Fairport Chatter

[Andy]

A bit too far for us, hope you have a good time, David.

In fact we're not going to be able to see Fairport until August. Whilst I understand that costs are escalating for everyone, including Fairport, that also includes us. £37 per seat for our local gig in Swansea is just not on the cards for us.

I hear that most, if not all, the gigs on this tour are selling out, so I don't feel bad about not going, especially given the cost of MOT-related repairs on our car yesterday and our campervan in the very near future.

So, have fun, everyone, see you on a field.

[Nick Reg]

Last minute decision to head across to Manchester tonight.  I'm staying at the Ancoats Travelodge.

Anybody around and fancy a pre- or post- meetup?

Drop me a line at davidmjs at gmail dot com if you fancy it.

We'll be there. not been to this venue before, although I think I may have sat my accountancy exams there in the 70's!! Is there a decent pub nearby and whats the parking like? As its friday evening, probably set out early and avoid the motorway.

[Will S]

I'm looking forward to seeing the chaps next Thursday down the road in Exeter, and will be bringing three others with me - one local friend who is a Cropredy semi-regular but hasn't seen them outside Cropredy for many many years, a friend of his who I think may never have seen Fairport before, despite enjoying their music, and an American friend of mine who just happens to be visiting then, and is a real Fairport virgin, but I think will enjoy them.

[davidmjs]

Ummmmm....this confused me.  May next year - is this really the five piece?

https://dice.fm/event/dkmr96-fairport-convention-60th-anniversary-celebration-25th-may-new-century-manchester-tickets

[Andy]

Last minute decision to head across to Manchester tonight.  I'm staying at the Ancoats Travelodge.

Anybody around and fancy a pre- or post- meetup?

Drop me a line at davidmjs at gmail dot com if you fancy it.

We'll be there. not been to this venue before, although I think I may have sat my accountancy exams there in the 70's!! Is there a decent pub nearby and whats the parking like? As its friday evening, probably set out early and avoid the motorway.

No decent pubs that I know of. Plentiful parking, drive into the Uni main entrance, the venue itself is great and there's a decent bar

Have fun!

[Will S]

Ummmmm....this confused me.  May next year - is this really the five piece?

https://dice.fm/event/dkmr96-fairport-convention-60th-anniversary-celebration-25th-may-new-century-manchester-tickets

Better ask the lads this evening - they are more likely to know than the rest of us!

[Nick Reg]

Last minute decision to head across to Manchester tonight.  I'm staying at the Ancoats Travelodge.

Anybody around and fancy a pre- or post- meetup?

Drop me a line at davidmjs at gmail dot com if you fancy it.

We'll be there. not been to this venue before, although I think I may have sat my accountancy exams there in the 70's!! Is there a decent pub nearby and whats the parking like? As its friday evening, probably set out early and avoid the motorway.

No decent pubs that I know of. Plentiful parking, drive into the Uni main entrance, the venue itself is great and there's a decent bar

Have fun!

Thanks

[Shane (Skirky)]

I see set list.fm are on the case. Looks like a good show!

[Delfini (Diane)]

Despite any first night issues/nerves, the chaps were on fine form on Tuesday at MK. They’ve done a few tweaks on a couple of songs which enhance them. Chris’ voice is excellent, but he seems to have dropped a few semitones so doesn’t get quite the high notes as before. (I did think Peggy looked unwell, but it may have been the lighting/shadows on stage)
An enjoyable evening…..mind you I always go without expectations etc so enjoy the performance ‘in the moment’. Yes, I may have noted a few things, but they didn’t matter…..I don’t want perfection, I want a gig that makes me feel good. This one did. Thanks chaps.

[peascod]

Setlist from Manchester.

[davidmjs]

I think the setlist is the same on all dates so far?

I really enjoyed it last night in Manchester, my second five piece show after last year in Hexham (after a break of 15 years).  DM was once again the glue that held it all together.  There were several examples of just how much of a battering he gives that Yamaha kit of his.  He's immense and, sorry, but it's true, Fairport are a much lesser thing (though still, of course, very enjoyable) without him.  

Everyone was musically and vocally strong (even some wondrous three part harmonies at times).  Only downside for me (although rather against my better judgement I still laughed) were the somewhat out of control Ric comedy slots - I think he had three which must have used up about 10 minutes.  Less is always more when it comes to comedy in music (I think), and somebody urgently needs to stage an intervention.  

I sometimes struggle with some of Chris's material (there was one from last year which I actively loathe) but all the choices this year were very strong and fitted into the wider set well.

I really zoned into Peggy's bass space at time during the show.  He's a bloody genius on that thing - makes it look SO easy.

I haven't mentioned Simon yet but only because he was his usual wonderfully skilful and talented self.  

This version of Sloth is getting better and better and better.  Worth the price of admission alone...

8.8/10 for me (and I'm a bloody low scorer)

Oh, and Jenn Butterworth is brilliant.  Really strong material, confident and hugely gifted and seemingly a really lovely person too.  She performed two songs with Fairport, and they were both great.  Never experienced a song about endometriosis before, I don't think...

Get yourselves to the gigs.  There can't be much left in the tank, so don't leave it too late.

[Nick Reg]

I think the setlist is the same on all dates so far?

I really enjoyed it last night in Manchester, my second five piece show after last year in Hexham (after a break of 15 years).  DM was once again the glue that held it all together.  There were several examples of just how much of a battering he gives that Yamaha kit of his.  He's immense and, sorry, but it's true, Fairport are a much lesser thing (though still, of course, very enjoyable) without him.  

Everyone was musically and vocally strong (even some wondrous three part harmonies at times).  Only downside for me (although rather against my better judgement I still laughed) were the somewhat out of control Ric comedy slots - I think he had three which must have used up about 10 minutes.  Less is always more when it comes to comedy in music (I think), and somebody urgently needs to stage an intervention.  

I sometimes struggle with some of Chris's material (there was one from last year which I actively loathe) but all the choices this year were very strong and fitted into the wider set well.

I really zoned into Peggy's bass space at time during the show.  He's a bloody genius on that thing - makes it look SO easy.

I haven't mentioned Simon yet but only because he was his usual wonderfully skilful and talented self.  

This version of Sloth is getting better and better and better.  Worth the price of admission alone...

8.8/10 for me (and I'm a bloody low scorer)

Oh, and Jenn Butterworth is brilliant.  Really strong material, confident and hugely gifted and seemingly a really lovely person too.  She performed two songs with Fairport, and they were both great.  Never experienced a song about endometriosis before, I don't think...

Get yourselves to the gigs.  There can't be much left in the tank, so don't leave it too late.

I think I agree with virtually all of that. DM and Peggy were simply magnificent. DM's return has lifted the band to a whole new level , in fact up several levels, with no disrespect to Gerry at all. What a bloody awful drive to get to the venue (which was otherwise very good), thank Cliff for Satnavs , otherwise I'd still be going round in circles now. Going home, why do you never see signs in Manchester for Wilmslow , Alderley Edge Congleton etc for those who want to go South without using the M6 . I dont want to go to Leeds, Sheffield or Oldham thanklyou. I had never heard Jenn Butterworth before but really enjoyed her. I was sitting near the front and swear she plugged a lead into her boot before starting. I thought she was going to sock it to us (Ric had no involvement in this joke).

[Delfini (Diane)]

She did plug a lead into her boot …or into a socket by it…..I think for the synth.