Leaving the music industry in the ‘80s probably ensured Fairport Convention’s long term survival.
Fairport Convention and its various alumni are firm favourites of Americana UK and our readership, but in all the coverage and interviews over the years, we have never chatted with Simon Nicol, the last of the original members. Americana UK’s Martin Johnson chatted with Simon at home as he was readying himself to rejoin the latest Fairport Convention UK tour. While the ‘60s and early ‘70s are a very long time ago, it would have been very remiss not to ask Simon for some of his memories of that time. While Simon not only has a long history with Fairport Convention, he also has an impressive list of sessions with other artists, and despite this, he takes a modest view of his own guitar skills. While he may not have been one of the ‘60s guitar gods, unlike former bandmate Richard Thompson, he perfectly understands the importance of supporting the song. He talks of his pride in what Fairport’s Cropredy Convention festival has become and puts the band’s longevity down to, at least in part, the fact that in the ‘80s they left the music industry. It is nearly a year since Gerry Conway, who shared the drum stool with Dave Mattacks over the years, tragically died and Simon shares the band’s sense of loss. Finally, he lets slip the fact that Ashley Hutchings and Bob Dylan have a bit of a joint email appreciation society going and that there are plans to celebrate Ashley Hutchings’s 80th birthday at Birmingham Town Hall in the next couple of months or so.
Fairport Convention’s “A Live Recording – UK Tour October 2023” is out now on Matty Groves Records.
Fairport Convention’s 2025 UK Tour
25 Feb 2025 Swansea, Taliesin Arts Centre
26 Feb 2025 Exeter, Corn Exchange
27 Feb 2025 Southampton, Turner Sims
28 Feb 2025 Bath, Forum
01 March 2025 Bridgnorth, Castle Hall
02 March 2025 Tewkesbury, Roses Theatre
