TalkAwhile - The Folk Corporation Forum
November 03, 2024, 05:06:58 PM *
Welcome, Guest. Please login or register.

Login with username, password and session length
News:
 
   Home   Help Calendar Login Register  
Pages: 1 [2] 3 4 5   Go Down
  Print  
Author Topic: Fairport Convention  (Read 85480 times)
Gouty (Gary)
still struggling with the theme to Bagpuss
Folkcorp Guru
*****
Offline Offline

Posts: 556


« Reply #20 on: August 13, 2017, 11:54:45 PM »

I thought Fairport's 1997 Cropredy set (the 30th anniversary and the one Ashley narrated) was good, but that this year's was better because a) it wisely concentrated on the 'glory years' b) it was mostly but not strictly chronological c) it featured performances of really old songs performed by the current line-up, which not only mixed things up nicely for the audience but also involved Ric, Chris and Gerry from the start and throughout the evening and d) it featured truncated - but not necessarily inferior - versions of many songs and instrumentals, all the better to cram in as much material as possible. The result was quintessential Fairport.

Pre-festival speculation about Robert Plant's appearance - and reports that he was actually there on the day - all led to nothing, but it didn't really matter. It was Fairport's 50th, not his! (Actually, I was more let down by the no-show of Tom Farnell and his 'special' tambourine but, then, as Peggy said 'He's from Birmingham'...)

Absolutely splendid.
Logged

'Eggs, bread, cigs, milk...'
David Bean
Jr. Member
**
Offline Offline

Posts: 17


« Reply #21 on: August 13, 2017, 11:57:42 PM »


I thought Fairport's 1997 Cropredy set (the 30th anniversary and the one Ashley narrated) was good, but that this year's was better because a) it wisely concentrated on the 'glory years' b) it was mostly but not strictly chronological c) it featured performances of really old songs performed by the current line-up, which not only mixed things up nicely for the audience but also involved Ric, Chris and Gerry from the start and throughout the evening and d) it featured truncated - but not necessarily inferior - versions of many songs and instrumentals, all the better to cram in as much material as possible. The result was quintessential Fairport.

Absolutely splendid.


Spot on!
Logged
StephenB
something about the grinding beat
Folkcorp Guru
*****
Offline Offline

Posts: 682
Loc: Blackpudlian exiled in Ireland


An Sasanach is fearr in Eirinn


« Reply #22 on: August 14, 2017, 01:01:18 AM »

Well I think they pretty much nailed it and dealt really well with the intermixing of old and new members. All in all for me a very special and emotive musical experience. An unexpected highlight for me was Time Will Show the Wiser... Full of energy and tight as a duck's bum, and amazing to see five out of six of those original members lashing it out with such gusto and obvious love 50!! years later. Sloth with Richard blew me away, as did Rising for the Moon.

Yes there were gaffes,but if anything they made it all the more human IMHO. All of those members past and present (and suitable tributes to those passed on) brought home to me the true sense of the amazing musical family that is Fairport. I felt privileged to be there to witness such a truly special event, and I'll be buzzing for a long time..
« Last Edit: August 14, 2017, 01:19:12 AM by StephenB » Logged

One boxing match - what's that? A bout?
Will S
A twinset of librarians
Folkcorp Guru 3rd Dan
*******
Online Online

Posts: 2778
Loc: in deepest Devon



« Reply #23 on: August 14, 2017, 07:59:06 AM »




I'm a little surprised that more wasn't made of Swarb's passing this year from the stage.

Swarb died last June and he was marked by this emotive montage last year.


Yes, sorry about that. Got a little confused with my dates!
Logged

All the diamonds in the world
That mean anything to me,
Are conjured up by wind and sunlight
Sparkling on the sea
(Bruce Cockburn)
Glen S
and I do love a bit of Macca whimsy
Sr. Member
****
Offline Offline

Posts: 525
Loc: Oxford


« Reply #24 on: August 14, 2017, 09:15:57 AM »

The best Fairport Cropredy set I've witnessed, speaking as a relative newbie to the festival (2002).

Brilliant to see Maart on stage...The second time for me in recent weeks, having just seen Mancunia (Highly recommended!) play at the Unicorn Theatre in Abingdon... Smiley

Chris While was wonderful as ever, and the finest singer of the Sandy era songs and anything else for that matter...

Richard Thompson...Have run out of superlatives...Incredible !...

Such a privilege to witness the power of the Peggy and DM rhythm section again... Cool
Logged
Danny_C
Full Member
***
Offline Offline

Posts: 43


« Reply #25 on: August 14, 2017, 11:36:25 AM »

If I was to sum it up I could do no better than the comment from StephenB “I felt privileged to be there to witness such a truly special event”

This was the best set I have heard them play in a long-while if not ever in the 10 years or so I have been  regular attendee.  I doubted my back would survive the 3 hours of standing but the enjoyment of being at the front was enough to mask the pain (getting out of my chair to walk back to Field 7 30 mins later told me that it might have been a mistake however!).  Yes there were number I might have wanted to hear and Sir PS went a bit awry but overall it could not be faulted, and it brought back just how tight a unit they were back in the day.

As regards the crowd, unlike some previous years, where I was standing was full of people who actually wanted to listen and enjoy.  If however you were at the left hand side of the stage and your view was blocked by a very tall bloke swaying slightly I can only apologise as that might well have been me.
Logged
Yorkshire Chris
Did you have a Sloppy Guiseppe?
Full Member
***
Offline Offline

Posts: 103
Loc: Yorkshire (who'd have guessed...!)


« Reply #26 on: August 14, 2017, 02:31:54 PM »

“I felt privileged to be there to witness such a truly special event”
This was the best set I have heard them play in a long-while if not ever in the 10 years or so I have been a regular attendee.


Totally agree - very special and loved every bit including Richard's joke about Simon and Sir Patrick Spens nearly surviving a shipwreck...!
Logged
RobertD
Holy expletive delighted...
Folkcorp Guru 3rd Dan
*******
Offline Offline

Posts: 2125
Loc: New York City



WWW
« Reply #27 on: August 14, 2017, 06:24:26 PM »

It was nice hearing Ballad Of Ned Kelly to represent Trevor and I loved Thompson's joke about Simon being half Irish/half Scottish.

This obviously by way of Radio Oxford's stream, of which I managed to catch about 2/3 of it
Logged

I'm just a little shy of Surf's Up and I'm deeper than Twist and Shout....Iain Matthews
Paul
I've Got A Bike
Global Moderator
*****
Offline Offline

Posts: 4160
Loc: Hampshire


I was a fair young curate then.


WWW
« Reply #28 on: August 14, 2017, 10:31:22 PM »

Excellent set, and I loved all the early stuff. Hoping for a bit of Babbacombe Lee, for two reasons. It was the first Fairport I ever heard, and my son's partner comes from Babbacombe, and hasn't heard it yet.  Grin Apart from that, wonderful.

Thought Chris While did very well to do the impossible, and stand in for Sandy.

Paul
Logged

DarrenWilliams
Folkcorp Guru
*****
Offline Offline

Posts: 552
Loc: St Helens



« Reply #29 on: August 15, 2017, 11:34:26 AM »

When Simon was introducing the current line-up towards the end of the set, and said 'Dave bl00dy Pegg' - made me smile.
Logged
Chris
Well Moderated? Call 0800....
Folkcorp Guru 3rd Dan
*******
Offline Offline

Posts: 8668
Loc: Oxfordshire


Errrr....where's me beer?


WWW
« Reply #30 on: August 15, 2017, 11:45:37 AM »

Possibly realising that the next anniversary is Peggy's, not Simon's....Peggy having had a longer single stint in FC that he has. Peggy's 50th in 3 years time (2020)
Logged

markwood
Full Member
***
Offline Offline

Posts: 101


« Reply #31 on: August 15, 2017, 12:24:37 PM »

Hats off to Chris Leslie too, who had to do another impossible task. Where he sometimes put "twiddly bits" into the singing of some of the earlier songs these days, he sang them straight and true to the original versions on Saturday and no-one could have bettered his fiddle playing.
Logged
Andy
Brain half the size of a planet
Global Moderator
*****
Offline Offline

Posts: 8606
Loc: South West Wales


Not perfect. Never claimed to be.


WWW
« Reply #32 on: August 15, 2017, 12:31:31 PM »


Hats off to Chris Leslie too, who had to do another impossible task. Where he sometimes put "twiddly bits" into the singing of some of the earlier songs these days, he sang them straight and true to the original versions on Saturday and no-one could have bettered his fiddle playing.
Well, Swarb might have. Chris did a mighty Swarb impression, though. And indeed, he's a very nice man.
Logged

My Photos: Bands, People, Wildlife: https://tinyurl.com/AndyLeslieFlickr
davidmjs
less Yes than I probably should do
Folkcorp Guru 3rd Dan
*******
Offline Offline

Posts: 14082
Loc: Penrith(ish)



WWW
« Reply #33 on: August 15, 2017, 12:36:08 PM »



Hats off to Chris Leslie too, who had to do another impossible task. Where he sometimes put "twiddly bits" into the singing of some of the earlier songs these days, he sang them straight and true to the original versions on Saturday and no-one could have bettered his fiddle playing.
Well, Swarb might have. Chris did a mighty Swarb impression, though. And indeed, he's a very nice man.


A very long time ago.  He hasn't had the energy for playing well with Fairport since before his first erroneous Obit.

Chris is a brilliant Swarb substitute.  It's a tragedy of immense proportions that this isn't (generally) the role he has filled.

(All imho only, of course).
Logged

Once in a while you get shown the light, in the strangest of places if you look at it right.
Andy
Brain half the size of a planet
Global Moderator
*****
Offline Offline

Posts: 8606
Loc: South West Wales


Not perfect. Never claimed to be.


WWW
« Reply #34 on: August 15, 2017, 12:39:31 PM »

Ric has freely admitted (in this years programme I think) that he can't "do" Swarb as well as Chris.
Logged

My Photos: Bands, People, Wildlife: https://tinyurl.com/AndyLeslieFlickr
Bridgwit (Bridget)
I had a feeling there would be stripping involved
Folkcorp Guru 3rd Dan
*******
Offline Offline

Posts: 5700
Loc: South Wales



WWW
« Reply #35 on: August 15, 2017, 12:47:39 PM »

FWIW I don't think anyone needs to "do" Swarb or be his substitute - Ric and Chris are their own musicians and put their own mark on what they're playing.

I enjoyed the FC set, particularly the very early stuff. I also thought everyone looked tense when RT was there, but relaxed when he wasn't. If you look at Chris in F of F he's grinning his head off, he wasn't Saturday night  Undecided

Would have liked Red and Gold but you can't have everything!

Logged

Never look down on anyone
Unless you're helping them up
davidmjs
less Yes than I probably should do
Folkcorp Guru 3rd Dan
*******
Offline Offline

Posts: 14082
Loc: Penrith(ish)



WWW
« Reply #36 on: August 15, 2017, 12:50:35 PM »


I enjoyed the FC set, particularly the very early stuff. I also thought everyone looked tense when RT was there, but relaxed when he wasn't. If you look at Chris in F of F he's grinning his head off, he wasn't Saturday night  Undecided


I suspect that's just concentration.  Without being disparaging, FoF are all absolutely brilliant musicians...they could do that stuff in their sleep.  He was out of his comfort zone and with a lot of responsibility on his shoulders playing the early Fairport stuff.  I don't think i'd have been that relaxed either...  Wink Smiley
Logged

Once in a while you get shown the light, in the strangest of places if you look at it right.
Andy
Brain half the size of a planet
Global Moderator
*****
Offline Offline

Posts: 8606
Loc: South West Wales


Not perfect. Never claimed to be.


WWW
« Reply #37 on: August 15, 2017, 12:53:59 PM »


FWIW I don't think anyone needs to "do" Swarb or be his substitute -
Well someone needed to, on Saturday night.
Logged

My Photos: Bands, People, Wildlife: https://tinyurl.com/AndyLeslieFlickr
markwood
Full Member
***
Offline Offline

Posts: 101


« Reply #38 on: August 15, 2017, 01:41:19 PM »

What struck me (and I might be imagining this) was the way that Simon and RT always seem to work together with what seems like effortless ease, although they do both look to be concentrating very hard! A sign of two extraordinarily talented musicians who have worked together a lot over 50 years of course but there always seems to be some underlying "chemistry" there. I know RT has said some very complimentary things about Simon in that regard in the past, Saturday night showed why.

To me, the question that came to mind after Saturday night though is, when is the original 1967 line-up (with DM) going to record their long-awaited second album? No slight on any other Fairport incarnations intended at all but given the performance they put on (and everyone played an equally large part in it), that would or certainly could, be something VERY special indeed!
Logged
Amethyst (Jenny)
Did I just say that, out loud?
Folkcorp Guru 3rd Dan
*******
Offline Offline

Posts: 6356


Jenny. One breath of the sea..


« Reply #39 on: August 15, 2017, 04:18:17 PM »

I knew it would be good, but I didn't expect it to be that good... it really was the best ever (since 1990).

The whole three hours went by far too quickly though, at double the length of time it would have been too short for me.

What a delight to see RT with them again, and Ashley who without whom...
Brilliant to have Maart up there again and DM, and, well, everyone...

I am still in Cropredy heaven and will be for a very long time.

It must have taken so much emotional effort on the part of everyone on stage to have made this so perfect, we forget that they are all human just like us and so huge congrats to each and everyone that gave us such a wonderful night.
« Last Edit: August 15, 2017, 05:55:16 PM by jude » Logged

Farnsfield Acoustic ... Notts
Thank you to everyone that has ever been to a FarnsAc gig, and to all our wonderful performers since 2005
Pages: 1 [2] 3 4 5   Go Up
  Print  
 
Jump to:  

Powered by MySQL Powered by PHP Powered by SMF 1.1.21 | SMF © 2015, Simple Machines Valid XHTML 1.0! Valid CSS!
Page created in 0.101 seconds with 20 queries.