Thursday, 25 August 2011

Fairport report - fair

Here's a quick review of 2011's Fairport Convention Cropredy festival from guest blogger andy_glos:

Fairport Convention Cropredy 2011 report - Festival was very good (as usual) apart from UB40 (grim MOR white reggae, in fact we left before the end - an exceedingly rare event). Seasick Steve was like he always is, but was greatly enhanced by having John Paul Jones play bass, mandolin and possibly keyboards (don't remember that bit) for entire 90 minute set.

Horslips and Home Service were excellent. As for Coral - greatly impressed with their delivery and musicianship. As for the scouse "thanks" in between songs - hmm. They appeared a bit out of sorts, on stage between songs, at being at a festival of folk-rockers of a certain age, drinking Wadworths real ale. But an excellent set. So good I ordered a CD off Amazon. Travelling Band (second on on Friday) - fantastic. If you can, catch them. I have seen them twice now. The MC/compere was raving about them on Saturday still.

Sadly Geoffrey Hughes (old Corrie and Heartbeat) the usual MC was quite ill and couldn't make it.

Dylan Project - very good - especially if you like Dylan which I don't. But Yvonne is happy as she found out Dylan and Mark Knopfler are playing together in at the MEN Arena, Manchester on 10 October and she managed to get a ticket when back from the festival. £67 though!

Katriona Gilmore and Jamie Roberts - pretty good, she is the child of the Pink Floyd guy - the one who isn't in jail.

Hayseed Dixie - punk, bluegrass, rock, hillbilly ... - a few covers - good show

Richard Digance - good as always.

Blockheads - fantastic show and musicians. Even the singer sounded like Ian Dury and dressed in a weird way. I think a lot of them might be originals.

Badly Drawn Boy - avoid - nice voice but he has got a lot of chips on his shoulder and a bit foul mouthed for a friendly festival. Nice voice and guitar but he has blown it for me. Badly Swearing Boy more like.

Fairport Convention themselves - excellent, and nice to include entire concept album John Babbacombe Lee in the middle of their 3 hour set. Please can Fairport play Sloth again one day?

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