TalkAwhile - The Folk Corporation Forum

Now it's about a month until Fairport's Cropredy Convention.
So the new board area is here.

Huzzah!  :D :D :D The planning starts NOW!  {:-)

Any sense of what ticket sales have been thus far? I know quite a few folks who have decided it is a lot of dosh for the line up this year. Anyone anticipating a sell out again?

Interesting question. Without any real information I guess it is a little too "folk" or "folk rock" for the general market? I am looking forward to it for those same reasons; good mixed bill and not totally full up. Economically bad but good for attendees?

So now it’s been announced that Joe Brown will be joining FC on stage at Cropredy can we expect a Fairport version of “I’m Henery the Eighth I am” ?  ;D

I'm quite looking forward to see who comprises Fairport Extension.

i would attend cropredy if I thought Joe might perform the porridge movie theme song "Free Inside".

Is there an award for the most obscure but on topic reply; if so we have a winner!

I can remember my first Cropredy when Joe's daughter Sam made an appearance & did "Stop", I loved that song & still do!!

Does anyone know yet about the timings of mainstage/fringe? I was wondering who Krankschaft will clash with on the Friday afternoon.

According to my clashfinder, Krankschaft could possibly clash with Wildwood Kin and Caravan on the main stage and The Uninvited and Spank The Monkey down at The Red Lion.

Thanks. Wildwood Kin and I'd probably stay in the field, a clash only with Caravan and I'd probably go down the pub.
I'll have a look at Clashfinder, I didn't think there would be one.

where was it announced?

DW

In the Fairport email newsletter:
"Joining the Cropredy line-up...

We are delighted to announce that rock'n'roll legend (and Cropredy resident) Joe Brown will be joining Fairport and other guests during our closing set on Saturday evening.

Joe is highly regarded as a "musician's musician". He is a virtuoso on guitar, mandolin, ukulele and banjo and has played with Gene Vincent, Eddie Cochran and Johnny Cash among many others. We can hardly wait!"

Are you signed up to it?

For some reason no - I'll look into it.

I hope it won't mean Ukulele Central is rolled out again!!

DW

Anyone using my Clashfinder, please note I have only penciled in the main field timings based on last year. This year the timings have not yet been announced. (or if anyone knows, please let me know)

As soon as I have them, I will update the Clashfinder.

I'm not sure if I should link here, so google Clashfinder and enter in the search box "Fairport's Cropredy Convention 2019"

Enjoy.

Interesting, thanks for that. Looks as though possibly Krankschaft will overlap with both Wildwood K and Caravan, so I will probably stay in the arena.
Timings might change though, hopefully.

Thanks for doing this! Very useful :)

You're very welcome  ;D

It seems to be that many narrowboats are in place already for the festival. Could hardly find a mooring last night. Not helped by several working boats, and a film crew filming Father Brown.

Gave up trying to get through the lock, and winded just above it.

Paul

No problem....(http://i67.tinypic.com/290yl38.png)

I think I have found my new narrowboat. :-)

Paul

That could be one of Kim's submarines ;D

who do we think will be part of the Fairport Extension 10 piece line up?

FC + Mattacks, PJ, Chis While, a keyboard player (Anna Ryder?), Thommo

DW

Will there be this please? One of my top Cropredy moments   :D  :D  (I appreciate for some of you it was one of your low points but, 'orses for courses!!!!)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u6nx31YjePU

Just look through the other acts playing and find anyone with a tenuous link.
After fairport on Thursday and Friday the Saturday night slot could be tedious...
God knows what they’ll end up playing on Sunday at the brasenose....
It’s getting as silly as marillion turning up every year in a different guise.

I enjoy listening to the band open the festival and close the festival but this is overload imo

I know, bloody ridiculous, eh?  Anybody would think it was their festival or something?  ;) ;D

I thought it was marillion's festival... :-\   >:(   ;)

Well we already know that Joe Brown will be joining them and I presume Ralph won’t be far away?

But Joe Brown will surely be a guest rather than being part of Fairport being ale to relive some of their past glories, and hopefully Ralph will join Thommo, Peggy and DM for some GP rock n roll.

DW

I think RT has another gig on the Saturday night, so possibly won't be part of the extension, but Friday night should be a good one with DM, Simon and Peggy.

Yep. Vicar Street, Dublin.

Clashfinder has been updated with the main field timings (thanks to John Basevi for giving me them) and added The Edge.

https://clashfinder.com/s/cropredy2019

Hope you find it useful.

Keith

So who other than PJ (I assume) will join for lead guitar stuff?

DW

Still got 2 tickets and a camping ticket available.    I'll split them and accept offers  

My friends can't go due to terminal illness.  ??? They want the tickets to be used. Any offers accepted and we are making a donation to Mountbatten Hospice on the Isle of Wight.  ::)

If you know anyone who needs tickets please send them our way  [;-) {:-)

Martin Barre?

I wondered that - wasn't he involved one of the Alan Simon things>

Is it worth putting them on the specific thread for selling tickets, Dave? Just thinking not everyone can see this thread

Now that Pugwash has had his angiogram and I can stop worrying for a while …
today I have started to make my annual Cropredy list... and tomorrow I can start packing...
Yippee!!

Glad to hear Puggs is OK - see you at the Cricket Club in just over a week  {:-)

Can’t wait!

It’s a shame the Red Lion don’t have music starting earlier on the Thursday. Myself and the group I go with like to wander the village before the field opens on Thursday. Looking forward to Ben Folke Thomas again tho!

It's less than a week now! PANNNNNIIIIC!  {:-) [;-)


Yes I agree we usually spend most of Thursday at the Red Lion. The Brasenose doesn't do it for us, although we always pop by to see what's occurring...

Have you turned into Nessa... what’s occurring.... xx

She'll be telling us it's all lush next............. :D ;) [;-) {:-)

I won't tell a lie!!!

I wonder if I can get a Nessa wig by Wednesday....  O0

I think you deffo should!

Lovely Ian Matthews gig tonight, don't know where else he's touring, but would love to see him again as part of the 'extension'.

As we build up to the festivities this year, has anyone else noticed that Cropredy 2020 is a week later than usual on 13 - 15 August 2020? Do we know why this is?

It always starts on the second Thursday in August.

OK I knew that  ;) I guess with the first Thursday this year being the 1st, it just seems later to me. It seems natural that it should be 6th, 7th and 8th next year but is actually the 13th, 14th and 15th. No matter, all being well, I’ll be there again next year as usual  ;D

A bit tense here. Will my Simon Nicol tribute t-shirt arrive on time.  :-\

Anyone staying on Field 8 Wednesday night? If you are, please pop along to the stage and check out my son's band Lady Coletta at 8.15. Cheers!

On Saturday, weather permitting, I hope to be wearing my Simon Nicol paint splatter shirt (similar to the one he wore on stage last year) so if you see me, come and say hello  ;D

Wear it to the toast,combined with the potions on offer will give a psychedelic effect to what looks like being a damp final day.

OK I’ll do my best!

Can someone tell me how to upload an image from my PC onto here (or whether it's possible)?

Under the reply box you will see Additional Options, click on that  and click on choose file upload your file (or pic) and press preview to see whether it's worked. It will tell you if the file is too big.
Hope that works

Not sure if it's been posted yet but Leatherat are playing at The pig place in Adderbury on the Wednesday night, support from Stevie Simpson and Release the Bats.

Still a few tickets here

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/cropredy-warm-up-with-leatherat-tickets-64721850798?utm-medium=discovery&utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-source=strongmail&utm-term=listing&fbclid=IwAR0zikv965HmLSJS6zLYGRF8gYhk8oAbu6nD8eOYjZMcliEWNPEbslwlick

Thanks Jude - worked eventually but only after changing from Firefox to Edge!

Some may think this is a sneaky way of talking about the W-word early - hmm, as if! This Friday my T-shirt will break with tradition and instead of being Fairport-related will feature one of my other favourite ever groups to mark the auspicious occasion...

and back to normal on Thursday and Saturday, to mark the other auspicious occasion.. (sorry it's a bit blurred, but it will look like that on Saturday...

Smashing shirt... I saw them about a year ago and they were wonderful. The first time was 39 years ago  when they wouldn't play Grey and Pink---- but they do now!!!!

I hope so! I can't wait to see Caravan  :)

Keep off that Pump weed it makes you bleed!!!

"Punkweed" I think, but probably has a similar effect.  ;D

Ah, but only it you smoke it...  :o  ;D  

I'll be in the mosh for Caravan - anyone else likely to be there?

"Keep off that Punkweed - it makes you bleed!!!"

That's all I'll need!  ::)   ;)

There's one good thing Anyway - there'll be plenty of boy scouts to stop and think for us..

There is a high possibility  ;D if only to dull the impact of the (dare I mention?) thunderstorm  :o
. Friday is looking slightly damp at the moment  :-[

Yes we'll be there. Lady Coletta already on the itinerary  :)

Metcheck.com showing low %age chances of rain in the Banbury area for Thu night, Fri and Sat... All digits crossed the wet stuff stays away, and all the gear I've got out won't be needed. On the positive side, perhaps the wasps will be inactive?!

I do hope you’re right! The usually not-very-reliable BBC weather app says 40% to 60% rain and thundery showers all day on Friday but we look OK for Saturday. Thursday looks dodgy too after 9.00pm. The WeatherChannel app is saying 90% chance of rain on Friday and 40% on Saturday  :(. The Met Office has 60% rain on Friday and 40% on Saturday....think I’ll pack a submarine!

On a more mundane level, with the ban on single-use water bottles, does anyone know if the bar will still be doing the 4 pint plastic bottles for beer?

I'm thinking they are not single use.

First Cropredy for 12 years. I'm coming in a camper van on Thursday morning, probably down the A361 from Wardington, can I turn right into Williamscot at that time? Which way does the one way system work?

Take my advice and head down the A423 from Banbury, turn right at Great Bourton and go straight to field 7.

Update regarding Wednesday night on Field 8. During the break in the Lady Coletta set I should be presenting Georgia Lucas with an original set of her mum's lyrics - the first draft of King and Queen of England.

Hope it all goes well! Shame I won't be there to see it but not arriving until Thursday

task for today......
remove last weekend's clothes from suitcase.  wash and dry said clothes.  put said clothes back in suitcase.  take a long  bath and sleep for a week in one day.  assess bruises and minor injuries.  assess good stuff found on fields at 5am (a pair of Raybans for a start).
await the time i get to be with my daughter tomorrow, sadly we will be only 2, no Daze this time, i think her priorities are different now, but she will be there in spirit.

rinse, repeat.
#festivallife #constantbackache #sunburn #mudeverywhere #wouldntchangeitfortheworld

Packing the van...  knackering!

(Not moaning though...!)

 I can imagine disposing of dead animals in a van is pretty tiring work...
😳😉🙂

Should I start thinking about packing soon?

nah, it'll be fine x

OK good   ;D  ;D

Hoping someone can point me in the right direction please?  :)...For previous years I've always bought my ticket well in advance, but this year was a bit undecided, but am now thinking of just turning up on Saturday...Is there a box office on site to buy tickets?...Obviously I'm very familar with the ticket/wristband exchange but wasn't aware of any box office...Sorry if I sound a bit dim... :-\ ???

Unless things have changed the 'Box Office' will be in the Cricket Club car park. Although I have bought tickets at other car park entrances. The problem normal is that they can't get a connection on their credit card machines.

That's a great help...Thanks :)...I will probably play safe and bring some cash as well...

Glen

Oh Yes, I should be there...

Cheers,
Slippy
 8)

  8)

Does anyone know if we have to deal with those slightly nonsensical pink bands for every piece of stuff we take into the arena field this year or have they dropped that idea. I understand the reasoning for those pink bands but the administration of them was a bit daft. If they are still being enforced, I’ll have to try and remember my mobile number again  ;D

There was a pile in with my tickets so yes it's still a thing.

OK thanks. Didn’t get any pink bands with my ticket and Christmas card!  ???

**** i havent seen you for ages Slippy!

Would you just look at that weather forecast  ;D - looking rather lovely and warm apart from a possibly showery Friday morning but even that looks set to blow away by lunchtime. Very pleased with the temperatures forecast for the weekend after last year's chilly evening shifts.

Errm the forecast is getting better but still looks a bit dubious for Friday and we could be getting rather damp from about 9.00pm onwards tomorrow. Let’s hope the “unseasonably low pressure” doesn’ hang around  :). Love your optimism though!

 :) Wishing everyone a fantastic Cropredy from North Wales, we shall be with you in spirit and listening out for your dulcet tones on the Radio Oxford Saturday night special. Hope to be back next year.   :)

Best wishes for a fantastic festival to all from me here in Maine and Paul who is tugging in the melting Artic this summer.
Our fingers (and toes) are crossed that the weather cooperates for you and that we are able to join you next year.
xox K {:-)

And finally here, after spending an insane 2 hours on the M25 from A3 to M40 (two accidents with lane closures). Found the glamping bar, tea & coffee to hand, now listening to Richard Thompson rehearsing on the main stage. Sorted!!!

Enjoy all ... the weather looks beautiful for Thursday and Saturday.

Have a brilliant time everyone

Sadly for another year I shall be absent from those Cropredy fields. During the Cropredy weekend part of me is always there…I miss not attending and realise that I have now missed more Cropredy festivals than I have attended. I look forward to reading your reports here and on Face Book…may you all have a safe and enjoyable festival. xx

Tonight in Cropredy the sky was grey and pink (honest!)
Hope to meet some of yous...and for those who can't be here  ill have a pint for you 🥴🙂

Sounds like the opening lyric for Chris Leslie's next song!

Oohh,  bitchy (ish)...
Are you coming  (or already here) John?

Wagons roll! See you at the cricket club  {:-)  [;-)

Leaving soon.  See you at the cricket club!

Not leaving until 10.00am so, coming all the way from Essex means we’ll only get there at about 12,30pm so likely to miss the cricket pav....organisation is always an issue  ::)

To all attending, have an absolute blast.  Hope the weather on friday is better than the forecasters would have us believe.
Overdo it, enjoy the turns and get home safe.

Good luck everyone & enjoy. looks like you may be facing some testing conditions, especially during the day on Saturday.  :-\

Hope everything goes off safely and successfully. Make sure your tents are robustly pegged down.

Hope you all have a great time and the weather behaves  :)

Only the second one I've missed since 2000.

Have a great time all and I'll raise a glass to you on saturday night.

Cropredy on the BBC weather news today.  Looks a bit damp in the field.  Still sort of wish i was there. maybe next year.

It looks better than expected.

Cropredy really has not had much luck with the weather recently has it? Last year was torrential rain in the middle of an otherwise blistering summer. This year is going to be storms & gales. It is a while since they had a straightforwardly dry and warm weekend. They must be due. Law of averages. Maybe next year?

We’re playing a fest, ‘ Woodfest’ 20 miles from Cropredy over the weekend and the local council are considering pulling the licence cos of risk of strong winds on Saturday.

Yes I am sort of amazed Cropredy is still going ahead in its entirety. I won't be surprised if they have to make a decision to close the arena for a few hours during the day tomorrow given the 40-50mph winds that are forecast. Should be ok by the evening though. At least Cropredy will only get a few hours of. The forecast here is for 24 hours of it from 7pm his evening. The local Summer Cinema outdoor film screenings event in a park on the seafront has been cancelled.

I am so sorry to do this but I can only hope that Fairport set was better on the field than it is on the radio.
Simon got voice probs?
I am just really feeling for them.....

I think he may have as Peggy seems to be taking a surprising number of lead vocals (which is not an improvement). Simon's voice does seem to have been losing some power and control for a few years now. It is a worry as they will be playing The Wounded Whale later which really needs a good vocal from Simon.

Thanks Al. I hate to be seen as critical but something isn’t right......

The last couple of times I've seen them I thought that Simon's vocals weren't particularly good.

It did improve as the set went on (based on radio evidence) so I guess it just took a bit of time for his vocal cords to warm up.

Just back. Highlights for me The magnificent Thompson set, Sally doing John The Gun, Brother Paul, Trad Arrr and Leatherat. Low points Gogol Bordello and Sin Dogs. Loads of respect to Miss Dee Palmer too.

Peggy singing anything other than bv's is a mistake, i thought his polly on the shore sounded awful

One of my best Cropredys ever from the point of the music. There were only two acts I didn't enjoy at all - Gogol Bordello and Sin Dogs.  All the rest had something for me.

The weather was not so great though.  But it did seem to keep people awake and more involved with the music, at least from what i could see where I was based (LH side of the sound tower looking at the stage).

I'm afraid you're right.  I had hoped PJ would sing it, as well as playing guitar, but no...

Turns that were spotted staying on site for the whole festival: (which is nice)

Lil'jim
Wakeman (& family)

any others?

I was really looking forward to Gogol Bordello and was not disappointed - they were fab...!

Never heard of Sin Dogs before but liked them - great stage craft and funny songs...

Didn't see all the bands on the main stage due to Brasenose, Red Lion, walking about etc.

The only one I thought was a bit meh was Tors.

I believe Damien Wilson stayed all weekend too.

Wasn't he up on stage during MOTL?

Sorry to double post, but must gave much credit to the crew for all the hard work they must have done to keep the show on the road during the winds.  There was a reference to a panic at 4am on Saturday morning - don't know exactly what that was, but it sounded like it was all hands on deck to make sure that the show went on.  And is it true that we were the only festival not cancelled on Saturday?

+1
I heard it was all hands on deck reinforcing the stage and taking other bits n bobs down.
A shout out to the scouts too,as well as the annual field tidying they were also on hand on the campsites putting tents back up that had come back down on hurricane Saturday.
Deserved every pound of their collection
Heroes every one

Yes, we spotted him chatting to fans ...he was so charismatic he just shone out even just walking around. And yes, he was on stage for MOTL.

He does have oodles of charisma  ;D I was particularly impressed with how he got back up on the stage after jumping down for the second time. Very sprightly and fit for a 49 year old!!!  :o

Not sure, but there was a load of rushing around making things safe before the field was opened on Saturday. The stage was cleared a couple of times until it was passed as safe. Some of the trader's stands had banners taken down and there were preparations for if things got worse.
In the end the arena opened twenty minutes late. That is people being in control of the situation, real organisation and everybody knowing their job.

No, I think Boomtown went ahead in Winchester but suffered some devastation on their campsites. The winds in the south were apocalyptic for about 24 hours. I think Cropredy only got a relatively short burst of it.

Have to say one disappointment for me this year was the state of the field at the end of the night. I'm sure a lot of people on that field would be the first to tut at pictures of the mess at Reading and Glastonbury. Litter everywhere and lots of glass bottles left dangerously around. No excuses, plenty of bins around the site that were never over flowing.

why don't they go down the refundable cup route?  if executed properly it makes a heck of a difference, as i'm sure you know Addie.

apologies for the double post.
to lighten the mood.....

quotes of the weekend:
Wendy, is that a mushroom in your hand?  (me)
[on putting up the tents in a field full of cow poo]....'all around my pat' (G)
i've spent all day looking for an erect penguin (me)
[at approx midday] mum, do you want a shot of tequila? (G).  (me) no i f*ucking do not!
[to G via sms] are you coming up to F8, this band will only have a short set?  [reply] yeah we are just playing drinking games with Ed's mum and dad and Jenny has to roll down the hill then we will be there...............
the GoGo wotsits (G) renaming Gogol Bordello
waft wasper (me), new name for a paper hand fan (bought minutes before the winds got up rendering them completely unneccessary)


and i loved the sign at the bottom entrance - camping , glamping, tramping.......etc, best one yet!

and some very wrong cards against humanity!

I am sitting reading all the reviews......thanks everybody but my deep sadness is that I haven’t missed ,Cropredy, when for well over 20 years it was the focus of our summer. Things move on I suppose and we are loving smaller fests and new discoveries. To Cropredy friends ,who I miss, hope to see you down the road somewhere.......

Dave, honestly, we get the message.

Sorry Andy, I genuinely forget I have said things before these days. Mea Culpa. My short term thingy is genuinely starting to worry me......I have obviously voiced this opinion somewhere before.......😱
Apologies again..

I don’t think he meant it like that...sorry for interpreting another, but I just thought Andy meant that we do get it, how we may only meet some others a long way down that road even though we all love Cropredy.

This is a safe forum for us to share our thoughts and feelings so I think no apology is needed.

up at the top of the field is was really clean - as usual - I noticed.  was this further down the field?

merely intrigued because that "glasto rubbish stren site" image went through my head as I left Sat evening after FC and I was thinking how clean it all was up the top end

 I beg to differ. Certainly the downfield was disgusting imo. I'll have a proper rant and post some pics later.😡🙄

Reported on Radio Oxford that the Scouts had swept (literally?) the field within an hour of the end of the show on Saturday night and cleared all of the litter and debris.

I think they said 150 Scouts (but I may be misremembering that) in a line "sweeping" the field from top to bottom. Quite a sight apparently.

Thanks but I think he meant ‘shut the f... up!😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

 ;D ;D ;D

If the cap fits...

Whatever happened to "It's nice to be nice"? Thought that was a forum rule.

C'mon Andy, you are better than that.

Finally back from returning our hired titchy little van... phew!

Despite a few awkward moments a couple of weeks ago when we thought we might miss our 30th Cropredy, we got there, we survived the (at times pretty rough) weather and we got home safely.

I loved most of the music, with just a couple of exceptions, I loved the different types of food that kept me going, I loved our position on the field this time, and most of all I loved meeting so many of our Cropredy friends.

40 years of Cropredy... long may it continue.

Oh yes and the tribute Jan worked so hard on for Maart...  I thought she did such a great job of it, well done Jan Lane!

For those of us not there, what was this please?  :)

There’s a piece in the programme by Jan and she was on stage during Fairport’s set
With a wonderful photographic tribute to Maart along with some of his music.

Hopefully it might appear on YouTube or somewhere soon...  hope so.

The field went quiet listening (apart from peeps behind us talking through it grrrrrrr!), but it was truly
Heartfelt.

I heard it on the radio and thought it was wonderful. Jan spoke very well (I couldn't do that to a field of thousands!!) and it was a lovely tribute to Maart. I hope the film is available to view somewhere.

Excellent - thanks  :)

Some selfish b*****s came and stood right in front of me and some others in the seated sectio during her speech. When my politer-than-me chair neighbour asked them nicely to move they said they wanted to hear what she was saying.  At the expense of four or five others neither seeing nor hearing it grrrrrr

this is going to be a quite long and possibly contraversial post, it is based on my experience of spending most of cropredy with a group of people in their early 20s and comparing things to many other festivals, so buckle up.
this was our n17th cropredy, and sadly my youngest daughter Daze chose not to come this year.  Georgie would not miss it for the world.
so we left Norfolk at 06:15 on Thursday with a playlist on in the car.......Cara Dillon, Blair Dunlop, The Levs, Bellowhead, Abba, FC, RT, Ed Sheeran, Pearce Brothers, Sam Sweeney............a playlist put together by my 23 yr old daughter.  we had already cried when MotL played before 9am.
we arrived somewhere around 10am i think and both remarked on the lack of traffic and ease of entry to the site.

tents up on backpackers and car parked in the williamscott car park we took on the wasps at the pav and met with, sadly, a lot fewer old friends than usual.
we then did what has become a bit of a habit for us and stayed at the tents playing silly buggers (this year it was cards against humanity) until the evening.

we walked on to the arena field in the middle of Tors.

*this post is important as it illustrates the differences and the similarities of what the people half my age want from Cropredy compared to us old farts.*

G absolutely loved Tors.  

then came the GB experience, a first time for G.  she was blown away, i mean really.  you could see the excitement and the energy in her rise and she was just so entranced by them.  she then proceeded to have a friendly banter with Slippy (who is not so keen on GB) about what FC should be booking to keep the festival alive.........twas an amusing conversation with a lot of laughing (Slippy has known my kids many years).

the evening became more sedate as we moved toward the front and danced arm in arm to the Waterboys - my kids have been listening to the Waterboys through me their whole lives.

F8 beckoned and we caught the end of a band called.....Mountain Face? maybe? i don't recall but they were young, high energy proper folk and G and Ed (by this point we had picked up Ed) loved it.

day 1 completed with no casualties (except my touch of heatstroke and getting drowned on the way home) but there were many laughs and smiles and grest music.

day 2, G and i were up and at it surprisingly early and in a good state of mind, me having got over the heatstroke.  we had had breakfast, lost Ed to his family and were on the field at about 11.30, so found ourselves in the unusual position of seeing the first band up.......we were not disappointed.  i was surprised that a girl G's age was so taken by The 4 of us.  sadly Will Pound and Eddy Jay didn't have the same effect on e ither of us so once again we wombled back to the tent to chill out a bit, and didn't see Wildwood Kin.  we did hear very well from our camping spot but i don't think i would have benefitted from being there.

this is really where it gets interesting for me, so i will stop the blow by blow account of our weekend and cut to what made me think.

i almost had to drag G in to see W&W, she was like, mum i don't even know who *Rick* Wakeman is, but i said no, please come with, i have high expectations.............and lo and behold, she totally fell in love with tem, as did i.  she didn't realise but one of the songs on her playlist was by them so she knew all the words!  another unexpected find for the kids.

i went back to the tent to change and spent some time watching Caravan separately from the kids but we met up at F8 to watch a young band called Green Diesel who some of you may be familiar with from Acorn Fayre, they were as good if not better than any Cropredy band on that main stage, i really think they deserve a turn up there one Friday or Saturday afternoon.

we returned, actually we legged it, back to the field for RT where again i parted company with the kids, i did message G to see what she was up to - they were right at the front loving it!
then possibly the oddest thing of the weekend for me.....i got really into Frank Turner and was in there with a friend dancing away in the rain, again i messaged G to see where she was and meet her for a dance because i thought they would be loving it too.....they didn't get him and went home to bed!  i did not expect that one!

Saturday is always the day we have a mooch about the village until Digance has finished but i think this year we saw more on the main stage than usual. we were respectful of but not taken by Daphne's Flight. the kids were impressed with the rapping in pearls.

Sin' Dogs divided us but we saw the good in it and had a right laugh about it, that genre is not on G's playlist but she has been dragged up around folkies, bikers and metalheads and has had the Download experience so it was not so much of a shock for her as it was a choice.  fair play, i thought their booking was a stroke of genius.


it was then we really parted company, physically, as i was about to take Martin Barre very seriously......i needed to be alone and experience it. Tull are one of my all time favourite bands, top 3 i think.  i left the main stage after that and left my daughter to carry on the legacy at the toast.

the point of this tedious post?
i don't know how many times 'the kids', of which G and Ed were alongside me the most but there is a good group of them who have grown up doing Cropredy together who wandered in and out of the radar, said how *they* wanted the festival to move forward because they all, bar none, want to keep going, but they all know it has to evolve.
they want to see more upbeat energetic bands build up the energy as the afternoons progress.  they are all appreciative of acoustic and trad but they want a more lively feel as they move into the evening..........

many of these 'kids' are used to going to much bigger festivals with multiple stages and would like to see more of it at Cropredy, F8, the Fringe and the Edge are moving it in that direction.

i feel like there is not much to see at Cropredy.  it's not much of an attack on the senses.  not much effort is made with the site at all.  
that said we love it, but why?  a lot of it is nostalgia, because we always go, we have a lot of memories, and occasionally they will pull a corking line up out of the bag like for me, this year, but listening to the kids tlk this year, and reading all of the comments on here, i feel like it has to lmove forward. GB and Sin' Dogs is going in the right direction.

if you stuck with that, well done!

 ;D
 ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D.

Al, don’t take it too seriously. I know Andy. The humour is dry. I hope his tongue is firmly in his cheek....

Abby - I read to the end! But I don't see how your story proves your point. You seem to be saying that your young folk found something to like about a lot of the performers, and therefore the festival needs to change. I don't understand how the first point leads to the second?

For what it’s worth I thought Simon’s voice was in tip top condition and that he sung beautifully all night. This is not rose tinted spectacles 2 days after the event, I commented on it at the time. Oh well wouldn’t it be boring if everyone saw things in the same light.

Completely agree Abby. I certainly fall in the 'old farts' category this being my 34th consecutive Cropredy. But it does need to evolve and offer more.

Why are those two bands in particular going in the right direction? Some liked them, some hated them, some were just whelmed by them. It certainly wouldn't be the right direction for me...just saying. With respect, its about more than just what your kids want, there are many other people to please.

I thought they were quite ‘niche’..maybe I am becoming an old f*rt myself, but looking around at the people, most around us weren’t feeling the love.

We felt they were out of keeping with the festival. I think younger acts like The Pierce Brothers appeal to the younger generation as well as keeping the spirit of the festival.

If we are talking big names, for the younger generation, the likes of Sam Smith, Jess Glynne, Tom Walker, Rag ‘n’ Bone Man would be more in keeping ( though possibly too expensive at the moment).

i think, and i am not entirely sure myself, that my point is they want more of it......thry want it to be more....harder......i don't know.  listening to my daughter lamenting about how the levs came on and did a disappointing acoustic set (for whatever reason) last year was interesting.  knowing that she was at the front for RT.  watching her laugh at the 'signs'.  seeing her face as she discovered new music and holding her and crying with her as we went back to old places.

they don't want Cropredy to disappear from what we all know it as, but they want it to turn into something more......
i'm sure G could articulate this much better.

she wasnt alone in her thoughts - us far older group all left during their set.

didds

you can see these people anywhere, any weekend at any festival.  this is not really the kind of acts we are talking about.  they are mainstream.  'my' kids are talking about new and exciting folk stuff, some trad, some very not, some high energy, some very not.

i'm not posting this to say i think this or that should happen, i just noticed a feeling amongst my younger companions which i think needs some thought.  
they love coming to Cropredy with their families.  they could all buy a ticket to Reading if they wanted to but they still come to Cropredy because they love it. but they have their opinions on how it could move forward and that is all i am trying to convey.  heck, we all know we old folkies aren't going to live forever.  the kids don't want it to end there.

Yes, you are right about seeing them anywhere, I was thinking getting numbers up and being more in keeping.

For more ‘metal’ stuff, one of our young friends is into Arch Enemy...these, at least, have great guitar solos though I still don’t get the growly, shouty singing.

I've been convinced for years that ELO was going to be announced as a headliner! They'd be brilliant. Queen would be good too, as would The Who. We don't know the budget so why not dream?   ;D

I definitely didn't go for the line up this year, I thought it was quite weak, but I go for the craic as much as the music. As is already mentioned, people expect more these days than just a nice vibe and good music. I'm really glad Cropredy is expanding, Field 8 is a success, the Glamping sold out and The Edge is a great place to go. We have the 2 pubs and other things organised in and around the village. It will only carry on if it grows and starts to offer more.

I'm sure there was a time when the first car boot was proposed and people moaned about it!!! Now they love it  :)

Oh wow, now there's a name I never thought I would see suggested to play Cropredy.  ;D  I'll buy a ticket today if they are booked for next year. I'm not sure if there has ever been a decent metal band play at Croppers, get 'em.

all of this, Bridge x

I agree the mix needs to change if they are to encourage continued attendance from a younger age group. Having said that, Zal Cleminson is 70 and probably didn't appeal to youngsters, but I loved him and his Sin Dogs. A refreshing change from one or two more drab acts earlier in the weekend.

The budget definitely has a lot to do with it or James Taylor would have been on by now.

Umm I didn’t actually suggest them  ;D

Changing the subject, did anyone go for the glamping and, if so, how was it?

i know a certain Dad Volt was in there, don't know what the verdict is apart from posh bog roll.

My review that I put on Facebook.
"We arrived around 1pm on the Wednesday which in itself was lovely. Presented with Glamping and Festival wristbands there and then which was nice. FC tote bag with programme, poncho and steel water flask. The staff were  thoroughly lovely and gave us a guided tour of the facilities.  Our tent was great for our needs (2 doubles). The fridges were useful (to be honest we only used it for milk). Unlimited tea and coffee available whenever. We didn't use the bar,but ate breakfast there once. We intended to have another one but they stoped serving at 10am. During the worst of the storms the staff were constantly checking the tents and guys. Toilets and showers definitely a cut above the normal. The field was just 5 minutes opposite the top entrance of the arena,so not too far. There was a buggy service for people with limited mobility.  An undocumented feature was the fantastic sound quality for the soundchecks etc! Overall it was a thoroughly interesting experience, personally I missed camping with my usual mates but I would certainly say it was worth it and we may well repeat the experience next year."

I think I’m sold!!

One thought about the camping generally and the weather conditions. I was in Field 4 and it was actually pretty tricky to get the usual tent pegs into the ground due to the length and thickness of grass. Thankfully we had some more heavy duty longer pegs in the bottom of the tent pole bag but it seemed the grass was longer than usual. I understand it is grazing land but wonder if this was a factor on some tents having problems as they weren't properly anchored into the soil through the grass even if it seemed that they were.

DW

The glamping option has convinced my wife to come with me next year after a 10 yr absence!

The grass was definitely thicker than usual in field 2, but problems with pegs were more than compensated for by the lack of cow pats. As for guys, we tied the gazebo to the car as well as multiple guys with the result that the metal struts  sheared right off in tbe wind.

Just to expand on what Dad Volt said re. Glamping..  I never had to queue for a loo or a shower (the latter were roomy and had plenty of hot water), also on my visits they were always clean.  Indeed the overall experience was that everything simply felt like less hassle than usual.  The bell tents were big so plenty of space to stand up/move around and store your stuff.  On our first night we discovered our double height mattress was a bit under inflated as I slid out of bed in bouncy castle mode!  Once reported the next morning the crew were round with a pump to put matters right.  They were also working well on Saturday morning fixing pinged guy ropes and checking for problems. All the bell tents stayed up in the wind.

The shared fridges and hot drink facilities were useful, as was the phone charging and relaxing tent.  A 'pampering' tent was also there complete with mirrors and hairdryers.  It was nice to be able to leave your phone/device charging unattended (as many did) without worrying about it going missing.  I didn't use the buggy transport to the main field but it was there for those who needed it.

It is difficult to justify glamping on a VFM scale, circa £500 is a lot of money for a tent/camping weekend on top of your festival ticket.  When the tickets for 2020 become available just before Xmas, for some I suspect it will be a hefty chunk of money to find at that time of year.  Overall though, ourselves and our chums/neighbours said there is probably no going back so a repeat next year is likely!

Agree about the length of the grass on Field 4.  It struck me as soon as I got the tent out of the car on Thursday morning.  I don't know if that affected the stability of the tent - I'd wondered why I felt a bit chilly overnight and when I got up on Sat am found that some of the pegs had been pulled out in the wind, even the side I was sleeping.  Thankfully I had some extras, so double-pegged as far as possible, and they all held after that.  I hope I managed to get them all out again, and think I did, but with the length of the grass it would have been easy to have missed some.

The flexible pole holding the entrance up twisted so much in the wind on Saturday afternoon that many of the sections split lengthwise though!  Thankfully it was good to enough to still use that night but has gone in the bin now.

Over the years, I've gradually upgraded my camping equipment in order to improve comfort.  Sadly, this year, one of my airbeds decided unexpectedly (I'd tested them over the previous weekend!) to deflate repeatedly, which has resulted in my lower back being very stiff and achy ever since.

So, for future years, I'll either be looking for hotel accommodation (if attending all 3 days), or for Saturday-only visits, using a replacement sleeping facility for the tent.

However, while not wishing to become a Chair-porter (  ;) ), I may well invest in one of those little foldable cushion jobs. Or a (telescopic? shooting-stick...

Thinking of talk re headliners etc I have had a quick trawl through comparable festivals to see the other bands on the circuit this year - would any of these have made a difference to Cropredy 2019:

WICKHAM: Frank Turner / Graham Nash / Judy Collins / Proclaimers / Level 42 / Gilbert O'Sullivan

CORNBURY: Specials / Keane / Beach Boys / Echo + Bunnymen / KT Tunstall / Gaz Coombes

MOSELEY: Don McLean / Jake Bugg / Public Service B'casting / Edwyn Collins / Zutons

TOWERSEY: Cockney Rebel / From the Jam / Selecter

CAMBRIDGE: Ralph M / Lucinda Williams

I think looking at these that the Cropredy line up wasn't too bad this year, and a lot of the bands at other fests have played Cropredy in the past (Selecter / Proclaimers / Level 42 / Cockney Rebel). What seems clear from Towersey, Moseley and Cambridge is that "folk" festivals seem to have real problems in getting folk bands with a big enough reach to generate interest with the more folky acts being on the undercard.

DW

Lucinda , Graham Nash and Cockney Rebel would suit me fine.

I was happy with the headliners at Cropredy this year but from the list of others:

Thursday night: KT Tunstall (if with a band)

Friday night; Keane

Saturday afternoon special guest: From the Jam
Saturday solo pre Fairport: Ralph M
Saturday Fairport guest: Graham Nash with Fairport for 1/2 hour of hits

DW

Would love that line-up!

Not sure about Keane for Cropredy. Don't get me wrong. I like them but they might be a bit Marmite for a Cropredy audience. Lucinda Williams would be excellent for Cropredy but not as a headliner as she would not bring in a big audience of her own.

Saw Michael Franti & Spearhead in Camden last night.


They would blow the lid off at Cropredy.

If not KT Tunstall or Lucinda Williams, how about Amy Macdonald? One of my all time favourites (saw her last year at The Barbican in London) is Mary Chapin Carpenter - now that would be wonderful (for me anyway  :) )

Does Cropredy actually have a lid?

#NotSeenThat

Me too. Her show in Worthing last year was one of my favourite gigs of the year.

And me. Keane are great but maybe not enough hits (not that that matters).

From the Jam are absolutely brilliant and would go down a storm

I'd like to see the pre-FC slot filled by a female artist for a change - KT Tunstill would be good for that.

And, yes, any member of CSN&Y would be most welcome  ;D

The Maart tribute photo-montage has appeared on the official Fairport YouTube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tn0JN8yFKVY

KT Tunstall is great but i have to say Keane are in the same bracket as Coldplay for me.....just a bit dull.

I shouldn't have watched this in work  :'(  :'( how beautiful

Same...it is all beautiful but the photo of Maart and Simon just really gutted me in particular for some reason.

Beautifully compiled and presented. Did 'im proud!  :) :'(

Re comments above...
Graham Nash was absolutely stunning at Cambridge this year. I wasn’t sure what to expect and with his usual guitar player and keyboard player he gave a consummate performance. He did not dial it in.
Conversely Lucinda Williams just went through the motions for me.

Graham Nash was bloody great at Wickham.

We had a conversation at Cambridge this Yr as to whether those big headlining folk bands still exist or they have shrunk, eg Levs, Oysterband, Steeleye, Show of Hands, Waterboys . Tempis Fugit and we are looking for bands to step into the shoes. They are there in musical terms but probably not with the pulling power.
Incidentally the Rails were on their game at Cambridge as was Jack Broadbent , both of whom would have been perfect for Cropredy.

Keane would be brilliant for cropredy....
They were brilliant at cornbury earlier this year and certainly bought the people in....

Sam Kelly and the lost Boys, Skerrivor, Tide Lines, Galley Beggar, The Decemberists, Offa Rex, Skinny Lister, ferocious Dog, Skimpnish, are all (but by no means exclusively) great folk rock acts that are on the up.

Kate Rusby is a headliner and Seth Lakeman has headlined a night at Cropredy

Book all of them and just watch the festival sell out!

You might need to add a big name for Thursday night so let’s invite Mr Plant’s latest band.

Nope it wouldn’t sell out! Many of those acts named have already played Cropredy, some more than once, and as they say many times, Cropredy is not a Folk Festival but a general music festival

Keane
The specials
Seasick steve(brilliant last time)
Alice cooper(sold out last time)

These are Thursday/Friday acts that would sell tickets and in the last two cases have proved to sell tickets...
I heard a tale that a couple of years ago it was proposed to have Aerosmith at the festival but the organising committee voted against it....
If true how many tickets would have been sold .....

A definite 2 from me!!

The Specials would sway it for me too.

Graham Nash and KT Tunstall would be good, and I too like the Specials.

I was at the Brecon Jazz Festival last week and in one of the fringe locations was his tribute act Sicknote Steve.

I managed to avoid him as I did the other one.

Yes didn’t take to Seasick Steve last time he played Cropredy. In fact it was one of the few times we left early as his songs all sound the same and even the appearance of John Paul Jones failed to lift my enthusiasm  :-[

Seasick Steve is a character created by Steve Leach / Wold.

See this article (https://www.theguardian.com/music/musicblog/2016/sep/29/seasick-steve-session-musician-ramblin-man-book).

No, I'm not a fan.

Found the whole debacle very distasteful and regretted buying his album. Would definitely not like to see him on the bill - but realise others may not mind so much!

I thought he was really dull, as I did at BD a few years later. I also bought a CD a few years before he turned up at Croppers and it's poor. Last festival he headlined that I was at, I watched someone on the second or third stage instead.
The Reverend Paytons Big Damn Band are in similar musical territory and are much, much better, although less of a draw sadly.

We love Seasick Steve and would be very happy to see him on the bill (and in the mosh swigging from a bottle of JD!)  :D

It just goes to show we all like and want something different, which is by no means a bad thing. I loved Level 42, others were appalled that Cropredy had "sunk to booking 80's bands". My fave year ever was the one with Steve Hackett and the Australian Pink Floyd, and it sold out that year, despite both those bands touring extensively.

I'm sure Simon, Peggy et al will book great acts for next year and most of us will go regardless of the line up and have a great time, but we definitely need a good, solid headline act to attract a good crowd. It might be nicer with less people, but that doesn't pay the bills.

Agree with all you said. Thinking about 80’s bands though maybe that’s an area that could possibly be explored more? As we’ve talked about before Bridg we’ve both seen Tears for Fears recently who would provide a superb show for Cropredy. As would the likes of ABC, Marc Almond, Blancmange and possibly China Crisis, Heaven 17, Human League etc etc...there’s plenty such bands stlll around....just a thought  

There were a lot of decent 80s / 90s bands still touring in their own right and not just a part of nostalgia weekends, I would add OMD, Echo and the Bunnymen, Paul Young, Billy Ocean, Simple Minds, The Pretenders, The Lightning Seeds, Paul Heaton,

DW

Yep all good. I just put a few down to get the ball rolling  ;D

I feel they'd need to be careful about not becoming a old-bands-revisited type festival. I work a bar on a one day festival local to us that is exactly that and while lots and lots of people enjoy it clearly, I don't think its where Cropredy need go.  And while its not also an out and out folk, or even folk-rock or prog-rock festival, and I'm not hung up on that anyway, I cant say many 80s bands were much cop (I appreciate this is a personal and subjective area!).  Our group all left for level 42 the other year.  Mind you we also left for levellers sitting down and strumming!  LOL.

Its a tough call though - I thought Madness were somewhat unengaged and going through the motions, and that beatles tribute was pretty naff frankly.  Can't recall if they actually headlined but Hayseed Dixie were great!

didds

Oh yes all of those (except Marc Almond who I can't abide, but I know he's popular). Can we add in The Cure too please. Can we? Can we?  :D

 ::)

Would love to see the Cure . They would have to shorten their set though.

OMD are terrific live, particularly doing a hits set but judging by the ticket prices on their own 2019 tour, they may be beyond Cropredy's budget. They were certainly beyond mine.  :(

How about some funk - get Nile Rogers and Chic! Awwww - Freak Out!!  O0  8)  ;D

Or some good old blues! I’m seeing both The Blues Band (with Paul Jones, Dave Kelly et al) and Nine Below Zero (Denis Greaves, Mark Feltham etc) locally again this year. Both bands are still terrific live and would put on great sets I reckon

This is an appalling admission of ignorance but I had no idea that Denis Greaves was in Nine Below Zero. Somewhere in my collection I have a Denis Greaves & the Truth album which I bought mostly because it was produced by Andy Piercy from After The Fire.

I believe Denis and Mark were founder members of the band...at least both were in the band when I first saw them way back in 1979! Oh that makes me feel old - 40 years ago OMG! (as the kids say!)

Same year I first saw After the Fire, at the Marquee in Wardour Street. My first ever gig.

OK, so we'd collectively like some folk-rock, some rockin' blooz, a sprinkling of prog (Gong?), a dash of Cajun, a sunsplash of reggae, a couple of up and coming bands/performers, a big (80s?) name eg OMD.  How about maybe some African hi-life and a proper boppin' Balkan band?

Just please please no country and no electric hip hop, or people who can only sing with their voices squeezed through a Stephen Hawking machine...

Book it - Im there!

didds

PS and a parkrun and a hash run too!

I'm vetoing the no country rule. Steve Earle would be great for example. Or Lucinda Williams.

EmmyLou Harris and Rodney Crowell were great when they did it, although they were lumbered with even worse weather than Frank Turner and played to a very sparse crowd.

There's country and there's country. On one side are Steve Earle, Lucinda Williams, Alison Krauss, Lyle Lovett, Willie Nelson, Dixie Chicks, etc.  On t'other are Luke Bryan, Garth Brooks, Toby Keith, etc.  There are some straddling the line, such as maybe Kacey Musgraves.  If an artist is played regularly on the radio in Nashville, it's a good sign they're too country for Cropredy.  ;)

Dixie Chicks and/or Willie Nelson definitely for me although I understand Willie has been poorly lately (his version of You Were Always On My Mind ranks in my top 5 songs of all time)

This right here! Hot Club Of Cowtown would go down a storm for example. And if they were still around, BR5-49 would be a blast.

Is it me, or has this thread AND the Lots of Room thread turned into ‘Who we’d like to see at Cropredy’?

Maybe we should start a thread on that, so that we can have some more general chats about this year’s Cropredy.

It has! I love these discussions, it shows just how diverse TAW is - and hopefully we all have at least one band in common!

 ;D well, hope it’s THAT one...those Saturday headliners y’know.

"Maybe we should start a thread on that, so that we can have some more general chats about this year’s Cropredy."

Or just copy and paste the one from last year, or the year before..🤐  😉

 ;D

They should have headlined but didn't. I think, but might be getting mixed up, that UB40 headlined that night - I lasted 20 minutes. I obviously wasn't feelin' irie.  ::)

found it...  2016, thursday.  They preceded madness who were very unengaged I felt.

didds

Judging from the quantity of Cropredy soil that's just fallen off my car, into my drive, the fields must be being slowly eroded away.  :-\

Steve Earle would be great, but we saw Lucinda Williams at Wickham and, if that was a representative set, with all amps and instruments turned up to 11, then I'll pass next time...

Ah, well, I wasn't there in 2016. It was 2011 I was thinking of. Hayseed Dixie followed by UB40 as headliners. Should have been the other way round - or UB40 shouldn't have been there at all.

How about Lindisfarne and The Men They Couldn't Hang ? Plenty of quality songs with memorable rousing melodies from two bands on top form.  

Lindisfarne and Mark Knopfler are my top two.

Arcade Fire 'acoustic'..(yes they can, tis a delight )

Schedule permitting they might be tempted to do something different. + no heavy gear required.

Pat Benatar and Neil Geraldo.  :)

If you have Arcade Fire there, you're going to want them plugged in....

As I said, something different....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LEWn2a9HuXc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KxHvMjoos6o

@That's a VERY small room....Stand Up Bass there too.

Am I right in thinking that, apart from RT (who is a special case and playing further dates in Europe anyway), there were no US-based acts on the bill this year? Which perhaps reflects the cost of getting them to Cropredy and the reduced likelihood of seeing them there in the future (unless they already happen to be in the area).

Don't forget there are often clauses in contracts which forbid bands to play within a certain radius of a venue/festival for a certain amount of time. That can often prevent a performance...

Cowpats will decay and replace the topsoil over time  ;D

Either or both of those would suit me fine.  Along with Camel too.

I was lucky enough to see the original line up of Lindisfarne, 1973(!)@ Man Uni , with the inimitable Alan Hull. Since his death they have never been Lindisfarne for me.
 I know Fairport have only 1 original member Fairport have morphed into different bands through line up changes,but I do struggle with bands who have few original members  I know Simon’s theory that it is like an orchestra and other members come in but for me a band is an organic beast , the sum of it’s members....the WHO , without Moon and then without Entwhistle were certainly not the WHO....but this is only personal opinion.
Strangely I love the Waterboys , who have had more members than most but then it is really the Mike Scott band...a new band every time ,,,,,,usually with the ‘man who fiddles’ of course.
I saw the new lineup of Steeleye recently who were stunning and I just thought of them as a completely new, reinvigorated band with Maddy as the only link to the past.
So perhaps it is bands who replace players and become their own tribute band I have probs with.
But Tull has to have Martin Barre....etc etc.
Thoughts?

Lindisfarne have been so abjectly awful at times along the way (all those party albums/collaborations with Gazza etc etc etc) that just hearing anybody playing their wonderful stuff, especially if they're connected to the past in a tangible sense is a joy...

Fairport's longest serving member, of course, is Peggy, not Simon.  

It really does vary from band to band.  I don't have a problem with Fairport with one original member but I do with Status Quo or the Beach Boys.  Go figure.

Absolutely Dave...
and being pedantic I did say original member , not longest serving......
Loved the Floyd after Syd went but not after Roger left......there is no rhyme or reason, just personal taste

[quote author=Albie link=topic=46224.msg745732#msg745732 date

Ah, well, I wasn't there in 2016. It was 2011 I was thinking of. Hayseed Dixie followed by UB40 as headliners. Should have been the other way round - or UB40 shouldn't have been there at all.
[/quote]

Why not UB 40 - long term FC connection, decent musicians, major chart success ...?

DW

I’m probably putting this on the wrong thread but, tbh, I’m getting confused with all the crossover conversations. Anyway I see that Towersey Festival is already advertising its tickets for 2020 with artists such as Kate Rusby, Steeleye Span, Show of Hands, Grace Petrie etc already confirmed. So folk music isn’t dead and I wonder how quick the Fairport boys now have to move to get the acts they want. If they announce lineups earlier would that mean a higher interest level? Just wondering....

I would expect that most of Cropredy 2020 is already contracted; and that 2021 is well under plan.


Going back to comments about Lindisfarne . I saw them headline at Wirral Folk Fest in 2018.

Played for ninety minutes with song after song that we all knew, Rod Clemments , Alan Hull Jnr,  et-al.

Played with up tempo enthusiasm and put in a great show. Would love to see them again ,really great band with brilliant back catalog and full of enthusiasm to deliver it.

As a long time Lindisfarne fan, I have to agree with you. They still put on a great show. However, putting on my Pedantic hat (on sale at all good clothes shops!) Alan Hull Jr does not exist. The person you are probably referring to is Dave Hull-Denholm, who is Alan's son in law.

That's who I meant.I was not a big fan before seeing them live.

He was introduced as Alan's Son I thought , but might have been son in law.

He was very good though.

Whoever he is, he forgot the words to "Meet m on the Corner" at Wickham.

Easy to do, Andy
😉

Some of my favourite singers have forgotten words. I recall Roger Daltrey forgetting half a verse of 'Won't Get Fooled Again' many moons ago. Simon has forgotten a few over the years. And even my good friend Andy forgot the 'e' from 'Meet Me on the Corner' (allegedly) ;D ;D ;D ;D