Cropredy 2025 News

[Pam FC]

My annual visit to say hello to you all.

We are booked, all when seamlessly on my phone. I said to my better half, “I’ll be furious if I pay all this and it’s a prog weekend”. So I’m happy with the line up. I think it is very brave of them to right size rather than have a year off which other festivals are doing.

We had to buy a teen ticket for the first time as my wee bubba is now 13!

And I went in to labour whilst posting to this forum  

[StephenB]

So I'm booked after a big runaround. My mobile signal went down just as I needed verification codes!! Anyway, all sorted. One major gripe though - while their address engine was happy to accept my Irish address it wouldn't accept my Irish postcode  (eircode). Luckily I live 20 miles from the UK and often have to use a friend's NI address, but what abou those from further afield?

Anyway, the lineup's all good for me under the new circumstances, though it's obvious some will never be pleased. Field 8 booked as well - only happy thoughts from here on in...

[PeterW]

Not going to go off on one but disappointing is an understatement.

Why? This couldn't be a more typical Cropredy line up if it tried. I don't understand why you would think it's suddenly going to morph into a completely different festival?

I'm genuinely sorry if it upsets you but theres very little there for me (Albert Lee and Skippinnish). I've seen a high proportion of the rest and honestly didnt like most of them. I cant really help that but if you'd seen my record collection (and the size of it) you'd know that there is a heck of a lot I do like . For example I loved 2023 (except Nile Rogers) but the last 2 years are just not for me. Sorry if thats a problem but theres really nothing I can do.

It doesn't upset me, just curious, that's all.

I agree that financial choices must be made, and the line-up does not justify £500 just before Christmas. By comparison, the New Forest Festival has the following line-up and a price of £115 for a five-day ticket.  

2025 line-up
Lindisfarne - Skipinnish - Ralph McTell
Joe Broughtons Conservatoire Folk Ensemble

TRADarrr - Deborah Bonham Band - Track Dogs
The Longest Johns - The Young’uns - Ruth Angel Trio
Phil Beer Solo - Reg Meuross - Mad Dog Mcrea
Jim Cregan Acoustic - Chris Leslie - Honey & The Bear
Joshua Burnell Band -  Jez Lowe & The Bad Pennies Banter - UFQ - Ken Nicol & Wendy Ross
Matt Black - Southampton Ukulele Jam

As another poster has pointed out, the attitudes of some Cropredy attendees (regular and recent) seem to be at odds with the title of 'The Friendliest Festival', as on other Facebook pages, they attack each other for daring to have an opinion. I hope that those who go have a great time but for me it has lost its magic.

[hendo (Dave)]

Well I think that’s a cracking line up but it appeals to my musical preferences so I would.

[bob_g]

All booked here, inc. Brook Bell Glamping. The Glamping went on sale a few minutes before 10 - having seen the line-up I felt confident the festival would not sell out under a stampede of newcomers before I could nab some tickets. ;-). Got in the queue (iPhone/Safari via Wi-Fi with all the Apple privacy stuff enabled) at about 1 min past 10, watched the progres bar crawl slowly across, resisted the temptation to refresh (that's often the root of all queue ejection paim), got bounced to the purchase page at 10:08. Had set up and tested an AXS account over the weekend, so purchase went straight through.

[Glen S]

A nice lineup there, and really pleased for all involved that it is going ahead...  

A real shame though that the one day ticket is no more, as I would love to have gone along for the Saturday...

[Nick Reg]

Feeling very sad today as it looks like the end of an era for me. I just dont seem to be on the same wavelength as those booking for Cropredy any more. I have booked for Beardy and NFFF and am perfectly in tune with the lineups there . Its not even as though theres a mountain of stuff I dont like either (if you exclude jazz, hip hop , soul and disco). This year apart from Skippinnish and Albert Lee (both of whom I have seen many times) there is little I am interested in. There are a couple who are on elsewhere but not at the top of my list and granted an unknown may come to the fore but i cant punt £500 on that. I am not seeking massive names, Trad ARR, Gerry Colvin, Steeleye, Merry Hell, Reg Meuross, Gaz Brookfield , Edwina etc etc would suit me fine. Many years ago I may have considered it just to meet up with friends but Beardy and NFFF will take care of that now. As Fairporters and Talkwhile become more like football chatboards with the hostility shown to "naysayers" I am even more saddened. i may consider Shrewsbury this tear depending upon the line up which I sometimes like and sometimes dont. Some of my most enjoyable gigs in recent years have been there Rosanne Cash (out of this world), Eric Bibb, Cockney Rebel, Blackie and The Rodeo Kings etc. We will see.

[bob_g]

Feeling very sad today as it looks like the end of an era for me. I just dont seem to be on the same wavelength as those booking for Cropredy any more.

That's a real pity - Cropredy is always changing slowly, boiling frog style, but this is one of those "Yup, this is different" moments. The adding of the third day being another. I've always been an outlier - come more for the weekend in the field than the music other than FP and the occasional brilliant guest. If it hadn't been for the glamping I might have called it quits a few years back - I'm getting a bit too creaky to enjoy actual camping. That's lowered the pain threshold enough to keep me going a few more years. I've only been to a couple of other festivals and not felt I could wander off and leave my chair (never mind other posesseions) and be 100% sure to find it still there when I returned at any of them. i ignore the social media whingers, and I've been social mediaing since dial up BBS and readers letters in newsletters! :-)

[davidmjs]

My fwiw opinion.  a) it looks and feels a lot more like a Cropredy festival than many of the recent lineups.  Somewhat perversely, b) I also think it's a pretty unexciting lineup.  Several exceptions to that, of course....

So, personally, this wouldn't get me back.

[Nick Reg]

Feeling very sad today as it looks like the end of an era for me. I just dont seem to be on the same wavelength as those booking for Cropredy any more.

That's a real pity - Cropredy is always changing slowly, boiling frog style, but this is one of those "Yup, this is different" moments. The adding of the third day being another. I've always been an outlier - come more for the weekend in the field than the music other than FP and the occasional brilliant guest. If it hadn't been for the glamping I might have called it quits a few years back - I'm getting a bit too creaky to enjoy actual camping. That's lowered the pain threshold enough to keep me going a few more years. I've only been to a couple of other festivals and not felt I could wander off and leave my chair (never mind other posesseions) and be 100% sure to find it still there when I returned at any of them. i ignore the social media whingers, and I've been social mediaing since dial up BBS and readers letters in newsletters! :-)

I never thought it would come to this. We have booked NFFF and Beardy and will probably do Shrewsbury to see Oysterband one last time , all of which are easier to get around (and camp)

[Andy]

An update about camping stickers from Gareth. I asked how it would work as e-tickets for camping and he replied that Camping Stickers were dropped off at AXS this morning and will be posted out.

The potential for queuing up the M42 on Thursday morning because of a dodgy scanner can't be allowed to happen.


Again: CAMPING STICKERS WILL BE POSTED.  


E-tickets for the Festival will NOT be posted but verified by AXS using scanners when you get your wristbands.


Gareth is extremely busy at the moment so I'm passing this on to prevent him getting loads of queries on this.

[John From Austin]

I’m not familiar with most of the bands on the bill. I am encouraged to hear the positive feedback here.

I last saw Albert Lee with Eric Clapton in 1983. It would be nice to see him do his own show.

Martin Barre absolutely blew me away a couple of years ago in San Antonio. Outstanding.

We will not be there but we hope everyone has a great time without us!

[Will S]

An update about camping stickers from Gareth. I asked how it would work as e-tickets for camping and he replied that Camping Stickers were dropped off at AXS this morning and will be posted out.

The potential for queuing up the M42 on Thursday morning because of a dodgy scanner can't be allowed to happen.


Again: CAMPING STICKERS WILL BE POSTED.  


E-tickets for the Festival will NOT be posted but verified by AXS using scanners when you get your wristbands.


Gareth is extremely busy at the moment so I'm passing this on to prevent him getting loads of queries on this.

Thanks Andy!

[David W]

Wanted it but not for me. Not a Lee style blues fan, seen TH - once was enough, just seems a bit uninspired to me ...

BUT

Have a great.time all, happy if your boat is floated!!

 

[Dubai Danny]

Definitely a no from us, simply down to uninspiring lineup. We're considering Shrewsbury though.

[wayne stote]

For those who will be attending, I recommend trying to catch El Pony Pisador. They're a lot of fun, in concert.

[Lubiloo (Lorna)]

Well I think that’s a cracking line up but it appeals to my musical preferences so I would.

I agree! Though travelling from Skye to see a band from Skye and a band from the Hebrides in Oxfordshire seems a funny idea. Like Davidmjs said, this does seem a more typical, classic Cropredy line-up.

While I know Trevor Horn isn’t everyone’s fave, he did a good old 80s singalong previously, with great guests, so who knows…  

[Adam]

Feeling very sad today as it looks like the end of an era for me. I just dont seem to be on the same wavelength as those booking for Cropredy any more. I have booked for Beardy and NFFF and am perfectly in tune with the lineups there . Its not even as though theres a mountain of stuff I dont like either (if you exclude jazz, hip hop , soul and disco). This year apart from Skippinnish and Albert Lee (both of whom I have seen many times) there is little I am interested in. There are a couple who are on elsewhere but not at the top of my list and granted an unknown may come to the fore but i cant punt £500 on that. I am not seeking massive names, Trad ARR, Gerry Colvin, Steeleye, Merry Hell, Reg Meuross, Gaz Brookfield , Edwina etc etc would suit me fine. Many years ago I may have considered it just to meet up with friends but Beardy and NFFF will take care of that now. As Fairporters and Talkwhile become more like football chatboards with the hostility shown to "naysayers" I am even more saddened. i may consider Shrewsbury this tear depending upon the line up which I sometimes like and sometimes dont. Some of my most enjoyable gigs in recent years have been there Rosanne Cash (out of this world), Eric Bibb, Cockney Rebel, Blackie and The Rodeo Kings etc. We will see.

I understand where you’re coming from, Nick. Hopefully you’ll stick around this board as I feel that different opinions and well-intended criticisms are better received than on Facebook, where any dissenting view is met with ‘moaner’, ‘whinger’, etc, etc….

[Lubiloo (Lorna)]

An update about camping stickers from Gareth. I asked how it would work as e-tickets for camping and he replied that Camping Stickers were dropped off at AXS this morning and will be posted out.

The potential for queuing up the M42 on Thursday morning because of a dodgy scanner can't be allowed to happen.


Again: CAMPING STICKERS WILL BE POSTED.  


E-tickets for the Festival will NOT be posted but verified by AXS using scanners when you get your wristbands.


Gareth is extremely busy at the moment so I'm passing this on to prevent him getting loads of queries on this.

Aww, end of an era not having paper tickets for the main festival if that’s what you’re saying! Suppose it saves a lot of money tho, for the organisers.

[Martin F]

The potential for queuing up the M42 on Thursday morning because of a dodgy scanner can't be allowed to happen.

With a smaller capacity I doubt the queue will be that long, in fact I doubt it would be that long with 20,000 attendees.