Prior to the three-day festival getting under way on August 7, founders and headliners Fairport Convention embark on their traditional warm-up gigs at Banbury's Mill Theatre on August 4 and 5.

And even more pre-festival entertainment is available just down the road when The Gathering – a veritable who's who of folk rock legends – take to the stage at Woodford Halse Social Club on August 6.

Fairport's pre-shows are proving as popular as ever with both dates long since sold out and the band look forward to them far in advance.

Fiddler and mandolin player with Fairport, Chris Leslie, said it marks the beginning of festival season. "When we start rehearsing for Cropredy, for me that's when you begin to get in the feel for it," he said.

"But then when the warm-up gigs start it really kicks in – you know it's only just round the corner and it's a great feeling."
The band uses the shows to go through its festival set and the dates attract a diverse audience. "It's a real mixture of people," said Mr Leslie., who lives in Adderbury.

"You get some people who are really big fans and love to come and see us in a small venue to be right up close but then you get people who are just perhaps curious or can't make it to the festival itself."

The Gathering, meanwhile, are staging their Woodford show the day before their appearance at Fairport's Cropredy Convention. The band includes members from folk rock goliaths Jethro Tull, Steeleye Span and Lindisfarne, plus former Fairport guitarist Jerry Donahue.

Their appearances in Woodford and Cropredy come before they are set to head off to Germany for recording work to begin on their debut album.

Tickets for the Woodford Halse Social Club gig are still available, priced £15 or £10 for members. A return bus journey from Banbury has been put on specially, costing £5. Call the venue on 01327 262265 for more information.

The Gathering play Cropredy on Thursday, August 7.

For ticket information about Fairport's Cropredy Convention, which runs from August 7- 9, visit www.
fairportconvention.com.