Fairport’s Cropredy Convention takes place, as ever, on the second weekend of August. Here is a little Q&A with Deborah Bonham, who’ll grace the stage with her band on Saturday.

DEBORAH BONHAM BAND

The Deborah Bonham Band, led by the singer-songwriter sister of legendary Led Zep drummer John Bonham seems set to provide this year’s helping of powerhouse blues, rock, and soul. Since launching her first band in the mid nineties, Deborah has earned a well deserved reputation for her powerful vocals and vibrant stage presence.

The band’s most recent studio project, Bonham‑Bullick, is a passionate reinterpretation of classic and contemporary songs spanning seven decades. Produced by Deborah and featuring her longtime guitarist and partner Peter Bullick, the release will see them touring the UK and US through 2025 and beyond, with the stop off at Cropredy maybe attracting a few more new fans to their headline shows.

Ahead of her Saturday set Deborah takes on our Crop ’25 Q&A:

Cropredy is a festival with a long history and iconic status. What sets it apart from other festivals and what does it mean to you to play there?

A festival run by musicians for musicians and such a devoted music loving audience.  Peggy has been such a supportive friend through the years and and of course a dear old friend of my brother John since the 60s.  We absolutely love playing this festival.

What memories do you have of Cropredy?

This will be our third time since 2002 in the days of reducing compere Geoff Hughes to tears after our heart wrenching song of seeing our departed loved ones again some day. Geoff said “come back and play another song.. but don’t make me cry this time!” We all miss him terribly.

Given the state of the festival programme in the UK with cut backs and cancellations, what’s your view on the UK festival scene? What do you think it would take to restore it to a former glory?

I guess we all just have to keep on supporting live music and going to shows, but new bands need to listen to the music of the 50s, 60s and 70s and find the soul like all of our peers before us.

Tell us about your plans post-Cropredy. What does the short and long term future hold?

We have a 2 month break until our next festivals in Paris, Glasgow, Carlisle, Chelmsford, Blackpool and Newcastle… tour dates are on the deborahbonham.com website.  We are also in the process of a new album which we’re excite about and we will be featuring some of the songs at Cropredy.

And finally, tent or caravan – or hotel? Or arrive/play/go home?!

I’ll be in our sprinter van with my dogs…my husband guitarist Pete has made a very comfy bed in there and I’ve made some curtains for privacy out of some gorgeous purple velvet I found.  The ‘girls’ – my dogs Dana and Babushka will have their beds and they’ll be wearing their ‘Cropredy ‘festival  scarfs   We’re arriving the night before and will be soaking up the atmosphere in front and behind the stage on both nights.  Rest of the band are in a combination of a motorhome  and tent.

Fairport’s Cropredy Convention 2025 has officially sold out. There are no official resale channels. You can keep a last minute eye on the Fairport Facebook group here or Twickets, here.

Deborah Bonham online: Website / Facebook / Youtube

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