Fairport Convention
York Grand Opera House
1st February, 2011

Now in their 44th year and promoting a new album, the indomitable Fairport head out on their annual winter trek. As is the norm, it’s a show of two halves, with the first dedicated to playing the whole of 1971’s Babbacombe Lee. With a catalogue like theirs, it’s good to see the group visiting lesser-known material. The album translates well on stage, with particularly nice three-part harmonies from Nicol, Pegg and Leslie. Although a lot of established groups do a couple of newies, followed by old favourites, Fairport’s focus for the second half of the show was on their new album, The Festival Bell. Highlights were Mercy Bay and the instrumental Albert And Ted. The only oldies were the last three numbers: Who Knows Where The Time Goes, Matty Groves and the unavoidable Meet On The Ledge, on which they were joined by the support act, Katriona Gilmore & Jamie Roberts.