Fairport's Cropredy Convention - Cropredy, Oxfordshire, 11/8/2016...13/8/2016

  by Nick Dent-Robinson

published: 30 / 9 / 2016

intro

Nick Dent-Robinson is impressed by this year's Fairport Cropredy Convention, which took place over three days in Oxfordshire

Around 20,000 festival-goers enjoyed wonderful sunny weather over the three days of this August's annual Fairport's Cropredy Convention. The 2016 line-up was diverse ranging from chart-toppers Madness to folkrock favourites Steeleye Span and from prog-rock Headspace to the highly original French nine-piece ska group Babylon Circus. Amongst the lesser-known acts which proved popular were Coco and the Butterfields, Maia, Wilfe and The Bandits plus duo Sound of the Sirens who made a very big impression on the crowd. As ever, Fairport book-ended the event with an introductory set on Thursday and a storming two-and-a-half hour finale on Saturday. Their closing set featured the youngest performer of the festival, 11 year-old Toby Lee who played blistering bass guitar on one of Fairport's classic songs. There was also a poignant tribute to the late Dave Swarbrick, Fairport's former genius fiddle-player who died earlier this year. 2017's Cropredy will be a landmark event celebrating Fairport's Golden Anniversary...the band's first gig was on 27 May 1967. Accordingly, the festival will feature a host of guests from Fairport's past - though, as always, it will look towards the band's future, too. Next year's Cropredy will take place on Thursday 10th, Friday 11th and Saturday 12th August in the usual North Oxfordshire location just off Junction 11 of the M40.

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