What we did after our holidays - Fairport Convention regroup for 2025 UK tour

After a packed year, including two acclaimed tours and another highly successful Cropredy Convention, the architects of British Folk Rock - Fairport Convention - announce dates for their 2025 UK Tour.

Formed in 1967, the band pioneered the blending of traditional instruments with electric instrumentation, in turn becoming synonymous with the 'electric-folk' sound. Their annual music festival attracts up to 15,000 people to the fields of Oxfordshire each August, and unlike many of their peers, they continue to sell out venues across the country - delighting both existing fans and new converts alike.
 

"Fairport is an institution, a festival, purveyors of memories, and keepers of the folk flame. But most of all they are a brilliant live band." - Folk & Tumble 

With a career now spanning 58 years, each trip around the sun heralds another milestone, with 2025 seeing Fairport Convention 55 years on from their seminal Full House album - featuring Simon Nicol, Dave Pegg and Dave Mattacks - all of whom join the lineup for the 2025 UK Tour. 

With their most well-known track Who Knows Where The Time Goes now nearing 30 million Spotify plays, Fairport are true statesmen of British music - cherished by critics, musicians and fans alike. This year's lineup features Simon Nicol on guitar and vocals, Dave Pegg on bass guitar and vocals, Ric Sanders on violin, Chris Leslie on bouzouki, mandolin, banjo, fiddle, whilst Dave Mattacks returns on percussion duties.

Mattacks featured as Fairport Convention's longstanding drummer throughout most of the 1970s, 80s and 90s. His skills have been in demand ever since, seeing him contribute to numerous studio recordings by the likes of Paul McCartney, Brian Eno, Elton John and Nick Drake.
 

"Stuffing their set with a surprising amount of new material for a vintage act, Fairport are still clearly having fun and brought the house down." - The Guardian

Getting underway at Nottingham's Playhouse on Friday 31st January, this nationwide excursion will take in 27 dates throughout England, Scotland and Wales, before wrapping up at The Roses Theatre in Tewkesbury on Sunday 2nd March.

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Support for the Winter 2025 Tour comes from Danny Bradley, a finger style guitarist and songwriter whose mesmerising storytelling resonates with many, and has earned him recognition - winning the Judges' Award at Liverpool Acoustic's Songwriting Challenge in 2021.

Born in the US, and raised in the UK, Bradley's unique blend of compelling tales of Folk combined with impassioned singing and playing of the Blues colour his debut album 'Small Talk Songs'.

"A one man orchestra… A poetic soul, and a sublime vocal range, reminiscent of the late Jeff Buckley" - Americana UK