TalkAwhile - The Folk Corporation Forum

Announce them in "the other thread" then come in here and rip 'em apart!!

Confirmed acts so far:
Fairport Convention start and end
Australian Pink Floyd
Al Stewart
Marillion
Chas & Dave

Same old has-beens, or decent time-served acts who'll entertain us? You decide  :)  {:-)

Marillion and Aussie Floyd will be great. Fairport are in great form, and will be brilliant as always. Digance has also been confirmed, which I'm glad to hear. Honestly, I can't wait to hear what else they've come up with :D

Confirmed acts so far:
Fairport Convention start and end - like  ;D
Australian Pink Floyd - like  ;D
Al Stewart - like  ;D
Marillion - like  ;D
Chas & Dave - okay
Richard Digance - not for me  :(  He can be very funny but I have grown increasingly unhappy with his attitude.

We will wait for more announcements to the line-up before deciding whether to buy tickets. As lovely as Cropredy is, in all its aspects, I do go primarily for the music.

Katy's Mum (feeling rather positive, actually ;))

In addition, the Young Folk Award winners will be there, and after last year's storming performance from Greg Russell and Ciaran Algar, my faith in this spot is renewed.

I do recall reading who the Wintour Support Act is this year, but for the life of me can't remember where. Whoever they are, they'll be on the bill.

Andy, I believe the special guest on the Wintour is Edwina Hayes.  :)

Her presence on the Wintour is confirmed here (http://www.edwinahayes.com/gigs.php).

Unfortunately that page also indicates she'll be touring China when Cropredy is on, so strike her from the list. A shame.

I've never been able to get excited about tribute acts - I know APF are supposed to be the best in the world.

Still Marillion and Fairport are good news so far.

So far I'm feeling pretty excited by this year's line-up.  Al Stewart is one of my all-time favourite artists.  I've never seen PF, and now am never likely to, so this seems like a good alternative if they are as good as everyone says.  Marillion - well, I was a fan in the early days, but haven't heard anything by the band since.  I have downloaded the free sampler from their website, but haven't listened to it yet.  I expect Chas and Dave to be a fun act and good for a sing-a-long.  Digance - well, you can't have it all, and it was never likely that he wouldn't be playing.  I'm interested to see who else gets lined up.

Don't really understand the negativity towards Richard Digance - seen him twice at Butlins and found to be really entertaining. I just presumed that because he played Crop very year, he was viewed as a National Institution etc. ???? Is it a Marmite thing, like me and Jim Moray?

There's a couple of things... Firstly, that he's effectively been doing the same performance for decades (I laughed the first time I saw him supporting Fairport in 1981...by the late 80's, and half a dozen performances down the road, I never wanted to see him again).  And secondly, his politics which (although widely known, I think) have been more publicly broadcast in his performance, and especially last year when he made a statement that upset quite a lot of people...

Are you announcing Cropredy has been moved to July?

Either her gig page has changed (unlikely) or I needed my specs. She is indeed back in the country. Phew! I like her music and look forward to Crops.

I'm quite glad for Richard Digance to be on Saturday lunchtime.

I'm ready for a bit of a lie-in and leisurely brunch after what are inevitably late Thursday and Friday nights catching up with the gang.
I'd miss that if there  was someone I wanted to see.

... still don't really understand why if Crop audience don't get him and his views he gets granted an annual invitation?

probably because he fills the field.  My first cropredy in 2004, I recall the field was 3/4 empty when he came on.  The folowing year it was probably 3/4 full.  Some people dont like him, they can do other things if they wish, personally i enjoy the show.  do i support some of his views, no i dont, but then again its a personal oppinion.

To be honest, I think it is likely that many people want to pitch their chairs, flags etc. as early as possible on the day. The appearance of Richard Digance may not be the primary reason for going onto the field at that time. Just a thought.

Judging by the number of people who leave the field after RDs set I suspect he is a must for many.

Back on topic, so far so good, bear in mind that some years the line up has looked sparse but the bands have been brilliant. I have learnt to trust the chaps judgement for the guests.

Thus far I am not excited by the line-up, but as others have said, it's too soon to call. I know I will end up buying tickets in any case.  ::) I'm waiting for that "someone really special" (to me) to be announced so that I feel motivated to give my debit card a little bit of action.  8)

Yes, I know Digance has a loyal following Keith. Can't say I have noticed the field departures when he leaves the stage. Maybe they have all gone for a lie down in a dark tent.  ;)

Pretty much my view too.

There's only ever been one set I have actively disliked in the 10 years I've been going to Cropredy, and that was a noise thing.
There have been several times that I had thought something wouldn't be my thing and then been bowled over by it. So, bring it on!! I'll be there if I can raise the cash  ;)
I don't rush to the field early on Saturday any more, though, but that's my personal choice.

usually walking on velvet green eh Gill?

Agreed.  I didn't expect to be wowed this year, as there were many acts I didn't know, but the Friday line-up, in particular, was pretty much perfectly pitched for me.

The entirely understandable fact of the matter is that Cropredy is now a commercial enterprise with a financial imperative to book acts who will bring in sufficient punters to pay for the festival and make it viable. Sadly, Fairport's own audience and that of their various acolytes is no longer sufficient to do that in its own right so bigger names who are perhaps unrepresentative of the festivals of 10 or 20 years ago have started to appear on the bill.

I completely get why that has had to happen but for me it has moved the festival away from the (perhaps illusory) sense of intimacy that it used to have and it is no longer so much my cup of tea. The village of course remains lovely but for me it has always been the music that matters so there has to be sufficient enticements on the bill to make me want to attend. The atmosphere alone is not enough and in any case the atmosphere has changed in recent years. The announced acts so far simply do not appeal to me.

so far:

Aussie Floyd - as I am unlikley to ever make the huge financial investment to see PF in reality this will be the next best thing.
Chas and Dave - great choice for Cropredy, 20k people singing the Sideboard Song is going to be fun
Marillion - should have been booked years ago a very strong band for many years despite one major line up change.
Al Stewart - so what should I expect other than Year of the Cat. I know nothing of his work?
Digance - ho-hum, amused me for the first few years but a bit bored with it now

Liked Edwina Hayes when she played cropredy a few years back, expect I will still like her stuff.

Folk Awards winners - can't remember who they are but usually good for an early doors slot.

Haven't bothered to see Fairport for a couple of years on the tours and missed cropredy last year but many good things being said about recent gigs and set lists so ....

Cheers,

DW

That may be because they aren't announced till February ;)

Don't expect it to sound like Year of the Cat.  He hardly ever plays with a full band these days.  Usually it is just him and a second guitarist (Dave Nachmanoff recently) and sometimes another musician (he had a guy playing acoustic bass on much of the UK tour this year).  If you want to listen to something to give you an idea, try his Uncorked live album from a couple of years back.

He may, of course, change it for an outdoor show, but as he will, I understand, be in the just pre-Fairport slot, which is usually 'one man and guitar', I don't suppose it'll be too different.  I am hoping for guest spots from some of the Fairporters who played on his early albums!

that'll be it then.

I saw the same show as Will recently, in Basingstoke, and can only agree with what he says!

Initially I was disappointed when I saw he didn't have a full band with him, thinking that songs like "The Year of the Cat" etc would sound a bit thin as acoustic numbers, but actually I was blown away. In fact, some songs I didn't really know (like "Antarctica", which he seemed to play in response to someone in the audience calling out for it) were so good I went away and listened to the originals - and the acoustic version suited the song so much better!

He had a fabulous rapport with the audience and was very funny.

Here's to having Fairport join in on "In Brooklyn" and "She follows her own rules", without their pseudonyms this time! We might need Jimmy Page as well for "Love Chronicles" though.