“We became big fish in a very small pond” Simon Nicol says with usual modesty about Fairport Convention’s leap from the nascent folk band to suddenly becoming the poster children of the flourishing folk rock movement, brought about by a string of earth tilting albums that truly caught the public imagination. Nicol isn’t alone in his humility, as Dave Pegg, Dave Mattacks, Chris Leslie and Ric Sanders often poke fun of themselves, their self-effacing patter heartwarming but nothing can diminish their stature as genuine legends. For those who witnessed the band’s acoustic tour in the autumn last year, once more all there were embraced and brought into this most welcoming and loving family, as much a community gathering as a show.

First up though, Plumhall, consisting of Yorkshire married couple Michelle Plum and Nick Hall provided some sterling support, warming up the crowd nicely. Two guitars, two voices and some great songs, their short set entwining wistful beauty with an expressive storytelling that runs the whole gamut of emotions. With some wonderful harmonies and the quicksilver picking of Hall, this was a quietly dazzling display and with truly moving songs like the shimmering ‘Closing Down’ and the happy/sad ‘That Further Shore’ the duo found themselves a whole new set of admirers in the packed hall. There was also a surprise at the end of their set as Fairport joined them for a run through of ‘One Star Away’, the seven musicians making a beautiful noise together.

With Fairport being a part of our lives for almost six decades, there’s a warm familiarity in what they do and with such a wealth and breadth of material, there’s bound to be something for everyone. Master craftsmen, they can shift gears with ease and the bouncy romps of numbers like ‘Walk Awhile’ sit perfectly happily next to the elegiac and gorgeous ‘Genesis Hall’. Never unnecessarily flashy, the arrangements of the songs allow unfolding layers to beguile, the textures and rhythms breathtaking, the warmth of Nicol’s voice, the fluidity of Pegg’s basslines, Leslie’s subtle fretwork, Mattacks groove and the whirling dervish of Sanders violin an utterly heady mix.

The highlights are many with the tonal shifts in ‘Sloth’ breathtaking, the epic favourite from ‘Full House’ going from the languid pace of a stream to a raging torrent in its nine-minute run time and ‘I’m Already There’, featuring a wonderful vocal from Leslie, has an irresistible other-worldly wonder that brings to mind the enchantment that Kate Bush conjures. No matter what’s happening in the world outside, sat there listening to a stunning ‘The Hiring Fair’ or the ‘we’re all in this together’ anthem of ‘Meet on the Ledge’, the band joined once more by Plumhall, the power of music to not just entertain but to unite and touch souls was something felt by all there.

Fairport Convention may have started out as a group of like-minded souls wanting to play the music they created and loved and still have that very ethos but what they’ve actually achieved is so much deeper and life changing. To see them play live is to see one of the greatest living bands on tour in this, or any other, country. They may still feel like big fish in a very small pond but to the countless thousands whose lives they’ve touched with their music and camaraderie, they’re a rare and wonderful thing that continues to fill worlds. Magnificent.

Review by Paul Monkhouse

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Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK

Since early 2020 Josh has been entertaining us with exclusive monthly live sessions, streamed via Facebook.

In 2023 he signed a recording deal with Sony in Canada and released a new single on 15 September.

Next session: Sunday 1 December

Check out videos here: https://www.facebook.com/getreadytorockradio

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David Randall presents a weekly show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Sundays at 22:00 GMT, repeated on Mondays and Fridays), when he invites listeners to ‘Assume The Position’. The show signposts forthcoming gigs and tours and latest additions at getreadytorock.com. First broadcast on 3 November 2024.

UK Blues Broadcaster of the Year (2020 and 2021 Finalist) Pete Feenstra presents his weekly Rock & Blues Show on Tuesday at 19:00 GMT as part of a five hour blues rock marathon “Tuesday is Bluesday at GRTR!”. The show is repeated on Wednesdays at 22:00, Fridays at 20:00). This show was first broadcast 29 October 2024.

How to Listen Live?

Click the programming image at the top of the page (top right of page if using desktop)

Listen via Windows Media Player. Click or tap here and “open file”
Listen via other media player (eg. VLC) Click or tap here and “open file”

Get Ready to ROCK! Radio is also in iTunes under Internet Radio/Classic Rock
Listen in via the Tunein app and search for “Get Ready to ROCK!” and save as favourite.

More information and links at our radio website where you can listen again to shows via the presenter pages: getreadytorockradio.com

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Power Plays w/c 11 November 2024

ARCANE MOON Hello Sun (indie)
S8NT ELEKTRIC XTC (Long Branch Records)
ARCANA KINGS Here We Go (Curtain Call Records)
KLOGR face The Unknown (Zeta Factory)
BEYOND UNBROKEN Dance With The Dead (FiXT)
REVENGIN Decadent Feeling (Wormholedeath)

Featured Albums w/c 11 November 2024

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Singer Songwriter)

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