Fairport Convention

Subject: Fairport Convention
From: smallpiper
Date: 20 Feb 03 - 09:52 AM

I went to my first Fairport Convention gig last night (I'm no longer a Fairport Virgin!)- I was very impressed. Good bunch of musicians, been doing it for years yet still very fresh and full of energy. The best bit was Dave Swarbrick was there as a special guest - what an amazing fiddle player outstanding, absolutely outstanding.

On the strength of last nights performance it won't be the last Fairport gig I go to. I recommend you catch them if you can.

Subject: RE: Fairport Convention
From: Sophie
Date: 20 Feb 03 - 12:02 PM

Have you joined the Fairport newsgroup? If you haven't, and you're interested, go to http://users.argonet.co.uk/users/jghall/fairport/subs.html where you will find subscription info.

If you want to go to the biggest Fairport gig of all, come to the Cropredy Festival in August! This will be my 15th year and it's still the best festival I've ever been to.

Sophie

Subject: RE: Fairport Convention
From: Mugwump
Date: 20 Feb 03 - 07:21 PM

The first 3 albums have been remastered and are due out soon. If the re-issue of Leige And Leif is anything to go by:

WE'RE IN FOR A TREAT!!!

Subject: RE: Fairport Convention
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 20 Feb 03 - 07:25 PM

Cool!

L&L is one of my all time fav. albums!

Subject: RE: Fairport Convention
From: songs2play
Date: 21 Feb 03 - 05:18 AM

I was lucky enough to see FC back in 1969-ish, when, in my opinion, they were at their very best, with the line-up of
Sandy Denny
Ashley Hutchings
Dave Mattacks
Simon Nicol
Dave Swarbrick
Richard Thompson

I remember it well, and have some photographs "somewhere".

Subject: RE: Fairport Convention
From: smallpiper
Date: 21 Feb 03 - 03:50 PM

I think that a vist to Cropredy is on the cards this year. Providing the sky dosn't fall on my head!

Subject: RE: Fairport Convention
From: GUEST
Date: 21 Feb 03 - 04:07 PM

Hmmm,

I caught this bunch of drunks in Canso last year. You can have them!

Subject: RE: Fairport Convention
From: smallpiper
Date: 21 Feb 03 - 08:24 PM

From what I know of the band most of them don't drink until after they have finished playing. If they don't suit your taste guest then fair, enough but that is no reason to insult them or anyone else for that matter. Just chill out, if you don't like them fair enough. As I have often heard said if you can't say something nice then keep your mouth shut.

Subject: RE: Fairport Convention
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 21 Feb 03 - 08:46 PM

"if you can't say something nice then keep your mouth shut."

Ya know who says that?? People who nobody says anything nice about...

It's all just likes and dislikes...

Guest... To you I'll say, "It's a deal!"

,-)

Subject: RE: Fairport Convention
From: smallpiper
Date: 22 Feb 03 - 04:59 AM

Actually Clinton I thought that it was people who respected others rights to be who and what they are but as you say it's al just likes and dislikes...

Subject: RE: Fairport Convention
From: GUEST
Date: 22 Feb 03 - 05:14 AM

I think guest was taking issue with the bass player who fell drunk on the stage during the bands mainstage performance at Stanfest last year. It was not a pretty sight and continued on way longer than it should have. The fellow had to be removed from the site by the RCMP. One has to question how both the festival and the other band members allowed him to walk on stage in the first place. They were billed as the main act and I'm sure there are many regrets with all involved. All the greatness of this wonderful group was lost as was an entire group of new potential fans. Very sad indeed. Guest's comments just show what sort of impression was left by the incident.
I'm sure smallpiper would have been as upset as the thousands who watched it all unfold. Old and very young alike.

Thanks

A festival goer!

Subject: RE: Fairport Convention
From: smallpiper
Date: 22 Feb 03 - 05:17 AM

I would have been bloody furious! (and would have demanded a refund)

Subject: RE: Fairport Convention
From: Peter K (Fionn)
Date: 22 Feb 03 - 07:09 AM

Well who was the drunken skunk? I think we should be told, if only to protect the innocent.

Songs2play, that would definitely have been 69, as Denny went solo at the end of that year. They did only a handful of gigs with both Denny and Swarb in the lineup - all in very late 69 I assume. (Dave Mattacks came in after Martin Lamble was killed in a car crash some time in 69, so obviously you saw them after the crash.)

My own first encounter was at Leicester in June 68: Sandy Denny, Richard Thompson, Simon Nicol, Martin Lamble and Ian Matthews. They were late substitutes for Julie Driscoll and Brian Auger's Trinity. We feared the worst but became instant converts. Thomspon's playing and Denny's vocals were a class beyond I'd ever heard live. (Chicken Shack were on the same bill, incidentally.)

Subject: RE: Fairport Convention
From: Dharmabum
Date: 22 Feb 03 - 08:12 AM

They've had so many different members over the years,I once heard someone refer to them as "Fairport confusion".

They've always been one of my faves. L&L still gets a fair amount of play in my house.

I see they're scheduled for the Old Songs Festival this June.
Can't wait to see them.

DB.

Subject: RE: Fairport Convention
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 22 Feb 03 - 12:07 PM

" the bass player who fell drunk on the stage during the bands mainstage performance"

Like that's NEVER happened before, in folk or any other genre...

Ya gonna deny the amazing performance of a guy like Christy Moore for a little intoxication? You gonna dismiss all the fantastic writings of Shane McGowan because he's a drunken, stoned imbecile??

I guess while yer at it ya may as well toss out all the work of Robbie Burns too eh... Shit... He drank, smoked, snorted, and f#cked everything he could get his hands on!

Granted, nobody wants to shell out good money to watch a 'hero' stagger around in a useless stupor, but com'on... some folk here are talking about this like it's never happened before... or like it'll never happen again...

Subject: RE: Fairport Convention
From: smallpiper
Date: 22 Feb 03 - 01:15 PM

I shall restate I would have demanded a refund after watching the show - 'cos I like to try it on!

However having been introduced to the band I couldn't careless if they all got pissed at gigs - it dosn't alter the fact that they are all individually extremely tallented musicians and collectively an excellent band. - They are all very pleasent people indeed.

Subject: RE: Fairport Convention
From: GUEST,Captain Swing
Date: 22 Feb 03 - 09:36 PM

Clinton, as far as I'm concerned Fairport are the bee's knees but let's not talk boll***s. If a band member wants to get drunk, stoned or high on Horlicks it doesn't matter as long as he/she can come up with the goods on stage. Clearly, in this case, the goods were not forthcoming which is unprofessional. Never mind yer Brendan Behan, Dylan Thomas and Robbie Burns, we're not talking high art, we are just talking about playing bass guitar to a bit of old folk stuff ( not exactly rocket salad ), if he can't manage that after a few pints he should consider giving something up.

Subject: RE: Fairport Convention
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 23 Feb 03 - 02:46 AM

One dudes art is another persons trash...

And I'll bet ya real money it was more than a FEW pints...

Subject: RE: Fairport Convention
From: fat B****rd
Date: 23 Feb 03 - 11:48 AM

I first saw FC at Thurmaston Hall Near Leicester in the summer of 1968. Richard Thompson, Simon Nicol, Martin Lamble, Ashley Hutchings and Judy Dyble.I'd never seen anything like them before and was fascinated.

Subject: RE: Fairport Convention
From: michaelr
Date: 23 Feb 03 - 02:49 PM

That bass player would be Dave Pegg, a terrible man for a pint or twelve. Rumor has it that little weakness cost him his job as Jethro Tull's bassist.

Clinton, it's been a long, long time since Christy Moore showed up intoxicated on any stage. When I saw him in the 80s, he went so far as to have the bar of the club shut down during his set, so the audience couldn't drink, either!

Cheers,
Michael

Subject: RE: Fairport Convention
From: Mugwump
Date: 15 Mar 03 - 04:46 AM

Yes I saw that bloke and the bar was closed - what I hated was that all us normal humans had to suffer because that hypocritical rich asshole has "problems" with drink!

Subject: RE: Fairport Convention
From: JohnnyBeezer
Date: 15 Mar 03 - 10:39 AM

I'd just like to say that myself and some friends have played support to Fairport at Universities/Clubs etc.' on several occasions and became good friends. Our drummer went on to play in an incarnation of the Albion Band. They, like us, have always been prodigious drinkers, but never once have I seen it interfere with their professionalism or ability.
Perhaps we're all just getting old
All the best to Peggy & the boys

Great Love

Johnny N

Subject: RE: Fairport Convention
From: chris nightbird childs
Date: 31 Oct 04 - 01:44 AM

L&L has been remastered?! Shite! I just bought it!

Subject: RE: Fairport Convention
From: Pete_Standing
Date: 31 Oct 04 - 03:41 AM

Don't worry Chris, remastered or not, it is still a classic. I can't imagine that there will ever be a better album by the band.