Cropredy Future

[Amethyst (Jenny)]

And several past members also have offspring who are musicians too!

[YaBB Master (Colin)]

Maybe Cropredy will eventually revert to Fairport Convention being whoever wants to do it. Some may want to retire, but my impression is that most enjoy it far too much.

In sure the long term problem will be the audience and hence making a profit, but they don't show signs of weakening yet.

[Simon Withers]

There is part of me that likes the belief that the Fairport Cropredy Festival will naturally come to an end. It seems unimaginable at the moment, yet was it only several years ago that many of us may have attended the festival thinking that it was just so. The time however was not right then and it isn’t now…what I’d not like to see is the situation where it appears just to go on and on and on. Some of us cannot always make it to Cropredy...yet in spirit we are always there...in my absence I know where my mind wanders to during that weekend in August.

The idea of, ‘Oh there is always next year’ may need to be questioned…What happens if the Fairport experience begins to be watered down, less members turn up and can naturally no longer can be part of it (for what ever reasons.) What would be terrible (I think it would be a little like loosing someone that you love in an unforeseen accident) that the one year I will not be at Cropredy and it will end with out telling any one in advance…so should one make every effort to be there every year in case one misses the moment? I don’t think absenteeism makes us any less a dedicated fan than those fortunate enough not to have missed a beat.  So what I would consider is that at some point there is an ending to Cropredy and we all know about it… Cropredy has years ahead of it I am sure.
 
The Festival for me and others (you just have to read this site) is a deeply personal experience…its about people. It’s not a Glastonbury where the festival I concur (with others) is the brand and all the acts are changeable…a pick and mix experience. Cropredy was/is founded upon different things I feel.

I am not certain that replacing actual Fairport members (who have recorded as the band) with their off spring is something that appeals to me... May be in five or ten years time a Fairport (tribute) act will come into being that is made up of some blindingly great musicians who can interpret the music of Fairport with originality and with youthful enthusiasm…formed out of a rediscovery if you like rather than to be held up as a nostalgic mirror to that which is still present. At the moment I’d rather see the authentic article…the moving shifting Fairport Convention. However this imaginary band of the future…you never know it could be a band made up of some of the Sons and the Daughters of Fairport members past and present but in all likelihood it will be made up of unknown stock. They (this unknown band may decide that they will do a yearly gig on some farm land at Cropredy.) will I be there...very unlikely, likewise if Cropredy becomes just a roots/folk/music festival. We have had and continue to have great times...its not quite thanks for the memories yet and long may it be so...I'd hate it to be a festival that is noted by year by year absences either through retirement, relocation, illness and other.

[KascadeDan]

A lot of the big bands from the 1940s are still going strong over here with no original members.

Also, Fairport lasted 1971-1975 with no original members, Swarb and Peggy looked after the band.

[YaBB Master (Colin)]

A lot of the big bands from the 1940s are still going strong over here with no original members.

But do the get an audience of 20,000 camping for three days?

[Peter H-K]

Peggy's long tenure with the band maybe qualifies him as Fairport's definitive bassist in the same way Martin Barre is Tull's definitive guitarist, but it's probably true that the band could carry on without him.  

It's interesting, you know: I saw Fairport at Balloch about 4 years ago with Vo Fletcher on bass. What was absolutely, surprisingly clear is that this band was unequivocally still Fairport. Having said that, may Peggy not hang up his bass for many, many years to come!

[Harbottle (Martin)]

I don't think it has to be a case of original members. Didn't Renaissance's second album feature a completely different lineup to the first? Yet this was the version of the band most people would regard as the genuine article. Perhaps it's to do with "serving in the trenches"? Peggy's long tenure with the band maybe qualifies him as Fairport's definitive bassist in the same way Martin Barre is Tull's definitive guitarist, but it's probably true that the band could carry on without him. Tull could also carry on without Martin, but it'd be a diluted and devalued band. I suppose it's all about singers, though, and without Simon Fairport would surely be hovering uncomfortably close to being an endorsed tribute act, would "Fairport Convention" be a brand or a band?

Sorry if this is drifting off topic, and it's not my intention to annoy anyone with these ramblings, I just find the issues of identity and continuity interesting.

Jethro Tull have played gigs in Europe this year WITHOUT MB on guitar - a young chap called Florian Ophalle who has played with Carl Palmer stepped in while MB was otherwise engaged.

[Harbottle (Martin)]

A lot of the big bands from the 1940s are still going strong over here with no original members.

But do the get an audience of 20,000 camping for three days?

No, but Julian Clary does.

[Harbottle (Martin)]

Fairport isn't your run of the mill band -  in some ways they are more like an "Orchestra" in that they interpret other writers' material and also traditional tunes (And since CL joined, have their own songwriter in the ranks as well.) And they have had more lineups than Manchester's central police station.

[jaypeter (Peter)]

As far as the festival goes, I suppose it has to be asked what the festival could offer apart from Fairport were they ever to disband.

Of course in the early days of Crops there was no Fairport (apart from at Crops).

[Neil]

The Festival grew revolving around the band and it's desire to play, they at first seem to have been surprised in the early days of the festival of the willingness of people to come out and see a band that did not exist.

I can imagine it returning to the idea of a reunion and  fading gently away as ability of band members and audience to perform became less, eventually becoming part of festival mythology. Then around campfires at other festivals some grey haired hold out to the old days of real ale and 45 minute Sloth performances would reach for the pewter tankard sigh contentedly and pass out.

I can't imagine Cropredy without the band and I don't subscribe to the brass band/orchestra idea, the Albion Band may have some claim to that but not Fairport, they have even during the 6 year hiatus been a working band sweating away on stage not the vision of one man or entity performing the works of others.

[Keith]

I can imagine it returning to the idea of a reunion and  fading gently away as ability of band members and audience to perform became less, eventually becoming part of festival mythology. Then around campfires at other festivals some grey haired hold out to the old days of real ale and 45 minute Sloth performances would reach for the pewter tankard sigh contentedly and pass out.

That's beautiful, in a tragic kind of way. And probably pretty near the truth.

[Hurricane (Dan)]

A lot of the big bands from the 1940s are still going strong over here with no original members.

But do the get an audience of 20,000 camping for three days?

Nail on the head here. And this is why the brass band theory doesn't hold water - because, and correct me if I'm wrong, a brass band plays mostly for member enjoyment rather than commercial necessity. Professional musicians, however honored they may feel to keep the Fairport name afloat, won't keep the band going if its costing them dough rather than making them any. And from the comments here, it seems it would hardly be prosperous.

So, being guilty of starting this rather depressing thread, and most are agreed we are nearing twilight so to speak - how long have we got?

PS: Any current member reading this and thinking of quitting - don't!
PPS: If Ric or Chris get seduced to join a newly formed Boy Band - Swarb, you're back in!



 

[GubGub (Al)]

It is amazing how Ric & Chris are still thought of as the new boys. Chris has been in the band for 12 years, Ric for 23! I guess after that sort of tenure they would have a claim on carrying on the Fairport name if others decided not to continue. I think it gets forgotten though that Ric is actually only two years younger than Simon.

I am one of those who thinks that Cropredy is probably dependent on a Fairport presence if it is to retain it's character and Fairport need a physical link to their and their audience's history to be viable so in answer to the question of how much longer, I reckon if people stay healthy, 7 to 10 years at the outside. 2017 might be the obvious place to draw a line. Fairport will be 50. Peggy will be 70. Simon, Ric & Gerry will all be drawing their pensions...

[davidmjs]

...I reckon if people stay healthy, 7 to 10 years at the outside. 2017 might be the obvious place to draw a line. Fairport will be 50. Peggy will be 70. Simon, Ric & Gerry will all be drawing their pensions...

But surely Cropredy actually is the pension...?  

[Dr Monk]

Indeed - the stones must be getting on for seventy and they do world tours. I'm sure the chaps could manage a reunion concert once a year for a while to come.

[MarkC]

Nail on the head here. And this is why the brass band theory doesn't hold water - because, and correct me if I'm wrong, a brass band plays mostly for member enjoyment rather than commercial necessity. Professional musicians, however honored they may feel to keep the Fairport name afloat, won't keep the band going if its costing them dough rather than making them any. And from the comments here, it seems it would hardly be prosperous.

So, being guilty of starting this rather depressing thread, and most are agreed we are nearing twilight so to speak - how long have we got?

PS: Any current member reading this and thinking of quitting - don't!
PPS: If Ric or Chris get seduced to join a newly formed Boy Band - Swarb, you're back in!



 

Actually, I know people who play in some of the Big Bands (more correct than "brass" band), and it is their full time gig. Not to say they don't work on the side as well---the life of a professional musician is very much a gypsy lifestyle. That said, I agree if it were a money loser they wouldn't do it.

So, the question becomes, can Fairport continue on without any original members? I can't imagine why not; as their original audience ages and passes on, younger people will come up who care more about the music than the personalities. I think the guys (and ladies!) in Fairport---past and present---have created something enduring that may actually be able to pull that off.

Time will tell (or show the wiser, if you like).

[Bridgwit (Bridget)]

I didn't "discover" Fairport until 1989 when the line-up included DM and Maart, but I consider the current line-up to be FC as much as I did then so I'd have no problem with the odd changes in personnel - it adds fresh blood and stops them becoming stale. I miss Maart but I also love Chris's contributions so it's a swings and roundabouts thing.

I think the person whose leaving would have the most effect is Simon, mainly because it's his voice on so much of their music. I can't imagine anyone else singing Matty or MOTL at Cropredy. I know others have but for me it's Simon's interpretation of these songs that makes them classic Fairport.

Anyway, we will just have to wait! In the meantime I shall see you all next August.    

[David W]

Here's a possible option then:

If Cropredy is about celebrating fairport, as much as being a broader music festival, when the band is not a "viable" outfit anymore why not a once a year scratch band line up of the best young folkies / folk rockers around celebrating Fairport's music, with as many Fairporters as can and want to be involved in there as well.

I think it could work.

David W

[Woodpecker]

If Cropredy is about celebrating fairport, as much as being a broader music festival, when the band is not a "viable" outfit anymore why not a once a year scratch band line up of the best young folkies / folk rockers around celebrating Fairport's music, with as many Fairporters as can and want to be involved in there as well.

I think it could work.

So do I.   .....eventually....

But although I'm repeating myself, Cropredy is more than 3hrs on Saturday night.  We would need somebody pretty special to select a guest line up.

The lists on this board make a good attempt but the announced line up is always surprising (Well to me anyway!)  We could leave the selection to TAWers but would the village stand a month long festival... more to the point would my liver!?

They would need to maintain that eclectic but coherent list of acts that 'Fairport' achieve at the moment.