They don’t rest up for long, do they? Hot on the heels of the hottest and – arguably – best Cropredy festival ever, Fairport will be setting off on the road again in October. And they’ve got a 55th birthday to celebrate!

At The Barrier had a ball at this year’s Cropredy Festival. The weather was scorching, the vibe was sublime and the music was delicious. Bill-toppers and festival proprietors Fairport Convention were magnificent, playing a gargantuan set that featured swathes of the band’s extensive back catalogue and full rendition of the seminal Full House album, by the (almost) original album line-up. Maybe – just maybe – Cropredy 2022 was the best one yet…!

And, to be honest, after that, we’d have to admit that the Fairport guys had earned the right to rest up for a while… But that’s not how Fairport Convention work and, on 11th October, the band will be back on the road for an Autumn Tour that kicks off at Oswaldtwistle Civic Arts Centre and Theatre. Oswaldtwistle is a rare North West date in the schedule and has the honour of being the opening date so no doubt will be a hot ticket.

The tour takes in ten shows, culminating in a celebration of bassist Dave Pegg’s 75th birthday at Dudley Town Hall on 2nd November – and WHAT a show that will be!

And it’s not just Peggy’s 75th birthday that the band will be celebrating this autumn. 2022 marks the 55th anniversary of Fairport Convention and, for the Autumn Tour, fans are being primed to expect a set of long-established Fairport favourites, as well as some surprises from albums old and new and oodles of material from the band’s 2020 album Shuffle and Go. These are shows that are not to be missed by anyone with a Fairport sensibility.

Fairport’s Scottish fanbase have occasionally bemoaned the exclusion of Scottish dates when the band tour, so it’s pleasing to note that this year’s schedule includes a number of shows north of the border. The full tour itinerary is as follows and tickets are available here. And – you can bet – the At The Barrier team will be out and about to bring news and pictures from the tour as it progresses…

Tuesday 11th October: Oswaldtwistle Civic Arts Centre and Theatre

Wednesday 12th October: Kinross, Backstage at the Green

Thursday 13th October: Peebles, Eastgate Arts Centre (another reason for celebration – it will be Simon Nicol’s 72nd birthday…)

Friday 14th October: Glasgow Oran Mor

Wednesday 19th October: Newbury Corn Exchange

Thursday 20th October: Twickenham, The Exchange

Friday 21st October: Honiton, The Beehive

Saturday 22nd October: Falmouth, Princess Pavilion

Sunday 23rd October: Dartmouth, The Flavel

Wednesday 2nd November: Dudley Town Hall – “Peggy’s 75th Birthday”

Fairport Convention Online: Website / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / YouTube

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