If we used blatantly ageist terms like The Grand Old Men of Folk then doubtless we’d wheel out that creaking line somewhere in this news item. But we don’t – so we won’t. Suffice it to say then that following on from their Golden Anniversary last year, Fairport Convention are once more doing what they do best – hopping on the tour bus and heading out on their 2018 UK Winter Tour. It’s a big event covering the length of the UK over 28 dates and breathing new life into both old and new material on the road.
Forever famous for albums such as their ground-breaking Leige & Lief which was voted Radio 2’s Most Influential Folk Album of All Time they continue to regularly release new material which retains the same vibrancy of musicianship. A generous slice of the historic output was captured on last year’s massive box set Come All Ye, and being averse as ever to laurel sitting Fairport also put out a studio album 50:50@50. Chances are tracks from both will make the set list.
Naturally a band as long lived as Fairport Convention has had a lot of members over the years, but they are currently – and have been for some time – Simon Nicol on guitar and vocals, Dave Pegg on bass guitar, Chris Leslie on fiddle, mandolin and vocals, Ric Sanders on violin and Gerry Conway on drums and percussion. Support on the tour comes from the singer-songwriter duo Winter Wilson.
25 Jan Tewkesbury The Roses Theatre
26 Jan Southport The Atkinson
27 Jan Lincoln Drill Hall
28 Jan Buxton Opera House
30 Jan Nottingham Playhouse
31 Jan Peterborough Key Theatre
01 Feb Coventry The Albany Theatre
02 Feb Morcambe The Platform
03 Feb Settle Victoria Hall
04 Feb Salford The Lowry
06 Feb Milton Keynes The Stables
07 Feb Stoke The New Vic Theatre
08 Feb Durham Gala Theatre
09 Feb Whitby Pavilion Theatre
10 Feb Leeds City Varieties
11 Feb Banbury Trades and Labour Club
13 Feb Canterbury The Gulbenkian
14 Feb Canterbury The Gulbenkian
15 Feb Worthing Connaught Theatre
16 Feb Frome Cheese and Grain
17 Feb London Union Chapel
18 Feb Winchester Theatre Royal
20 Feb Farnham The Maltings
21 Feb Exeter Corn Exchange
22 Feb Tunbridge Wells Assembly Hall Theatre
23 Feb Bury St Edmunds The Apex
24 Feb St Albans The Alban Arena
25 Feb Bromsgrove The Artrix
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P3H-QfFBF7Y
