Hello Fairporters
Tickets are on sale now from our website and we welcome our new festival Box Office, AXS to Cropredy.
Tickets issued will be e-tickets unless ordered over the phone or by post to the festival office. As mentioned by Simon last week, for 2025 we are selling 3-day tickets only, at £220 with Camping £60 per vehicle for the weekend. Teens (12-17 inc) are £90 and 3 day parking costs £15. Backpackers and Bikers camp for free. Children under 12 years of age may attend free of charge if accompanied by a ticket holding adult.
TICKETS ARE AVAILABLE HERE
So now, in no particular order, it is our great pleasure to present the line-up for Fairport’s Cropredy Convention 2025.
By far the capital’s best and most popular funk/soul dance band plays to packed houses throughout London and the South regularly filling mainstream music venues such as The Half Moon Putney. Featuring two of the best soul singers in the UK in regular female lead Imaani (longtime lead singer with internationally acclaimed UK jazz funk legends Incognito), and from Cleveland Ohio the amazing Angelo Starr – brother of the legendary Edwin Starr – with a funky-as-it-gets rhythm section of Nial Tompkins-guitar, Carl Hudson-keys, Matt Pegg-bass, Geoff Dunn-drums.
Deborah Bonham, over the course of an impressive career, has established herself as one of the finest Blues, Rock and Soul singers that the UK has produced. Her 2023 album ‘Bonham-Bullick, is an inspiring blend of Blues, Rock and Soul interpretations of some classic and contemporary compositions spanning 7 decades.
“Soulful and moving performances, this album sounds great”
ROLLING STONE
“A Powerfully produced and immaculately played album, Bonham and Bullick do a fine job of making the songs their own”
CLASSIC ROCK
El Pony Pisador is a lively and unique band from Barcelona, known for an eclectic blend of musical styles and humorous, adventurous spirit. Their mix of folk sounds from all over the world results in a fun and energetic sound that’s unpredictable and full of personality. From their native Catalan songs and dances to Celtic and Mediterranean tunes, yodelling, Tuvan throat singing, to even Georgian polyphony or Balkan polyrhythms. El Pony Pisador is well-regarded for their ability to engage audiences with their high-energy performances, witty lyrics, and a mix of both traditional and modern influences.
As 2025 begins, the band is already experiencing exciting developments, having been selected to perform at Folk Alliance International in Montreal (Canada) in February.
He had to pull out of Cropredy 2024 unfortunately for health reasons but we’re delighted to say Trevor Horn is back with his fabulous star-studded band – and headlining our Friday night! Expect hit after hit from one of the most influential and award-winning producers and musicians in popular music. A fabulous band with the added bonus of a mystery guest or two!
With more than 6500 performances in 21 countries under their belt in their 30 years on the road, King Pleasure & The Biscuit Boys are more than just the world’s greatest jump, jive and swing band – they’re an institution! Rough, tough and always rocking, King Pleasure & The Biscuit Boys have appeared at festivals, in concert and at clubs throughout the UK and Europe – and they still play the Birmingham Jazz & Blues Festival, where they have headlined for an unprecedented 14 years.
With her fantastic third solo album, To Shoot Another Day, released last month, multiple award winning singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Rosalie Cunningham is finally reaping the rewards of staunch dedication to her chosen life path. She and the band finish 2024 with yet another mammoth European tour.
First time at Cropredy, Skipinnish are a powerhouse of contemporary Scottish music and mark a remarkable voyage of 25 years in 2024. Emerging from the heart of the Scottish Highlands and Islands, the band has flourished into an iconic name in the Celtic music scene, enthralling audiences with their potent blend of traditional and modern sounds.
Founded in 1999 by Angus MacPhail and Andrew Stevenson, the ensemble has expanded, welcoming talented musicians who have added vibrant layers to their sound, blending voice, bagpipes, accordions, fiddles, on a rhythmical foundation of Drums, Bass and Keyboards.
The Henry Girls are sisters Karen, Lorna and Joleen McLaughlin from the most Northerly part of Co. Donegal. The trio formed as a professional music group in 2001 after Lorna and Karen returned from living in Australia where they started to perform and write songs. Joleen the youngest of the three was finishing her leaving certificate and was becoming a very promising harp and piano player so it was a natural progression to join together.
Infused with the rich cultural heritage of their native Donegal but with a transatlantic flavour their music has been described as ?full bodied and powerfully dynamic? by Froots magazine. They have successfully learned to interweave their traditional roots with contemporary elements, earning them both commercial success and spectacular critical acclaim on both sides of the Atlantic.
Our dear friend Martin Barre joins us once again, celebrating the musical journey of Jethro Tull throughout the decades with his new show A Brief History of Tull, highlighting 50 years of Jethro Tull music.
Classic Tull hits played throughout include songs from legendary albums such as Thick As A Brick, Aqualung, Stand Up, Songs From The Wood, A Passion Play, Heavy Horses and many more…Not to be missed!
 BOB FOX & BILLY MITCHELL
Two great voices, impeccable musicianship, a set full of memorable songs and infectious good humour, the mix of material is sparkling, full of punch and beautifully executed.
Their ability to connect with the audience is immediately evident as they lead you through some of their favourite songs including Lindisfarne classics and trad folk arrangements: Sally Wheatley, Old Peculiar Feeling, Dance to your Daddy, Collier Laddie’s Wife, Big River, Galway Shawl, and many more…
billymitchell.co.uk
bobfoxmusic.com
Headlining our Thursday evening is the sensational Grammy Award-winning British guitarist, Albert Lee. Emerging from the rock ‘n’ roll scene in sixties London, Albert moved to the USA where he became the cornerstone of country rock music. This guy has played with EVERYBODY and we cannot wait to welcome him to Cropredy!
“A sizzling hot ensemble who fuse folk with elements of dub, house and rock with an ease that shouldn’t naturally follow that list of genres. Built on the rhythms of a cajón-wielding percussionist, the phenomenal fiddlers led the quartet in one of the tightest line-ups I have ever seen.”
Olivia Haughton, Songlines
This year we have a really special treat. Before their own set, the UK’s biggest folk band, the CFE will be joining Fairport Acoustic on Thursday afternoon for an incredible version of The Lark Medley. That’s over 50 musicians! What a beautiful noise that is going to be.
The band’s touring line-up features a stage-challenging 50 members. Among them are 15 horns, four cellos, six percussionists, three electric guitarists, plus fiddles, flutes, clarinets, electric bass, melodicas, acoustic guitars, and an accordion. They sing too.
Hailing from the Isle of Skye, the legendary Scottish trailblazers have created a glorious mixture of traditional sounds and dance-floor grooves that have been embraced worldwide.
“Nothing prepares you for the high octane music of the Peatbog Faeries. Powerful melodies are dextrously pumped out with a smart degree of techno attitude, while cross- rhythms ricochet over a heavy bass that hits you forcefully like a massive heart beat”
The Scotsman
Michelle Plum and Nick B Hall – PLUMHALL – are no strangers to Fairport fans. As special guests on our Winter Tour and Cropredy this year they made many friends and it is our pleasure to welcome them to the ‘big’ stage featuring their own band, including musicians David and James Crickmore.
To get us underway on Friday the 8th, we have a rather special first for Cropredy. This year, Cropredy Primary years 4 & 6 started a folk music class and the kids will be entertaining us all with a set at noon. Prepare yourselves for a ‘Proud Parent’ alert!
Why “Churchfitters”? Nobody knows! They’re not fitters and have absolutely nothing to do with churches. The name’s origin is lost in the mists of time but there is one aspect that suits them perfectly – its quirkiness. When your array of instruments includes a motorcycle petrol tank, a musical saw and a Mercedes Benzouki made from hubcaps there’s little point worrying if the name makes sense! These three flamboyant characters present their uplifting and entertaining show with a unique dynamism and describe their music as “Folk Unlimited”.
“The most musically inventive group I’ve seen in decades”
Dave Pegg
Richard Digance is a BAFTA Nominated entertainer and Gold Award Recipient from The British Academy of Composers & Songwriters. He also performs in concert, composes soundtracks for audiobooks, TV soundtrack music, writes books, makes albums and paints pictures.
2025 sees Richard working at full speed as usual with the most tour dates for 15 years, new CDs, a new novel, Victorian Jack and the popular songwriting workshops along with VIP Nights in Salisbury. Richard Digance hankies will be on sale at the merch stall – if you know, you know…
The Salts perform sea shanties, songs from the sea, celebrating maritime classics that we all know and love alongside original material. The band feature five seasoned musicians collectively performing a mixture of instruments and great harmonies. Join in!
“Incredible Gutsy stuff with a big sound!
Mike Harding
Your Compere for the weekend…
And not forgetting of course…
Fairport (featuring Dave Mattacks) will as always be bookending their festival with an acoustic set on Thursday afternoon featuring Joe Broughton’s Conservatoire Folk Ensemble and the final set on Saturday evening with more special guests – but who?
Once again, you may purchase your tickets from AXS here:
BUY CROPREDY 2025 TICKETS
See you in the field!
Simon, Peggy, Ric and Chris |
CITY FUNK ORCHESTRA
THE DEBORAH BONHAM BAND
EL PONY PISADOR
THE TREVOR HORN BAND
KING PLEASURE AND THE BISCUIT BOYS
ROSALIE CUNNINGHAM
SKIPINNISH
THE HENRY GIRLS
MARTIN BARRE
ALBERT LEE
URBAN FOLK QUARTET
JOE BROUGHTON’S CONSERVATOIRE FOLK ENSEMBLE
PEATBOG FAERIES
PLUMHALL
CROPREDY PRIMARY FOLK CLASS
CHURCHFITTERS
RICHARD DIGANCE
THE SALTS
ANTHONY JOHN CLARKE
FAIRPORT CONVENTION
