Fairport Convention at Cropredy

Tuesday, 12 August 2008 18:03

I can't believe it is six days since I last added a new entry to our blog. Fairport Convention was great. Great music, great atmosphere, great choice of food, great booze at the huge open air bar. So to sum up it was a four times great experience! Multiply that by 2 and maybe you will get an idea that we enjoyed it.

So we are no longer Fairport Convention Virgins, I am not sure what we are now called! There are those who attend every year - "old timers" and have done since its inception in the 1970s, buying the tea shirt each year, literally! It is a great family festival, families and groups meet up each year and sit in their groups catching up and enjoying the music.

Follow the link above for more info and explore the website whilst you are there - I found it fascinating and took me back to my teenage years - particularly the history button. BUT wait until you have finished reading this please.

Meeting up with old and new friends is obviously a big part of this Convention, great not only for the artists who attend who mix with the crowd and can be spotted if you keep an eagle eye out, but also for the audience.

For us it was also an opportunity to meet old friends - old as in we met a while ago not as in age, of course. Canal friends, met through the forums, blogs and in person already have lots in common so it is great (another one, are you still counting?) to meet up and renew these friendships. Graham and Jane from nb Alnwick, "old timers" were moored at Cropredy and it was great to take up their offer of coffee after the sunday morning service and to see that they had invited Maffi and Bones who turned up almost at the last minute for the Fairport Convention. Blog followers willl probably have caught up with their exploits already, so I won't repeat what is already "out there". Unfortunately we arrived just in time to wave goodbye to Sarah on nb Warrior, setting off to continue their cruise. The new livery looks great Sarah!

So we left our very hospitable friends "up the hill" who had put up with our comings and goings and returned on Sunday evening. We had had a great time, enjoyed some wonderful music and hospitality and so we need to say a big thank you to all who made the weekend special despite the rain on Sunday. From friends to staff and volunteers at the Convention, the artists, comperes and "back room boys". We hope to be back.

So how many greats did I manage? These are not great, but give a flavour of the atmosphere via our mobile phone. The gallery has larger versions!

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              

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