Fairport Convention

[Sue & Chris]

I know there's already been some discussion on the BBC thread, but I guess we really ought to have a dedicated one for our hosts.

I thought their performance was the proverbial curate's egg. Not a vintage performance, but certainly not the worst I've seen either.

Good - some nice instrumentals, Rosemary's Sister (love that song, a nice surprise), Maart showing us what we've been missing (again.)

Not so good - most of the Sandy stuff (except Fotheringhay and It'll Take a Long Time), following Crazy Man Michael with Summer by the Cherwell. This to me is like Ralph McTell following Streets of London with a burst of Tickle on the Tum.

And then there was Maart. A great final performance from him. I must admit that I thought they might have had him on a bit longer, but maybe he wasn't well enough to do more? His solo during Meet on the Ledge...how he held it together I don't know, given the emotion that was swirling around. It almost seemed a pity when Chris came in. That final image of Maart standing there alone at the front of the stage, those behind and in front of him all applauding.. . Wow. Emotional scenes indeed. Thanks Maart.

[Shane (Skirky)]

...following Crazy Man Michael with Summer by the Cherwell. This to me is like Ralph McTell following Streets of London with a burst of Tickle on the Tum.

This ^

[Malcolm]

A fulsome post on the Fish thread about lack of female singers doing what always used to be the 'Sandy spot'.

A run-down, probably not exhaustive:

Cathy Lesurf (last there 1997)
June Tabor (last FC collaboration 1990?)
The two Welsh sisters in the 80's (Retired to domesticity)
Julianne Regan (the best IMO but gave up performing)
Vicky Clayton (once had a full Sandy Tribute band on Cropredy stage, now relegated to playing at the Brasenose)
Kristina Donahue (in USA with her Dad to look after)
Sally Barker (recent)
Chris While (recent)
Kellie While (fairly recent)

I wasn't there but a pity no-one on that list was available.    

[Sue & Chris]

A fulsome post on the Fish thread about lack of female singers doing what always used to be the 'Sandy spot'.

A run-down, probably not exhaustive:

Cathy Lesurf (last there 1997)
June Tabor (last FC collaboration 1990?)
The two Welsh sisters in the 80's (Retired to domesticity)
Julianne Regan (the best IMO but gave up performing)
Vicky Clayton (once had a full Sandy Tribute band on Cropredy stage, now relegated to playing at the Brasenose)
Kristina Donahue (in USA with her Dad to look after)
Sally Barker (recent)
Chris While (recent)
Kellie While (fairly recent)

I wasn't there but a pity no-one on that list was available.    

My all time favourite example of this was Beth Nielsen Chapman doing 'Solo' with (I think) RT on guitar. Absolutely fabulous and the complete polar opposite of the Fish debacle.

[Bridgwit (Bridget)]

A fulsome post on the Fish thread about lack of female singers doing what always used to be the 'Sandy spot'.

A run-down, probably not exhaustive:

Cathy Lesurf (last there 1997)
June Tabor (last FC collaboration 1990?)
The two Welsh sisters in the 80's (Retired to domesticity)
Julianne Regan (the best IMO but gave up performing)
Vicky Clayton (once had a jacqui Mcshee cropredy Sandy Tribute band on Cropredy stage, now relegated to playing at the Brasenose)
Kristina Donahue (in USA with her Dad to look after)
Sally Barker (recent)
Chris While (recent)
Kellie While (fairly recent)

I wasn't there but a pity no-one on that list was available.    

You missed Jacquie McShee who does a lovely Sandy tribute.

[Andy]

Metal Matty was bloody great and as a tribute to Maart, I hope it surfaces on the official YouTube channel soon.

[davidmjs]

...following Crazy Man Michael with Summer by the Cherwell. This to me is like Ralph McTell following Streets of London with a burst of Tickle on the Tum.

This ^

Don't forget we got there from the truly execrable "Shuffle and Go" as well.  You couldn't make it up.  Sadly.

[David V B]

Listening to the set made me realise what distinctly dodgy vocals there were about. I wonder if the emotion of the occasion got to some of them.

It did seem strange to have so few female singers covering Sandy’s songs. Pity Kate Rusby didn’t stay as she has done a really nice WKWTTG. As for Fish, when he started I said to my wife that I had never heard a man sing it. Now I know why.

Overall one of the most disappointing Fairport sets I have heard, which is sad after such a good winter tour.

[Bingers (Chris)]

Overall one of the most disappointing Fairport sets I have heard, which is sad after such a good winter tour.

For the first time ever, I left before the Fairport set as I was so cold (although not as cold as Friday!) and very soggy and as I saw FC on their Wintour and many times previously I thought I wouldn’t miss too much. Sadly it sounds as if I didn’t ex crept I’m sad to miss Maart’s final appearance. I will watch when (if?) the set appears on YouTube but maybe fast forward through a lot of it

[Albie]

Enjoyed it more than I expected, but my problem is I don't really want to anything much from after the 80s.
The Sandy tribute started well with the film and music, but a couple of the singers didn't do her justice, especially Fish who was useless. It took me a while to recognise the song, despite having heard versions of it 3 or 4 times in the previous week.

Maart was great on Matty and when he spoke to the crowd it was nice, but sad as well. Impossible not to admire him a lot.

[Poor Will (Bill)]

I can only really comment on the part of the set I saw as I had to leave the field for health reasons.
I got as far as “The Wood and the Wire” and I’m sorry to say that I found it to be one of the most lacklustre performances I have witnessed from them.
I was also rather taken aback by the reaction to Peggy’s mistake in getting Iain Matthews on stage too early. It sounded extremely tetchy to me.
Up to the point I left, I think the film of Sandy was the best thing.
From what I have heard things really picked up towards the end and I am so sorry to have missed Maart’s contribution and farewell.

[YaBB Master (Colin)]

Specially selected guitar, so that we can fully appreciate the shirts:

[Steve.Marlow]

Does anyone agree that Ric's fiddle playing on Saturday evening was absolutely amazing!  I feel that he was absolutely on fire, taking control of the stage and I was compelled to watch and listen to him throughout the whole set.  🎻🤘

[Nick Reg]

A fulsome post on the Fish thread about lack of female singers doing what always used to be the 'Sandy spot'.

A run-down, probably not exhaustive:

Cathy Lesurf (last there 1997)
June Tabor (last FC collaboration 1990?)
The two Welsh sisters in the 80's (Retired to domesticity)
Julianne Regan (the best IMO but gave up performing)
Vicky Clayton (once had a full Sandy Tribute band on Cropredy stage, now relegated to playing at the Brasenose)
Kristina Donahue (in USA with her Dad to look after)
Sally Barker (recent)
Chris While (recent)
Kellie While (fairly recent)

I wasn't there but a pity no-one on that list was available.    

The sisters were Sheila and Sheryl Parker.

[Tom64]

It was really sad what Fish did to Solo. Especially as the band played IMHO exceptionally well...
(I was really sorry for him when he got to „and I never sing out of tune“).

Also I liked the set quite well, I thought the band was quite tight.

But I rarely get to see them so every time I do it is special for me

[Gouty (Gary)]

A fulsome post on the Fish thread about lack of female singers doing what always used to be the 'Sandy spot'.

A run-down, probably not exhaustive:

Cathy Lesurf (last there 1997)
June Tabor (last FC collaboration 1990?)
The two Welsh sisters in the 80's (Retired to domesticity)
Julianne Regan (the best IMO but gave up performing)
Vicky Clayton (once had a full Sandy Tribute band on Cropredy stage, now relegated to playing at the Brasenose)
Kristina Donahue (in USA with her Dad to look after)
Sally Barker (recent)
Chris While (recent)
Kellie While (fairly recent)

I wasn't there but a pity no-one on that list was available.    

I remember Tracey Thorn one year.

[StephenB]

I thought the choice of the first four or five songs was bizarre. I've never been so underwhelmed. Thankfully it did pick up, but throughout it some things I felt should have been highlights were damp squibs, especially the Sandy stuff. It seemed they were just trying too hard to do everything different.
Worst bummer for me - had to go for loo break and realised they were bringing Maart on - and due to getting tangled up with some overtrousers and boots, missed most of his set.

[iandiddams]

throughout it some things I felt should have been highlights were damp squibs, especially the Sandy stuff.

Absolutely - at one stage it felt like I was at a particularly sombre wake with everybody quietly sobbing into their beer.

But - "we" discussed this on the way home...  is it truly that FC themselves want to continually honour her memory or do they feel obliged to do so by their perception of what the fans "want" ?

didds

[hendo (Dave)]

Odd that Vikki Clayton was on at the fringe on the Wed and then playing an afternoon gig at Woodfest in Northants, 40 mins from Cropredy, on Saturday afternoon. If you wanted someone to sing Sandy.......

[Pugwash]

Sally Barker, when not a zebra, sings a mean Sandy as well!