TalkAwhile - The Folk Corporation Forum

Has anyone seen dates /venues for the Winter tour yet ? Would appreciate it if someone could list them.

I suspect they're not listing them together deliberately in order to maximise sales for the Autumn tour?  But googling will provide your answer...or the one as it exists to date.

Just happy to hear , according to Exeter , DM is on board again

Seems to be more confirmed dates out now , just booked Lincoln 18 Feb 25

No Southport or Liverpool dates this time!!!

Going to the first night of the wintour tonight in Nottingham.

Last night - Tewkesbury - for me. Have a lovely evening. Not jealous at all...

Yes, I have to wait until almost the end of the tour too (26th Feb).  Have a great time tonight Jenny and Gareth!

It was a brilliant night…. Lots of old songs not heard for a long time, just fantastic.

I won’t mention any titles, but one had a bit of cosmic Ric 😁

The support Danny was great too.

We met friends there and even one who had come up from Somerset, which made the evening even more special.

Go if you can, you won’t regret it.

I can not recall the last Time I saw Fairport on one of their Winter tours, however yesterday morning as I was walking by the Nottingham Playhouse I called into the box office and enquired if they still had any tickets available...I duly purchased one. I must write that I really enjoyed the concert, far more than I had anticipated. Big shout out to Chris Leslie who is in fine voice. I am somewhat a fan of DM and it was a real pleasure watching and hearing him perform.

I was at the gig in Nottingham too - I did look out for you Jenny & Gareth, but didn't see you.

A very enjoyable concert, featuring a welcome dusting off of some older songs that haven't been aired in a while. Full Fairport setlist is behind the spoiler button...



It all felt very well-rehearsed and well-put-together, despite it only being day 1 of the tour and the sound engineer being a late replacement, as apparently the usual guy was taken ill. Musically they were spot on, and the jokes were up to the usual standard...

I would echo Jenny to catch them if you can...!

Grahame sorry didn’t see you there.

Oh, now, thank you for that - I was waiting for a set list before making a final decision on this tour. Gladys Leap was my first introduction to Fairport, so I’ve always had a bit of a soft spot for it. To the box office!

Nice set list.  I'm almost tempted....

To be honest, David - if they’d asked me to write it for them they wouldn’t have been far off…  8)

I'm toying with Hexham.  It's not impossible.  Would be first time in 15 years for me...  Gulp.

Davidmjs… just go it was wonderful!

If not Hexham, and wanting the NE, The Fire Station in Sunderland is a really great venue.

I'm in Cumbria so the nearer the better, but, yes, it is!

To be honest, I'd almost given up on Fairport what seems like years ago...I last visited Cropredy some 7 years ago...the last time Jude performed...although we were not to know that. I stood watcher Judes set with my best friend David and he told me prior to this that he was recording an LP with Jude in the not too distant future...in addition their would be a real possibility that Big Big Train would also be making an appearance...If only Covid hadn't struck, the David would have been able to have taken to the Cropredy stage...he like myself had been a long-time follower of the band and attended many previous Cropredy festivals...sorry I digressed! I never fully embraced Fairport when DM left so stopped attending their Winter tours but would attend Cropredy. I loved Gerry's playing in other groups I'd seen him with, yet I felt he was under-used within his playing ability...I simply could not get on with what became the longest standing (and sitting) lineup...May be (like others) there is sometimes a get off point and this can be for many reasons...yet on Friday last just before attending a memorial at the Nottingham Cathedral (close to the Playhouse) I called in and enquired about ticket availability...I must say I was so pleased to have attended the gig...it feels in part like a familiar Fairport...I'd love to return to Cropredy (lack of finances will ultimately dictate that). If in doubt, give them a go if they are visiting a town near you.  

It was a fab night last night, great set list and musically brilliant, a great night.
Last year Simon was ill with covid, good to have them all in their correct positions and performing so well song after song, an utterly jaw dropping Sloth!
 I think 2 years ago DM on drums seemed to drown out almost everything but this year the sound was perfectly balanced, loved DM on keyboards too.
Rising for the Moon aaah just perfect!  ;)

Another thumbs up from an occasional Fairport sceptic. There are already set spoilers up there ^ but suffice to say you do not want to be late back from the interval and you will definitely not want to skip out early to beat the queue for the bar at half time!
There’s been quite a freshen up to the running order with - to my mind at least - a healthy pruning of more recent material and a re instigation of a few songs to which (or maybe because) DM can bring a healthy robustness on drums, and a remarkable atmosphere on keyboard. Not concurrently, but I wouldn’t put it past him!
I was up in the balcony for a nearly sold-out Apex, so behind the PA and pretty much level with the backline, which afforded a great opportunity to watch the master at work, as well as catch a few onstage interactions, however either the monitor mixes were impeccable or the FOH was perfectly balanced as the sound was clear as a bell (if necessarily drum-heavy From where I sat) throughout.
Chris is in astonishing voice - the opening to I’m Already There was incredible, Peggy maybe less so  ;) - but when all three of them are in unison, it’s a thing of wonder. Ric’s monologue has a genuinely touching bent to it, and even the psychedelics helpline gag lands with a proper ker-tishhh.
For those who like to check this sort of thing, there’s plenty of electric twelve string, and Chris plays more fiddle than whistle. If you were wavering, I would thoroughly recommend a trip out to celebrate the fortieth anniversary of the album that got me into FC, made at the time by a bunch of washed-up thirty somethings. Who’d’ve thought?  [;-)

I notice they're doing Leamington Spa, so I just got myself a ticket. A short trip down the road from Cov.
I'm guessing this replaces the Stratford show? I think I read it had closed.

The setlist looks good. I saw them in Solihull a few years back with Mattacks back on drums and thoroughly enjoyed it, so I'm looking forward to this.

Be afraid.  I've just bought one of the relatively few remaining tickets for Hexham...

Gasp!  Shock horror as davidmjs goes to see modern Fairport!  ;D ;)

Hope that you enjoy the show, David!

David can substitute for me. I rarely miss a wintour but didn't book for Worthing last night as I wasn't sure I'd be fit enough. As it happens I was but had a bit of a rough weekend in other ways so between the ticket cost, the terrible parking anywhere near the Connaught and the shortage of public transport on a Sunday evening I couldn't summon up the energy to go. I may regret it I. The long term but I have several exciting gigs lined up during the rest of the year.

It'll be the first time since a quite frankly appalling F(A)C gig in Chester in 2010 which after the amazing Barbican gig the previous year put me off the then current band for, I thought, ever.  I have had tickets for the Brasenose gig and the Full House band since but didn't make either for various reasons.  I'm actually genuinely looking forward to it.  Liking Hexham a lot (and the venue) helps.

ps Q to those who've been - merch opportunities?

I really hope you will enjoy the gig David!

Books, programmes, CDs, t-shirts, hats.
When I went past the stall post gig Peggy had already turned up for a natter.

Another excellent show in Wakefield, yesterday evening, with a one song difference from the setlist posted by GraemeH. Hoping to catch them in Swansea in a couple of weeks time, if I can get it organised. It really was good enough to experience twice.

Anyone know what electric is Simon playing - the red and white one?

DW

I'll just be happy to hear that he is playing electric

Ha - that was literally my response as well ;)

I have been informed it is a Danelectro 12 string - The Jangler

DW

So....Hexham last night

To the nitty gritty: the setlist was as per the spoiler* with a geographical specific song in place of the second item, second half.

I was genuinely emotional throughout the gig...it was both an absolute pleasure and a joy, and I'm so glad I 'made myself' go, rather against my better judgement.  After 15 years, it's a bloody great monkey off my back.

There are probably set-list specific reasons why it really worked for someone like me (only a couple - and imho - the best of Chris's narrative songs etc.), and there was only one song that really didn't work at all for me (clue: not 'theirs', it's on the last album).  But the main reason - the absolute rock of that performance?  DM...both on drums *and* on his 'hobbyist' keyboarding.  Take him out for the rest of the year and I simply can't imagine me feeling remotely the same.

But, no, that was exactly how I want to see this mature Fairport - I was just thinking as I was watching, Simon was only a year or two older than me the last time I saw them.  It's true what they say about time...grab it all while you can.  Long may they run.

Had a chat to Peggy before the gig and bought the (excellent) GPs CD.  Are there no tour tees this year btw - I didn't see any (only some shirts from Peggy and Ralph's tour)

ps* assuming the encore was 'just' the normal one...I a) wanted to get back to Cumbria and b) didn't want to be a blubbing mess so I skipped out after Matty.

pps I'm down in Sidmouth when they're playing in Exeter...now, I wonder...

I am genuinely pleased for you. It seems like we had a very similar experience on all counts.  ;)

Let me know if you do decide to do Exeter - it would be good to meet in person at last!  And if anyone else on here is going there too, of course...

Lincoln tonight ,my 3rd year in a row , timed with the return of DM behind the kit
I've avoided the setlist so everything will be a surprise except Matty & MOTL
Is Matty still the banjo version  -  time for a revamp ?

Yep...

Lincoln last night , truly if there's anyone wavering , this is the tour to see
I'd say they've hit another peak in terms of performance and the set list which I didn't know in advance really didn't disappoint
I'm growing to enjoy Chris's songs and performances , again down to a well chosen setlist I suspect

I went to see them in Lytham on Sunday. I agree with the above few comments - go and see them if you haven't already.

Peggy and DM are still a great rhythm section. Ric's jokes are still groaningly awful.

Leamington tonight was amazing.

Excellent evening in Harpenden yesterday. As far as I could see the venue was sold out.

Just back from the Union chapel; not much to add to the comments above. An excellent, well-balanced set list, all the band on great form, nice to see Simon on electric and Chris doing more guitar as well, and DM absolutely bringing it all together with some beefy drumming. Brilliant stuff!

Union Chapel last night for me too...one of the best set lists they've given us in years delivered with oomph and passion. There's definitely life in the old dog yet !

Cracking last night of the tour at Tewkesbury, band on top form, Danny Bradley an excellent acoustic guitarist, and a Full House. Great to hear and see Instrumental Medley 85,even though one of the Brummies managed to mis-play the initial (bass) part,calling for a restart. No VAR intervention required...

Peggy did say there were only a couple of hundred Cropredy tix left... if you're wavering (and have the financial wherewithal), get in quick!