Fairport Convention

Fairport Convention is an English folk rock band that formed in April of 1967 and played their first concert at St. Michael's Church Hall in London a month later. Although the band has undergone numerous line-up changes over the years, many of the original members have returned in some form, either rejoining the band or making appearences at reunion shows. Often considered pioneers of the English folk rock movement, Fairport Convention has endured for over four decades with only one break-up that lasted from 1979 to 1985.

Early Years

From their inception Fairport Convention found success, both as a live band and from those in the music industry. Playing in underground venues like UFO, The Electric Garden, and Middle Earth, they caught the attention of record producer Joe Boyd, who helped get them signed to Island Records and suggested they take on a second vocalist. Armed with two lead vocalists, one male and one female, they released their self-titled debut album in 1967.

Another early proponent for the band was DJ John Peel, who often played their music on his BBC shows. He even recorded several sessions which were later released as the album Heydey.

Fairport Convention spent their early years recording albums that were a mixture of original songs and cover songs from such musicians as Joni Mitchell and Bob Dylan. Their first single was a french cover version of the Bob Dylan song "If You Gotta Go" called "Si Tu Dois Partir." Although it did not make the chart's top 20, it did pave the way for an appearence on the popular show Top of The Pops.

Disaster And Liege And Lief

In 1969 the band was involved in a car crash that killed drummer Martin Lamble and the girlfriend of Richard Thompson. They briefly considered breaking up after the tragedy, but decided to continue on, and after the rest of the band had healed from their injuries they went back into the studio to record Liege And Lief, which was released in 1969. It became the band's most successful album, and was credited for establishing British folk rock. In 2007, Mojo Magazine named the album number 58 on its list of "Top 100 Records that Changed the World."

Cropredy Festival

The 1970s were a turbulent time for Fairport Convention, whose line-up continued to undergo changes. By 1979 the band decided to call it quits, and launched a farewell concert in the village of Cropredy. It was such a success that the band decided to have an annual reunion concert at Cropredy, and thus the Cropredy Festival was born. Although Fairport Convention got back together in 1985, the festival has continued. Renamed Fairport's Cropredy Festival, it brings together more than 20,000 people each year.