Sandyfest

This will be the 3rd Sandyfest, at Byfield Village Hall near Daventry in Oxfordshire to commemorate 42 years since the passing of Sandy Denny, solo singer/songwriter, bon viveur and important member of the groundbreaking English folk rock bands Fotheringay and Fairport Convention.

Sandy lived in Byfield and the Village Hall is the venue that hosted her last public performance before her untimely death. The band for SandyFest is formed around the remnants of the reformed Fotheringay, which, sadly could not continue touring after Jerry Donahue suffered a severe stroke.

The band, now called The Sandy Denny Project, features Sally Barker, PJ Wright and Anna Ryder (members of the last line-up of the reformed Fotheringay). Along with Marion Fleetwood, Mat Davies and Mark Stevens.

The Sandy Denny Project continues to recognize and celebrate the music of the late Sandy Denny, who is considered a founder of the British folk-rock movement, and perhaps its most important female singer. Sandy died in 1978 but her songs remain as fresh, poignant and as beautiful today as the time that they were penned. The repertoire at SandyFest will reflect the amazing legacy of work left behind by Sandy, through her work with the early incarnations of Fairport Convention, the sublime Fotheringay, and also her incredible repertoire of solo work.

Alexandra Elene MacLean Denny (6 January 1947 - 21 April 1978) was an English singer-songwriter who was lead singer of the British folk rock band Fairport Convention. She has been described as "the pre-eminent British folk rock singer".

After briefly working with the Strawbs, Denny joined Fairport Convention in 1968, remaining with them until 1969. She formed the short-lived band Fotheringay in 1970, before focusing on a solo career. Between 1971 and 1977, Denny released four solo albums: The North Star Grassman and the Ravens, Sandy, Like an Old Fashioned Waltz, and Rendezvous. She also duetted with Robert Plant on "The Battle of Evermore" for Led Zeppelin's album Led Zeppelin IV in 1971.

Music publications Uncut and Mojo have called Denny Britain's finest female singer-songwriter. Her best known composition "Who Knows Where the Time Goes?" has been recorded by many artistes. Along with Judy Collins' version the song has also been recorded by 10,000 Maniacs, Mary Black, Nana Mouskouri, Nanci Griffith, Susanna Hoffs and Matthew Sweet, Deanna Kirk, Charlie Louvin, Nina Simone, Kate Wolf and Lumiere w/Sinéad O'Connor.