TalkAwhile - The Folk Corporation Forum

Slipped out today, in an email with Feast of Fiddles dates for the spring, is the news that they are playing on Thursday at Cropredy next year!

First confirmed act, I think?

One band does not a festival make (well, apart from Fairport, I suppose  ;D), but it's a good start.

Oh fabulous, so pleased!

Fairport website as of today is saying tickets on sale Monday 11th Dec with first acts announced then.
Nearly time to see if all your wishes have come true!

That's the day I get back to the UK. Whoopee!

We havent missed one for 35 years but next year is looking doubtful as we have to travel to France on the Following Monday for my youngest's wedding. Decent headliners (or otherwise) may swing it either way.

Just received the email with the line up so far. Can't say I'm excited about the headliners (Rick Wakeman and Trevor Horn - again!), but some good stuff elsewhere. Eddi Reader, Spooky Men, Baskery, Big Big Train, Kathryn Tickell, all solid bookings.

Here's the full list:

Baskery
Big Big Train
Black Water County
DeWolff
Eddi Reader
Elles Bailey
Fairport
Feast of Fiddles
Focus
Kathryn Tickell and The Darkening
Ranagri
Richard Digance
Rick Wakeman and the English Rock Ensemble
Silver Blues
Spooky Men's Chorale
Trevor Horn Band

A very easy decision . Thanks for that.

Good, solid, but not exciting, for me anyway. Might pop over for the Saturday, but no particular artist booked so far that would sway me to buy a 3 or 2 day ticket. 2023 was always going to be hard to beat, admittedly...

Another fallow year for devotees of Fairport guitar Gods?

DeWolff is an interesting choice. Sixties drenched hard rocking blues with hints of psych & soul. I think they'll either go down a storm or have people scurrying to the beer tent.

I'll be curious to hear how Big Big Train will go with Alberto Bravin in place of David Longdon. The latter was a force of nature on stage. I'm disappointed that Carly Bryant has stepped away from the band too. I enjoyed her song on Welcome To The Planet.

Others I've never seen live but would like to catch at some point, are Baskery & Black Water County. They're both excellent on record.

Baskery are even better live. It is kind of bonkers what they do.

I am no longer a Cropredy attendee (I did a warm up show this year) but there are several of my favourite festival acts in that line up. Eddi Reader is always sublime. I wonder how the Spooky Men will come across in such a big field. They are hugely entertaining in more intimate surroundings.

There's a few I haven't a clue about and a few I'm looking forward to. However, as much as I enjoyed the Trevor Horn Band, it seems a bit much to invite them back for a third festival in such a short space of time. Other than that, I'm fairly happy with the line up so far. Obviously, there will be a few more added later, so let's hope there are a couple of nice surprises..

I agree about Trevor Horne. It's getting a bit like their obsession with Marillion a few years back. Just too much.
On the plus side, Wakeman,  Focus and Tickell yaayy, and plenty of interesting unknowns. Praying for a good Thursday night lead now...

Saw Big Big Train earlier this year and I think they're as good as - if a little different - as before the sad passing of Dave Longdon.

Good lineup for me this year.  I can sort of see the Trevor Horn / Marillion comparison but Mr Horn has some back catalogue to draw on so there shouldn't be much repeating...

Wakeman is the Thursday night headliner.

There was quite a lot of repeating at their second appearance, I'd estimate at least two thirds of the set. So I'm in the like them but too soon camp.

Just noticed that Baskery are touring in March. Hopefully, I'll be able to get to their Skipton show.

I'm not keen on large one-stage festivals so Cropredy has never been on my list of must-do events but I always like checking out the line-up and reading people's reviews after the event.

Booked a warm up, first time in a long time, but decided to go this time.

Booked three days too!

Yippeeee!, 😁😁😁

How do you know this?

I went and panic booked glamping but I’m really not enticed by today’s list.

I’m guessing it’s just 1 headliner and 1 other to be announced?

It says so in the email, and on the Fairport website.

It also says that Trevor Horn Band is the Friday headliner.

CCd

It didn’t say anything about a sliding scale of costs this time, did it? Unless I missed it.

It says Tier one tickets, so...

Oh I missed that, skimming over it...ah well  ;D

Big Big Train... Yeah!  Been top of my wishlist for Cropredy for the last several years!  And Kathryn Tickell.  A good solid start, I reckon.  I'll definitely be there.

I don't know how many tier one tickets there were, but by 19.50 on Monday when I bought my tickets it was up to tier 2.

Looks like a good line up to me. I'm looking forward to seeing Focus again. I'm happy with the Thursday and Friday headline acts and SilverBlues should be really interesting - they've got a great back catalogue to choose from with Lindisfarne and Fairport songs and tunes to pick from.

I saw SilverBlues a couple of months ago… they were great!

Bought my ticket today.

I thought I'd be in time for tier one but that happened to me too.
SilverBlues were excellent at the New Forest Folk Festival last July. Good to see them in the line up.

Shouldn't the very wonderful Plumhall be on having done the tour.....

According to Steve Knightley's FB post this morning, he'll be playing at Cropredy Fringe with his new project, Dream In Colour, which also features Johnny Kalsi.  He didn't say which venue.

Both the tier 1 tickets were sold on the first day !!!    I really think that this Tier 1, tier 2 tickets is a sneaky way of putting the price up when they feel like it. Why not be honest about it, First xxxx tier 1, followed by xxxx at tier 2 at least we would have a bit of an idea how much a ticket costs. Like others, I thought I would get tier 1 buying in the first few days but I didn't, not particularly happy, I can afford it but I DO think its a sneaky way to price it.

Virtually every other festival in the land, and many other events of course, do this and with much less transparency.  By all means rail against the myriad ways capitalism get us to spend our money but don't single out one of the better proponents of the dark arts for doing something uniquely awful.  Basically, if you're quick enough you'll get the tier you want.  As you yourself admit, you didn't, so probably best to be "not particularly happy" with yourself rather than with the festival organisers...?

Does every other festival do this? Yes they have different pricing, with prices going up on certain dates, like Cropredy did until very recently and I have no problem with this, you know where you stand. With no ticket amounts or dates no one has a clue, there obvious were not many Tier 1 tickets judging by what people have said on here, if there are just 500 Tier 1 tickets, then say that. It's not difficult and everyone knows where they stand.

If it was known there only 500 Tier 1 tickets, you'd have potentially 501-20,000 cheesed off punters, disgruntled that they were sat in front of the PC ten minutes before countdown, ready to play fastest fingers and lost out.
Which would still be the case if it wasn't known.
If it was known, then there would be complaints along the likes of 'Why don't they have 1,000 Tier 1 tickets ?'' Why don't they get a computer system that can cope with demand ?'
The guys have been doing this for a long time, and I'm sure they have reasons for the choices they make. There aren't that many fests where the band are a cottage industry, putting on their own event, having to balance all sorts of issues, regarding punters, artists, legal regulations, vendors and themselves making a living.
Look at the queues to get on site and the chair dash Olympics to grab a bit of field, the weekend in that field has slowly turned from a band and audience as a big family chill out vibe, to a bit of a 'me first, rushy pushy, stress fest'.
A bit.
In my humble.

And thereby, it might be argued, perfectly reflecting the times in which it exists.  As, it certainly feels to me, is the preposterous situation of someone blaming anybody but themselves for something that was entirely a result of their own shortcomings.  

Full lineup due to be announced in half an hour...!

Tony Christie, Ben Savage & Hannah Sanders, the Zac Schulze Gang - all added to Saturday's line-up, plus "our Special Surprise Guest who will take the stage on Saturday evening immediately before Fairport Convention’s marathon closing set. Who can it be?"

When is a complete festival lineup not a complete festival lineup...when there's a special surprise guest on the poster!  I wonder if Yusuf (or whoever it is) will spill the beans this time?  

Saving Grace would be my not very original guess...

ps didn't Tony C have a dementia diagnosis a while back, or did I imagine that?  Impressive to see him still treading the boards if so.

Tony Christie is actually on Thursday.  

I can think of a few people I'd like the Special Surprise Guest to be, so it probably won't be any of them!

Whoops, silly me!

Same here, Will.  I assume "guest" implies a solo appearance...

It usually is, so they can get the stage set up for Fairport earlier and just have to move a mic or two.  I wonder if it might be a comedian, like they had some years back?  I forget exactly who it was though!

I dont think that this announcement will affect my decision.

Tony Christie did an album (The Great Irish Songbook) with Ranagri, who are playing on Saturday, so I wonder whether they came together as a package?

My whelm level is extremely low.

Jasper Carrot in 2013?

Glenn Campbell toured for several years after hisdementia diagnosis.

That's the badger!

Tony Christie…. Well at least we’ll get songs not Grammys 😁

Hmmm…Think I’ll give Thursday a skip this year and rock up for Friday/Saturday..

I can't help thinking if the Special Surprise Guest is really special, they'd surely announce a name to maybe sell more tickets?

And if it's Richard or Ralph that's hardly a surprise
It does seem a bizarre sales strategy...

Guessing Gerry Conway.

On second thought, he falls under the umbrella of "and friends." But so would RT I would think.

From the billing on the poster, I guess everyone surmises the "Special Surprise Guest" will do his/her/their own set?

Not like you Bill.

Presumably announcing a "Special Surprise Guest"  gives leeway for contract negotiations and, indeed, the possibility that the SSG's identity may change.


My Guess? Steve Knightley.

It'll be Percy surely.

He's been on so many times he can't qualify as a special guest, he's like a cousin in residence.

Roy Wood hasn't made an appearance for a few years.

My money is on Martin Carthy as "Special Surprise Guest". They don't come more special than this particular legend.

James Taylor would fit.

Bet it's Toyah again

I thought it may be Roger Daltrey the way they put ‘Who can it be?’.

Then I remembered the word ‘who’ can be used for people other than members of The Who.

Percy would be lovely...I expect people would love to see him-but I also wondered, could it just be an extra appearance from the Maestro, RT?

Forgive my ignorance, but who is this mystical Percy?

Plant, Robert Plant.

Oh right, thanks. That makes sense, surprised i didn't work it out.   :-[

As long as he has someone with him onstage to help him stay on track. He's a lovely chap.

It would be a unique situation in the 4.5 decades long history of Cropredy if it was...I'm fairly certain I'm right in saying he's never just "turned up" without being billed.  I'm fairly certain that his appearance adds guaranteed bums on seats as well, so there would appear to be little logic in the approach?

If it is someone big, then the reason for not naming them may be that they will only get a short (half-hour?) slot (plus maybe a couple of songs with Fairport), but they don't want people turning up expecting a full set from, say, Mr Plant, and then complaining that they didn't get their money's worth.  Just a thought.

Candidates:  Plant, Yusuf, Winwood, Wood, Anderson.  Any others?  Hodgson again maybe...all again, actually although Winwood has never guested.

Can't really see the James Taylor but we know how much Peggy at least has wanted that one...

Winwood was there in 2009....(I remember because a small child was lifted up onto the parent’s shoulder in front of me and I was gutted as I could not see properly). ::)

Some interesting guesses here, but come on, this is Cropredy.

It'll be Anna Ryder or someone who used to be in Tiny Tin Lady. Outside chance of one or more Pierce brother.

Oh blimey I hope not a Tiny Tin!

Cropredy village resident Joe Brown?

Frank Skinner?

Kat Gilmore remains briliant!! But not as a special guest.

Great idea!

Aye, I saw that.  Never guested though is what I meant (with FC).

I've been thinking about this a bit. There used to be a surprise, un-billed guest every year.
Then in 93 there was Planty AND Roy Wood, doing about half an hour or so each, resulting in complaints that there was less time for FC, so in 1994, there was no guest.
However, when they played Adieu, Adieu, they said 'we nicked the intro for this next one from The 'Oo', and did little snippets of Substitute, My Generation and a big chunk of Won't Get Fooled Again, with Maart singing, which rocked and the crowd went nuts.
Then we got Happy Jack and Adieu Adieu...

Maybe we might get Daltry AND Townsend - Pete was mates with Sandy.

Maybe not both - it say guest singular - but it could be Pete.

I'd err with the side that it would be Roge, if either?

I realised  afterwards but it was too late to amend the error of my ways  ;D

Plant or RT probably…
But since Tony Christie has joined the line up, possibly Peters  and Lee ( one for our younger readers!) or Bucks Fizz.
Saw Tony Christie at NFFF with Ranagri , who I have since seen on their own a few times and they’re a good band but with Christie they make Irish music a bit polite imho.
https://youtu.be/sijuJUxJoVM?si=vuwZK1mmDfVM7GY1

Lennie Peters died in 1992, so I’m afraid that won’t be possible.  :'(

Yes I know 😇😇😇🤣🤣

There are always holograms these days.  :)

Roger Daltrey is my best guess, anyway.

Serious reply!
As has been said , the act before Fairports is usually a solo act ,whilst  stage is set.
I remember not looking forward to Dennis Loccorie , forgive the spelling, then he absolutely owned the spot much to my surprise and enjoyment.I expected  Sylvia’s Mother…..got so much more.
At the risk of being contentious again it seems that some fests , including NFFF , THE costas and the river boat cruises are picking from a well run rota of acts. Doesn’t mean they’re not good cos they are , RT  SoH, Lakeman, etc etc and I guess its about what you go to a festival for.
Someone commented on my Between the Trees Fest that they don’t know most of the acts.
I have been around a long time , I have seen many of my fave bands many times. Doesn’t mean I don’t still like them and appreciate them.
Cropredy , May not be the place to introduce new faces any more, though I ve seen it done.
The days of Fairports 4 hr long headlining sets are gone, for completely understandable reasons.
So I guess the surprise guest may feature later in Fairports set .
There are some cracking bands and artists out there …..and venues…we have to use em or lose em.
As someone who plays music in the Johnsons Paint Division just getting out and playing again/still is a joy.
Hope to bump into old faces somewhere down the road this yr.

I'm just not mad about the overall concept of turning up and paying money for a lottery and a hope that something will ge really good

We re all different Stephen.There were a lot of bands I didn’t know at Magpies Fest last yr but some I did, Honey and the Bear, Chris Difford and Edward 11nd , so I checked my bets.
Same at Between the trees this yr. A few I know , a lot I don’t. You pays yer money…..

That set on Dennis' second visit was just superb. About ten minutes in he seemed to click with the crowd and it just took off. There are few Cropredy sets I have enjoyed more.

Lots of chat about Daltrey BUT if you can get him why not Friday headliner?

DW

Wendy's suggestion is Susy Quattro as she's appearing at Wickham the previous week.

You mean Leather Tuscadero from "Happy Days?" (When I was a kid, I was somewhat confused by her anachronistic appearance, dressed and coiffed like a '70s punk rocker surrounded by sock hoppers at the soda shop.)

Just seen.Billy Bragg is at Towersey so ...

Good call

Why have I only just realised that Thursday and Friday heads are both former members of Yes.

First Cropredy we will miss for 35 years and local heroes Headsticks are on at The Fringe!! Oh well perhaps from there to the main stage, or are they a bit too political?

Definitely. It's been a while since Pete did any solo stuff, I think.

I've said before that my daughter and I saw Roger's solo show in 2022, and it was breathtakingly good. We then saw The Who (5th time for me) in July, and though they were as brilliant as ever, Roger seemed utterly knackered by the end of the show (we have to remember he'll be 80 in a few weeks' time). He has started making quite a few noises lately about his nearing the end of performing. That said, The Who are playing two Teenage Cancer Trust shows at the Albert Hall this year, so you never know. But if Roger were playing Cropredy, it would make much more sense to have him headlining Friday, and to be announced to act as a draw. In addition, he has a healthy sense of his own status, and I suspect he wouldn't do anything where he wasn't headlining.

I'm not sure that the point of the guest is to be a draw, but a treat for those who are there.

The usual thing is a solo artist before Fairport to avoid a change over of instruments and amps as so on.
Daltrey would require a band, unless he's ever done an acoustic set with him playing a geetar, or maybe another guitarist.

I'm thinking it will be more along the lines of Jasper Carrot's surprise set a few years ago..maybe Bill Bailey or someone similar.

Bill Bailey would be great.

Apparently, according to an FC member a few years ago, he has been approached, and is keen, but schedules need to be aligned.

Exactly my thoughts. All those hoping for a big name band or singer who will do a full set are going to be disappointed.  It'll only be a 20-30 min thing, maybe with a couple of fairporters joining them for one or two numbers.

or could they have been waiting for Oysterband's announcement before making their own?

What are the chances of it being Roger Hodgson? I'd love that!! It's
 been a while since he last played Cropredy...
2000 was it?

It would be lovely to see him again. However he is 73 and hasn't toured since 2019 as far as I know.

But I've by no means kept up with him in the past few years so... who knows?

I think I've got it! Bryn Terfel has just released an album of folk songs. Maybe it'll be him doing a little spot?

By (Tony) Christ(ie) I think you've got it....

At least it won't be Lulu, who has just announced her retirement in April.

i see Steve Marriott's daughter Mollie is going to be backing singer on Wakemans Return of the Caped Crusader tour replacing Hayley Sanderson who has had to drop out.

Marty Wilde is releasing a new Album in May and going on a farewell tour at the age of 85. Perhaps................

Don't encourage them ::) ;D

I believe Hayley has played Croppers in the past ..

Show of Hands?

I see Fairground Attraction are reforming for a tour shortly after Eddi Reader’s appearance at Cropredy.
I wonder if this means we could actually be getting Fairground Attraction.

I'd be amazed if it was...do you really think "the three blokes in Fairground Attraction" warrant that much attention?  Bit harsh maybe but...

A valid point, to be honest I wouldn’t know the difference!

Unlikely, given that Abbotsbury in July is being heralded as their proper final appearance before their indefinite break.