Fairport's Cropredy Convention 2020 has been postponed because of the coronavirus outbreak

Fairport Convention has had to postpone this year's Cropredy festival until 2021

In a statement on their website, organiser Gareth Williams says: "We’ve been carefully watching the Covid-19 situation since the onset of the outbreak in the UK.

"We now have no alternative but to postpone Fairport’s Cropredy Convention until 2021. As we have said all along, the safety of everyone - festival-goers, musicians, villagers, suppliers, and our fantastic Cropredy crew - must come first.

"The dangers of going ahead would simply be too great, especially as so many of us are in the high-risk category. Covid-19 has already caused a huge amount of suffering and I know I’m not alone in having already lost a friend to this terrible virus.

"I am sure that postponing this year’s Cropredy will be as great a disappointment for you as it is for us - we have all been looking forward to our annual party in that field. Let’s all look forward to making up for it over the same weekend in 2021.

"The good news is - and it really is good - all of the artists booked to appear in August this year have agreed to switch to 2021 with us."

All 2020 festival tickets, camping stickers and Glamping Village bookings will be honoured in 2021 and the band has urged all those with tickets to keep them for next year.

"We hope that moving to the same weekend next year will enable as many of you as possible to keep your tickets and join us for a great weekend of music," said Mr Williams.

"As you can imagine, this postponement is a massive financial blow to Fairport Convention. It comes hard on the heels of having to reschedule this year’s Spring Tour. Our many suppliers and crew will also be hit financially. I will keep the office going on a part-time basis working in isolation to answer your queries as they come in.

"I cannot stress enough how much you would be helping the festival by hanging on to your tickets for next year. However, if you can’t do that and want a refund, please click here."

As an added incentive, all Fairporters who retain their 2020 tickets will be added into a prize draw and five lucky winners will each win a pair of festival tickets plus camping for Cropredy 2022. The winners will be announced before we go on sale in December 2021.