Oxfordshire's Fairport Cropredy Convention is set to party again

After a two-year layoff, plans are progressing for the annual Fairport Convention festival at Cropredy.

The postponements due to Covid-19 were a setback and a disappointment but they’ll be back with a bang on August 11, 12 and 13.

Richard Digance can’t play his traditional opening slot because he’s been booked to perform at the Edinburgh Festival that weekend, but... Seth Lakeman to open Saturday at Cropredy.

Seth has played the festival on three previous occasions to great acclaim. In particular his barnstorming performance was a highlight of 2019’s event so if anyone is guaranteed to get the festival off to a flying start, it’s Seth.

Seth’s set will no doubt feature many of the new songs from his newly-released studio album Make Your Mark, written during the pandemic-enforced 18 months off the road. You will find more about the album on Seth’s website as well as details of his UK-wide winter tour dates. You can also check out Seth’s brand new single The Higher We Aspire which was filmed recently in Exeter Cathedral.

Fairport’s Cropredy Convention will be staged at its usual location in the beautiful Cherwell valley and at last there will be celebration of the 50th anniversary of their 1970 album Full House (albeit two years late), joined by Richard Thompson and Dave Mattacks performing Full House in its entirety and in album order. What a party that’s going to be.

Many already have tickets: after the pre-Christmas sale in December 2019 broke all records and since then tickets have continued to sell really strongly. Details at www.fairportconvention.com

THURSDAY 11 AUGUST

The Trevor Horn Band
Clannad
Edward II
Thumping Tommys
Fairport Convention Acoustic

FRIDAY, AUGUST 12

Steve Hackett - Genesis Revisited
Turin Brakes
Sharon Shannon
Slambovian Circus of Dreams
Martyn Joseph
Home Service
Emily Barker
Maddie Morris

SATURDAY, AUGUST 13

Fairport Convention & Friends (inc Full House)
Richard Thompson
Matthews Southern Comfort
Rosalie Cunningham
The Bar Steward Sons Of Val Doonican
Holy Moly & The Crackers
Seth Lakeman