Festival Link


Fairport Convention performs shortened US tour as a trio

June 17, 2005

When a band has been making music for over 35 years, members come and go. Fairport Convention’s recent tour of America was shortened as the band canceled the south-west and California dates during this acoustic tour. Unknown events caused bass player Dave Pegg, who joined the band in 1970, off the tour. Instead of canceling every show, the lads performed the remaining East Coast dates as a trio—featuring Simon Nicol, Ric Sanders, and Chris Leslie. Reports from those shows have been very positive and the trio setting was certainly a rare treat for the Fairport aficionado. If the past repeats itself, Fairport will certainly continue their legacy. This recent bump in the road has not affected Fairport’s annual Cropredy Festival—taking place this year August 11-13. As to who will be behind the bass is still a mystery. Dave Pegg is credited with keeping Fairport Convention alive and well during these later years and he’s been organizing and promoting Cropredy since the beginning of the event in the early '80s. Will Peggy return? Can they survive without Dave Pegg? And if so, who will be his replacement? The fans certainly want Dave Pegg but where the future lies for this seminal group is still up in the air. Were you at one of the trio gigs? Do you have any Fairport memories? If so, post a comment for all to read. For more on Fairport Convention—visit their web site. “It All Comes ‘Round Again.”

Posted by Chris Boros at June 17, 2005 9:09 PM


Comments

I saw a wonderful Fairport gig in the early seventies. With Richard Thompson and Sandy Denny at the Troubadour in L.A. It included Linda Ronstadt sitting in signing "Silver threads and Golden Needles" I believe David Rea was the opening act and he played as well. The whole band particularly Thompson were great. Thompson and the band also played a version of the Move's "Brontosauras" as a goof.
I also saw Sandy Denny solo at thr Troubadour opening for the "Association(!?)".

Posted by: Billy Cioffi at June 21, 2005 3:27 PM

It was actually a surprise duo performance at Mayfair in Allentown PA last month on May 29, and we found it to be quite enjoyable. Sweet, and mellow.

~Ramona

Posted by: Ramona LaBarre at June 21, 2005 4:39 PM

I've never seen Fairport Convention live but I credit them with my firt exposure to folk music. I use to listen to my father's friends play songs by the group in their weekly sessions when I was a little girl inthe 70's. I didn't know what it was at the time but am now a huge fan - and still love Fairport Convention.

Posted by: Jessica Wray at June 24, 2005 1:14 PM

I've been a Fairport fan since getting Angel Delight in college. I saw Fairport first in 1975 with the Swarbrick/Pegg/Lucas/Donahue/Denny/Rowland lineup. I've seen several of the other lineups since. Also was a fan of the Simon Nicol/Dave Swarbrick shows in the early '80's. I would hope that Dave Pegg is able to rejoin the band, but also suspect that they'll keep going.

Posted by: Phil Cooper at July 4, 2005 2:06 PM

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