Cropredy 2025 News

[Andy]

A message from Fairport Convention emailed out today.
 
 
Hello you lovely Cropredy-goers – and to those many of you who made the trip to our collective second home last August, a massive thank you.

We made it – it was squeaky-bum time like never before from a financial point of view right up until a few weeks ago when the dust all finally settled, but I know how many of you heeded our call to persuade a first-timer or two to come along and share the collective joy or to remind a friend who was perhaps so-so about the line-up to trust our judgement and ‘do the right thing’ – and it made the difference. Thank you again, as it means we can have another go.

We’re (just) on safe ground to plan next year in some detail: although the war chest has never looked so bare before. We have reserved what we need to keep the basic infrastructure in place and to pay deposits to our suppliers and the farmers whose fields we enjoy, but in common with all the other independent Festivals in the UK, we face a new and challenging future.
Over the last two summers over one hundred events either cancelled, failed or announced they were having their last hurrah as costs spiralled everywhere they looked and audiences dwindled. The entire landscape has changed with the Big Boys of the industry making their own rules. The major agents now tie their acts into ‘exclusivity’ deals and will no longer even take calls from minnows like us. Those who remember the kind of names we’ve been lucky to inveigle along in the past – Brian Wilson, Alice Cooper, CHIC and the like - will treasure those memories all the more.

However, we feel we know what works for our sector, and trust that you trust us to present a balanced programme of top turns, whether or not the names resonate in the wider ether.
What really matters though, is that for Cropredy 2025, we need to change and reset some fundamentals. We must scale back, simplify and slim down. If this new model works, then we can rebuild and hopefully begin to grow again, but the model which has worked up to now is no longer supportable. This is the way we’re going to go.

The licenced attendance for the festival has always been limited to 20,000. There have been several years when we reached that limit. But that limit has never been just ticket-buyers, as it must include everyone present – all the kids, the site crew, stewards, technicians, traders, musicians and not forgetting Boot and his incredible team who tirelessly clean the loos. Even us in the band!

And whether we sell anything like that number, we’re committed to the accommodation of that number of people: this includes campsites, showers, toilet facilities, safe and secure access routes, security, post-festival clean up and so on. With this in mind, for Cropredy 2025, we’re going to limit the number of paid tickets to six and a half thousand. If this number seems radical and random, please remember we only arrived at it after long and careful modelling and using the experience gathered from making the event work for decades.
The only difference this will make will be the need to book early to be sure of getting your ticket. As they say in the supermarkets, “when they’re gone they’re gone”.

We could describe it as downsizing, but in reality it’s “right-sizing”, certainly for 2025.

For 2025, we shall simply sell a single three day ticket. This will cost £220.00. Camping will still be charged per vehicle, at a unit cost of £60 with our Teens ticket at £90. Under 12s will as ever, be welcomed FOC. Parking may be purchased in advance or on the day for those not camping at £15 for the 3 days.
 
What hasn’t changed (and will never change)

•   The high quality you rightly have come to expect – whether it’s the sound from the stage, the stalls around the field, the images on the screen, the welcome in the village, the support from all the festival staff.

•   The music, all hand-picked by Fairport, to provide variety and quality whether it’s a legend you’ve long admired or a new act you’re discovering for the first time.

•   The community spirit – it’s what you bring with you yourselves every year and which you’ve documented in Richard Houghton’s Cropredy Capers book of memoirs.

One little bit of disappointing news is that we won’t be sending out the Christmas cards we’ve been doing for the last few years – it’s a sad reflection of how painstaking we’ve had to be to ensure continuity – but the good news is that we’ve just enjoyed a happy and successful October four-piece tour and look forward to an even better 2025. There’s so much to be grateful for, being part of this wide Fairport Family – thank you all.

We’re already talking with some of the acts we’re hoping to secure for August 7th, 8th and 9th 2025, and our wish lists are combining well with fresh faces and old friends.

We’ll be opening our box office channels at 10.00 on Monday 9th December as usual so let’s get the party started and those dates in the family diaries.

Love from Simon, Peggy, Ric and Chris
 

[Andy]

So, to summarise: 6,500 punters only. No day ticket for Saturday (unless I misread what has been said.) 3-Day tickets only.

Given this, but unsaid, I would speculate that not all the fields used previously will be used in 2025, maybe dropping 7A and 7B? Pure speculation on my part though.

What isn't speculation is that tickets will be available from next Monday at 10a.m. I would expect they'll sell out before Christmas.

No acts named (other than Fairport) and no promise some will be unveiled before tix go on sale. How's your faith, people?

[davidmjs]

Personally, I think it's the best of news - and might well preserve the festival for a few more years.  I do wonder how many of the (especially newer) punters will view it, mind.  

The marketing cynic in me wonders if (when they sell all the tickets, as they surely will in super quick time) they'll keep adding a few more....?

[Adam]

Sounds sensible; I guess they’ve done the maths and know what income this will drive, and plan the associated costs accordingly. Should make the field quite ‘roomy’…

[bob_g]

My faith is strong… sounds like they’ve done all their modelling and are pretty sure this will work financially without the gamble of selling an unknown quantity. Wonder if Glamping will stay; no idea if it makes them more or creams off some of the top. Not looking forward to doing it the old way again if it’s gone!

[barton cobbler]

Personally, I think it's the best of news - and might well preserve the festival for a few more years.  I do wonder how many of the (especially newer) punters will view it, mind.  

The marketing cynic in me wonders if (when they sell all the tickets, as they surely will in super quick time) they'll keep adding a few more....?

Do you really think they will sell out quickly ? They have , pretty much, doubled the priced and told you that there will be no big names. I think that they will struggle to sell out, a lot of regulars are now in their 70's and have, probably, questioned about still attending and this could be the straw that breaks the Camels back.

[David W]

I wonder what difference the extended fringe has meant and with the new set up now it will impact especially on the Brase.

[vince42]

It sounds like a good plan to me.  If the format isn't making a profit then somethings got to change.  If this means we get a little bit smaller festival playing to its audience taste rather than booking a 'big' draw act to try and bring some extra ticket sales so be it.

I look forward to seeing some new ( to me ), interesting performers.  

I would guess there might still be a need for one of the field 7s if only for traffic purposes?  I'll not be able to find my way back if I'm  set up somewhere else...

Vince

[Dubai Danny]

The marketing cynic in me wonders if (when they sell all the tickets, as they surely will in super quick time) they'll keep adding a few more....?

If selling 6500 tickets is what's necessary to make the festival viable (it's probably less than that), but they're committed to accommodating 20,000 regardless... seems inconceivable that once they hit that 6500, they wouldn't open up further ticket sales, especially if it turns out they've got some enticing acts. Unless I've misinterpreted, and this year they're downsizing the facilities to only accommodate 6500?

[Andy]

I definitely read that as this year they are indeed downsizing the facilities to only accommodate 6,500 punters.

That cuts costs for infrastructure, number of fields needed, staffing etc.

The main field will be sparsely populated in comparison to the glory days.

[Will S]

It'll be interesting to see who they do manage to book. Presumably those acts those of us in the folk, folk/rock sphere consider 'big' will still be available, but the 'names' who might have attracted outsiders in the past are those we can't expect any longer.  The field will certainly feel empty (plenty of room for those who like to spread out their tarpaulins!), but the vibe will hopefully be the same.

[Nick Reg]

£500 is a lot of cash for us without knowing the line up. We have paid half that for a super line up for NFFF. We dont know what fields will be available for larger vans, how far away we will be and what disabled fields will be available. After doing about 35 on the bounce our confidence and anticipation have been severely dented by last years line up and the hostility shown to anyone who dared criticise it. We will wait and see. A lack of big names would not necessarily put us off. (I would rather see Gaz Brookfield and Skinny Lister than Nile Rogers and Rick Wakeman!!)

[davidmjs]

Personally, I think it's the best of news - and might well preserve the festival for a few more years.  I do wonder how many of the (especially newer) punters will view it, mind.  

The marketing cynic in me wonders if (when they sell all the tickets, as they surely will in super quick time) they'll keep adding a few more....?

Do you really think they will sell out quickly ? They have , pretty much, doubled the priced and told you that there will be no big names. I think that they will struggle to sell out, a lot of regulars are now in their 70's and have, probably, questioned about still attending and this could be the straw that breaks the Camels back.

How do you work that out?

[Dan O.]

Interesting times and an interesting move on FC's part. I look forward to seeing the lineup with optimism and curiosity.

I know that Cropredy's original purpose as an annual FC reunion went by the wayside a long time ago, however, due to the passing of time and personnel it really has gone that way.

Not many of the main players still around for a reunion in 2025 - only Ashley Hutchings, Richard Thompson and Iain Matthews.

[vince42]

They have , pretty much, doubled the priced

Think last years tier1  ticket cost £ 165  so plus £55 = 1/3 more

Doubled in price compared with 10 years ago - better than my electricity bill  

If I can stll get a pint for about a fiver and fed for about a tenner it's probably half as expensive on the field as many other reasonably sized festivals.  

Vince

[hendo (Dave)]

As usual I hesitate to post here as my last Cropredy was 2018 but there were over 25 before that.
In the last few years I have gone to smaller festivals, Folk in a Field, Magpies, Ely and the excellent Between the Trees. All these are small , up to 3000 but with strong line ups…..some I knew and a lot of discoveries. I have already done an early , early bird ticket for Between the Trees at very similar pricing to the new Cropredy pricing.
I will be very interested in the Cropredy lineup.
Is it possible that the Brasenose Fringe will pull more people over the wend than the fest? If of course the Brase feels it can continue at last years level without the pull of a bigger fest. I speculate but could there be a camping field for Brase attendees. ? I know I fantasise but you now have 2 similarly sized fests in the same village in the same wend. I say similarly sized cos I’m guessing the Brase pulled 2000 people a day???
Could acts play both fests ??
6500 people isn’t going to provide for a budget for big Thurs  night headliners ( or is it) . I wonder if they considered going back to 2 days.
It depends the audience  you want to attract but there are some great fest bands out there , playing smaller fests.
Merry Hell, Honey and the Bear, Dream in Colours, Blackbeards Tea Party. Jon Palmer Acoustic Band, Lauren South solo or with Keith Donnelly etc etc. Add a good tribute band a good blues band ….
It changes the nature of the fest. Would older attendees , like myself , go back for what would effectively be mid 90’s lineups withFairports and Friends on Saturday night?
I have been to Cropredy with 10,000on the field and with 20.000 …….6500 will feel odd , not sure what turn out was last yr.
I will be careful cos I have friends involved in programming and running the Brase Fest but I would like peoples opinions on whether the growing Brase fest distracts from the main fest.
Will Field 8 feel thy can put on their acts.
Which camping fields disappear…..? 1,2 and 4 May do 6.500 people
Anyway I ramble but depending on lineup I may well be back.

[RobertD]

More of an observer for this but some general points-

First and foremost well done to Fairport Towers for making some tough choices…and they must have been very tough in particular for Peggy and Simon.

Based on the 6500 cap it is interesting that it is proceeding as a 3 day. Again good for them for figuring a way, but… I wonder if the main field will have a reduced footprint? No idea what it was like in the 10-12K audience days but that is a lot of space. Will they change the bar location for example?

Will there be a few less acts per day playing longer sets?  

Will there be an attempt to join forces with the Fringe at least in a publicity sense or as Will mentioned, will Fairport work to lock in the folk + folk rock act crowd for themselves?

Similarly Though the village , pubs and charities will also feel the pinch, as they did during lockdown, with thousands less people, is it worthwhile for them to put much effort in?  No doubt less traffic and all, but will the festival try to have enough on site to keep as many of the 6500 attendees on the field?

All complete conjecture and speculation on my part fwiw. Let’s hope the lineup is full of surprises and things grow again. I suspect they will! Fairport have done what so many couldn’t and I suspect some surprises and that the personal favor list might be utilized, and why shouldn’t it be. One act I wonder if they will be booked again is Oysterband. Guess we’ll soon find out! Happy there is life yet foremost
 

[bob_g]

My faith is strong… sounds like they’ve done all their modelling and are pretty sure this will work financially without the gamble of selling an unknown quantity. Wonder if Glamping will stay; no idea if it makes them more or creams off some of the top. Not looking forward to doing it the old way again if it’s gone!

Brook Bell say they are doing the Glamping package again this year: https://brookbelltents.co.uk/product/fairports-cropredy-convention/

[davidmjs]

As usual I hesitate to post here as my last Cropredy was 2018 but there were over 25 before that.
In the last few years I have gone to smaller festivals, Folk in a Field, Magpies, Ely and the excellent Between the Trees. All these are small , up to 3000 but with strong line ups…..some I knew and a lot of discoveries. I have already done an early , early bird ticket for Between the Trees at very similar pricing to the new Cropredy pricing.
I will be very interested in the Cropredy lineup.
Is it possible that the Brasenose Fringe will pull more people over the wend than the fest? If of course the Brase feels it can continue at last years level without the pull of a bigger fest. I speculate but could there be a camping field for Brase attendees. ? I know I fantasise but you now have 2 similarly sized fests in the same village in the same wend. I say similarly sized cos I’m guessing the Brase pulled 2000 people a day???
Could acts play both fests ??
6500 people isn’t going to provide for a budget for big Thurs  night headliners ( or is it) . I wonder if they considered going back to 2 days.
It depends the audience  you want to attract but there are some great fest bands out there , playing smaller fests.
Merry Hell, Honey and the Bear, Dream in Colours, Blackbeards Tea Party. Jon Palmer Acoustic Band, Lauren South solo or with Keith Donnelly etc etc. Add a good tribute band a good blues band ….
It changes the nature of the fest. Would older attendees , like myself , go back for what would effectively be mid 90’s lineups withFairports and Friends on Saturday night?
I have been to Cropredy with 10,000on the field and with 20.000 …….6500 will feel odd , not sure what turn out was last yr.
I will be careful cos I have friends involved in programming and running the Brase Fest but I would like peoples opinions on whether the growing Brase fest distracts from the main fest.
Will Field 8 feel thy can put on their acts.
Which camping fields disappear…..? 1,2 and 4 May do 6.500 people
Anyway I ramble but depending on lineup I may well be back.

It's a million and a half quid on the ticket price alone.... so....?

As for the Brase fest and other add-ons, I'm on record as saying the main festival organisers missed a major trick here...they allowed the commercialisation of the second/third/fourth stages that they could have run with and handed that over to others.  Hopefully there's still enough who like the (now unusual) one stage in a field format.  I'd have thought there should be.

What I worry about is that the audience they need is the traditional Fairport/Cropredy one, but the audience the chosen lineup might appeal to is the newer less wedded (or not at all) to Fairport clientele.  All will be revealed in due course, I'm sure...

[David W]

I guess there is a simple cash flow issue here in some ways - if the organisers know that say by the end of January they have 1.5m in the bank they can then cut their cloth accordingly. Running any business is stressful nowadays and I can only imagine the weight on Simon and Peggy especially.

I do think that for me a potential outlay of £280 just before Christmas is undoable but I can see that 6500 is a very achievable target for them and would expect a complete sell out even without the other headliners being announced.

DW