I was there! I forgot. Soz! But we saw them this yr, different band, v good new album......and they were on very good form.

The Eurythmics last toured in 2005, with a one-off reunion concert in 2014, according to Wiki.

Is there a reason why the Thursday headliner has to be an act that had their heyday 30-40 years ago? Are there no 'current' acts that the festival could afford? Also, any reason why is can't be a folkie band? I understand that there is a perceived need for this act to sell tickets, but do they really? I've never seen the place swamped by fans of a Thursday headliner. It strikes me that they'd be better off seeking an act to tempt waverers amongst the core audience. So, for example, Eliza Carthy or Jon Boden's big bands, or someone like Fleet Foxes or the Decemberists (never gonna happen, I know.)

Agreed - previous women / women lead headliners:

Emmylou Harris
Joan Armatrading
Steeleye Span
All About Eve

Not a great return for 50% of the population is it?

DW

Oh, oh... Mention of Joan...
There's a current Facebook thread resurrecting everyone's opinions of her 2012 performance. Please, not again here...

Broaden the musical type and you could add thousands to this list. I'm a huge fan of Mary J Blige but I'm not sure how she would go down with the Cropredy crowd, for example...

How about Graham Nash?

He's not a woman!   :D

He'd also be way too expensive.  He'd charge California prices.

Jules

Perhaps he could define himself as a woman for the night!

I'm pretty sure that happened with Alice Cooper. It was his only UK appearance that year.

Agreed - I'm a waverer and would love to see an act that is fairly current, say in the last 10 years!

David Gilmour

Joe Jackson does still write and tour, and is fantastic. Hugely underrated.

For clarity, I meant the debate, rather than the artist!

Oh come on, Paul, he'd be monumentally expensive!

Jules

"Oh, oh... Mention of Joan...
There's a current Facebook thread resurrecting everyone's opinions of her 2012 performance. Please, not again here...

For clarity, I meant the debate, rather than the artist!"


I mean the artist...  :P ;)

Did it really make a significant difference to the attendance though? I know that not all rock fans wear the uniform of jeans, band t-shirt and leather jacket, but an awful lot do, and I don't remember seeing a couple of thousand of them in the field that year. A few, yes, but not enough to warrant building a 'Thursday night headliner' strategy around.

The busiest years have always been the 'Anniversary' years, where the focus is largely on Fairport and folk. This suggests that the core 'folkie' audience is there and will turn out if you give them a reason to. I don't think semi-tribute versions of 70s bands are it (as we saw this year.)

I think there's an avoidance of 'current' bands after Supergrass played.
They weren't at the height of Brit Pop, but they were still more recent than most of the acts, and they attracted a large group of younger people and it didn't go down well with many due to the increase in 'non Cropredy like behaviour', let's put it that way. It sparked much debate - not all young people behave like that, and so on.
The other act that I can think of who could be described as 'current' was Badly Drawn Boy, and he was Badly Behaved Boy.
Oh, there was The Coral, I guess , I don't think there were problems there.
But as has been mentioned, the Thursday night act is usually to top up the dwindling folkie regulars, and vintage 80's acts seem to bring in the age group that best fits. I'd be happier with 60's and 70's stuff, but we get a bit of that too.

I'd have thought both Nash and the Croz would be well within budget.  They play 'prestige theatre' venues these days in the UK, and don't sell out quickly (mumbles about being 6 feet away from David in a packed and joyous Jazz Cafe not that many moons ago, but anyway...)

They wouldn’t need to bother with that one then.  ;D

Can’t say that I like her MOR stuff and her ‘hits’ with Bryan Adams, but she has one hell of a fine voice.

Ha ha.....reminds me of that scene in Phoenix Nights when Gerry does “The Real Slim Shady” in the old folks’ home.

Haven’t had a good tribute band lately. There was a spate of ‘em at one time, I seem to recall.

What happened?

Jules

In Widds' words, reviewing his 2011 appearance:

Badly Drawn Boy’s solo set was also memorable, if for rather different reasons. The nom de plectrum of singer-songwriter Damon Gough, Badly Drawn Boy had perhaps the most difficult job of the day: filling the slot before Fairport Convention, when many in the crowd take the opportunity to eat, to move around the festival field, or move forward to stake out a space nearer the stage for the finale that awaits. All he had to do was go out, be pleasant and sing his songs, but instead presented an ill-tempered, rambling and dull performance that suited Cropredy even less than Gough’s trademark beany hat suits him.

What Andy said.... :)

So not a spectacular wobbler then?

Jules

As I recall he sang to a backing track and was unhappy to be met with less than unrelenting adulation.

But  that time on Saturday is always taken up (for me) by strange drinks at the bar, so I don't remember it very clearly at all.

He's probably a very nice man.

I don’t remember anything about him... I too was busy toasting absent friends.

He's definitely written some very good songs.

Jules

As my only Cropredy thus far I remember most of 2011 quite...um...correction, slightly well! The Coral were brilliant, and the sound was terrific for them I remember. They didn't do much banter. I think the bass player finally said something like its nice to be here...which for them could have been Belgium, or Wichita....but they did not do a wobbler. Earlier in the day I literally almost bumped into the lead singer and narrowly averted spilling some food he was carrying. The whole band was out walking the field together. Badly Drawn Boy did have a bit of a meltdown. Not the first for him, but I actually enjoyed his set. I think he got upset because it was one of those backing track things where he has to use the track but stay very much on point with the music and not stray, and things weren't quite working. Quite true he may have been dismayed by the shuffle from the audience for food and drink before Fairport too.

 ;D

2016 Bootleg Beatles
2014 Aussie Pink Floyd
? Trevor Horne Band / Cregan and Co / Band of Friends ? Kind of tribute bands.

DW

Strange, really, but having heard good things about Bootleg Beatles and Ozzie Floyd, I was looking forward to them. But, I have to say, I was underwhelmed by both acts.

The Bootleg Beatles were great in 1990. I'd seen them once previously, and once afterwards, and they were great then too.
The last time they played Cropers they were a completly different line up (there'd been a couple of changes in personnel before), and I didn't enjoy it so much, but I put that down to the fact that the novelty had worn off.)
Aussie Floyd I was looking forward too....I'd seen them before, but without the lasers and whistles and bells and 'flatable 'roos, and was intending to sit at the top of the field and watch all that, but being soaked to the skin through my waterproofs put paid to that plan and I watched them under the shelter of the coffee and pancake stall instead, watching the coffee refill from the water dripping of my hat. Shame.

Bootleg Beatles 1990 were great but it was very, very wet. Aussie Pink Floyd were great but it was very, very wet.

There's a trend here...

Maybe there's a Wet Wet Wet tribute band called Very Very Wet?

The raindrop sparkles through the Aussie PF lasers were spectacular mind. Oh and despite the rain, I enjoyed them.

Having seen them in close succession this year, I’d suggest that The Cavern Beatles are better (and cheaper) than the current Bootleg Beatles franchise. If we’re going down the tribute route though, New Purple Celebration are the way forward. Who wouldn’t enjoy an hour and a half of perfectly-presented Prince on a Thursday evening?*




*form an orderly queue.

I'd forgotten that it rained the first time, but now you've reminded me, I thought it was one of the best things of the festival (it was my first one), that nobody cared and we sang Lalalala en masse for several hours with total gusto and had a Fab old time.

I would love to see/hear him perform live.


Not a huge fan of The Pet Shop Boys, but quite like to hear their songs occasionally and they fit the 80s bill...plenty of hits, maybe a bit too downbeat/electro, not ‘singalong’ enough though?

I still think Gaga (not Lady, the Band which performs Queen songs, but do not dress up) would be fun.

(Awaits missiles from ...was it you last time, Henry Tompkins...ah, no, it was EVERYONE!!!) :-\

Best I've seen recently Bob Geldof, Billy Bragg and what about Roger Hodgson from Supertramp?

All sound like great ideas to me.

Roger Hodgson made a surprise appearance one year ages ago and he was brilliant.

That’s another thing which seemed to occur, which doesn’t so much now. Surprise appearances.

You’re right about their declining pulling power, David.  I see Crosby’s London gig tomorrow hasn’t sold out.  Partly due to the lousy choice of venue, I suspect (Shepherd’s Bush – anything but a prestige venue).  I was at that Jazz Café gig too.  Absolutely wonderful, though it feels like an awful lot of moons ago to me now.

FWIW, I love Shepherd’s Bush Empire.
I suspect that it is more to do with ticket prices.

I’d love that. Prince was a genius.

Maybe not a headliner but for a great rock singalong Andy Scott's Sweet could fit the bill.

DW

"Are you ready Steve? Uh hu!"

I could imagine moshing to Ballroom Blitz and Little Willy  ;D  ;D

Andy Scott is one of the main organisers behind the one-day Concert at Kings held in the wilds of Wiltshire each May http://www.concertatthekings.co.uk/

Sweet have appeared a few times, and are indeed excellent: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=krKgo5QhAto

What a fantastic lineup! I'm keeping an eye out for this one next year :)

From The Jam featuring original Jam bassist Bruce Foxton would be a brilliant Thursday headliner. All the energy and music of the Jam without the Weller costs!

Sweet would be good. Behind all the glam stuff (which would be great for the crack (and the demographic) at Cropredy ) they were a good solid rock band.

Can't remember if he has already been mentioned, but (amongst many others) I'd love to see Jackson Browne in that slot.  Pipe dreams, I know...

Sad end-of-the-pier remnants of bands turn me off completely, especially when the star attraction is either deceased or has moved on.  All this talk of Sweet and Jam leaves a funny taste in my mouth.   ::)

Jules

Now, if Bread were to play?

And maybe Marmalade?

Jules

Another top band that tours regularly is America. They would tick lots of boxes for a Cropredy band being their own songwriters and very accomplished musicians :)

Howsabout remnants of another mildly successful band - Tony Banks, Mike & The Mechanics, Steve Hackett, Phil Collins or even the main man Mr. Gabriel?

Let's have a big Cropredy welcome for one night only Brian Pern and Thotch.

DW

Arf!

Unlikely, as Brian has been in a south American jungle for the last two years.

I happen to know that the head of the Thotch Fan Club is a regular Cropredy attendee...

Any or all of those would make me very happy :)

How about Justin Heywood? Or the Kinks?

or even Justin Haywood ;)

 :o apols! eye off the ball and all that!

Been musing on this one, my experience, albeit limited to a few instances, is that the Thursday headliner pulls in new faces who then come back year after year.  That's what we've found with friends who've been because we've banged on about it for years, then Squeeze, then Alice pulled them in and they haven't missed since. The grand headcount added is 8, but just wonder if anyone else has found the same.
 

2019 then ?  I'd love James or Stereophonics but I've seen them both so many times over the last 3 or 4 years, as will others have , would they bring in the new faces ?

Bryan Ferry may well also have been very accessible,  I haven't checked, never seen him,  but would be very happy to on Thursday night.

Counting Crows would be my dream headliner, can't see that happening though.

I think the ‘phonics may be a bit too big? Aren’t they still doing stadiums and so on?

Yes but they do smaller venues too and smaller festivals.

Soft Cell.
Nothing much else to say really. You know it would work.

Well, Marc Almond did a Sandy tour didn't he?

Not for me it wouldn't!

Same.

Jules

See you at the Brasenose Jules!

Despite Marc Almond and I sharing a birthday, I'd rather stick pins under my fingernails than sit through Soft Cell at Cropredy.  Sorry.

How about Justin Hayward ?   ;)

I think they'd be absolutely fab...but as they are having their final final final ever gig at the RAH, I suspect it's a non starter.

The Human League, however...

David Essex, Suzy Quattro and Les McKeown’s Bay City Rollers are doing an arena tour together...prefer any, or all, of them to the eighties pop stuff.

Yes to Justin Hayward, I’ll be having a walk if Soft Cell appear, or Human League...those 80s bands somehow remind me of the worst aspects of being at secondary school.

Julian Cope.
It might divide opinion.

No might about it! I'm a big fan but he can be a real arse live.


Er, how about Nick Mason's band?

We'll be alright, there's no suspended ceilings for him to climb into. JC that is.

Where's the barfing emoji?

Jules

For me , after the past few years (Brian Wilson excepted , I did enjoy that).have seen acts lacking real energy.

Im still holding out for Frank Turner and the Sleeping souls but if not then Kaiser Chiefs are out there working.

What, between those who thought he was really terrible, and those who thought he was really, really terrible?  ::)

I'm a huge fan and Cope is brilliant live, but he'd be much better as an unexpected treat at 16:00 on the Sat afternoon... He is very, er, idiosyncratic these days though and couldn't be trusted not to swear a lot.  I'd probably advise against...

THe first confirmed act (from the band themselves, via a friend) is Green Diesel I'm (reliably, I think) informed.

Who?

No, Green Diesel.

Jules

A Kent folk-rock outfit....

 ;D

They should get us all hopping...

Were they at Acorn Fayre?

Lobiloo, yes I believe.

Superb at this years New Forest Folk Festival.
I really hope they are on. Folk Rock at the finest.

Just checked...they were definitely on the line up for 2011, which turned into Oak Seed Barn. Knew I had heard of/seen them somewhere!

It’s never too late to become an overnight success!

They say they're playing Field 8.

“We’re playing Cropredy” is becoming the new Ryanair “We’re flying to Milan”.

 ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

Any chance of Roger McGuinn?

With Chris Hillman and Marty Stuart, doing the Sweetheart Of The Rodeo tribute, please.

Jules

Hasn't Roger called a halt on any more shows after the latest batch?

Songs are brilliant but Jeff Lynne has no stage presence whatsoever judging from this week at the O2 which was a virtual carbon copy of a couple of years ago

 Personally I'd love to see Nick Mason's SOS or Steve Hackett, both as mentioned earlier in the thread. Would  ARW (The current Anderson and Wakeman incarnation) sell enough tickets, or wrong demographic?  ???

A New Day Festival in Kent on the weekend prior to Cropredy has already announced some interesting names for next year. Some of these could (should?) be a consideration for Cropredy. These include Focus, Soft Machine, Climax Blues Band, Zal Cleminson’s Sin Dogs, Glenn Hughes performing classic Deep Purple, Jackie Lyndon Band and Solstice. Also think Barclay James Harvest and America would go down well.

If these bands are playing A New Day then they should be within budget and be up for it a week later?

Again sorry for the double post and I know this band last played Cropredy in 2012 but having seen them last year (again) I think Squeeze would fit the Thursday headline slot perfectly

The Thursday headliner is usually so.eoneeverybody knows of and many like ( or maybe a tribute to the same...).
Somehow I don't think Zal Cleminson's Sin Dogs quite fits that brief...

No , not headliners, but Zal Cleminson exudes that Xfactor star quality, and they were very very good at the Brasenose last Cropredy.

Lower down the bill ? ............yes please.

went to see joan armatrading in York recently and I would love to see her back at cropredy doing what she does best which is what she does

Is that what she was doing at cropredy? Emptying the field is what she does best?
Oh well, I think you'll be in a small minority wanting her back. She had her shot and blew it big time.

Totally agree, Jim. Shame, because she has some wonderful songs and a beautiful voice. In my view, she is more suited to smaller, indoor settings.

Why not book someone everyone likes...  :)

Michael Palin and David Attenborough it is then.

Jules

A big regret for me is that Rick Parfitt passed away just as Status Quo had started doing their acoustic set. They were another band which did not impress all, when appearing at Cropredy.

However, a few months later they appeared at the Roundhouse (the Beeb were involved) doing the ‘Aquostic’ show. It was absolutely wonderful. Very ‘folky’.  The enjoyment and fun was back in their eyes.

It would have been just right for Cropredy. Then Rick died. :(

I know, that’s a separate thread which has been done before. Who we’d like to have seen.

You are kidding! Quo smashed it for me. Never seen them and was a big bucket list for me. I thought they were awesome.

On a different note, how about Purple Zeppelin for headline? Much cheaper than the real thing and actually not a copy but a tribute (not unlike Blue Velvet many of you will remember). Excellent sing along, bounce along stuff!

The real Mr Plant and his band would go down a bundle.

I said they did not impress ALL...meaning they did impress some  :)

I am really not that keen on David Attenborough!!!!  :o

First headliners were announced December 4 last year so I am sure contracts are being sent to and fro at the moment waiting for ink to dry etc.

Good luck Gareth, Peggy etc lets hope for some good 'uns.

DW

Having just listened to him on Lamacq what about Billy Bragg from Barking in Essex, he was stupendous when I saw him (and no one was more surprised than me).

I love him but I believe he is quite a divisive character. Probably would bring in enough punters as a headliner.

He is and I don't share any of his political views, but I was totally engaged.

Billy Bragg is a National treasure. He is writing songs that will become folk songs.I would love to see him at Cropredy. True he is the definition of radical politics. True he is putting out a message ....but its clever , compassionate and he gets it. He understands the opposite point of view and his songs respect the people who disagree with him.

These two show my reasoning .
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BRwXsJ3wmmo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=07X_yk1v8S4

Yes Billy Bragg would do fine.

Love the Braggster,  always enjoy seeing him and feeling his passion.  He's not a Thursday night headliner though at least in my view.

I'd love them to pluck another Brian Wilson or Alice Cooper out of the air,  someone I've never seen , then again Joan A fits that bill.

I've never seen Slade and no idea what they're like without Noddy,  or if they'd pull extra punters in,  or if they are a headliner,  but as I can't think of anyone else why not ?

Because, as you said, no Noddy.

Jules

Saw Slade at Butlins a couple of years back (yes, I know, but what fun). They were great for an hour, but that's all they do. They are all getting on (I think Dave was 72 at the time). Played all the hits with great gusto and we all had a ball. Because Noddy and Jim wrote all the songs, Dave and Don need to keep treading the boards as they earned nothing from all the success. The stand-ins (who have been with them a good few years now, so well established in the band) were fine, not Noddy, but when its late, you've had a beer and you just want to partay, who cares.

Saturday afternoon - special guests Slade would be fab, top quality singalong stuff.

DW

I've seen him at smaller festivals than Cropredy and he hasn't headlined. I like him but can't see him selling many tickets. He'd be good down the bill, although his politics make him a bit divisive, especially as he can be contemptuous of those with different opinions.

Cropredy never had anyone like that there does it?

DW

Not sure about the Thursday night headliner but I wouldn’t mind the Marillion/Fish etc rock slot on Saturday afternoon going to Black Star Riders (Scott Gorham’s band)

I agree with his politics in many cases but would not want him at the festival. If it's a music act with some good stage presence I'll be happy

Saw him supporting Paul Heaton and Jacqui Abbott this year and he was quite the engaging presence.

Still can’t see Mr Bragg as a headliner though

He'd be good cor the pre-Fairport unplugged spot

Yes! They'd be brilliant

The stickers this years caused enough dissent, but Billy in full on rant about Brexit................nah, can't see any problem there.  8)

Put him on with Diggers   :o

I suggest a power duo Bragance.

DW

Bragance... But would we end up with a set of Middle of the Road covers? At least they'd be chirpy. And cheap.

He doesn’t have to mention it all all. Anyway, who knows where we’ll be next August!!

Genesis Visible Touch. I’m not sure they’d pull in the punters, but I’d hate to have to follow them.

Up sh1t creek without a paddle if it carries on as it is.

" Anyway, who knows where we’ll be next August!! "

Cropredy,  of course   ;D

Excellent.  ;D

Apparently 3-day tickets for Cropredy 2019 go on sale on 3 December and we should be getting first news about the acts then as well.  :)

I'm throwing Tears for Fears in the mix, playing Nocturne in July, about the right price I would guess and a decent half dozen singalong hits.

Good call....saw them many years ago (1992 I think) and they were great then

I'm going to see them in Feb anyway so I'll report back!

It would appear that King Crimson may be playing at some festivals next year...

Really?  For a bunch of notorious control freaks (especially on the sound front) that really surprises me... What's the context to your comment, Paul?

Pat Mastellotto's reposted on fb a report to the effect that KC are planning shows across most of the globe (sorry, not Oz or NZ...) in 2019, and festival appearances are not being ruled out... Sounds like quite a punishing touring schedule for the more, er, mature gentlemen in the band.