In the wake of the news that tickets for Fairport’s Cropredy Convention 2026 have officially SOLD OUT our final day-by-day Cropredy 2026 preview takes a look at what to expect from Saturday’s line up.

FAIRPORT CONVENTION AND FRIENDS

And, so. As the song predicted, it All Came Round Again. Come midnight on Saturday 15th August, we’ll be tired, a tad tipsy, perhaps, and deliriously happy. Three days of fab music will have been savoured to the max – all rounded off with with another breathtaking Fairport show. How do we know? We’ve been here before. 45 times before, in some cases – and the outcome is ALWAYS the same.

Fairport will have a special set planned – of that, you can be sure. Old favourites, deep dives and some special surprises. RT is around this year, so expect a few gems from Fairport’s halcyon days. Also expect cameos from Jenn Butterworth and maybe Danny Bradley. Oh – and whilst we’re on the subject of surprise guests, can I just say that if Michelle Plum can be persuaded to sing Who Knows Where the Time Goes, a lot of people would be going home happier than they ever imagined they could be…

2027 is Fairport’s 60th anniversary year. The celebrations have already started.

JENN BUTTERWORTH & WILL POUND

It’s a match made in heaven. Jenn Butterworth – folk guitarist par excellence and songwriter extraordinaire and Will Pound – harmonica and melodeon player to the stars. We’ve been following Jenn for quite some time now. Back in February, our writer suggested that Jenn’s recent album, Her By Design, elevated her to the status of folk giant and we were equally lavish with our praise for her performances when she opened for Fairport on this year’s Spring Tour. Will is an award-winning musician, able to add his skills to any genre in any company. To illustrate that statement, he played harmonica on the 2012 Christmas #1 recording of He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother, alongside Sir Paul McCartney, Mick Jones, Shane McGowan and Beverley Knight. More recently, he collaborated with The Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra in a reinterpretation of Holst’s Planets Suite.

Jenn and Will first collaborated in 2018 and they recorded Volume I – their debut album as a duo – back in 2023. They’ve recently been touring the album and the pair liken their live perfomance to “…a game of ‘musical cat and mouse'” in which they: “weave virtuosic performances that are unique and in the moment.”

We’ve a feeling that their Cropredy performance will be something very special indeed…

BARBARA

At the Barrier makes no secret of its admiration for Brighton-based fop-pop band, Barbara and we were delighted when we learned that they’d been invited onto this year’s Cropredy Festival bill. We’ll say it right now – the Cropredy audience is in for a Saturday afternoon that they’ll never forget. Built around the songs and stage presence of brothers John (vocals) and Henry (keyboards) Tydeman, the Barbara lineup also features Dean Llewellyn (guitar), Jack Hosgood (bass) and Lawrie Miller (drums). Each member is a master of his chosen craft.

Barbara’s songs are all their own, but fans of the Divine Comedy, 10cc, Sparks, Dean Friedman – even, perhaps, Stackridge – will find familiar reference points in their material. The songs are performed with consummate skill and, visually, Barbara are a revelation. Over the past couple of years, Barbara have toured with the Divine Comedy, Haircut 100, Paul Weller and Kid Creole & The Coconuts – and they’ve gained new followers (Barbarettes) at every station. Our advice? Check out Barbara’s eponymous 2025 debut album NOW. The queue at the CD stall will be massive, once the Cropredy crowd have had their dose of Barbara…

HAYSEED DIXIE

They call their musical style ‘Maximum Rockgrass’ and we reckon that Hayseed Dixie love Cropredy as much as Cropredy loves them. It’s hard to believe that ten years have passed since Hayseed Dixie last graced the Cropredy stage and it’s great to welcome them – and their unique bluegrass interpretations of rock classics – back to the farm. Last time they were here, they stole the show (I felt sorry for Madness, who had the impossible task of following them) with their Hobgoblin-drenched reworks of such songs as Ace Of Spades and Highway To Hell. Even Bohemian Rhapsody wasn’t off-limits. Nowadays, Hayseed Dixie’s set includes a significant proportion of their original material. Whatever they choose to play, expect to dance and expect to have fun.

Oh – and a word of warning. get your drinks in early. Last time Hayseed Dixie were at Cropredy, they almost drank the bar dry.

THE HAAR

Some may say ‘supergroup’ and with Cormac Byrne and the sublime voice of Molly Donnery joined by Ciderhouse Rebellion duo Adam Summerhayes and Murray Grainger, who dare argue. The Haar specialise in taking hold of well-known Irish songs – traditional and otherwise – and giving them a good, sound, shake-up. Indeed, we were once moved to describe their mission as “… a masterclass in original interpretation of traditional music.” We were mesmerized by their 2025 album, The Lost Day and we know from first-hand experience how exciting their live performances can be.

ROB JONES AND THE RESTLESS DREAM

Mancunian Rob Jones is a former teacher who, in 2021 decided to abandon his life of ease and security to pursue his musical ambitions. Rob’s musical roots lie both in British folk and in Americana and his songs are blend of both of these influences. That’s a cocktail that’s guaranteed to slip down nicely at Cropredy. Rob Jones & The Restless Dream released their debut album, Stars, in 2025 and the band have been performing it around the country – often to packed houses – ever since.

THE GERRY COLVIN BIG BAND

There’s no Richard Digence to shepherd the early risers into the arena for this year’s Saturday show, but Fairport have lined up something very special instead.

Gerry Colvin’s CV is a hefty document indeed. He’s been making music since the 1970s and was the ‘Gerry’ element of Terry & Gerry, John Peel’s favourite ‘cowpunk-skiffle’ practitioners. An acclaimed songwriter, his work has been used in TV productions and in film scores. Gerry’s musical projects include Gerry Colvin’s Inexperience, The Atlantics, The National Screen Orchestra and folk-rock five-piece ColvinQuarmby. It was with the latter of these that Gerry made his debut Cropredy appearance, back in 2009 and, as those of present will recall, they went down a storm. Gerry returned in 2017 with his eponymous band and, once again, left a lasting impression. Gerry’s musical influences are many-fold and he’s known for his rapport with his audiences.

This year, Gerry appears with his ‘Big Band,’ an ensemble that, alongside long-standing collaborators such as accordionist Trish Power and bassist Jerome Davies, also includes strings, a brass section, drums and backing singers. Reviews of the band’s performances have been quite stunning and, of course, Gerry Colvin is always an entertaining prospect. Don’t miss him.

OUR SATURDAY ‘ONE TO WATCH’

Saturday promises to be yet another full day of excellent music, with another epic, classic Fairport set to round off the weekend. But, we’re going to stick our necks out and predict that the band that everyone will be talking about as they head for home will be Barbara. We’re huge fans and we’re delighted that they’ve got their afternoon in the Cropredy sunshine. Prepare to be enthralled…

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