TalkAwhile - The Folk Corporation Forum

Well, somebody had to start it...

I'd like to see the following at Cropredy next year:

AfroCelts
Corvus Corax
Home Service (or Rise Up Albions?)
Alan Stivell
Peatbog Faeries (with horn section)
Steve Hillage/Gong
Aussie Floyd

And, from these pages... Jimbo, Frog and Carrot, Abby, Bassline Mike, Rob Doyle, Robin and all the other regulars we missed last week

Aussie Floyd last appeared in 2014, which was the year I was whisked off to hospital, so it would be nice to actually see them this time!

Alan Stivell & Dan Ar Bras
Ray Davies (to headline the Thursday or Friday)  ... although I don't know if any of those 3 are still musically active !
Lindisfarne
Green Diesel to be promoted from the fringe

Lindisfarne, Mark Knopfler, Lankum, Paul Heaton and Jacqui Abbott, Suzi Quatro

I think Lankum are one of the best bands in the world at the moment, but I'm unsure how they'd do on the field...

- The Decemberists (will probably be touring a new album by then, so perhaps a little less unlikely?)
- The Rails
- The Longest Johns (given how well Fisherman's Friends went down, would be an obvious choice.)
- Richard Hawley
- Bonfire Radicals

Wilco
Bright Eyes
Boygenius
Jason Isbell
Drive by Truckers
Gaz Brookfield
Love
Saw Doctors
Ian Hunter
Tedeschi Trucks
Camper van Beethoven
Ryan Adams
Rosanne Cash
Steve Harley
Reg Meuross

Thats Thursday sorted!

KT Tunstall. Please.

with Suzi Q maybe?

I think Lankum would storm a mid-afternoon session as long as they kept away from, the slow, reflective harmonium-driven stuff and stuck to the lively ballads etc.

Thanks Paul…fingers crossed!

Off the top of my head, based on possibly possible rather than highly unlikely:
The Decemberists
Yusuf/Cat Stevens
The Longest Johns
Ocean Colour Scene
Joe Jackson
Magnum

Billy Strings.

He's almost too big these days (Stateside)...virtually playing stadiums now?  I do think bluegrass would be great in the field though.  How many people really dislike Bluegrass...it's almost impossible not to dance to.

What a top class selection.
I fully support it (although this won`t help much :-) )

Big Big Train
The Albion Band (to perform material from Rise Up Like the Sun...and other gems)
Feast of Fiddles
Camper Van Beethoven (I see this has previously been suggested)
Bully Wee Band (to reform for this)

I'm sure there have been discussions about this in the past.  I'm kind of surprised it hasn't happened at some point over the last few decades - sadly I think it would have done already if it was ever going to.

In that case they should get Molly Tuttle https://youtu.be/LeHlvXvG6vA

Naming no particular acts, for the mid-afternoon dance-along stuff, two genres I think would go down a storm are cajun/zydeco and bangra.

That would be nice.

BS is far more than bluegrass though.

I put a "Rise Up Like The Sun Line-up Re-creation" band on my wish list every year. Ric has stated that he'd love to do it, and obviously no-one's getting any younger. It would also increase the profile of the RULTS album, which has unjustifiably started to lurk in the shadows somewhat.

So my wish list for 2024, apart from the above, would be :

Pretenders, Zombies, Stranglers, Show Of Hands (a last hurrah at Cropredy ?), Yes (politics of the current lineup aside), Beach Boys (the Mike & Bruce version as Brian's visited already), Rick Wakeman (someone who "gets" Cropredy), Jason Isbell, Bonnie Raitt, KT Tunstall (hopefully with Suzie Q).

And a possibly controversial request - could they rest Digance for 2024 ?

And no, the old "if you don't like him, ignore him, don't watch him, go to the Red Lion or Brasenose or the village" chestnut doesn't wash - I'm a potential punter and I'm entitled to an opinion. That slot could be used by a different comedian, or an up and coming musical act.

It's all pretty rooted in bluegrass though isn't it?  Even when he's rocking out playing Grateful Dead music with Billy and the Kids or whatever...

His 6 awards at the 2022 International Bluegrass Awards ceremony suggests more than a passing interest in the genre ;)

Jasper Carrott was a riot a few years back.

No, I don't like Mr D. and the feeling is mutual, or at least was, the last-but-one time he recognised me and we interacted.

He didn't recognise me when he met me this Croppers because he was distracted at the time.

Rajasthan Heritage Brass Band are great for the latter.

In the singalong eighties slot which seems to have become a feature, I would have Deacon Blue...soundtrack of my college years.

Saving Grace ft. Robert Plant. Agree about Suzi Quattro and KT Tunstall. Can I assume also, we are due the maestro RT, again?

I like Adam’s list...Yusuf Cat Stevens’ show was just ethereal and beautiful at Glastonbury...We only saw it on TV. Having seen him at Cropredy before, when if I recall, he only seemed to do couple of well known songs, we’d love to see him now he does appear to perform the back catalogue, again, as well as some beautiful new tracks.

I have the usual couple of fantasy acts, but they are pie in the sky!

Taylor Swift - performing all of Folklore.

(I can dream, can't I?)

All very brilliant suggestions, but some we have seen before. Cropredy has to invite new fans, thus I presume Nile Rogers this year, a bit of disco and very popular choice. I can think of loads of people but respect Fairports choice on this matter, after all they are paying the bills! I think this year's ticket price was really good considering prices had gone up so much...well done the guys !!

Is it DFairport's choice though?

Ive seen a few remsarks this yrear that seems to suggest its a different "section" rather than the band members themselves, though Id imagine (?!) they have a final say on the suggested lineuops before contracts are signed?

Either way, there’s no harm in people having a bit of chat about who they’d like to see  :)

Aww. Cheers, Paul.  :)

Ooo thinking cap on! Lots already mentioned plus
- Graham Nash with a band
- Bellowhead for a one-off reunion
- George Thoroughgood
- Susan Tedeschi
- Jack Johnson
- Porcupine Tree/Stephen Wilson
- Sparks
- America
And if we’re doing disco on a Thursday Barry Gibb!  ;D

You would invite Susan without Derek?

I wondered about that!

I could agree with several of those suggestions.

I'd like to add:

a return for Sam Kelly and the Lost Boys.  
Also Kaprekar's Constant for the prog slot (if we can't have Big Big Train, who would be wonderful).
Bruce Cockburn
Ian Matthews
Skippinish, Tide Lines or Peatbog Faeries
Oysterband
Nick Mason's Saucerful of Secrets
TradArrr on the main stage again
Peter Knight's Gigspanner Big Band or Feast of Fiddles

Would be nice to see Teddy Thompson or Margo Cilker for a bit of country-style americana.

Agreed on all three of these, but SoS are very expensive nowadays.

Also, that would probably mean the now traditional Wednesday night at the Brasenose gig for TRADarrr being less successful, I, for one, would probably not go on Wednesday if they were on later in the week on the main stage.

We did it a few years ago at the Banbury trades and Labour club the day bor so before they played the main stage and they were great both times

Decemberists
TRADArrr
Men They Couldn’t Hang (Also Naomi Bedford & Paul Simmonds)
Track Dogs

So did we, but their set needs a revamp for next year anyhow, (IMHO)

Gosh no! I kinda assumed he would accompany her…

Can I add Supertramp too, or at least Roger Hodgson. I doubt Rick would be well enough.
And as this is fantasy Cropedy, The Who, From The Jam & James Taylor with Bonnie Rait as his special guest. Well, I can wish!

I dont think thats quite the right way of putting it!! Its been The Tedeschi Trucks band for about 13 years!! And Derek was the bigger name before that (although I do adore Susan).

Roger did Breakfast in America, The Logical Song, Open the Door and Give a Little Bit with Fairport in 2000.

https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/fairport-convention/2000/cropredy-festival-field-cropredy-england-5bde1fa4.html

Just look at the size that setlist.  2 and a bit hours?  Pah...  ;) :) ;D

Bit younger then!

Some good choices that might get me back for the 55th. But the one I came to suggest has been reinforced by davidmjs’s signature: Half Man Half Biscuit.

A band still at their peak of their powers (I saw them a couple of years back...genuinely one of the best live bands I've seen in aeons).  Probably a bit niche tbh for some but I'd love to see it (well, hear about it)...

What about mine!  ;D

Oh sorry! I meant yours! Doing this on a phone and it’s all squished and confusing!

I would be totally up for The Decemberists and Nick Mason's Saucerfull of secrets

But also how about...
 
Kula Shaker
Kangaroo Moon
The Leylines

And a big thumbs up for Tankus the Henge .....they would ginger up the crowd a bit!  


I am afraid that I thought Jasper Carrott was abysmal when he got up and did a quick turn a few years ago,  but I have never found him funny.

Yes I think Davids may arise from another country altogether!

Another yes for Tankus the Henge!

And can I add China Crisis please?

Also Sam Sweeney. I play his last album a lot and he’d be a lovely afternoon act.
And Jim Moray, particularly with a full band, although he’d be a good fit for the pre-FC solo slot.

Artists who have already appeared but should be asked back:
Wishbone Ash
Oz Pink Floyd
The Blockheads
Midge Ure
Turin Breaks (I’d have them every year tho!)

I saw The Magpie Arc, featuring Martin Simpson, Nancy Kerr and Findlay Napier at FolkEast last weekend. Proper rollicking folk rock - they'd go down a storm at Cropredy, I think.

I'd like to propose William the Conqueror, Thea Gilmore, Midnight North and Tom Robinson.

Oh, I meant to include False Lights on my wishlist

Thea Gilmore would be fanatastic as would Tom Robinson who is a great musician and can really do a great solo show. I would like to add Gigspanner with Rayner Winn doing the Saltlines show. It was fabulous at Sidmouth this year, so creative and engaging.

Said it before, but Roger Daltrey. Not as unlikely as you might think: he did a tour of small venues last year with a great band. My daughter and I saw him at Liverpool Empire. This sounds almost sacrilegious, but we agreed recently that his solo concert was better than The Who at Edinburgh Castle in July of this year (and that was superb!). He played some Who bangers, some solo stuff, some covers, and some of the songs he recorded with Wilko Johnson.

Oh yes! What a shame Wilco wouldn’t be able to do a little guest spot

Always on my wish list. Paul Weller please.

Longest Johns, Boo Hewerdine & Eddi Reader

I second that. Roger's solo shows are always delightful and full of surprises, unlike Who shows (which can be painfully predictable).

Another for Thea Gilmore
Leisure Society
Paul Young
Nick Lowe
The Zombies
Steve Harley
Wonderstuff
Reef
Daphnes Flight
Gigspanner
Leverat
Magpie Arc

Really what I want is some great folk rock, a bit of nostalgia (80s / 90s for me), one classic band and some decent folk / acoustic down the bill.

I've said it before and I'll say it again (and again and again and...!!), I'd love to see a reunion of Robin and Barry Dransfield but I don't suppose there's even the slightest chance of that now.

There's a name from the past. I have got the classic "Dransfield - The Fiddler's Dream" album. Does anyone know what happened to R & B Dransfield?

Barry Gibb

The Bee Gees are some of the top song writers of all time. If the field could dance along (and it did!) to Freak Out and Material Girl, they’d definitely dance to Stayin’ Alive and You Should Be Dancing  8) I know I would!

This is only slightly tongue-in-cheek…  ;)

Does he still play live?

I think his arthritis is pretty bad now.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again...

I'd love to see Dawes on that stage.  Not sure if they ever play outside the US though.  I'd also like the reunited Long Ryders.

Rhiannon Giddens is an amazing purveyor of folk and roots music. Her 2023-2024 tour concludes in Austin next May and we'll be there. She's free in August.

Time is a funny thing. I was thinking he’d played the Legends spot at Glastonbury recently - turns out it was 2017! Anyway, he won’t be at Cropredy…

Saw them at Shrewsbury a few years ago and they have also backed Conor Oberst on a UK tour.

I think John Fogerty ( of CCR fame)   would go down well at Cropredy.  Tours frequently and very good show.

I would quite look forward to that!!  Real protest band during the Vietnam war years ....
There is a band doing  a tour at the moment I saw at the GBFF at Skegness ....2016 I think called Clearwater Creedence Revival, a bunch of guys from Yorkshire. They were Excellent. Brought the house down. Would highly recommend...booked for the Lowther Pavillion in Lytham 27th of this month. Certainly looking forward to that and reliving memories of the late 60's when we were were all much younger and better looking 😁😁🤣😂🤣😂

There's a band from Leeds called Creedence Clearwater Revival Revival. Are they who you're thinking of? If so, I'll second your opinion. They put on a terrific show.

Surely there must be a tribute band by now called Not the Hoople.

What about the real thing?

Hmm, a 70s disco band. Not sure if they're still going anyway?

My coat's on....

I'm always surprised Hunter has never made an appearance...

I did hear a rumour that Mott were replaced by Brian Wilson late on. Cant back it up at all, it was from an overheard conversation at the car boot.

Yes please

The next step up from Nile..

George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic

The Mutter Slater Band would be good early day fare on any day of the festival.

We heard a programme called Seek the Light on Radio 4 around lunchtime, with Karine Polwart presenting and some of her music.

We saw her perform somewhere years ago, not sure whether or not  she’s been to Cropredy,  but she would be nice for an afternoon slot.

(Just before that The Food Programme was about Festival Food...made me think how well Cropredy does with the food..Maccy D is definitely not on my wish list, but sounds like it’s making its way into festival foods).

Following Moseley, I would add the following to my Cropredy wishlist :

Stornoway (the new material is fantastic)
Granny's Attic
Wild Rivers
Wilco
Nogood Boyo (a bit sweary, but would go down well with the Dreadzone crowd)
Billy Bragg (don't think he's ever appeared, other than as an FC guest? Maybe too political, but I find his forthrightness both refreshing and inspiring.)

I'm looking forward to seeing the new Stornoway live soon.  Has Brian given up work with the WWT in Llanelli btw?

Granny's Attic are great.

I like Wilco, but my other half (just back from EotR) told me they were the dullest band she's ever seen.  She did point out others were loving it...I was amazed to see pictures of Jeff from there.  He's changed!

If Merry Hell can be welcomed then I'm sure Billy can.  He always gives good gig.

Wilco are amazing , Nels Cline is a monster , after RT my favourite guitarists are him and Derek Trucks. RT has been known to guest with Wilco. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u5tmVsUKCiY

Corvus Corax have announced their "Thousand Years of Dance Music" project for 2024.  I'd love to see them/that at Cropredy...

Don't think so - his programme interview suggests he's still at it.

I think Bridg has started a BB for Cropredy campaign.

I’ve just remembered about Rick Astley and The Blossoms doing the songs of The Smiths...( Glasto) ...wow it was amazing.

It would be great for Cropredy but he has gone mega these days, so maybe too big?

How about sticking to saying which acts you'd like to see and leaving the negative opinions elsewhere?

Thanks

Admin

Thanks...and good - that's some good work/music/life balance he's got going there!

Don't know if there is planned to be any concerts to go with it, but I've been enjoying the Bold Reynold album by David Carroll and friends (who include Chris Leslie and Dave Pegg), and if they were to put something on, Cropredy would be a great place for it!

Good call. That's a real good album

There is a band from Ulster called 'The Tumbling Paddies' who sing a mix of covers (including an uptempo Dirty Old Town which is a nice change) and traditional Irish songs. Their live album was out last month and they would certainly get the mosh pit jumping.

It's a genre I don't much go for (too much Paddywhackery for my liking) but for those who do, the Mary Whallopers are making a name for themselves over here.

As an aside, Dirty Old Town wasn't meant to be sung up tempo by raucous Irismen - discuss... {:-)

I saw them supporting the Saw Doctors in July, they were ok but nothing special, sticking to a pretty obvious paddywhackery  set list.
Thank The Pogues for making a wee Salford ditty an Irish anthem

Yeah, there seems to be a lot of this ott Oirish stuff around at the moment. Saw the Mary Wallopers at Moseley - undoubtedly they are good at what they do, but after ten minutes of it I'd had enough. It also irritates me a bit that people are left with the impression that songs such as Dirty Old Town are Irish - it feels as if a bit of my English cultural heritage is being appropriated.

Returning to the subject of Cropredy acts, personally I'd prefer it if the number of tribute/covers acts was restricted. Two a year is plenty.

Aye, well...talking of Dirty Old Town,  I just checked and Roger Whittaker is still alive. Unfortunately, I think he’s in retirement though.

Dropkick Murphys?

Come on it's been long enough now! One of the greatest Saturday afternoons ever at Cropredy!
Pierce Brothers!

I agree
 I'm guessing it was '16, '17 - Wkwttg? - and they earned a special place in Cropredy hearts imo, so bring them on...

Yes, it was...I agree, it would be great for them to appear again.

Agreed, loved their sets.