Festival season is getting closer by the day. Here’s the second of our delves into the treats that Fairport’s Cropredy Convention 2025 has to offer.

ONE OF THE GREAT BRITISH FESTIVALS

The festival has been taking place for the best part of 50 years. We hope that there are many years of life left in the old girl yet. One thing’s for certain, as long as there is a Cropredy Festival, At The Barrier will be there to absorb, report and – most importantly, enjoy the event. It’s a musical highlight of the year.

At The Barrier are huge supporters of Fairport’s Cropredy Convention. We believe that the annual event is one of the great British festivals, if not a British Institution. To get a flavour of the festival, check out our reasons why it is one of the best here.

2025 IS A SELL OUT

With the constraints of the world being felt, the UK festival industry is finding life tough. The expenses involved in organising and running a festival are vast. Many festivals have sadly folded or opted to take a fallow year. The Fairport Convention team have had the foresight to continue the Cropredy festival by prudent management and planning. It will still provide the full Cropredy experience with the pleasing result that 2025 has already sold out.

In our second preview of the musical delights on offer, we take a look at Plumhall, Martin Barre and The Henry Girls.

PLUMHALL (SPOTIFY / APPLE MUSIC)

We are huge admirers of Plumhall – husband and wife duo Michelle Plum and Nick Hall – here at At The Barrier. We were awestruck by the pair’s performances as they opened for Fairport on the 2024 Winter Tour and, just about a year ago (me poor old Uncle Jim…) we were blown away by their 3rd album, the amazing One Star Awake – one of our 2024 Albums of the Year.

To reuse our own words: “Michelle sings like a celestial angel – she’s Karen Carpenter, reimagined for West Yorkshire and, as well as being a pretty amazing guitarist, Nick is also the owner of an awesome set of vocal pipes and, when the pair harmonise – as they do in almost every song – you just have to drop whatever you’re doing to give them your full attention.” They’re lovely people too – and they’re huge Fairport fans, as they confided to us recently...

We predicted that Plumhall would be a shoo-in for their own spot at this year’s Cropredy Festival and, as the wise heads have predicted, here they are. Plumhall will be weaving their special magic on the Cropredy stage on Friday afternoon; expect a soothing dose of stupendous songs – This Room (Locks and Bolts), A Haunting, Lost London Rivers, On That Further Shore (a personal fave of this writer) and, when they get around to One Star Awake – their album’s breathtaking title track – maybe… they’ll be joined by some special guests(?) other than the duo of the Crickmores – David P and James – who’ll be part of the Cropredy Plumhall big band.

Just one request: Please, please, please will Fairport ask Michelle onstage to sing Who Knows Where The Time Goes during their Saturday night headlining spot? She took our breath away when she did it in Southend last year and we’d love to see the Cropredy audience reaction!

MARTIN BARRE (SPOTIFY / APPLE MUSIC)

We will be most certainly treated to more of Martin Barre’s Jethro Tull interpretations. He went down a storm when he played a set of Tull favourites at his last Cropredy appearance  and with a spot early Saturday evening it will be the ideal band to begin the final nights proceedings. His 50 Years of Tull  album shows that  given the freedom but put his own mark on classic Tull and tunes such as Locomotive Breath and Aqualung  release a different energy which is compulsive . Dan Crisp’s vocals wisely keep to his own style, making any comparison to the  instantly recognisable vocals of Ian Anderson pointless. 

Martin  Barre deserves to be ranked amongst the all time guitar greats although not particularly known for long complex solos.  He is one of our most accomplished guitarists and has a distinctive sound that recent Tull guitarists still try to replicate. To many his accomplished guitar work as much a part of the Tull sound as Ian Anderson’s vocals or flute. So get ready for an hour or so of an incredible  journey down Tull Lane no doubt paying a nostalgic visit to some very familiar spots along the way.

THE HENRY GIRLS (SPOTIFY / APPLE MUSIC)

Billed in between the rock power of The Deborah Bonham Band and Martin Barre as we head towards the festival climax are The Henry Girls. The folk/roots musical trio from Malin in County Donegal, Ireland, will no doubt bring a chilled calm to proceedings.

The trio of sisters Karen, Lorna, and Joleen McLaughlin are known for their rich harmonies and traditional Irish influences. At the same time they blend elements of folk, Americana, and Celtic music, with a variety of instruments -fiddle, harp, accordion, and piano – in their performances. Their sound is both contemporary and rooted in Irish heritage, drawing comparisons to the likes of The Corrs and The Wailin’ Jennys.

The Henry Girls have released several critically acclaimed albums, including December Moon and Far Beyond the Stars, that shine the spotlight on their songwriting skills and vocal talent. They frequently tour across Europe and the United States, earning a reputation for live shows that highlight their close-knit harmonies and instrumental prowess. Listen out too for themes of love, nature, and storytelling, that mark The Henry Girls as a standout act in the modern folk music scene and a smart addition to the Cropredy lineup.

Check out our Spotify playlist highlighting the artists playing at Fairport’s Cropredy Convention 2025 below.

Fairport’s Cropredy Convention 2025 has officially sold out. There are no official resale channels, but you can keep an eye on the Fairport Facebook group here, or the event page on Twickets, here.

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