Fairport Convention's Fortieth Cropredy Festival, sold out for the first time ever and basked in three days of virtually unbroken sunshine. Somebody up there liked them!

The Festival kicked off on the afternoon of Thursday 9th of August with Anthony John Clarke welcoming all and playing one of his comic ditties 'Tuesday Night Is Always Karaoke'.

Kerfuffle then took to the stage for a lively set of music and dancing. The band consisted of Sam and Tom Sweeney (fiddle, percussion and bass guitar), Jamie Roberts (guitar) and Hannah James (vocals, accordian, piano and clog). Songs included 'Katie Shaw', 'The Bold Grenadier' and an excellent cover of Pentangle's famous TV theme tune 'Light Flight'. Tunes too many to name included 'Hangover Quadrille', 'Pipe On The Hob', 'The Hares Magot' and 'The Brisk Widow'. All played with skill and verve, Hannah complimenting many of the tunes with her accomplished clog dancing tapping out the beat. Kerfuffle said that they were delighted to appear at Cropredy and thought it was amazing. They played an encore and then it was time for some electric guitar.

Up stepped Wishbone Ash with Andy Powell and his trade mark Gibson Flying 'V' guitar. The festival field echoed to the sound of chiming guitars as Ash ran through 'Throw Down the Sword', 'The King Will Come' and 'The Warrior'. Followed by a superb version of their twenty minute classic 'Phoenix' after which the crowd brought them back for a glorious version of 'Running Free'.

Seth Lakeman and his band were next and took the stage by storm. Seth, his furious fiddle playing and stirring songs of the sea including 'Lady Of The Sea' and 'Penlee Lifeboat Song' got a rousing reception from the crowd.

Soon it was time for headliners Jools Holland and his Rhythm and Blues Orchestra. Jools was suffering from a sore throat but this did not stop him and his eighteen piece orchestra knocking out some classy soul and rhythm and blues. Showcasing most of the members of his band including loveable trombone player Rico Rodriguez and his sensational drummer Gilson Lavis. Special guests Ruby Turner and Lulu were on excellent form, Lulu treating us to soul classics and rounding off with a belting version of 'Shout'.

Friday dawned with clear blue skies and the Cropedy crowd once again took their seats in front of the stage with ample supplies of liquid refreshment as the sun beat down. Compere Geoffrey Hughes 'Eddy Yates' of Coronation Street, introduced Britain's answer to the Dixie Chicks - Hummingbird. Amy Wadge, Cathy Burton and Edwina Hayes regaled us with beautiful harmonies and slick guitar accompaniments to songs about love and relationships. Including 'I Want Your Love', 'Loves No good', 'Call Me' and a cracking version of Bob Dylan's 'I Shall Be released'. Mad Agnes a trio from America played next and impressed us with beautiful soaring vocal harmonies and gentle acoustic ballads. Titles included 'The Manic Depressive Madrigal', 'Being Sad Won't Make It Better' and 'Black Crow'.

The Demon Barbers Roadshow livened up proceedings with upbeat traditional Folk music and dancing. Hannah from Kerfuffle joined three other female clog dancers to enhance 'Katie's Crawl'. 'Deaf Old Lady' and the 'Gallant Frigate' followed, then we were entertained with some energetic Morris Dancing by members of Dog Rose Morris. 'John Reilly' a traditional song about a sailor came on all heavy and techno apparently influenced by The Chemical Brothers. More drum and bass beats followed as a troop of traditional North East England sword dancers dazzled us with their skilful moves.

As a prize for winning Radio Two's Young Folk award, four talented young lads from Gateshead called Last Orders entertained us with a set of traditional dance and folk tunes. A sometimes tentative performance was well received and they proved to be talented musicians of the highest order.

Next up was the six-piece band Viva Santana who proceeded to wow us with almost note perfect covers of most of Santana's classic hits. Just the ticket for a sunny afternoon.

'Is There Anything Left In England That's Not For Sale?' sang Steve Knightly as Show of Hands kicked off their set. Widely acknowledged as the finest acoustic roots duo in England Steve Knightly and Phil Beer were joined on stage by Miranda Sykes on double Bass. Knocking us out with a powerful set which included songs 'Undertow', 'The Dive' and a version of Bob Marley's 'No Woman No Cry'.

It was now 9.15pm the audience had increased substantially as it was the moment most of them had been waiting for. Diminutive Mike Harding stepped onto the stage and introduced us to the original Fairport Convention 1969 line-up of Simon Nicol, Dave Swarbrick, Ashley Hutchins, Dave Mattacks, Richard Thompson and standing in for the sadly departed Sandy Denny - Chris While. 'Leige and Leif ' Fairport's 1969 album which has been voted by BBC Radio 2 listeners as the most influential Folk album of all time was to be performed track by track. 'Come all you rolling minstrels...' sang Chris and they were off into the first track 'Come All Ye'. "The best advertisement for the NHS" Dave Swarbrick was on his feet and playing his fiddle as good as ever, looking extremely dapper in emerald green shirt and black hat. 'Reynardine' followed and then the band played probably their best track ever the rampant 'Matty Groves'. The audience loved it. Chris's lovely voice soared once again as she sang the next track 'Farewell, Farewell'. Prince Albert's rescue of a young soldier from the gallows is the theme of the next traditional song 'The Deserter'. Two sharp raps on the cowbell and the band stepped up the pace with a medley of lively tunes 'The Lark In The Morning, Rakish Paddy, Foxhunter's Jig and Toss The Feathers'. The audience went wild cheering and prancing along as Swarb led us with his frantic fiddle playing. 'Tam Lin' followed and then we had reached the final track 'Crazy Man Michael'. The historic performance was over and as the applause rang out over the field I'm sure I saw a shooting star streak across the sky above the stage.

Soon Richard Thompson returned to the stage with his band and proceeded to play songs from his latest album Sweet Warrior and classic cuts from his impressive back catalogue.

At 11'oclock on Saturday morning the gates to the field were flung open once more and festival goers raced to take up position in front of the stage with chairs, flags and quantities of liquid refreshment to see them through another gloriously sunny day. At midday Danny Thompson today's compere introduced Richard Digence. Richard entertained with comic songs including 'Saga Lout' and 'I'm Scared Of The dark' and managed to get most of the audience to participate in mass Morris dancing to 'Little White Bull' and 'Two Little Boys", the crowd loved him.

Giveway comprising of the four Johnson sisters from Scotland entertained with traditional Scottish Folk songs, haunting airs and lively jigs.

The Bucket Boys including Tim Renwick who has played guitar for some famous names including Pink Floyd, David Bowie, Eric Clapton and Paul McCartney as well as with his own band Quiver in the early seventies, livened up proceedings with some classy Rhythm and Blues and classic Rock 'n' Roll.

Iain Matthews founder member of Fairport Convention and Matthews Southern Comfort took to the stage with keyboard player Mike Roelofs and with a little help from Simon Nichol and harmonica player Julian Dawson played a super smooth set. He rounded off with his famous sixties hit 'Woodstock".

Incredibly the next band The Strawbs were appearing with their original line-up from 1974 and as such this was their first ever gig together in the UK! They launched into their greatest hit 'Lay Down' which sounded as good as ever. 'Grave New World', 'The Wytchwood', 'Autumn' and 'Benedictus' were just some of the memorable songs that followed. Dave Cousins centre stage animated as ever led his excellent band through a blistering set that was very well received. Unfortunately even though we bayed for more there was no time for an encore.

The lads from Tyneside Bob Fox and Billy Mitchell followed with their traditional blend of North East Folk and contemporary songs. 'Big River' by Jimmy Nail and Lindisfarne's 'Meet Me On the Corner' just two highlights from an entertaining set.

"Happy Birthday" sang the crowd as members of Fairport Convention took the stage for the grand festival finale. 'Widow Of Westmoreland' got everyone to their feet and so began nearly four hours of non stop Fairport. 'John Goudie', 'Galileo's Apology', 'Canny Capers' with duelling mandolins for starters then on came Dave Swarbrick in bright scarlet shirt, Vicki Clayton, Dave Mattacks and Maart Allcock to join in the fun. 'Rising For The Moon', 'Jewel In The Crown' and the glorious 'Red and Gold' by Ralph McTell. Richard Thompson joined in for 'Walk Awhile' and a curtain back stage fell away to reveal a first for Cropredy a large video screen.

Jerry Donahue came on for the wonderful 'Sloth' which was followed by some lively fiddling on 'Fiddle Sticks', 'Polly On The Shore' and 'The Hexamshire Lass'. Things slowed a little with Chris Leslie's 'Port Merion'. Then followed 'Down In The Flood' which thank goodness wasn't the case, 'One More Chance', 'Just Dandy' and the superb 'Hiring Fair'. 'Western Winds', 'South Dakota To Manchester' which was superbly illustrated with film of Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show in grainy black and White gave way to 'Si Tu Dois Partir' an early Fairport hit this which was sung in French, the words projected on screen for us to sing along. Sandy Denny's beautiful 'Who Knows Where The time Goes' was followed by Fairport's ode to the VW camper 'Keep On Turning The Wheel'. Then all of a sudden Dave Pegg admitted that they had run through all of the rehearsed set and needed to fill time with some requests from the audience.

'John Barleycorn' and 'The Wood And The Wire' were duly played. Then we were back on schedule and Matty Groves' made it's second airing of the weekend accompanied by a humourous video of the main pratagonists played by plastic Lego figures. This brought howls of laugher from the audience.

It wasn't quite over yet and Fairport and all their guests joined in with 'Best Wishes' a beautiful song from their latest album which contains the line "Long may the music keep you under it's spell". Fireworks blasted from the roof of the stage and everyone sang along to the always emotional 'Meet On The Ledge'.

As the applause died away and people slowly made their way back to camp under a starlit sky it was time to reflect on the wonderful memories of probably the best Cropredy Festival ever! It just doesn't get any better than this.

PHOTOS BY by Ashley Gregson

John Dennis

Derbyshire Times

http://www.derbyshiretimes.co.uk/