Petula Clark to headline Fairport's Cropredy Convention
Fairport's Cropredy Convention music festival announces four more acts to complete the roster of nineteen previously announced.
Petula Clark will headline on Friday 11 August. With three Grammy Awardsand millions of record sales to her name Petula's stellar career stretches back to 1949 yet Cropredy will be her first-ever UK music festival appearance.
Petula Clark's string of Top 40 hits in the UK and around the world includes Downtown, I Know A Place, My Love, and This Is My Song.
"We're really proud to be the first British festival that Petula has played," says Fairport bassist and Cropredy co-organiser Dave Pegg. "I saw her show in Birmingham recently and it blew me away – she is a wonderful live performer. I was surprised how many of her hits I knew and her contemporary songs are really great too. Our audience will love her, I'm sure."
The Trevor Horn Band plays on Thursday 10 August. Considered to be one of the most influential record producers in popular music, Trevor Horn started his career as a bass guitarist. A co-founder of The Buggles ( Video Killed The Radio Star), he has gone on to work with - among many others - Paul McCartney, Tom Jones, Rod Stewart, Seal, Frankie Goes To Hollywood, and Genesis.
For Cropredy, Trevor will front a 14-piece all-star band featuring fellow producers Steve Lipson and Lol Creme. The setlist will be packed with songs the trio have produced - between them they've had over 200 hit singles - and there may be guest appearances from some of the musicians they have worked with.
Quill take the stage on Friday 11 August. A six-piece fronted by the charismatic Joy Strachan-Brain, the Birmingham-based band embraces many influences in its energetic brand of Celtic-hued rock.
Also appearing on Friday, CC Smugglers play good times music inspired by American and world folk. This exciting young six-piece of talented multi-instrumentalists perform with infectious enthusiasm.
As well as the four acts announced today, Cropredy announced the first fifteen in December. Between them, the nineteen acts will present more than thirty hours of live music over three days. The complete 2017 line-up in performance order is:
Thursday 10 August 2017
Fairport
Convention
Cropredy will open with the customary musical welcome from the host band's
semi-acoustic line-up
Feast
of Fiddles
Half-a-dozen of Britain's finest fiddlers backed by a five-piece band present a
musical extravaganza of dazzling instrumental virtuosity.
Show
of Hands
Featuring Steve Knightley and Phil Beer, Show of Hands is one the finest
acoustic roots duos in England.
Trevor
Horn Band
Three of the most influential record producers in popular music – Trevor Horn,
Steve Lipson and Lol Creme – lead an all-star band.
The
Divine Comedy
Fronted by Neil Hannon, one of the most original songwriters of his generation,
The Divine Comedy's sumptuous orchestral sound is complemented by acerbic and
sophisticated lyrics.
Friday 11 August 2015 (noon – midnight)
BBC
Radio 2 Young Folk Award Winner
Each year Cropredy proudly presents a set by the winner(s) of the BBC Radio 2
Young Folk Award.
Gerry
Colvin
Characterised by energy and enthusiasm on stage, Gerry presents
beautifully-crafted imaginative songs.
Quill
Birmingham-based Quill embrace many influences in their energetic brand of
Celtic-hued rock.
Gigspanner
BigBand
Led by Peter Knight, Gigspanner makes its first appearance at Cropredy.
CC
Smugglers
Good time music inspired by world folk from an exciting young six-piece band of
multi-instrumentalists
.
Pierce
Brothers
A very welcome return by sensational multi-instrumentalist twins Jack and Pat
Pierce who absolutely stormed their Cropredy debut in 2016.
Richard
Thompson
Virtuoso guitarist and renowned songwriter Richard Thompson is a co-founder of
Fairport Convention and takes the Cropredy stage as part of the band's fiftieth
anniversary celebration.
Petula
Clark
Petula Clark is a legendary figure in popular music who has enjoyed a string of
Top 40 hits around the world.
Saturday 12 August 2015 (noon – midnight)
Morris
On
Fairport Convention founder Ashley Hutchings will lead a spectacular show of
music and dance celebrating England's rich Morris heritage.
Judy
Dyble and the Band of Perfect Strangers
Fairport's original female vocalist Judy Dyble will appear with her regular
musical collaborators.
Plainsong
Fairport's first male lead singer, Iain Matthews will be joined at Cropredy by
Andy Roberts and Mark Griffiths.
Cats
in Space
A power-pop seven-piece, Cats In Space unashamedly looks back to the golden
days of rock.
Marillion
Returning to Cropredy by popular demand, Marillion pioneered the British
'neo-prog' genre.
Dougie
MacLean
A Cropredy debut for Dougie MacLean, one of Scotland's best-loved solo
performers.
Fairport
Convention and guests
The festival will end with a stunning set celebrating Fairport's fiftieth
anniversary. The band will be joined by Richard Thompson and other former
members