Fairport Convention still folk-rocking..

Subject: Fairport Convention still folk-rocking..
From: Arnie
Date: 20 Feb 06 - 12:26 PM

Just been to a Fairport Convention concert at Canterbury and they were fan-bloody-tastic!! They really are a band that gets better with age and to think Simon Nichol was singing some of the same stuff in the '60's is proof positive that folk singing keeps you young! It wasn't just their friendly banter during the act that made it seem like a folk club gig (only much bigger), they came out to the foyer afterwards and signed CD's, programmes and any old bit of paper pushed their way. The only one who didn't appear afterwards was the drummer Geoff Conway and he was probably knackered after beating those skins for almost 3 hours. Their musicianship is just amazing and the support act PJ Bryan fitted in brilliantly for the traditional Meet on the Ledge finale. If you get a chance to catch them during this UK tour, take it - you won't be disappointed!

Subject: RE: Fairport Convention still folk-rocking..
From: Mr Fox
Date: 20 Feb 06 - 12:31 PM

I just wish they'd play Canterbury on any other day. The last Sunday train back to Gillingham goes long before the concert ends. Two years running now I've had to miss them.

Subject: RE: Fairport Convention still folk-rocking..
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 20 Feb 06 - 12:33 PM

I don't wish to be a party pooper, but isn't folk-rock an oxymoron?
G

Subject: RE: Fairport Convention still folk-rocking..
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 20 Feb 06 - 12:44 PM

Giok - maybe it is an oxymoron, but I was a teenager when Liege & Lief was released, and I heard Tam Lin in the Festival Hall...

Kitty

Subject: RE: Fairport Convention still folk-rocking..
From: Arnie
Date: 20 Feb 06 - 12:52 PM

Whoops, that should read PJ Wright (of Little Johnny England fame). Don't know where I got PJ Bryan from!!!

Subject: RE: Fairport Convention still folk-rocking..
From: TheBigPinkLad
Date: 20 Feb 06 - 01:15 PM

It may be an oxymoron, but it's still valid (like jumbo-shrimp!). Would you accept hybrid, Giok? I would never have delved into traditional folk (no I can't define it but no letters, please) if I hadn't first been attracted by bands like Fairport, Lindisfarne, etc.

Subject: RE: Fairport Convention still folk-rocking..
From: Emma B
Date: 20 Feb 06 - 02:03 PM

I saw them last Thursday at The Winding Wheel in Chesterfield. P.J. Wright was a very good support act and played a great duet with Rick Saunders before the band came on.
I was quite blown away by the fiddle playing in fact but very disappointed by the sound "balance" for Fairport. The venue was a fairly formal concert setting but the bass was emphazised to such a degree that most of the lyrics were indecipherable! I LIKE rock but I also like folk SONG and I think a much better balance could have been made between the two.

Subject: RE: Fairport Convention still folk-rocking..
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 20 Feb 06 - 02:20 PM

You must make allowances for my old fogeyness Kitty I was 26 in 1969 when Liege and Leif came out, and I didn't like it then.
I find most of this genre to be over produced somewhat twee, terribly self conscious, and far too loud. Not only that but if I live to be 100 I will never understand the use of drums in a folk group.

Giok

Subject: RE: Fairport Convention still folk-rocking..
From: GUEST,number 6
Date: 20 Feb 06 - 02:23 PM

BigPinkLad ... Fairport and Lindinsfarne ... a tasteful 2 they are.

Sadly, Sandy Denny is no longer with us .. one of the finest female voices to be heard.

sIx

Subject: RE: Fairport Convention still folk-rocking..
From: GUEST,number 6
Date: 20 Feb 06 - 02:28 PM

Giok ... but a bodhran is acceptable ???

sIx :)

Subject: RE: Fairport Convention still folk-rocking..
From: michaelr
Date: 20 Feb 06 - 02:47 PM

There was a bass? Is Peggy back in action?

Subject: RE: Fairport Convention still folk-rocking..
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 20 Feb 06 - 02:54 PM

Ah sIx a bodhran is always acceptable if well and unobtrusively played, and when used to accompany songs or tunes for which it is suitable!
Giok

Subject: RE: Fairport Convention still folk-rocking..
From: WFDU - Ron Olesko
Date: 20 Feb 06 - 03:51 PM

" if I live to be 100 I will never understand the use of drums in a folk group."

It is a living tradition and FOLK should represent the styles of the time in which it is played. Guitars and violins are not exactly "folk" instruments either, but they were adopted early enough to become accepted.

Subject: RE: Fairport Convention still folk-rocking..
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 20 Feb 06 - 03:59 PM

Fair comment Ron, still don't like them though, especially as they're usually over played.
G ☺

Subject: RE: Fairport Convention still folk-rocking..
From: Lonesome EJ
Date: 20 Feb 06 - 04:10 PM

I'm envious. I've been a fan for years, particularly of the Thompson/Denny era group.

In a club in St Louis a week ago, I saw a young local band open for the headliners, and the local band had a willowly blonde girl singer who had a nice voice but was a bit shy for the lead job. About three songs into their set, the guitar player strums the opening chords for Who Knows Where the Time Goes, and the girl just begins to open out until her voice filled the bar. Nearly put tears in my eyes it sounded so much like Sandy. I thanked her later, and she told me that Fairport was her favorite music, this from a girl of 26. Hope for the future, folks.

Subject: RE: Fairport Convention still folk-rocking..
From: number 6
Date: 20 Feb 06 - 04:24 PM

It would bring me to tears too LEJ.

sIx

Subject: RE: Fairport Convention still folk-rocking..
From: Leadfingers
Date: 20 Feb 06 - 04:28 PM

"If its too loud you're too old" has been waved at me SO often , but it still holds true that a lot of bands wind the amps up simply because the drummer CANT play at anything but FULL volume ! And IF its supposed to be 'Folk' , surely the SONG Is the important thing !

Subject: RE: Fairport Convention still folk-rocking..
From: Peter K (Fionn)
Date: 20 Feb 06 - 07:28 PM

Of the dozens of spin-off bands, the one to catch these days must be Lazarus - featuring Dave Swarbrick, recently retrieved from Heaven's gate, along with two more worldclass musicians, Kevin Dempsey and Martin Allcock. I'll be catching them at the next village but one from here next month, and I'll be perfectly happy if they don't sing a song all night.

Tour dates (and go the home page to find some generous Swarbrick sound clips.)

Subject: RE: Fairport Convention still folk-rocking..
From: Arnie
Date: 21 Feb 06 - 03:08 AM

michaelr - yep, Peggy is back in action - in fact I didn't know he'd been away as I've seen him with Fairport every year when they visit Canterbury. The present line up is Rick Sanders, Simon Nichol, Dave Pegg, Gerry Conway and Chris Leslie. All very talented musicians but the Sanders/Leslie fiddle duos and fiddle/mandolin duos are really something special.

Subject: RE: Fairport Convention still folk-rocking..
From: Alio
Date: 21 Feb 06 - 03:36 AM

Saw them at Burnley last week with my 25 year old son, and we both came away just full of awe! They were brilliant! And PJ Wright was excellent too. A wonderful evening!
Ali

Subject: RE: Fairport Convention still folk-rocking..
From: michaelr
Date: 21 Feb 06 - 03:23 PM

Good to know about Dave Pegg. He had some sort of breakdown last year and had to leave the ongoing tour. I saw this lineup three years ago and they were great.

Subject: RE: Fairport Convention still folk-rocking..
From: Hand-Pulled Boy
Date: 22 Feb 06 - 06:41 AM

Electric drum kits can be very versatile, played loud or soft and they are becoming more popular because of it. Check out Roland and Yamaha sites.

Subject: RE: Fairport Convention still folk-rocking..
From: GUEST
Date: 22 Feb 06 - 10:49 PM

How come Fairport Convention doesn't record farewell To Nova Scotia?

Subject: RE: Fairport Convention still folk-rocking..
From: GUEST,punkfolkrocker
Date: 22 Feb 06 - 11:42 PM

saw Fairports the other night in a seaside retirement resort theatre
where the'll probly be one of the youngest acts to play this year..

..they seem to have settled into a more sedate middle of the road
folk soft-rock style these days..

only thing really negative i have to comment on the drums
is the amount of reverb they're soaked all over in.


..and the 2 photographers poncing about constantly playing
with their over illuminated glowing & flashing digital cameras,
dominating the middle front row seats,
were right distracting annoying pains in the arse
throughout most of the performance..

looked like they might have had a punch-up with aggreivated fans
at one point during the interval..

Subject: RE: Fairport Convention still folk-rocking..
From: GUEST,punkfolkrocker
Date: 23 Feb 06 - 12:02 AM

..should have said

" looked like they might almost have had a punch-up "

.. dont want to give the impression that folk rock is disreputable
and attracts a violent riotous crowd..


Btw.. for my tastes, it was much better when PJ joined in at the end
on electric guitar.. the sound was much improved..
fuller and more solid.. less laid back and polite..

wish he'd been in the fairport lineup for all the gig