Cropredy festival line-up announced

Now in its forty-first year, the festival will feature two sets by host band Fairport Convention. On Thursday, August 13 they will open the festival with a short acoustic set. On Saturday, August 15, they will close the event with their customary extended headline performance.

Fairport’s Saturday set will include a fiftieth anniversary celebration of Full House, the band’s acclaimed 1970 LP. The Full House line-up of Simon Nicol, Richard Thompson, Dave Mattacks, and Dave Pegg will be joined by Chris Leslie (standing in for the late Dave Swarbrick) to play the whole album.

"We're really pleased with this year's line-up," says Fairport bassist Dave Pegg.

"It consolidates Cropredy’s core appeal, celebrates Fairport’s rich heritage and also introduces a wide and diverse range of music. It'll be a particular pleasure to have Richard Thompson playing with us again during our three-hour headline set on the Saturday evening."

The full line up is as follows:

Thursday, August 13

Fairport Convention

Host band Fairport will open the festival on Thursday with a short acoustic set

Thumping Tommys

This London-based bluegrass outfit plays barn-storming blues-infused Irish, American, and English folk music.

Edward II

Cropredy favourites Edward II play a fusion of world music, folk and reggae blending the rhythms of the Caribbean with traditional British songs.

Clannad

Multi-award winning band Clannad has arguably done more than any other band to bring Irish music to a worldwide audience.

Trevor Horn Band

One of the most influential producers in popular music, Trevor has worked with Frankie Goes To Hollywood, Grace Jones, Pet Shop Boys, Seal and Robbie Williams among many others.

Friday, August 14

Maddie Morris

Cropredy will present a set by singer-songwriter Maddie, winner of the 2019 BBC Radio 2 Young Folk Award.

Emily Barker

A Cropredy debut for this acclaimed Australian singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist whose repertoire encompasses Americana, country and folk.

Home Service

Co-fronted by John Tams and John Kirkpatrick, Home Service is one of the UK’s best-loved folkrock groups and is characterised by a distinctive brass sound and great repertoire.

Martyn Joseph

Legendary singer/songwriter Martin returns to Cropredy with his rich voice and spellbinding songs.

The Slambovian Circus of Dreams

Hillbilly meets Pink Floyd in this surreal New York band. Rootsy psychedelia from the cool end of Americana.

The Sharon Shannon Quartet

Irish musician Sharon is known for button accordion, fiddle and whistle. Springing from Irish folk, her music reveals wide-ranging influences.

Turin Brakes

Indie folk rockers Turin Brakes are making their first appearance at Cropredy. They have seven studio albums and a million record sales to their credit.

Steve Hackett – Genesis Revisited

One of the most Britain’s most accomplished and celebrated guitarists returns to Cropredy. Steve's extraordinary musical versatility draws on influences as diverse as jazz, world and blues to recreate the unique sound of prog-rock legends Genesis.

Saturday, August 15

Richard Digance

BAFTA nominee Richard returns to his traditional Saturday slot to get the day off to a flying start.

Holy Moly & The Crackers

Fronted by vocalist Ruth Patterson, this Newcastle sextet mixes British folk with dollops of rock’n'soul, indie, balladeering and a touch of psychedelia. They describe their sound as “riotous party music for the masses.”

The Bar-Steward Sons of Val Doonican

This comedy folk and parody band from Barnsley completely stole the show when they played Cropredy in 2018 and are back by popular demand.

Rosalie Cunningham

Rosalie Cunningham is an English singer/songwriter with a distinct style who has appeared on Later with Jools Holland and supported Jack White's UK tour.

Matthews Southern Comfort

Fronted by ex-Fairport singer Iain Matthews, Matthews Southern Comfort plays melodic laid-back Americana.

Richard Thompson

Virtuoso guitarist and renowned songwriter Richard will take the Cropredy stage twice in 2020; in his own solo set and as part of the fiftieth anniversary of the Full House album.

Fairport Convention

Saturday’s traditional extended headline set from Fairport will include the band’s 1970 line-up playing the whole of Full House in album order plus the current line-up performing a wealth of material old and new.

Cropredy three-day tickets are on sale from today, Monday, December 2, with the first 1,000 orders receiving a Christmas card signed by all five members of Fairport Convention.

The first 2,000 will get a souvenir Cropredy car window sticker.

Tickets are available via Fairport Convention's website www.fairportconvention.com.