Presented by Folk in the Barn

Fairport Convention have been entertaining music lovers for sixty remarkable years, having formed in 1967.

In that time, the band that invented British folk-rock has evolved through many chapters, but one thing has never changed — Fairport’s enduring passion for performance.

This year’s Winter Tour celebrates their Diamond Anniversary, presenting a vibrant mix of long-established Fairport favourites alongside fresh surprises from across their extensive catalogue. It’s a rare chance to experience the band’s history, heart, and humour in one unforgettable evening.

Fairport Convention have won a BBC Lifetime Achievement Award, and Radio 2 listeners voted their groundbreaking album Liege & Lief “The Most Influential Folk Album of All Time.” Their extraordinary story has been celebrated in television documentaries on BBC Four and Sky Arts.

The band features founding member Simon Nicol on guitar and vocals, Dave Pegg on bass guitar and vocals, Ric Sanders on violin, Chris Leslie on fiddle, mandolin, bouzouki, banjo and vocals, and Dave Mattacks on drums and keyboards — a line-up whose musicianship and camaraderie continue to define the genre they created.

“You know ol’ $1m’s (‘Million Dollar Ash’ is Dylan’s name for Ashley) story about Sandy Denny singing The Sailor’s Life and Fairport Convention playing it on stage that night? That was the second that English folk-rock was invented. Man, they changed music forever…mine and everyone else’s. The Rolling Thunder thing…that would have been impossible without that moment.” Bob Dylan

“Fairport’s music fused rock and age-old British tradition, sounding like nothing that had come before.” Rolling Stone

” Fairport are still clearly having fun and brought the house down.” The Guardian

“Fairport is an institution, a festival, purveyors of memories, and keepers of the folk flame. But most of all they are a brilliant live band.” Folk & Tumble