Cropredy is just around the corner, and already the good ship Fairport has its sights set on new horizons as an extensive 25-date autumn tour is announced.

Fairport Convention must surely be one of the hardest-working bands in existence. Fairport’s Cropredy Convention – our favourite event in the year’s musical calendar is just around the corner – less that three weeks to go… – yet already the plans for the next bash around this island of ours are in place. Fairport’s autumn tour kicks off at Lowdham Village Hall on Friday 6th October and will visit 25 venues across England, Scotland and Wales before winding up at The Twickenham Exchange on Saturday 4th November.

Indeed, 2023 is turning into a super-busy year for the folk-rock legends. Throughout February and March, the chaps took to the highways and byways with the great DM tagging along with his drumkit and the wonderful Hannah Sanders and Ben Savage in support for the annual Winter Tour, before they headed off to the warmer climes of Ibiza and France for a programme of festival and cruise ship appearances – and all that’s before we even start to think about Cropredy…

Of course, they love it as much as we love them – as vocalist/guitarist Simon Nicol readily acknowledges: “As ever, the excitement steadily grows as Cropredy weekend looms larger in the calendar – without doubt it is the personal highlight of the year For each of us in the band as well as for many of the regular attendees [and that definitely applies to the At The Barrier team…] Who will deliver the greatest surprise? Whose performance will live longest in the memory? Will there be an actual ‘you had to be there…’ moment?

All the build-up and then suddenly the moment is gone and we have another twelve months to wait – but the batteries have been recharged and the level of love for all things Fairport is polished like the trophy it is.

When October comes round, we’ll be regrouping and returning to our natural home – the van on a motorway somewhere, back on the road and touring our music on smaller stages around the country, revisiting favourites and making new ones, seeing old friends and eating and drinking in our favourite watering holes: returning in a small way the love people bring from their home towns to the Brigadoon which is the Festival site of Cropredy. We hope you can come and join the fun and enjoy the songs old and new.”

Well – I can promise one thing: At The Barrier will be popping along to several of the shows as the tour makes its way up, down and across the land. Be sure to check these pages for our news and views!

Here’s the full Autumn Tour itinerary:

Friday 6th October: Lowdham Village Hall (Tickets here)

Saturday 7th October: Blackfriars Arts Centre, Boston (Tickets here)

Sunday 8th October: The Junction, Goole (Tickets here)

Monday 9th October: The Mill, Banbury (Tickets here)

Wednesday 11th October: Norden Farm, Maidenhead (Tickets here)

Thursday 12th October: Foxlowe Arts Centre, Leek (Tickets here)

Friday 13th October (Happy Birthday, Simon!): Town Hall, Masham (Tickets here)

Saturday 14th October: Victoria Hall, Settle (Tickets here)

Sunday 15th October: Assembly Rooms, Melbourne (Tickets here)

Wednesday 18th October: Sundial Theatre, Cirencester (Tickets here)

Thursday 19th October: Acapela Studio, Pentyrch (SOLD OUT!)

Friday 20th October: The Beehive, Honiton (Tickets here)

Saturday 21st October: Trading Boundaries, Sheffield Green (Tickets here)

Sunday 22nd October: Chilham Village Hall, Canterbury (Tickets here)

Tuesday 24th October: Crookes Club, Sheffield (Tickets here)

Wednesday 25th October: City Varieties Music Hall, Leeds (Tickets here)

Thursday 26th October: Old Fire Station, Carlisle (Tickets here)

Friday 27th October: Queen’s Hall, Hexham (Tickets here)

Saturday 28th October: The Maltings, Berwick-upon-Tweed (Tickets here)

Sunday 29th October: Queen’s Hall, Edinburgh (Tickets here)

Tuesday 31st October: The Junction, Cambridge (Tickets here)

Wednesday 1st November: The Pier, Cromer (Tickets here)

Thursday 2nd November: Jubilee Hall, Aldeburgh (Tickets here)

Friday 3rd November: St. Andrew’s Church, Hertford (Tickets here)

Saturday 4th November: The Exchange, Twickenham (Tickets here)

But, before we get to autumn – there’s still Cropredy to enjoy. It’s now just a matter of days before we’ll all be meeting up again in THAT field at Home Farm, and this year’s show promises to be a doozie. This year’s bill might just be the most eclectic yet, with the disco magic of Nile Rodgers and Chic to illuminate our Thursday night, a huge dose of sleek 70s pop from 10cc on Friday, a chance to Get Down, Get Down, Get Down with Gilbert O’Sullivan on Saturday, as well as the last ever (allegedly) show from Strawbs; Ziggy goes to Kingston, courtesy of Easy Star All-Stars, there’ll be a generous serving of Sunday lunch from Toyah and Robert Fripp and a glorious array of Cropredy debutants, including first-ever appearances from At The Barrier favourites Merry Hell and The Young ‘Uns.

Oh – and don’t forget Fairport – there sure to kick up a storm with their bill-topping Saturday evening appearance. DM will be back behind the kit to add his own special brand of controlled explosives to the evening’s proceedings, and I have just an inkling that the band may have one or two pleasant surprises up their collective sleeve… we’ll soon find out.

Tickets for Fairport’s Cropredy Convention 2023 are selling fast, so if you haven’t got yours yet, we strongly advise you to act now – you can reach the Cropredy ticket desk via this link.

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

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