Fairport @ the Barbican, 18th July

[Sam]

wll done all involved xx

[davidmjs]

A truly magnificent event.  The 2nd half was superb (Leslie was an awesome super sub)....but the 1st half magical and climaxed (in all senses of the word) on one of the best live musical experiences of my life....A Sailor's Life was that good.  Hats and everything off to everyone involved but special mentions to the Thompson kids....Teddy was more assured, but his sister was equally fantastic...and Kellie While who was quite simply wondrous.  It was a real treat to see Linda at a mic at the end, even if I couldn't actually hear her voice (and why no mic for Tyger at the death?  I thought that was a little odd).

Confirmed my own rather weird prejudice that L&L is a definite No 5 in my order of preference of Fairport's first 5 albums (WWDOOH, UHB, FC, FH, L&L), but also that that run is probably the finest by an English band ever (not even the Beatles made 5 albums that good on the trot).

Thankyou so much to everybody involved.  From where I'm sitting, Swarb made the wrong call (but I have no doubt it was right for him).

Oh, and the funniest moment? Jude nearly jumping out of her skin when Tyger hit the first thundering notes on his bass (probably a bit high in the mix even for me in truth!).  I trust no lasting damage was done to the ears, Jude!

Wonderful.

[Chris]

I can only really echo what everyone else has said.

Ditto!

I really can't add anything not already said - my gig of this decade, without doubt! Sincere thanks to all!

The Barbican were kind enough to allow me to record the whole show in images! So I never did get to sit in my front row seat.....I'll try & get some shots up later this week.....off tomorrow morning to witness Swarb's Lazarus's last ever gig....

There'sa fullsome review here

[Shane (Skirky)]

The Barbican were kind enough to allow me to record the whole show in images! So I never did get to sit in my front row seat.....

Ah, that would explain it. The view was great, although you couldn't catch the fiddle too well.  
I'm really looking forward to seeing your work.

[Jamie]

An utterly wonderful evening. Everything I'd hoped for and more.

Many, many highlights but for me, as for many others, the defining moment was A Sailor's Life - it really brought tears to the eyes and whilst I'd be intrigued to hear Martin Carthy's take on the song (best wishes to Norma, by the way) it's hard to imagine what we heard last night being improved upon.

Big thanks to Jack who provided me with a ticket when I thought I'd missed the boat - he may be a hard card but he's also a diamond geezer!

[ThomA]

I've put my photos from the front row on my Facebook profile - even if you're not on Facebook, you can see them here.  I only put up the most interesting ones, but there twice as many taken as I put up.  

Enjoy!

P.S. If anyone wants to use them for anything, please PM me first.  Ta.

[JJ (Joanna)]

A fantastic evening, really enjoyed it all. As a 'recent' Fairporter (last 10 years or so) I now understand exactly what others mean about the early years. Just loved hearing songs from the early albums but to see DM drumming and watching Richard 'effortlessly' playing just blew me away. Jude you are a star.  

It was so well presented by Joe Boyd, then have the story continuing by each of them as the years began to unfold. I thought how well suited the female voices were with the songs they sang.

[David Blake]

I didn't hear about it until it was too late.  God knows why.  Anyone know if it was recorded for CD or DVD?

[Kathryn]

Thanks so much to all of you for posting reviews/photos....sounds like a brilliant night in every sense of the word! (Chris B mentioned on the FC List that it was recorded- fingers crossed that rumor is true- and we can all listen to this on CD in the future)

[Chris]

I'll be extremely surprised if this doesn't feature on the Winter Tour merch table!

If they're savvy, they'll have it available for Xmas presents too....

[Edthefolkie]

Thanks everybody for the writeups (and phots!). B*gger, I knew it would be a great evening but we just couldn't make it, trying to juggle too many things at once.

However, have got tickets for RT near Ashby de la Zouch on 24th July - support act young David Swarbrick! I do hope they get together for an encore or two.....  

[Jan_]

It was so well presented by Joe Boyd,

Sorry to disagree, but I didn't think so.  I found it hard to warm to him, especially when he cast Chris Leslie in the role of trainee!  I'm grateful to Joe Boyd for 'organising' this gig but not keen on his presenting style.

[davidmjs]

I found it hard to warm to him, especially when he cast Chris Leslie in the role of trainee!

He really didn't (imho).  He described Chris as a 'student of Dave Swarbrick'.  I'd be interested to see whether Chris actually disagreed with him (despite Simon doing so on his behalf).  You could tell he meant it in a friendly fashion.  And his honest tribute to Swarb's contribution to the band (despite the long personal antagonism between the pair) did him great credit I felt.

I'll agree with you that the presentation was a little awkward though.  In truth, it didn't really need it....

[MikeB (Mike)]

It was so well presented by Joe Boyd,

Sorry to disagree, but I didn't think so.  I found it hard to warm to him, especially when he cast Chris Leslie in the role of trainee!  I'm grateful to Joe Boyd for 'organising' this gig but not keen on his presenting style.

Likewise. That aside, WOW. Easily one of the best gigs of my life.

I arrived in London a little later than planned but made it to the Fox & Anchor pretty much in time for the TAW meetup. Bumped into Sandra & Mr S on the street as they were off to see Jude and it was nice to share a pint or two with various TAWs.

I lucked out spectacularly when the person I am staying with, who I'd not heard anything from and was panicing about how we were going to find each other, turned out to be sat in front of me. Dr Clive and Bex provided great company in the seats next to me and I'm very sorry if anyone reading this was the person sat behind me.

Jude: You were absolutely superb

[jude]

It was enormous fun to do, despite all the inevitable hanging around that happens at events like that, the Barbican staff were so organised, that it made the whole show really easy to do.

It's certainly a peculiar place though, the whole Barbican complex, I can't tell you how many times I got lost, trying to find the way either from or to backstage. In fact I still haven't got the hang of where any of that area is in relation to anywhere else....

Seems like a bit of a dream now..it was so lovely to be playing with them all again. Gringringrin!

signed
the small junior school headmistress with the secret hippy past..

P.S. the recorder that I played at the concert has been signed by Ashley, Simon,  Richard and myself and I am going to auction it on ebay in aid of one of the rescue greyhound charities

I'll announce it when I've put it up properly

[Staffan]

Thanks to everyone sharing their feelings about an obviously fabulous evening. Special thanks to ThomA for a revieiw that went to my heart.
For us who couldn´t attend, all we can hope for is a (video) recording of an evening that seems very special.

[MikeB (Mike)]

Thanks to everyone sharing their feelings about an obviously fabulous evening. Special thanks to ThomA for a revieiw that went to my heart.
For us who couldn´t attend, all we can hope for is a (video) recording of an evening that seems very special.

There were cameras pointed at the stage, but they were just the kind used to relay live video to the monitors outside the main arena. Sorry to disappoint but I didn't see any proper recording cameras anywhere.

[peterwales]

I've just got back after spending the day in London; can't add much more to what has already been said, other than one of the best gigs I've ever been priviledged to be at, and the best Fairport gig   I've ever been to. Ranks as a really good "Early Fairports" on a Friday night at Cropredy, but then so much more than that. A very emotional, powerful and life-affirming and uplifting evening as far as I was concerned. And on a more mundane note, nice to have a warm bed to fall into, (Sundial Court, student halls), just around the corner, after this magical night had ended. Made a change to a tent at Cropredy on a Friday night!
Nice to have met some TAW's in the Fox and Anchor beforehand- sorry I had to leave early to meet the friends I had arranged to be there with.
Two very slight moans- and not to do with the gig itself- the group of youngsters who were sat next to us, who came very late, and missed most of the first half- I think because they wanted to have a few drinks first. I wasn't sure whether to feel annoyed or sorry for them, especially as they appeared to really enjoy what was left of the music. The hassle of trying to find my room late at night, at Sundial Court, after the all-night security guard had just disappeared, (well, allright, maybe that was more my fault, shouldn't have had those last drinks!). By the way, this was a great idea that somebody on this board found out about. If you are going to any evening events at the Barbican in University vacation time, you can stay the night in Sundial Court for about £31 a night plus breakfast. A bit bare, not en-suite, and somewhat functional, but just 5 minutes walk away and very clean and comfortable. Was hoping to see some TAW's there but there was only a big group of young overseas schoolkids there at breakfast time this morning.

[Angela]

A night of magic, superb.  Heartfelt thanks to all involved.

[Viv G]

We loved the whole evening but it was  a shame that we were too late getting into London to get to the right pub and meet you all. [stupid Sat Nav took us through all the worst traffic! should have let husband go with his directional instincts!]