The Brasenose bacchanalia gets ever bigger, whatever’s going on in the big field! We take a look at the acts slated to appear.

THE BRASENOSE

It’s true that this years Cropredy is scaled down, deliberately so, so as to maintain solvency, in a field of shrinking festival profitability or even feasibility. The strategy seems to have worked, with Cropredy-lite sold out, and likely to confer an ongoing footprint a few years yet. But, as anyone visiting over recent years will know all too well, the Cropredy Village festivities seem to engulf ever more of the canal side village. It’s true, bands have played at the Brasenose Arms for decades, both during the festival and year round. Similarly, the Red Lion, the other pub, had a spell of offering the same, if confined to that long weekend at the beginning of August.

With the Red Lion no longer offering that competition, The Brasenose have taken the level of offering up a peg or two. And, whilst it is no longer free, ticketing has guaranteed bookings of a standard that could easily grace the main stage, over by Jonah’s Oak. Indeed, many of those appearing have done so, in years gone by, even the hosts themselves, back in plague year, 2021!

CROP And edge

Ahead of perusing the bill in greater depth, completeness demands a quick mention of a further burgeoning expansion from the mainframe, in that erstwhile Field 8 has leeched off in recent years, becoming Cream Of The Crop, Whilst nominally a year round camping and glamping site, having been previously enrolled into the festival’s fields, it began to offer some ad hoc music, as well as having it’s own bars and food provision. I recall a delightful wander around, pre-Covid, it a little oasis of calm away from the hurly burly of site central, replete with a small children’s farm. Now, fully independent, they have their own contemporaneous festival, if detail is currently lacking in much detail beyond promise.

Those with pre-Covid memories may also remember The Edge At Cropredy, which took over a cheeky, very nearby field for a couple of years, ahead of calling it a day early 2022. More of a beer tent with burgers and dogs, bands also played sporadic evening gigs. It proved extremely unpopular with the diehards of Talkawhile, the enduring message board of all things Fairport, but I suspect a few snuck in for their beer selection.

THURSDAY THANDY

Anyhoo, back to The Brasenose Fringe, and a glimpse at their roster. As with last year, there are a fair few acts who could, and indeed have, appeared at the main festival. Indeed, there may even be a bit of toing and froing for some of the artists concerned.

This is exemplified by the appearance of PJ Wright’s The Sandy Denny Project, if I can call it “his”, on the Thursday. Wright, a long term buddy and, in Steve Gibbons’ Dylan Project, a bandmate of Peggy, pops up most years in one format or another. The SDP is, broadly, the residue, post Jerry Donahue’s catastrophic stroke, of the revived noughties version of Fotheringay, and features, alongside Wright’s incendiary guitar, Sally Barker, Marion Fleetwood, Gemma Shirley and the rhythm section from Little Johnny England. Caught at last year’s New Forest Folk Festival, they are phenomenal.

Ranagri, whose flautist Eliza Marshall is a favourite here, are also playing, possibly as a result of Marshall appearing, last year, as part of the short lived, Dream In Colours, the folk supergroup convened by Stev Knightley. Festival party band favourites 3 Daft Monkeys also appear.

Friday’s Flight

Friday features possibly one of the final performances of Daphne’s Flight, the wondrous meeting of five of the country’s finest female folk voices, so worth catching while you can. There had also been the presence of “Surprise” toward the top of the bill, in initial drafts of the line-up. It has since been confirmed this is one Billy Lockett. A name new to us, it nonetheless seems he has quite a track record. To Viewers of ITV’s The Voice, however, he is quite the star, having been catapaulted to success from his appearances there. Recently touring alongside Jamie Cullen, he has played similar support slots, in the past, to Lana Del Rey, Birdy and K.T. Tunstall

hell doonican

Saturday, certainly from mid-evening onward, is always going to have tough competition from the big field. Any earlier hopes that that two ATB regulars and favourites, The Bar Steward Sons Of Val Doonican and Merry Hell, wouldn’t have to compete with the Fairport finale, are slightly dashed. Scott Doonican’s merry troupe have dodged that bullet, but a severe crisis of conscience is certainly up for consideration at around 8.30. Frankly, a great time is guaranteed whichever you find yourself in front of.

Lost or Found

When Fairporters are snoozing off their excesses, or turning toward matters of willow and ball, The Brasenose is still plugging away regardless, hoping to delay at least some journeys back home. With Vicki Clayton and Vo Fletcher each on the bill, who is to say the odd groggy performer from the night before may be tempted to join them on stage? Send off is from another favourite of this site, Birmingham’s mighty The Lost Notes.

A TOP BILL

This bill would suit many a smaller standalone festival of the sort that play on regardless the pressures that belay those much larger and more established. I, for one, may find it a destination that draws some of my attention from Jonah’s Oak. And God help us all, if it’s raining, and the field becomes a quagmire, but, then again, I don’t think Richard Thompson, God of Rain, is appearing this year.

As well as all the music on show, there is also the return of The Sandy Denny Exhibition, curated by Georgia Rose Lucas; Denny’s daughter. On the exhibition, Lucas states: “I’m excited to share that the Sandy Denny Exhibition 2025 has been confirmed! The first exhibition, in 2023, was a delightful and intimate experience, and I’m overjoyed to have been invited back to the Brasenose for this year’s Fringe Festival. I’ll be traveling all the way from Australia once again, bringing my mother’s treasured belongings with me.

When I received the invitation to return, I was truly happy. This year, we have an excellent team working alongside the Estate, and we have space to display more. Over the four days of the Brasenose Fringe Festival there will be a variety of engaging activities and events. I truly hope to see all of you at the exhibition!” Be sure to check it out. You can also support Georgia and the estate of Sandy Denny, here.

Here’s a stonking John The Gun, from 2022’s Fringe. The Sandy Denny Project, of course.

The Brasenose Fringe: Website / Facebook / Instagram

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