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Cropredy Festival - Feedback

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The festival was fantastic, me and my family will be going again next year for sure. However I was woundering if you had a lost propert box as I have seam to have lost my Olympus Digital Camara while camping there. I know I had it on the Saturaday but I cant remember seeing it on the Sunday.We kept it in the bottom of our sons push chair so it may of fell out any where on site, especially going towards the capm site in field 7. If you do come across please let me know.
Regards,

Steve Matthews

Cropedy 2003 was a fantastic experience and we will certainly be back next year. Particularly enjoyed Procol Harum and Albert Lee (What a treat to see a guitarist of that calibre close up) and the live sound was excellent. Dont know at what stage you start planning for the next year as regards lineup but high up on our wish list is The Peatbog Faeries a folk band from the Isle of Skye. Two weeks ago we were lucky enough to see them at the Fling in the Fank a festival to celebrate 10 years of the Assynt Crofters Trust in a marquee by a beach on the west coast of Scotland and they had the place rocking (sorry, should that be Jigging?). Please check out their website: peatbogfaeries.com and see what you think. And howabout The Neville Brothers?.....imagine that, top bill on the Friday, or Ricky Lee Jones...... Also, why when Radio Scotland have the truly excellent Celtic Connections show featuring whats happening in the world of folk and folk crossover does English folk not ! have a similar program (or does it?)

Whole heartedly agreements with brother Achmed, I have attended since 1979 I came for the Saturday concert as well but was there for the weekend meeting friends and fiends. alas the festival wasn't the main draw; meeting friends and fiends was. There needs to be an influx of new ideas, new bands etc before Cropspreading descends and atrophies preserved in effluvia
Why not join us for the 2nd Annual Cropredy Floodlit Chess Contest which will take place during their set to relieve the boredom!
The other brother Achmed

Hope this is the right place to express my feelings about Cropredy 2003/ Fairport in general. I first went to Cropredy in 1983 and have never missed it since. However, this year's line-up inspired me to attend the festival itself only on Saturday night. I got my musical needs satisfied by going to Cambridge the week before. I did however spend most of the weekend in and around Cropredy itself, mainly seeing old friends and soaking in the atmosphere. This is what has become important about the festival. I'm afraid to say that Fairport have lost it big time for me. Apart from the fact that I am sick of the nepotism and petty cashing in that Dave Pegg seems to operate ( 6 identical jewelry stalls - the only ones that could afford it? - where's the variety gone?), quite frankly Fairport have become a twee caricature of their former selves. A Spinners for the 21st century? Ouch! If (Sir) Dave Swarbrick hadn't been there, I doubt that I would have actually gone at all. Many, many!
friends did exactly that this year.
It amazes me that Fairport can be at one minute the best band in the world, and next be squirmingly embarrasing. This is entirely dependent upon who is in the band. I can pinpoint the exact problems with the current line-up. This can be summerized very easily; Ric Sanders and the need for a decent vocalist and songwriter. I'm afraid that Ric Sanders for all his ability will forever be a violinist and not a fiddle player. His style just grates in a folk-rock context. I have seen him play outside this context and it works fine. He just is and always has been the wrong person for Fairport.
when I compere the highs of last year's Cropredy with this year's, it's like chalk and cheese. I know we can't expect real Fairport every year, but we can dream. A friend maintains that Fairport are the best backing band that Richard Thompson has ever had. I think I know what he means. Incidently, Fairport were by far the worst thing I saw at Camb!
ridge the week before.
Thanks for givig me the opportunity to rant about something that you can clearly see I am very passionate about. I am interested to know whether you share my feelings, or whether I'm top of your fatwa list. Maybe see you in the front room of the Red Lion next year, or if Fairport are as dull again, why not join us for the 2nd Annual Cropredy Floodlit Chess Contest which will take place during their set to relieve the boredom!
Cheers Brother Ahmed

Great site, sound advice, thoroughly endorsed.

I've been going with a group of friends (the Black Pig) since about 1986. I've skipped a few years for stuff like childbirth / sulking at the loss of the windmill guy (top left of main field until about '93) / departure of Allcock/Mattacks.
But I always return, and I'm always glad I did.

Enjoyed your comments about the church lectern. Stop me if you've heard this, but when it was recovered it was missing a foot which was duly replaced with a new bronze one. Unfotunately it was so filthy they overlooked the fact that the rest of it was made of brass, so now it is all shiny with one dark foot. Another little piece of Croppy magic.

Kicking round on the internet tonight I read Mark McCullough's excellent guide to all things Cropredy. As a regular attendee with young children I thought a couple of useful hints might be of use.

Take a beach style shelter, the kind that is half-tent half- wind break. Find yourself a pitch halfway up the concert field, hopefully not obscuring anyone else view,and set up shop.Kids will be near enough for frequent toilet visitations and close enough for good view of stage.

Shelter will provide play area/sleeping den/waterproof/windproof resort for children and valuables.

Buy and bring to main campsite large bottles of kids favourite tipple then decant to smaller bottles for consumption on festival site. N.B.This idea also works for adults

Cheers Nigel

A small group of us are walking to this year's Cropredy Festival (see www.a3k.co.uk/cropredy_walk.htm for full details) and we would appreciate your assistance either by way of a pledge of a donation to Teenage Cancer Trust, by donating a prize we can use to raise cash for the charity, or by giving us some publicity on web sites or other media. This is quite a big venture for a group of (currently) unfit 50+ year olds but we're determined that it's going to be a great success and raise thousands of pounds for this superb cause (please take a look at www.teencancer.org). We are hoping to make a formal cheque presentation at the festival and we would be delighted to wear appropriate advertising and to give full credit for any support.

Cropredy is the best festival I have found!! Everybody is beautiful and the whole shebang is a debonair affair. See you there and take care!!!!!!

Having been for many years now -the one area of dissapointment for me has always been the "in between acts" "entertainment", usually a dire tape someone threw together and repeated over again. Having been a DJ in Brum for many years (anyone remember the Golden Eagle?) I know the idea of the space between acts can with a good choice of music get folks more in the sprit for the next act rather than falling into a haze bewteen groups. I'd be more than happy to supply tons of good stuff mixed onto CDR's - anyway, must get the camping stuff out the shed ready for this years blast
Pete (Psychotronrecords.com)

read your coments on Cropredy 2001, this ok local pub band have enjoyed a gig in Holland, 25 or so wonderful shows in the uk, all thanks to our appearance at Cropredy 2001. did you watch Lonnie Donegan's set?
regards, Jeff.

Tickets are issued usually from May 1st. Expect to pay about 50ukp for a 3 day pass One and two day passes will also be availiable

We have attended our first and only Cropredy, and it was on August 2001. We booked in a cosy B&B in Banbury, named Calthorpe Lodge, ruled by Mr. and Mrs. Blackwell. We have had an absolutely unforgettable stay in Banbury, and a special chapter for the concert by the chaps !!! Suggestions ? Oh, yes, of course. Could anybody try to put closer Argentina and England ? At least during Cropredy gigs. Best regards,

at what age do children have to pay full price?if it is as we fear 12years of age could we suggest an "older child not quite an adult(ie 12 to 16 )ticket price.Bringing three teenagers would prove to be a large financial burden especially as they have enjoyed the weekends in the past.

Hiya
I have looked all over the site but cannot find "Ticket Prices" Am I being blind??? Or is it not there? If not could you possibly let me know the costs.
Thanx

Fairport and Cropredy fans may like to take part in the Cropredy Poll I'm running, asking questions about what people think about Crop', and other such idle gossip. Go to http://www.misterpoll.com/3016419520.html

Thanks

nice to see the "banbury under-age drinking team" expelled from the cricket pitch for hopefully the last time! see you all in 2003, as i have been doing since 1984(and ive got the t shirt to prive it)

Anybody out there with fairly good recordings of fairport's concerts, both friday & saturday ? Also very interested in R.T.'s concert on friday. And of course the stunning performance of Sarah Jory, absolutely thrilling. Please, please contact me soon ??

Take it all back, apart from the Dubliners, excellent weekends music. Without going in too deep all acts brilliant a memorable Cropredy. Next year what about that stalwart of the music scene Andy Powell and his Wishbone Ash? and compere wise Bob Fox, D.T. and Richard Digence. R.D. and Swarb for my money stole the weekend. Please pass on never sure if these comments get read by Peggy etc. Excellent weekend!
Keep the faith,
P.Y

Finially managed to get there, persuaded some friends to come along with their 7 year old triplets.....! A great time was had by all, the web site was a great help and luckily we took the advice of taking the ground sheets, which we needed, but still did not spoil the atmosphere, we even got a suntan.
Even though we hadn't heard of half the bands, we enjoyed listening and being there.
We are now planning next years festival, it looks like there will be more of our friends and their children joining us.
The only thing that needs to be sorted is the loos, ugh, alright at first, but by Saturday evening/night...OH BOY!
Next year we will bring our own portaloo or a bucket.
See you next year

As first-timers we were really amazed and pleased with the quality of the organisation -- important as we have a young child. Great & memorable performances from all sessions - especially the Fairport final session!

Your web site is marvelous. Thorough & accurate information. It really helped us prepare for the festival.

Toilets were fine until Saturday afternoon, afterwhich the care & cleaning seemed to 'go down the pan'. Sunday morning left us all hoping to 'hold on' until we were at the motorway services. Sadly, we couldn't!! Yuck. Why can't the contractors do their stuff on the Saturday evening & Sunday morning?

We are really looking forward to 2003 Cropredy. See you then & very many thanks again for a great few days. So what if it rains again!! Andy.

Well the weekend has been, and gone. I can now safely say I am no longer a Cropredy virgin, in fact I now wish I had lost this title when the opportunity to arose I couple of years back. The past weekend I've menty plenty of new people I will feel honoured to call friends. There was one person in particular who made me promise to be back with our group for the final song of the weekend. I was told it would be special but little more than that then... i know why now.

"Meet on the ledge, we're gonna meet on the ledge
If you really mean it, it all comes round again "

That may well be true and already I'm looking forward to the next year and exactly what it might bring with it.

Only managed Satuday but still worth the effort. Top set with all right tunes. My pall John turned to me at one point and said "we could do with Sloth now" and at exactly that moment they launched into Sloth. Spooky or what?
See you again next year
Ted

Could anybody help me in finding out which tracks were selected as intermission music for this year's Cropredy?
Cheers, Carey

Hi,

Isn’t the intermission music “vote” on faircrop.co.uk so predictable! I think I'll bring my portable CD player so I can get a decent balance in my listening.

Oh well - Off to watch Marillion in Richmond now!!

Greetings,
There seems to be a prevalent view, from my friends & this website, that the Cropredy line-up this year is quite dull, boring & uninspired. I suspect that this attitude has something to do with the fact that Fairport are headlining twice, RT is on the bill, and there are no "big name" headline acts.
On looking through the bill I realised that I only know the music of about half the acts. However, from past experience I know that I'll enjoy the majority of the "unknown" acts, and I will end up purchasing CDs by a couple of them (at least).
All I'm trying to say is keep an open mind and don't prejudge the festival. If you go with the attitude that it will be boring, then I can guarantee you'll be bored!!!
Three Weeks and Counting.
D

Hi

I've just discovered your site and have spent my lunch hour having a good read. All I can say is "Spot on!". If circumstances don't overtake me, this year will be my 5th Croppers. Every comment and hint in your Festival and Camping guides solicited a knowing nod, a rueful smile and the odd guffaw.
I hope the weather improves after the last couple of years but, having put up with weeks of "sunshine and showers" here in Fife, I'm not holding my breath! Not too sure about the line-up this year either. I would like to have seen Mostly Autumn or Karnataka on the bill. Could be spending quite a bit of time in The Red Lion...
See you all there.
Alan

My wife and I are making plans to jump across the pond to attend Cropredy. We're just a couple of Yanks, but love the music and can't wait to join ya'll in this event. cheers!

"Usual Suspects!!!" The High Lord R.T. Get down on your knees and beg for forgiveness.....Or a pint of hookey at the cricket club will do. Really!

Thanks Ulla for your comments:) This website is a joint offering to all - again I thank all contributers - stout yeomen all. 3 months to go to Crop!! Hope to see you as well!!! Look out for the FC List T Shirts....
Jon.

This website is great and your description of the MAGIC MOMENTS at CROPREDY makes me feel homesick (How many days till the next festival starts?). See you this year!

And miss E2K? A mistake methinks....

Have been going to Cropspreading ever since 1979. I thought last years line up was dull but apart from one or two it looks like the usual suspects are booked again (oh for the return of Brian Maxine or even the Opera singer we had one year, ONLY JOKING).This year look unexciting, at least I can save money by not going on Thursday again. Toodle oo

can't believe the loos are listed as the best - they are dire - even by motorbike rally standards!

You most definitely should try and get COLVIN QUARMBY at this year's Cropredy. A cracking live act, and just down the road from you too - so cheap I'd expect!!!!
Ken.