When I met with legends of folk, Fairport Convention, in Spalding...
Music student Patrick Walsh writes about his behind the scenes meeting with the famous band when they came to town:
On Saturday, May 11, an iconic rock band played at the South Holland Centre in Spalding. I went and met the band before their gig. This is my experience with legendary folk rockers, Fairport Convention, writes Patrick Walsh.
Stepping through the door into the band’s sound check, I was greeted with handshakes and warm welcomes. As they set their collection of instruments up, Dave Pegg (bassist) asked me what instrument I play. I stated guitar, after which he replied ‘you should pick up bass, it’s a lot easier, and you get the same pay’.
In the next half-an-hour or so, the band ran through levels, equalisation and monitor volume, all while enduring Ric Sanders’ (violin) roll-your-eyes-style jokes and Chris Leslie’s (fiddle and mandolin) recount of a new Netflix show, amplified to a volume that even those backstage couldn’t ignore.
I then went over to the unseen sixth member of the band, Simon, the sound engineer, who, though not on stage, plays a role as equally important as those who are. He explained to me the importance of compact and convenient equipment when on tour, referencing his digital interface and computer that runs as a mixer, used in place of a huge desk where he controls all amplified sound that both the audience and band can hear.
After the soundcheck, I had a lengthy conversation with Dave and Ric where we discussed a number of
music-related subjects.
We chatted inspiration. “You can’t go wrong with Jimi Hendrix,” Ric stated. “He only had blues and jazz guitarists to learn from so what he did with the guitar was revolutionary.”
Continuing, we discussed guitarists, from Steve Vai and Django Reinhardt, to Richard Thompson and Eric Clapton.
From this, we moved on to guitars and the way that, nowadays a low-priced copy of an expensive guitar can often be just as good as the real thing and how you don’t need to break the bank to get a good sound and learn an instrument.
“You can’t go wrong with Jimi Hendrix,” Ric stated. “He only had blues and jazz guitarists to learn from so what he did with the guitar was revolutionary.”
We parted with the two signing a copy of my preview article titled ‘Fairport Convention in Spalding’ and Ric giving me a list of the guitarists who have inspired him the most, featuring John McLaughlin, Pat Metheny and Jaco Pastorius.
I went to their gig that evening and listened to them play music from almost every era of Fairport, featuring a powerful performance of ‘Crazy Man Michael’ and an emotional rendition of ‘Meet on the Ledge’.
Throughout, the audience were singing along and, on more than one occasion, Ric broke out his laugh-out-loud jokes that had the audience both laughing and rolling their eyes.
At the end of the gig, the rest of the band signed my article and I left.
Throughout, the audience were singing along and, on more than one occasion, Ric broke out his laugh-out-loud jokes that had the audience both laughing and rolling their eyes.
The whole experience was brilliant; and to meet a band who is hugely successful and yet so down to earth, is something that inspires musicians like me and shows that it is possible to make it in music.
I would like to just thank the band for allowing me this opportunity and for being as hospitable as they were.
The band are still on their spring tour where they will be playing all over the UK. They will also be playing at their festival ‘Fairport’s Cropredy Convention’ in August.
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