Fairport Convention

Fairport Convention has been entertaining music lovers for over half a century. During that time the band that launched British folk-rock has seen many changes. But one thing has remained the same Fairport's passion for performance.

This year's Spring Tour concert will feature tracks from the brand new studio album Shuffle & Go which proved very popular on the Winter Tour back in February. The set will also include numbers from their album Full House which was released 50 years ago this year, as well as one or two other Fairport favourites.

Fairport Convention has won a BBC Lifetime Achievement Award and Radio 2 listeners voted their ground-breaking album Liege & Lief 'The Most Influential Folk Album of All Time'. Their story has been celebrated with television documentaries on BBC Four and Sky Arts.

The band features founding member Simon Nicol on guitar and vocals, Dave Pegg on bass guitar (celebrating his fiftieth year in Fairport), Ric Sanders on violin, Chris Leslie on fiddle, mandolin and vocals, and Gerry Conway on percussion. Although regulars at Folk in the Barn, this will be the band's first visit to the historic Pavilion on the Sands in Broadstairs. They're looking forward to a pre-gig paddle and fish and chips on the prom.