Keeping with tradition, Fairport Convention followed the Cropredy festival in August with an Autumn tour that saw the band performing in towns and cities that differed from their run of shows earlier in the year. With Dave Mattacks on the other side of the Atlantic, tonight’s line-up was the core quartet of Simon Nicol, Dave Pegg, Ric Sanders and Chris Leslie, and with the band remaining seated throughout, it all made for a very intimate experience. Many of the shows were sold out and Ludlow Assembly Rooms was no exception; and as a first time visitor it was pleasing to report that the room offered excellent acoustics, each instrument and voice sounding crystal clear as they began with the customary ‘Walk Awhile’.

With such a vast back catalogue to draw from, there were some changes to the set list from the last show we witnessed in Birmingham twelve months ago. Simon shone on the beautiful rendition of Sandy Denny’s ‘Fotheringay’ and the moving cover of Huw Williams’ ‘Rosemary’s Sister’. More recent material written by Chris included the gentle ‘Banbury Fair’ and UFO-inspired ‘The Year of Fifty Nine’, and although he was nursing a cold, Ric still entertained with his usual wit and banter before leading the band into ‘Steampunkery’. The first set closed with another superb performance from Simon on Ralph McTell’s ‘The Hiring Fair’.

The second half followed in a similar fashion, Chris leading off with ‘The Festival Bell’ and then going back to 1995’s Jewel in the Crown for ‘Slip Jigs and Reels’. Taking his own turn it the spotlight was Peggy for his signature song ‘Bankruptured’, a light hearted yet genuine highlight of any Fairport gig. The classic trio of ‘Who Knows Where the Time Goes?’, ‘Matty Groves’ and ‘Meet on the Ledge’ were sung and performed to their usual perfection, and were the perfect way to round out what had been another hugely enjoyable show. Fairport have already confirmed their extensive Spring tour for March and April next year, when they will be accompanied by drummer Dave Mattacks. Local dates include Kidderminster Town Hall and Leamington’s Royal Spa Centre on 11th and 12th April respectively.

Setlist:-

Walk Awhile
Crazy Man Michael
Banbury Fair
Fotheringay
The Year of Fifty Nine
Rosemary’s Sister
I’m Already There
Steampunkery
The Hiring Fair

The Festival Bell
Slip Jigs and Reels
Banks of the Sweet Primroses
Bankruptured
Lalla Rookh
Doctor of Physick
John Gaudie
Who Knows Where the Time Goes?
Matty Groves
Meet on the Ledge