Fairport Convention's Colchester sell-out (From Gazette)

Fairport Convention's Colchester sell-out

1:00pm Saturday 4th February 2012 in Leisure By Neil D'Arcy-Jones

IN the world of British folk-rock Fairport Convention have earned the right to be considered royalty.

The very name conjures up the halcyon days when folk groups appeared in the charts alongside their rock’n’roll counterparts.

It all started in 1967 with Ashley Hutchings, Simon Nicol, Richard Thompson and Martin Lamble.

Lead singer Judy Dyble was quickly added to the line-up and her vocals helped the band stand apart from dozens of others springing up amid the fast-moving youth culture of that summer.

After signing to Island Records, and the addition of another vocalist, Iain Mathews, they recorded their first, self-titled album later that year.

And that was just the start.

Since then, Fairport have become one of Britain’s most enduringly popular bands in any genre, consistently selling out tours in this country and further afield.

Part of that success has been down to the quality of musicians who have passed through the Fairport ranks over the years, not least fiddler Dave Swarbrick and the late, great singer Sandy Denny.

The current Fairport line-up has been together longer than any other in their long history, dating back to 1998. Founder member Simon Nicol (lead vocal, rhythm and electric guitars) is still there, and is joined by Dave Pegg (backing vocals, bass guitar, mandolin), Chris Leslie (lead vocal, fiddle, bouzouki, mandolin), Ric Sanders (violin) and Gerry Conway (percussion and drums).

The band can been seen at Colchester Arts Centre on March 6. It’s a surprisingly small venue for such a major attraction, so it’s hardly any surprise to learn the show has been sold out for some time, with a lengthy waiting list for returned tickets.

Chris Leslie joined the band in 1996, having first come across Fairport as a teenager. He recalls: “They were heroes of mine, obviously, but because I had known them for quite a while before I joined, there weren’t any nerves on that part.

“Of course, you are aware of the history of the band, but the great thing about Fairport is when someone new comes in, they never replace an existing member. Instead, they bring something new and a different strength.”

Brought up in north Oxfordshire, Leslie took up the fiddle at the age of 13. In 1976, he and his brother, John, began performing in the area as a duo.

After returning home from a three-year violin-making course, he was invited to tour with Dave Pegg to promote Pegg’s solo album.

Dave Swarbrick then invited Leslie to join a pioneering acoustic group he was starting called Whippersnapper, which made several albums and toured the UK, Europe and the USA.

During the Nineties, Leslie played fiddle on tour with Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull, and joined the Albion Band, touring and recording with them before being recruited by Fairport.

He adds: “The roots music scene has always been very collaborative. That’s because we are all in it for the same reason.

“The number of young musicians coming through and taking on the music on their own terms is very exciting for all of us.”

The fact is very strongly emphasised by the showcase Fairport provides for established and up-and-coming folk musicians, at the band’s annual August festival at Cropredy, in Oxfordshire.

Leslie says: “It really is the focus for the band’s year.

“It’s been going since 1977 and started off as a chance for ex-members of the band to meet up and have a bit of a reunion.

“Now it’s grown into a fully-fledged festival, although, thankfully, it still retains its independent charm.”

Plans are already well in hand for Cropredy 2012, but before that, Leslie and the rest of the band have another UK tour lined up, with 39 dates across the country.

And with the band now more popular than ever, tickets are like gold dust.

Down the years, Fairport have collected their fair share of plaudits. They won the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2002 BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards, while their seminal album, Liege And Lief, was voted Best Folk Album Ever by Radio 2 listeners.

In 2006, Liege And Lief was also awarded a Gold Disc for its continuing sales.

Leslie says: “I don’t think I’ll ever tire of doing this. Just the joy of playing music all over the country is enough, but anybody who can say they are keeping a roof over their heads and paying the bills by doing it is a very lucky person.”

To go on the list for returned tickets for Fairport’s Colchester show on March 6, call the box office, on 01206 500900.