TalkAwhile - The Folk Corporation Forum

Cropredy 2026 confirmed on the Fairport website - same arrangements as this year.

https://www.fairportconvention.com/news/cropredy-latest/

From the website:

Thank you to all of you who attended the reduced capacity Cropredy festival back in August. The Gods shined on us – absolutely perfect festival weather – and that was one very happy field. So much so – we’re going to do it again!

For 2026, we are going to repeat what we did this year. The size and capacity worked for us and according to the reactions we have witnessed, it worked for you too.

There is still a great deal of uncertainty around regarding outdoor events and we thank our suppliers for their loyalty and keeping their prices affordable. Not many festivals are lucky enough to have this and we really do appreciate it. At this stage it would be foolish to increase the capacity and hence, the risk. Better to play safe and live another day. After all, we all want to be here for our 60th anniversary in 2027 don’t we?

For 2026, like 2025, we shall be basing selling on a maximum of 6500 tickets. There were some who were disappointed to miss out last year once we’d hit capacity, so please, spread the word and let your friends know we’re open for business. We’d hate anyone to be left out.

We plan to announce the ‘Line-up so far’ and place tickets on sale at 11.00 on Monday 8 December – just in time for Christmas!

Sign up for the e-newsletter for more information as it happens. https://www.fairportconvention.com/contact/

Rather a relief, really.

Really great news! The 2025 Cropredy was brilliant and the smaller capacity worked well and gave it the feel of earlier years. Roll on August...!

I see Thompy will be in the country. To wait for the line up, or to blow it out on the off chance, that is the question…

Seeing, given recent history, it's unlikely to sell out before early Summer at best, surely waiting?

Quite a few people were disappointed this year because the reduced capacity meant that it sold out before they realised, so it's a juggling act. Also, prices go up after the first tranche.

But I do think that a number of people will leave it until the New Year.

Am I right in thinking tickets go on sale at 11am tomorrow?

I saw a Facebook announcement but there's nothing on the website and nothing about the lineup (not that that matters!)

Yes.

The website says We plan to announce the ‘Line-up so far’ and place tickets on sale at 11.00 on Monday 8 December.

I understand the marketing need to create a sense of panic buying, but am I incorrect that it sold out in Summer this year?

Cropredy 25 did sell out.

Glamping tickets are already on sale (10:00), if anybody is waiting to get them.

Yes, indeed.  I know, but in about June, as I recall.  Isn't that correct?

April/May ish. But the prices go up in Tiers so this is the cheapest they'll be.

Obviously popular as Fairport's website has fallen over due to excessive demand.

AXS accepting purcheses though.

Got my ticket, and looking forward to it!

Got ours!

 Interesting line up .

THURSDAY

Fairport Acoustic
Banter
Soft Machine
Matt Bragg
Turin Brakes
La Vent du Nord

FRIDAY

Cropredy Primary School
Danny and the Champions of the World
Danny Bradley
The Celtic Social Club
Marshall Gilmore Webbs
Breabach
Spooky Mens Choral
Richard Thompson and Band

SATURDAY

Gerry Colvin Big Band
Restless Dream
The Haar
Barbara
Hayseed Dixie
Will Pound and Jen Butterworth
Fairport Convention

================================

My comment...Great to see Turin Brakes back (but they should headline over La Vent du Nord).Gerry Colvin is always fun . RT never gives a bad gig. Loved Hayseed Dixie last time out. Breabach good . No sign of Richard Digance.?????  

Overall , a good list but nothing spectacular .

Couldn't get to the Tickets page on the Fairport website, but got admission tickets via the AXS app and Glamping via www.brookbelltents.co.uk

I can't get through on the website and the AXS site is sending me round in circles... I'll leave it for now

I eventually got my ticket, after several attempts - for some reason it didn't like my credit card - but eventually paid through Paypal and that seems to have worked.

Not the best line-up I've ever seen, but not the worst either. A number of acts I don't know, but experience says that there will be at least some I really enjoy.  Looking forward in particular to Le Vent Du Nord again, Banter, the Spooky Men and of course RT.

Brook Bell Tents were accepting orders from 10:00, so got my glamping early.

AXS sent me round and round in circles (you are at the top of the queue / your session has expired) but eventually condescended to sell me 2 tickets.

Especially looking forward to Spooky Men, Le Vent Du Nord and RT. Soft Machine not so much.

Won't feel quite the same without Richard Digance - anybody know why he's not playing?

Now the Brook Bell site is playing silly buggers.

I thought that there were not tiers last year, with the limited release…maybe a false memory.

You're probably correct. I'd forgotten that.

According to his website he's at Corton Coastal Village nr. Lowestoft - August 15-Warners, Corton Coastal Village, Corton, Nr Lowestoft -

From his website: Richard is delighted to have signed an agreement with Warner Hotels for regular monthly appearances during 2026 at Warner Leisure Hotels & Breaks. Warners appearances are shown in purple. For Warners information visit www.warnerhotels.co.uk

Warner Holidays are welcome to him. Other opinions are, as always, available.

PS I'll just add a bit of flesh to the above comment - I enjoyed Digance when he first took over the Saturday lunchtime slot for my 2nd visit to Cropredy in 2002. He was funny in an old-school "this is how they used to do it" kind of way, and I used to look forward to him every year. Trouble is, his act became samey, stale and more "Daily Mail" over the years to the point of embarrassment. He became more thin-skinned ; he could dish it out but couldn't take it. The year he called out the Talkawhile forum from the Cropredy stage for daring to criticise him was the start of the decline. The final straw was probably the "England one day will be great, we just don't know the date..." song...

I'm not knocking those who still enjoy his brand of comedy, however, I'm sure I'm not alone in wishing they'd give another standup a try in that slot, mix it up a bit, keep it fresh and interesting.

He's a bit Marmite, really. I do know that many people appreciate him. I'm not one of them after I had a run-in with Mr Digance at Skeggy a few years ago.

Ho-hum.

As to another, similar artist, replacing him: Jasper Carrott has been tried and worked once, but not the second time, largely because he was a much-overhyped mystery star guest. Has Mike Harding ever appeared at Croppers?

I don't think it's a very impressive line up for £240. Hayseed Dixie are on local to me, in a few weeks, for £25 and I don't think there are any other bands that you would pay much more to see on the bill. The New Forest Festival has quite a few of the same bands, over 5 days and is just over half the price of Cropredy and 5 days of camping for £40 !
 :(

Does MH still perform live?
According to his website his last tour was 2015.

Good point. He apparently did Crops in 2007 but I have no recollection of that.

Maybe Dave Eagle?

Just a hunch but I very strongly suspect that most of the moaners about the line-up started going to Cropredy in the last 20 years and aren't on the main, Fairport stalwarts of old.  Those of us who first knew the festival in the 80s (or earlier) probably recognise it as much closer to the spirit of those festivals than the anything goes as long as it's a big name jumble of the post-Pegg Cropredy Convention years.

I do think the price is pushing it a tad - especially the camping which seems utterly excessive to me.  The festival I do every year now (Krankenhaus) is almost exactly the same price but camping is included.  But that's only a quarter of the size of this one (1500).

Looks like your "hunch" is wrong, I've been to every one starting on Crossman's lawn. To be honest, it's a "Beach Boys, Alice Cooper" price but not the acts to warrant the price IMO

Mike Harding introduced the Liege and Lief lineup to the stage in 2007, with Chris While covering for Sandy.

As far as I’m concerned the obvious alternative to Digance is someone who would already be on site, a certain Mr Anthony John Clarke.

Bill Bailey would be great but not financially viable

Unfortunately the price of just about everything to do with putting a festival on has increased massively since Covid, and if they were putting Alice Cooper or the Beach Boys on this year, the price woulod be a lot more than £240/head.

its a no from me I'm afraid after attending for many years I think my Cropredy days are over now. But boy did i see some great acts over the years! Bands and people i had always wanted to see but never quite managed.

Matt Bragg is a great comedian. I’ve seen him a few times.  I don’t think he’ll offend anyone - amusing observational comedy

Got my tickets  {:-)

Yes, it's expensive but we look forward to it so much we're prepared to make sacrifices to go.

The line up is pretty much as we expected - I'm a huge Turin Brakes fan so V happy to have them back, plus the Spookys and Hayseed Dixie, who I missed last time they played due to a problem with a never-ending pint glass :D  ;D I shall check out the rest of the lineup over the next few weeks. I've never seen a bad band at Cropredy, plenty I'm not bothered if I never see again, but never a bad band. I trust the organisers.

I do think this could be the penultimate so there's no way I'm missing it!!  8)

Check out the Haar. We've seen them several times and enjoy their music a lot.

I just have and they seem like perfect sunny afternoon music!  🎶

Fantastic band, they even manage to bring new life to such folk staples as “Wild Rover” and “Danny Boy”
Really looking forward to seeing them again.

An article in Oxford Mail says up to 15,000 could attend this yr . This will obviously include ‘crew’ , stewards, stalls etc but would be up on last yr.  Mail may have git it wrong of course.
I am playing a fest on the Sat so I have known for some weeks that I couldnt attend this yr…..
I have seen a lot of these bands before , incl fests last yr but I have been having the stirrings of withdrawal symptoms.

Bob Fox would be great for that slot, imho.

6,500 is a hard total for tickets. I can't see there being 8,500 staff. Perhaps 1,000 at a very long stretch.

It'll be staff plus complimentary ticket holders, of course, but personally I'd be amazed if those totalled 500 on top of the already announced limit.  Either the Mail is very wrong or we're being told porkies, and that seems unlikely.

Agreed. I think the Oxford Mail had a brain f**t. Look for em-dashes in the story, a giveaway it was AI generated.

As I’ve said before I am wary of posting on here as my last Cropredy was 2018, although I went Brase fringe after that.
I am starting to question the word fringe at the Brase.
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid02ZJrejknFXZ5kYhxJL2v8AiocN9koCRczaRyHhrf7Z7PS9x61YBan36qP12Ehv2jwl&id=100063697865098

Several acts here who sit very comfortably on the main stage .
I can’t get down on the Saturday, I’m playing another fest but I will try to get down on other days …it’s about getting down early and finding parking!

Email just received from Fairport states, "Talking of Cropredy, tickets are selling very quickly indeed for our ‘right sized’, reduced capacity festival that was such a hit last year. 85% of the 6500 tickets have now been sold so if you do wish to attend, please book asap to avoid disappointment".

Just a heads up for anyone wanting to go but not having yet bought tickets... :)

Which would be 975 tickets...

Well...972 as I bought 3 after posting...!  ;D

285 remaining, per Peggy last week…

Those who aren't on FB may not be aware of things kicking off with the Brasenose.  Postings by Peggy.  Bands withdrawing from playing there etc.  

I've not been paying close attention so maybe somebody in the know can summarise the situation?

I haven't seen Peggy's post(s) but am aware that TRADarrr, Miranda Sykes and Chris While & Julie Matthews have all withdrawn from the Brasenose "Fringe" due to reports of suppliers and younger workers there last year remaining largely unpaid.

I can't say I'm surprised, the Brase seemed to be jumping the shark last year and getting well above themselves.

I found a post with Peggy's words. Pretty strong words at that.

Are they going to change their name to the Brassneck?

Sadly there is a venue in Lancaster which has a bad reputation when it comes to paying performers. In these post-Covid days bands often struggle to make ends meet and the last thing they need is venues messing them about. A couple of gigs at another venue in town have been cancelled due to poor ticket sales.

Fingers crossed that an alternative venue can be found.

Apparently over the past few years it has been run by various companies (all owned by the same people) who have successively declared themselves bankrupt in order to avoid paying debtors, including local youngsters who'd been doing p/t work as well as suppliers.

The posts from local residents are pretty scathing; sounds like an absolute s@!t show.

Through the 80's & 90's etc I enjoyed many a lazy pint in the sun on the Brasenose lawn, happy days.  It seems that when they functioned as a normal pub coping with a busy festival once a year they could keep afloat, ditto the Red Lion.  When the Brasenose started the fringe more recently and the pub began to morph into a mini version of the O2 I did wonder if they had done their sums correctly.  They have clearly become over ambitious and in the process have alienated villagers, performers, and the chaps at the main festival.  Trying to organise another fringe when they owe money from last year is breathtakingly cynical.  

Several other acts have withdrawn now, I wonder just how viable the Brasenose will be this summer?

This will be the first time I won’t be having a pint or two in the Brasenose. I feel for the young workers who weren’t paid last year (and still waiting). Scott Doonican said he was only paid last year when he threatened MU action.

Hopefully not at all.  As I've been suggesting on social media, the Cropredy is a perfect candidate for community ownership, mainly because it has two communities that love it - the geographical one, and the musical FC-related one.  I'd willingly buy a share or two at £50-100 a pop and I bet many others in the community would too (and put in a lot more.  Raising a few hundred thousand and creating a viable Cropredy and FC-friendly business (that operates as it used to, not as an alternative festival) is surely possible?  I hope somebody local is able to run with an idea like this...

Great idea, David!

I'd be up for that!

Bought ourselves a camper van this morning so Cropredy tickets have followed quickly after. First time since 2018 so very excited.

Congratulations, how lovely!

Similar to us . Our previous van went before Christmas and we only replaced it last week , couldnt commit to tickets before we had a van. We just couldnt find one that matched all of our criteria for ages, so compromised on price and storage space. Our logic was that they are holding their value very well , and we bought an awning!

Is there anybody who lives in the village please who could get in touch (either here or at davidmjs at gmail dot com) please?  I want some help in trying to get in touch with people running things in the village during the festival.  Much appreciated.

excitement is risng on Iow. Big thanks to Gareth  and Milly for sorting out ticketing issues
thanks to Richard and Jake at AXS for some fantastic support and commuiccation
I was worrying at ome stage but all sorted now ;D ;D ;D

Water levels ok on the canal rumour is it could be closed to navigation early next month though.
Lots of boaters already turning up preempting this I guess.
Will keep the board informed as and when I know more.

It seems to have been very hot and miss on who has camping stickers. We only got ours this month. I was starting to worry!

Water levels still ok and navigable.
First deliveries of fencing on the site today and various contractors mobile homes delivered.
Il post each day as and when
Weather very warm but a lovely breeze as I’m stood by Jonah’s oak.

Warm but breezy with possible showers later.
More people and deliveries on site with tents up at wristband exchange, FOE tent and geordie Pete’s gate.

Current forecast...

Always a bit dodgy to forecast 10 days in advance, but it looks better than the one I looked at a few days ago!

As an aside although nothing official , if we have no discernible rain between now and the festival I would be amazed if camping stoves of any kind were allowed on the fields.
The fields are cut back but tinder dry and an accident waiting to happen.
I wouldn’t be buying supplies just yet.
Lucky there’s lots of on site food options.

Just had a very heavy shower for 15 mins which was nice !!!

Sounds like it may be a challenge to get tent pegs in the ground, then!  I ruined a number at NFFF already because the ground was so hard.

Perhaps get something like these (https://www.amazon.co.uk/Lomo-Hard-Ground-Tent-Pegs/dp/B0D5YP78KH?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.bqb70g1QlHQyV2casmYNcPNFkCH0cucU_oYKfBxoFOW1VQNrMpPVpryLJEJuDdVEw7WSY515kyyU7tJSbbLgFfp24A4qnH8sFdPCzy6pRVMzNWvrCYYCo66GOBt1LqFb31Vf7VWUZc4sV2OzcYSfLOwgBxWflAnbKi6XdczQXZCt8mxaODilVbVxmRfBhDV4SY2QBVuhNvPGwNWFcTpCLwQbAVG2yatNNyrQ1zUiYjxE9ZS8Tb62y-0OKRXxer6iq8lQXgHsr8UrsJNb9pecGHz6kher1DwIgCTJyVCZbvs.YIBucqkqSBI7-pp8bb4AH0ZKQPFV7AONZ-8HYLutsSY&dib_tag=se&keywords=Lomo+Hard+Ground+Tent+Pegs+Set+-+20+in+Case&qid=1785923971&sr=8-6)?

Days out from my Brigadoon re-appearing.
Exited as always. The "Stuff" settling nicely to offer at the toast. For me Cropredy is so much more than the music and I love it .

Sadly, a highlight will be the pre festival Traddarr farewell concert in Banbury on Wednesday evening. I will miss them so much. But there are highlights on the bill, Turin Brakes are just excellent, Hayseed Dixie are always fun and if the Spooky Men don't entertain then you are hard to please. I could hear Thomo playing Wall of Death, Vincent Black Lightening and Tear-stained letter every night and Vent du Nord are just pure folk rock and class. Then there is the musical all about the Perloo Masacre on at Cream of the Crop on Wednesday night (formerly Field Eight) best beer in the area at the best prices ,good food and free admission. They have Leatherat on at 4-30 on Saturday . (Everything at Cream of the Crop is Free Admission) by the way up against Richard Thompson on Friday there are the outstanding Skalectics.

All in All , this should equal last year as one to remember. See you all there , and I hope in particular at the toast.

Would have really liked to see Bob and the Peterloo stuff but can't possibly miss the Trad Arr farewell. I thought Turin Brakes played the second best set of recent years, after Brian Wilson of course. Personally, even though I am hard to please, I think this year's line up is far far better than last year. See you Wednesday.

Re stoves etc.  This in from creamnof the crop..



I imagine something similar will be coming for the camping fields.

Thanks Andy. I discovered in a corner of the attic that I do have something much like those, so will make sure to pack them in with the tent.

Canal closed at Claydon from 7th August.
Limited opening on weds/Thursday before festival if water levels allow

Things coming along nicely on the field
Not posting further updates as there are signs up forbidding it and warnings regarding posting pictures of the build on social media.
Spoke to someone today by JO who informed me those continuing to do so will face prosecution.
Don’t shoot the messenger (mind you it’s there on plenty of signs if you can be bothered to do as requested)

When did it get so heavy handed?

I have always enjoyed the build up pictures.

Hmmm. The case of Hickman v. Maisey [1900] springs to mind.

Oh, splendid work!

 

I mean, it’s a bit much given how many construction updates their management are posting. I even know how big the Nicol family backstage footprint is. Come on, chaps…  ???

They could have asked nicely. Somebody seems to have not got the ethos.

Are the signs genuine? You can't claim to be the friendly festival and then do things like this with no justification, Disappointed hugely by this. If there is good reason just say so

Sign of the Times.
(Anybody got a photo of the sign? ;D )

Yes
Official fairport management signage one at geordie Pete’s top gate, one at nicks bridge and one at Jonah’s oak , maybe more.
No big deal really.
I suppose in this day and age they don’t really want everyone to know when fences , generators etc have arrived which I suppose is sensible.

BUMP !!
Hi all, this is a long shot but I'm trying a few different avenues and hopefully I'll get lucky. I really need a ticket for the Fairport warm-up show in Banbury on Tuesday 11th. I booked mine late at night and only realised yesterday I'd booked for the Monday by mistake, which is impossible for me as I'll still be at home in Ireland. Tuesday is now booked out. I'm on a returns list at the venue, but just in case anyone might have a spare they don't need for Tuesday night, I'd be happy to help you get rid of it....

There is a good possibility that I will have a spare camping sticker but wont know for certain until Wednesday. If anyone wants to let me if they would be interested so I could contact them then . Dont let this stop you from pursuing other avenues. Sorry to be so woolly.

If anyone wants a 3 day ticket for £150 I have one spare or would sell it for £100 for anyone wanting to come down for the Saturday only.
I’m in Cropredy and would meet up personally to exchange weds/thurs.

We're having to sell our two tickets. Looking at the temperatures forecast for Thursday and Friday, there's absolutely no way we're bringing our Malinois with us. At such short notice, we have no petsitter in place, and he can't do kennels even if we could find availability, due to a horrendous experience in a rescue in his previous life.

So, we have 2 adult weekend tickets on Twickets, at £285 the pair, including Twicket fees - link below. Also have a 3 day camping pass available, which we're happy to send out Special Delivery immediately, or travel a reasonable distance from our home near Grimsby to meet up for the exchange. Would want face value (offers considered), for that one.

Gutted!

https://www.twickets.live/app/block/26147762827587,2?utm_campaign=sharelisting&utm_source=share&utm_medium=email

I really feel for you. We are very fortunate in that we can leave our Labrador with my sister. Had been looking forward to bringing him in our van for the first time.

I see latest Fairport email is recommending not bringing dogs if possible.

I got a ticket for the Tuesday bash and some lucky person got my one for Monday. Lovely people at the Mill. Things are looking good now

I really do hope people listen to that.  Personally, I think it could have been a little bit more instructive as opposed to suggestive, but hopefully everybody will be sensible.  They won't, of course, but hey...

I agree
Couldn’t be more wishy washy.
Just state that due to conditions this year no dogs allowed.
You’d have to be some sort of owner to trapse a dog round in what could be 36 degree heat.
Other festivals have put animal welfare first and done the right thing but fairport aren’t.
Isn’t a good look imo.

I wouldn’t take a dog there, but just think of the complexities of getting dogs into boarding kennels at short notice in the school holidays. It’d be impossible and the cost of kennels on top of tickets could be prohibitive.
Be realistic too.

There's quite a list of people on FB saying they're not coming because of their dogs. There's also some people who can't come because of the effects of heat and bright sunlight on the increasing amounts of medications that the Cropredy demographic are taking.

After a tick bite earlier in the year, Wendy was on Doxycycline. That made her super-sensitive to strong sunlight and if she was still on that, she'd have never been able to undertake the round of festivals we're going to, this summer.

So I'm sympathetic, but this was utterly predictable and what we're seeing is the triumph of common sense over optimistic bookings from earlier in the year.

No wonder they can't get 20,000 people to turn up any more!

So pleased that Wendy wasn’t  on this land you could do your festivals, must be rotten for her.

Weather forecasts from Met Office, BBC, and yr.

CRT advise that the canal is now closed until 2nd October.
They're taking advantage of the current situation with water shortages to replace gates at Ayhno lock 33 at Adderbury.

 

I bet if the dogs were carrying cameras they’d have been right on it. 😄

Last time I was there nine years ago, I dodged several piles of dog-tritus. Regardless of whether dogs are encouraged, discouraged, etc., I hope my fellow humans will pick up after them.

It has only taken me nine hours to get this joke 😆

Would anyone be around Cropredy tomorrow (Weds) night(maybe on F8/CoC) and heading for Trad Arrr in  Banbury  fancy sharing a lift or maybe a taxi? I don't fancy the idea of driving back in between the tents after dark...

I hope to see lots of you in the cricket club lunchtime tomorrow. I've just done my final "big shop" (was surprised it was only £52...) and I'll be packing the van shortly (I'm only 5ft so I do everything shortly  ;D) for a 3:30am start.

Just the power banks to find now - I saw them less than 2 weeks ago but they've disappeared into the ether. At least I can't lose my tickets this time  :-\

If I don't see you have a great Cropredy, keep cool  8) and enjoy the craic  :-*

Can tickets be offered here?
If not, where?

Just watched the eclipse from the fields
Quite a few camped up in the fields near Jonah’s oak.
Exciting times.

Soaking up a last dose of Premier Inn aircon before heading on over….

Just a quick ask

I’m a type one diabetic and I use the libre 2 sensor system as I often go low at night.
Today my sensor has failed and I have no spare one.

I don’t do Facebook so can’t really reach out but if anyone has a spare or could post on Facebook maybe it would help

I’ve spoken to the on site paramedics but they can’t help until tomorrow.

Thanks in advance

Pure coincidence that despite very hot relentless sun a few raindrops have struck on the evening that RT is playing.

😅😅

So how did the emergency service message sound across the field?

Dont know about that but it scared the living daylights out of me, at home in the rainy city, with its strange noise :o

It was weird, I thought it was going to be my phone telling me it was too hot. It certainly caught my attention
Interesting-I've an Irish phone and number so it must have come straight from the transmitters rather than to a list of numbers

It was interesting to hear so many alarms go off in our surroundings, but little notice taken. It probably didn't affect many of us but there was a lady a couple of rows down happily puffing away and then ground it out with her heel.

Didn't receive it. Nor did my wife 🤔

(And, at our age,we can't be trusted with the toaster, let alone a disposable barbecue, so you'd think we'd be part of the core demographic 🙄)

I blame it on AI, or Brexit, or something...

Regarding stolen caravan

I don’t do Facebook but saw a caravan being driven erratically down school lane at 12.15 , it nearly hit me and from memory was being towed by a dark four by four.
May be worth checking school cctv.

I don't have them on my phone. Turned them off about three years ago {:-)

I've only experienced this year's event (as every other since 2010) remotely via here and FaceCrack.  The moaning this year was absolutely off the scale.  I do wonder if this is the curse of Johnny cum Lateley's from the last couple of decades who have very little love for FC and family and for whom Cropredy has just been yet another festy on the calendar?  I've only just stopped laughing about the FB post moaning about RT and asking why he was booked again this year.

Anyway, assuming we're all still functional in 12 months time, I'm definitely going to be there next year, which will be one more for old time's sake.  I've even just booked the most wonderful looking little Airbnb about 10 minutes drive away.  Let it be so...

It's based on the call tower that your handset is connected to.

That allows for geographically localised warnings - e.g. floods, toxic fires which require windows to be closed, escaped dangerous criminals nearby, terrorist threat, wildfires, etc, etc. - as the message needs to be received by handsets within physical proximity, rather than base on which network it is registered on (including non-UK roaming ones).

Given the number of alerts that most phones give their users every day (even, occasionally, somebody telephoning them!), and the possibility that the information contained within the emergency broadcast might just save your life, I find it very hard to understand the mentality of those that refuse to receive them.

Not sure if they've already been posted, but the two FC sets are:

Thur https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/fairport-convention/2026/cropredy-festival-field-cropredy-england-2b718896.html

Sat https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/fairport-convention/2026/cropredy-festival-field-cropredy-england-1371f9d9.html

Well, that was a hot hot hot one! Managed one wander around the village on Thursday, but apart from that I was under my brolly on the field with several litres of water to keep me company. Highlights for me were:
Barbara - young band, very charismatic lead singer, and great songs that were a cross between Sparks and Divine Comedy
Rob Jones & The Restless Dream - cinematic America à la Springsteen
Richard Thompson - I’ve felt his last few albums were a little flat, but the songs from his forthcoming album sounded excellent

There was no one that I didn’t like, although Soft Machine aren’t really my bag.

£4 veggie burger at the cricket club with cheese and onions was great value, as was the Smac stall at £5.

The rumours around the field that Dave Gilmour was going to appear didn’t materialise, but Vikki Clayton back on stage.

There's a couple of photos circulating on FB of Mr Gilmour watching his daughter's set from the side of the stage, so he was there, but the Radio Oxford presenter told us that he was chauffered pretty much straight in and out again...

Unusual for “Who Knows Where The Time Goes” to go missing.
There were a couple of songs towards the end I would have sacrificed for it😂

I believe it was scheduled but obviously had to be left out. They are likely to get fined anyway.

+1 for Barbara, the highlight of the weekend.

Also really enjoyed The Celtic Social Club, Spooky Men, Le Vent Du Nord and Turin Brakes. But there was something to like in most of the acts.

The only act that didn't do it for me was The Haar. Not my thing at all. It was almost comical the way they said 'Here's Whisky in the Jar', sing along' and then proceeded to play something I would never have recognised if they hadn't told me the title.

Felt a bit sorry for Matt Bragg, who was on a hiding to nothing coming on as a comic in the midst of a music festival, at possibly the hottest time of the entire weekend. People just weren't in the mood, and he didn't then help himself by getting shirty with the audience. He did have a cracking gag about the Brasenose Fringe, though!

As for Fairport, they were okay, I guess. Somehow DM has become their MVP. But it all just washed over me. Can't remember ever seeing them play a festival set with not a single set of uptempo tunes in it.

Back home and getting myself sorted out now.

Yes, it was HOT! Especially Thursday.  In fact I had a bit of a funny turn at the cricket club after sitting out in the sun for a couple of hours (there was no tent this year). Made it indoors to get out of the sun but then kind of collapsed. Thankfully Trev found me there and eventually managed to get the paramedics out. They checked me and him out (he was also feeling a bit bad) and they took us to their 'field hospital' at the top of the field, did some more tests, filled us up with water and electrolytes and sat us in front of their portable AC for a while until we felt ready to head back out and face the heat, just in time for Fairport's first set, which I didn't take much in of, to be honest. I enjoyed Banter, but Soft Machine did nothing for me, so I went back to my tent and missed half their set and all of Matt Bragg.

Turin Brakes were competent and enjoyable, but I only know one of their songs, and didn't feel I had to go out and buy more.  Le Vent du Nord, on the other hand were immense.  I was feeling well enough by then to go down the front (and it was cooling off a little by then).  They were definitely one of my highlights of the weekend.  I enjoyed them last time, but in the headline slot they were great!

On Friday I was feeling a bit better, though still a little under the weather. I missed most of the Primary school set as I was in the CD tent, where they had a great range of £5 CDs of which I bought far too many!  But not quite as many as one chap I saw who had armfuls!  The kids sounded pretty good though and I'm sure there were many proud parents, and well done to Oxfordshire CC or whoever funds those music lessons!  Danny & the Champs were a good festival band, but didn't again drive me to explore further.  I did enjoy the opportunity to hear more of Danny Bradley after his support slot with FC a year or so ago, and thought he did really well.  

From then on the rest of Friday was very good. Celtic Social Club were new to me but very good, Marshall Gilmour Webbs were different, but I enjoyed listening to them too. Not sure I'd buy an album, but I would go and see them again.  I didn't notice Dave Gilmour, but apparently he was there watching on.  Breabach were also very enjoyable, The Spookies did their Spooky thing very well, and RT was on top form, both solo, with Zara and then with SN, DP and DM (though Simon didn't seem very happy - not sure if he was just having to concentrate and so not smiling). It was fun to see the Cornflakes guitar make a comeback.

On to Saturday, and the weather was down to a more reasonable heat level.  Gerry Colvin got things off to a great start with his Big Band - 17 musicians on stage, I think!  Rob Jones was enjoyable, and it is always fun to see people who really want to be there on that stage as a long time fan.  Worth looking out for.  The Haar were different, but I enjoyed them - a number of standard Irish songs, but no played the way that you'd expect - not sure (as a non-musician) if they were played in different modes or something?  Barbara I could take or leave - some people loved them, I know. Hayseed Dixie are, as I commented on to someone, a bit of a one trick pony, and though they do their trick well, 90 mins of it is about an hour too much!  

A friend had seen Jenn Butterworth and Will Pound a week ago at Dartmoor Folk Festival and told me not to miss them, and I'm glad I didn't.  Very talented and obviously enjoying playing together, even in what is rather a graveyard slot before FC come on.

And getting to Fairport, I didn't feel they were just going through the motions - I admit that I also noticed that it seems a while now since we have had one of the big tune sets (Dirty Linen, Hen's March, etc), but that wasn't just this year.  It was great to see some old friends getting up there and playing with them - Steve Ashley, Ralph McTell, Vikki Clayton, Anna Ryder, etc.  Those may have contributed to them going slightly over, I guess? The Franklin pairing of I'm Already There and Mercy Bay at the end was wonderful.

First time back for eight years and loved every minute. It was like coming home.

Really enjoyed the greater room to roam, but the scaling back didn’t seem to have changed much. Everything was as before (though perhaps some of the stalls were a tad more expensive). Good choice of food and the bar range was excellent. The heat was the main drawback but not much we could do. Given the last time we left the field in 2018 we were drenched to the skin, can hardly complain! And everyone was really helpful, staff and campers alike.

Only gripe, stock levels in CD stall seemed low. Whenever I wanted something, they had sold out. Good to pick up the Grolloo albums though.

As for the music, liked most of what I heard and particularly enjoyed Vent du Nord Rob Jones (hopefully he is going to have a great career) and the Celtic Social Club. Had really wanted to hear Barbara but they left me a little cold - clearly very talented but a bit contrived for me. Bit too much of a pastiche, but happy to give them another shot as it could just be me.

Thoroughly enjoyed Spooky Men for the first time. Did wonder to start with if they were going to be a joke that wore thin, but ended up loving them.

Richard T was on fine form and great choice of material. As for Fairport, case of something for everyone. Was surprised no RT but Sloth was still very good. Matty seemed to arrive very quickly which is always a good sign. Disappointed no mention of Ashley though as I would have liked to hear how he was doing.

Highlights: Marshall Gilmour Webbs - Great Gig in the Sky; Spooky Men - Crossing the Bar; Gerry Colvin - Watching Feathers Fall. And of course Rosie - it is never a bad FC set when they play that.

A great weekend, over all too quickly. Can’t wait till next year!

I don’t think that it was played in the warm-ups.
John Gaudie was a casualty of time

Dont think it was the right time. Should deffo be done but elsewhere. There is a lovely heartwarming side to it though.

I had a chat to the guy at the Talking Elephant stand about him.  Apparently Blair moved up to Chesterfield to care for him after his stroke, but is now back in Bristol, and plans to work on the recordings from Ashley's big birthday bash, which may be out early next year (they've been held up by Blair's general busyness, as well as having to care for his dad).

Just realised that this was the first Cropredy (in 8 attendances) where we've seen every act. Normally some of the time is spent on Field 8/CotC, in the village, in the Red Lion or in the Brasenose. Perhaps the heat meant that we were just happy to stay in one place.

Highlights for me were RT, Le Vent Du Nord, Hayseed Dixie. And also how many of the artists that I knew nothing about previously were very enjoyable. The excellent ice cream at sensible prices. Minerva Stout. Leons. The glamping experience.

Lowlights for me were The Haar (their experimental versions of well-known tunes just didn't work for me. I could have put up with one or two, but not a whole set), Soft Machine (very competent, but just not my music).

Minor things: Matt Bragg was out of his depth playing an arena, even though some of his jokes were actually quite funny. Putting Will Pound & Jenn Butterworth in that slot (they were brilliant but could have been swapped with Hayseed Dixie or put on even earlier in the day - I'm sure many will disagree!) Spooky Men weren't quite as good as last time. Fairport didn't seem to be fully engaged and, despite a 2.5 hour slot, missing Who Knows Where The Time Goes and rushing Meet On The Ledge robbed a section of the audience of the highlight of their weekend.

Ironic observation: Richard Thomson, who wrote Meet On The Ledge, was unable to play it during his set. Fairport Convention, who didn't write the song, had to play it, despite appearing not to really want to. Heresy?

Worst Moment Of The Weekend, By Far: Hearing that somebody had their caravan brazenly stolen from Field 7A. Cropredy has always been very friendly and safe. I left valuables in our tent rather than locking them in the car. We left our bags (with seats, etc) next to the barrier while we stood up front for FC, and when retrieving them I even commented to somebody who was doing the same thing that there weren't many festivals where you could just leave your bags unattended and expect to still find them there when you returned. It will be sad if the culture changes to having to be very security conscious.

Never forget that the thieves are not normal Cropredy fans. I was quite happy to leave my bag by my chair of they want my bottle and a copy of Mojo they are welcome. The value of a van makes it worthwhile buying a wristband to avoid security. As this was a sellout it must have been preplanned. Beware of strangers showing interest. I have a new van so invested in a decent security device, sad but necessary

They only needed a Camping Pass. Since I always buy that with my tickets, I've never looked too closely as to whether that's possible. Logic would dictate that it is, to allow for the seemingly many people  that forget to buy one with their tix.

I think this was the first year, since I started attending,  without the Doodah stall? i missed it!

I thoroughly enjoyed myself this year. I saw lots of great music - Turin Brakes, Spookies, Hayseed Dixie, Barbara, Le Vent du Nord, Banter, Celtic Social Club & Danny Bradley in particular.  Gutted to have missed Rob Jones & the Restless Dream, my bad planning!
Yes it was hot but it’s preferable to rain any day in my book when you’re camping and sat in a field.
Food was ok but pricey (but isn’t everything these days…?)
Stalls ok but nothing within my meagre budget.
The AF beer was ok, a bit hoppy. I took cans of Thatchers Zero which I chilled in the fridge. They just stayed cool enough in the 20 minute walk from the van to getting sat down. Nothing worse than warm beer/cider!
Disappointed to be on field 7b (Mr Bridgwit has trouble walking these days) but it was ok in the end, and as my group pointed out a few times over the weekend - we were just glad to be there, and we could hear the excellent Skalectrics from the van Friday evening  ;D
For various reasons we went back to the van when FC were on, we were too far away to hear them so I’ve been listening to their set on Radio Oxford.
I really hope next year isn’t the last one but I have a suspicion it could be. 6500 punters might work out financially for the festival, but you could see all the food traders were quiet, and there wasn’t as much atmosphere especially during the singalong parts. I suspect even the band haven’t decided yet.
Mr B is being made redundant at the end of the year so he’s retiring, so maybe time to check out some different festivals as we’ve only ever been to Cropredy  ::)

Brij, I am always wary of commenting on here because I haven’t done Cropredy since 2018 but I hope my 25 plus yrs of Cropredies gets me a minute t comment.
Most of my 25 yrs were with the same people, Cropredy was a pilgrimage and Fairports the focus…..
I akway# thought I’d go to Cropredy but people died and something changed. I went on my own a few times but…to respond to your post…….In recent yrs I have targeted smaller fests , bands I don’t know mainly , I did Magpie Fest, curated by Blair Dunlop ( which clashes with Cropredy) and Between the Trees  , in S Wales end of this month , which is now my fave fest. I did Warwick for  a few yrs but like Cropredy this yr , I didn’t like the lineup…..morexa case of having seen several of the acts several times , particularly RT
As Fairports took to the stage on Sat I was playing a much smaller fest with WHALE and as stood on the stage as the sun went down I did have Cropredy memories.
The band have decided we’ll be at Cropredy next yr, our bass player was having withdrawal !
So it did become about lineups.
I’ve been on the field with 10,000 people, I’ve been there with 20,000(1997) and 6.500 doesn’t seem economically viable for the stalls.
Of course reading tawhile there are people I miss and there are pangs …….

.Yes, smaller festivals are definitely likely, but we have to be able to take seats so that’s no 1 consideration. The line up is no 2 - we’re a broad church musically but it’ll need to be over 50% to get us there.
But first we’ve got to sell the house with all that entails (getting rid of 65 years of accumulated junk treasures…) a busy year!

[/quote].Yes, smaller festivals are definitely likely, but we have to be able to take seats so that’s no 1 consideration. The line up is no 2 - we’re a broad church musically but it’ll need to be over 50% to get us there.
But first we’ve got to sell the house with all that entails (getting rid of 65 years of accumulated junk treasures…) a busy year!
[/quote]

As I posted elsewhere, I can heartily recommend the New Forest Folk Festival. I went for the first time this  year, and it is definitely the closest in ‘vibe’ to Cropredy of the several different festivals I’ve attended over the years. 3000 capacity, lovely people, and the singalongs and workshops give it an excellent community feel. Great music too!

That is a distinct possibility!

Anyone know who the person  was, whom I spotted down near the veggie stall, on the left…He was about 5’6”, slight build, slim features and had dyed black floppy hair.

I am certain he was a singer/musician possibly from 80s/90s…but I can’t get the name to mind!

Gave me a lovely smile as if he knew I had recognised him, but I didn’t want to go up and say ‘Were we at school together, were you on Talkawhile, or were you in my record collection?’

Slight build?  Cropredy?  You sure?   ;)

Yes…and no beard…just floppy, black hair.

Might you go so far as to say ‘Bonny’? 🤔😄

I’ll open the bidding with Steve Hogarth.

Yes, Dr Google AI thought that too…and Paul Young, Jarvis Cocker, Ian Broudie, Marc Almond and more…but nope!

Hee heee it didn’t take me nine hours to get THIS one…

I asked on the bookface for the set list for MGW as I’m trying to identify a particular song but nobody has it. Anyone here got it?

The song was I think a hit within the last 10 years. I have no idea of the words but there’s quite a rousing chorus. Mr B thinks it’s from Hair (the musical) and it’s certainly in that vein, but I think it’s more recent. Any help gratefully received!

Was it Les Fleurs by Minnie Ripperton? I know the one you mean  - I think it was used for an advert.

The recording uploaded to DIME had this attached, though sod's law says that the song you want is one of the unidentified ones.

1.  Intro
2.  
3.  Hammond Song
4.  Intro
5.  We Are Marshall Gilmour Webbs
6.  
7.  Intro inc. Happy Birthday
8.  Straw Into Gold
9.  Intro
10. In Full Colour
11. Intro
12. The Knowing
13. I'm Full Of Your Love
14. Intro
15. The Great Gig In The Sky
16. Intro
17. Vita Brevis->Between Two Points
18. Intro
19.
20. Les Fleurs
21. Crowd
22. Intro
23. And So It Goes
24. The Moon And The Tide
25. Outro

https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/marshall-gilmour-webbs/2026/cropredy-festival-field-cropredy-england-637182cb.html

That’s it!  :D

 Thank you for this, I’ve been busting my brains trying to find it!!

I love the chorus - it was used in a Microsoft advert, or the “la la la” version was, which is probably why I couldn’t remember the lyrics…!

Thanks all - I was never a Minnie Riperton fan, I can’t stand Loving You, but I do like this song  :)

At last, we teabellies remembered to get a flask! We got a 1.2 Litre Thermos in the sale and it was about £34.  It made seven large cups which we shared. With tea at £2 a cup from the stalls, we had the flask instead and saved ourselves up to £84 on three days’ tea…so it has already paid for itself. I will use it on long work journeys anyway, so it will be handy.

We did support the stalls on Friday and Saturday, having a meal each those nights. But I begrudge paying two quid for some water, UHT milk and a teabag.

… plus staff costs, power to heat the water, power for refrigerated storage, H&S costs, insurance, vehicle costs, various licences, rental to FC etc etc
Ignore me, I’m being facetious, but it really isn’t just the cost of the raw materials!

You are also paying for Labour and the rent charged by Fairport . Don't forget that the stallholders have to stay away from home and make their profit from a smaller crowd. Be careful they might not come next time.

As we are of a certain age and it costs a lot to get there, with petrol and accommodation along the way, I feel a balance was reasonable. We didn’t shun the stalls completely.

To be fair this is their livelihood. You cant compare a business expense with a leisure expense. I dont agree with profiteering but this has nothing to do with balance. They need to make a profit to make it worthwhile, there would soon be coplaints if they were seen to be earning less than the minimum wage. I actually think that £2 for a cup of tea in that situation is very reasonable.

We’ll have to agree to disagree…if people didn’t have personal choice to try and make attending more affordable, whilst still supporting the festival…particularly as there is an aging demographic…there’d be no attendees so it’s swings and roundabouts.

Hope we can discuss this in a friendly way but did you ask any of the bands if they would sell you their CD for £7.50? Or download it for free off a pirate site. Its the same thing , its their living. I love tea but cant drink it from a flask!!  ;D

I had said all I want to say on the matter. But I would say, this analogy in relation to my flask, is more like buying some cds then having a bit of a sing song in the campsite, later…making your own music while supporting the artists, too .

Nice one. 👏👏👏