Fairport's Cropredy Convention three-day open-air music festival today (Friday 29 November) announces the line-up for the 2020 event.
Now in its forty-first year, the festival will take place on Thursday 13, Friday 14 and Saturday 15 August 2020 on its usual farmland site in north Oxfordshire.
"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."
Cropredy will feature two sets by host band Fairport Convention. On Thursday 13 August they will open the festival with a short acoustic set. On Saturday 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.
Thursday 13 August
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 14 August
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 15 August
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.
Published on 08 December 2019 by Ben Robinson
