Last year we had sixty songs. This year we’ve gone for seventy. We really enjoy putting together songs for the PA at Fairport’s Cropredy Convention. Again, we have kindly been given the floor for Saturday, so here it is…Seventy Songs For Saturday. On behalf of Dom, Mike, John, Howard & Seuras, we hope you enjoy!

REMEMBERING OZZY OSBOURNE & PAUL DI’ANNO

The journey begins with two tracks that shook the foundations of heavy metal and never stopped echoing. War Pigs by Black Sabbath is a dark sermon — Ozzy Osbourne at his most commanding. It’s heavy, furious, theatrical, and prophetic. Ozzy’s voice on this track is incredible – and the opening crash of the riff hits like a battering ram. Ozzy went out on his own terms with his Back To The Beginning show in July 2025. It feels apt that the Prince Of Darkness let so much light into the musical world.

Wrathchild by Iron Maiden arrives like a clenched fist. It’s lean, aggressive, and unmistakably Paul Di’Anno. Before Iron Maiden took to the skies with the operatic scales of Bruce Dickinson, Di’Anno gave them their street-snarl attitude. Wrathchild is one of Iron Maiden’s shortest songs and punches with sharp rebellion. We were lucky to catch Paul in concert before his passing when he toured with KK’s Priest.

STEVIE HORTON

Stevie Horton is a name you might hear a lot over the weekend. Sadly, Stevie unexpectedly left us this year. She ran Iconic Media who looked after all the press and media for Fairport’s Cropredy Convention and many others (namely artists on Talking Elephant).

On a personal level, Stevie was a person that I (Dom) had been in contact with for close to a decade organising reviews for publications and obviously, Cropredy. Her pink hair would stand out as she could be seen milling around looking after everyone. Her energy never seemed to dwindle and she was always so helpful. Prior to the festival, I would get a call or two (not an email) and ask if we have everything we need for the festival and she helped bring At The Barrier into the fold when Mike and I set up the website in 2018.

Stevie always shared her love for music. There were certain artists Stevie always talked of. Stevie always shared how much she liked The War On Drugs and Adam Granduciel. One of the last conversations I had in person with Stevie was about The War On Drugs and their live shows being full of great energy.

Another band that Stevie always shared tales of was Pink Floyd and seeing them in the 1960’s on London. That was a time that I never experienced being born in the 80’s and a child of the 90’s, so hearing her stories of seeing them live in their early psychedelic days was always a pleasure.

The last campaign that we worked on with Stevie was with The Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band. We got to interview the remaining members of the band and heard great tales from them. It was just before the launch event for their Still Barking boxset when we received the sad news of Stevie’s passing. The night was dedicated to her, and I’m sure there will be many more dedications this year at Cropredy. Stevie was a wonderful person with a real passion for music.

I usually celebrate my birthday at Cropredy and Stevie always remembered that. Now I, and us all at At The Barrier, remember her fondly and thank her for all she did for us at At The Barrier and for the world of music, and especially Fairport’s Cropredy Convention.

NEW ARTISTS

We like to champion newer artists on At The Barrier. There are several acts that we always look forward to receiving music from as well as the joy of finding something completely new.

Barbara have featured heavily on At The Barrier in recent years and we think they would be a great turn for Cropredy. They’ve toured with Paul Weller and Haircut 100 amongst others picking up a legion of fans.

Three part harmony heroes The Lost Trades are led by Phil Cooper. This year saw Phil release his first solo album in a long while; Playing Solitaire is available now.

The Zac Schulze Gang wowed us at Cropredy 2024 and we felt it is only right to include one of thier blistering blues numbers this year. We feel the same way about the brilliant Baskery too. Two turns from last years event that are still clear in the memory.

Cropredy’s setting beside the Oxford Canal prompts us to include a song from Three Idle Women and their songs of life afloat, whilst the pastoral folk of Anglo-Italian/Malian duo Piers Faccini & Ballake Sissoko seems to be the perfect match for Cropredy’s calm, rural vibe. Or, if home-grown Americana is your thing, you’ll love the sound of Birmingham’s The Lost Notes – and, if you like what you hear – they’re playing at The Brasenose on Sunday afternoon!

Jess Silk, Pastel, The Lost Notes, Dorie Jackson (daughter of VdGG sax legend Dave), Morganway, Alex Hart, and Hamish Hawk (who wowed us at last year’s Underneath The Stars) all make an appearance here. They offer a diverse range of styles and influences as well as great music. Pastel’s debut record, which came out this year, is a brilliant indie record that evokes early Verve and The Charlatans.

CLASSICS

I Want To Take You Higher by Sly & The Family Stone is still imperious. Sly is another great we lost this year. Cosmic Debris by Frank Zappa is one of his most recognisable cuts and Sign O’ the Times by Prince feels perennially relevant ,

Camel have had the reissue treatment over the past few years, many of which we have featured on the site. Rush’ Spirit Of Radio is a classic rock song that sounds as fresh as the day it was released and Can’t Get Enough is a bona fide rock staple.

Too High To Cut My Hair is one of Little Feat’s latest pieces from their new album. The song is a classic slice of Little Feat and their new record is excellent. It would be great to see them back in the field at Cropredy.

Strawbs have made a couple of appearances in the Cropredy field over the years. We are great fans and we were devastated to hear of the passing of frontman Dave Cousins, just a few weeks ago. We pay tribute by including I’ll Carry On Beside You to remember him.

Oasis have been at the forefront of music this summer. Their reunion shows have been full of love and musical classics. The Gallagher brothers are still soundtracking people’s lives with parents taking their younger children to these gigs. At Heaton Park in Manchester, it was special.

OTHER PICKS

A quirky pick is that of Streetband’s Toast; who doesn’t like toast? Paul Heaton & Jacqui Abbot showcase their great wordplay on D.I.Y. and Field Music’s Count It Up has some of the most thought provoking lyrics ever. It’s a song that makes you feel grateful.

Hard Love by Starsailor was highlighted by the band when we saw them earlier in 2025 celebrating their 25th anniversary (yes…25). Suldusk were a highlight for us at 2025’s Fortress Festival. Whilst exploring more extreme sounds, there are plenty of accessible pieces from the haunting Aussies. You can add Kalandra to that mix too.

Hothouse Flowers were in brilliant form touring their classic late 80’s albums and Feet On The Ground was a gloriously gleeful highlight. It is hard not to mention Merry Hell and the joy they bring in their music too. Having finally treaded the boards at Cropredy, they return to the Fringe at The Brasenose this year.

Familiar voice? The Tubs may have a few in the field thinking of one Richard Thompson, which can be no bad thing. and no, that isn’t Sandy singing All Our Days, it is Jenn Butterworth. Get used to her, she is special guest on the Fairport Spring Tour of next year. And, talking about covers, what about Thea Gilmore‘s take on Miley Cyrus’s Wrecking Ball?

The Slambovian Circus Of Dreams were another band that Stevie Horton championed and their ‘Beez’ song evokes hazy memories of a beautiful evening at Cropredy. The same applies for memories of The Young’uns, The Waterboys and Larkin Poe.

We hope you enjoy the songs. You can follow the playlist via Spotify below.

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