Cropredy Future

[Hurricane (Dan)]

Unless Simon's desire to see Fairport continue ad infinitum with continuing line-up changes comes to fruition, there will be a time, hopefully not for some years to come, when FC is no more.

If and when this day comes do you guys think Cropredy could survive as an ongoing festival or does its existence depend on the appearance of Fairport?

Ozzfest continues as a touring festival in the US even when regular headline, Ozzy Osbourne doesn't play. Could Cropredy do the same? And if it continues, who would still go..!?

[Big Dave]

Simon has already talked about this in an interview.  He likens FC to say, an established orchestra, a brass band or a football club.......the players change the orchestra/band/club keeps going.
When I get chance I will direct you to the interview.

[Mark]

The various members have enough musical rug rats between 'em to start up SEVERAL replacement Fairports.

 

[KascadeDan]

Also, Cropredy continued in 1980/81/82/83/84 despite fairport not officially being together.

[Hurricane (Dan)]

Also, Cropredy continued in 1980/81/82/83/84 despite fairport not officially being together.

But being there as a reunion none the less.

If they weren't there at all would it happen?

The brass band theory is nice to think will happen but is it likely..?

[Ian_]

 Even if Fairport did hang up there boots as a peforming act, it would be great if they could still have a consultancy input into a festival - after all, very few people know better just what it takes to make a success in that particular environment  

[gower flower (Shirl)]

 Even if Fairport did hang up there boots as a peforming act, it would be great if they could still have a consultancy input into a festival - after all, very few people know better just what it takes to make a success in that particular environment  

Well said Ian.

[GubGub (Al)]

I think it is probably feasible for the festival to continue without Fairport but the audience would have to change along with the festival itself. It would no longer be Fairport's Cropredy Convention and it is clearly the avuncular presence of the band that has given it identity and consistency down the years for many of the attendees. I think the biggest question would be whether Cropredy itself would want to continue to host a more generic festival without the historic ties to the local community that the band and current organisers represent.

[Anna]

...snip...

 I think the biggest question would be whether Cropredy itself would want to continue to host a more generic festival without the historic ties to the local community that the band and current organisers represent.

That's probably the most important point GubGub.

[Harbottle (Martin)]

I suppose as people retire (Which I imagine must happen.) then newcomers will take their place. Fairport is more than just a band, it's an institution, and young whippersnappers like CL and RS can then become the elder statesmen on the band... and so on. I'm sure they'll end up at some point with one of the birds from Tiny Tin Pot Lady as a singer or as backing vocalists. I'm awaiting the day when RS returns back to his Jazz fusion roots and they recruit John Etheridge and start covering Soft Machine and the Mahavishnu Orchestra.

[Bridgwit (Bridget)]

Nice thought Harbottle!  

I've wondered this issue for ages. I appreciate that music is their lives but would Simon, Peggy & Gerry really want to be up there at the age of 70 plus - and would they physically be able to do it? (obviously I hope they will but being realistic....)

I suspect over the next 10 years there will be a few personnel changes and it'll go from there. The festival can definitley go on tho, and there's no reason why the marathon 3 hour FC session at the end shouldn't go on, but with the older members making guest appearances for their "signature" tunes, similar to the way they do now.

2017 the 50th Anniversary should be fun!  

[Jim]

Cropredy isnt like most festivals, its whole reason for existance is Fairport. so for me, no FC - no cropredy
i also couldnt see the band survivng Simon or Peggys departure

[MikeB (Mike)]

Cropredy isnt like most festivals, its whole reason for existance is Fairport. so for me, no FC - no cropredy
i also couldnt see the band survivng Simon or Peggys departure

It survived Simon's departure before and there's always the Guvnor.

[Malcolm]

I've wondered this issue for ages. I appreciate that music is their lives but would Simon, Peggy & Gerry really want to be up there at the age of 70 plus - and would they physically be able to do it? (obviously I hope they will but being realistic....)

Chuck Berry was over here doing a festival this summer and he is 81.

[Jim]

Cropredy isnt like most festivals, its whole reason for existance is Fairport. so for me, no FC - no cropredy
i also couldnt see the band survivng Simon or Peggys departure

It survived Simon's departure before and there's always the Guvnor.

they were all much younger then and Swarb was the man

[Peter H-K]

Cropredy isnt like most festivals, its whole reason for existance is Fairport. so for me, no FC - no cropredy
i also couldnt see the band survivng Simon or Peggys departure

Hmmm .... I can see it surviving Simon or Peggy's departure. For all the brass band/football team analogies, I find it harder to picture it surviving Simon and Peggy's leaving.

[Bridgwit (Bridget)]

Cropredy isnt like most festivals, its whole reason for existance is Fairport. so for me, no FC - no cropredy
i also couldnt see the band survivng Simon or Peggys departure

Hmmm .... I can see it surviving Simon or Peggy's departure. For all the brass band/football team analogies, I find it harder to picture it surviving Simon and Peggy's leaving.

But they'll both have to one day, whether we/they like it or not. And I think the legacy they've both like most of all is for the festival to keep going.

I'll be going for as long as it's on anyway.

[PL (Peter)]

Cropredy isnt like most festivals, its whole reason for existance is Fairport. so for me, no FC - no cropredy
i also couldnt see the band survivng Simon or Peggys departure

Fully agree.
Just a few years back I was wondering whether and where or rather to which festival I`d go if Cropredy stopped. But it would be quite different, wouldn`t it ?
Fairport - and I am talking the current line-up with all its faults and everything - = Cropredy.

[YaBB Master (Colin)]

I can specifically remember sitting in a farmyard, having breakfast, at Cropredy 1996.
We were talking to a couple and having exactly this conversation.

I don't seem to have got any older since then, so where's the problem?

[Big Dave]

Simon has already talked about this in an interview.  He likens FC to say, an established orchestra, a brass band or a football club.......the players change the orchestra/band/club keeps going.
When I get chance I will direct you to the interview.

I know not good form quoting one's own posts, but the above quote (which is not verbatim by the way) comes from an interview with Anil Prasad which is re-printed in the Cropredy 2006 programme.