Fairport '75

Fairport Convention are by now themselves something of a convention on the music scene. Through innumerable personnel changes and problems the group and their music has survived — Trevor Lucas joked during the concert that they we protected by an Ancient Monuments Act. But far from merely surviving, Fairport have continued to develop in a highly productive fashion, eleven completed actions being no little feat.

This current tour marks Fairport Convention's 3rd (or is it 4th) visit to these shores, and many of us share warm memories of their earlier calls — a mild evening on a Ngaruawahia hillside watching an entranced crowd of 20,000 dancing in the dusk — and an equally ecstatic Town Hall crowd a few months later. Fairport have since undergone 2 personnel changes; Sandy Denny rejoining the fold in 1974, and long-time drummer Dave Mattocks recently being replaced by ex-Grease Band drummer Bruce Rowland.

Wellington is their first NZ gig, a Christchurch show being postponed through a later arrival of gear), but its disappointing to see so many empty Town-Hall seats. The support act was very much an unknown quantity, I don't even know if I've got their name right, Adair and the Young Brothers (?). Anyway, these two Californian brothers and a most attractive lady gave us 30 mins. of unaccompanied accapella singing, something rarely heard here. For their first ever stage performance they did amazingly well, their obvious nervousness and fervent sincerity endearing them to the crowd. Highlights were versions of 'Singing the Blues' and Neil Young's 'After the Goldrush', their own songs tending to be of the 'love, flowers, dancing in the fields' genre.

At interval, and then with a minimum of fuss on stroll Fairport Convention to a deservedly warm ovation. They open with 'Walk a While', displaying the harmonics to which Sandy Denny's return gives such vitality. Sandy features on the next song, then wanders to the wings as the boys in the band show their prowess on a rollicking instrumental.

The crowd is hooked already, the band knows it. Trevor Lucas then announces that they'll be playing lots from their forthcoming album; lets hope the friendly folks it Festival can rush-release it. One such track follows, 'Restless' featuring Sandy and Trevor. A nice one.

The next numbers feature solos from Jerry Donahue (electric guitar) Dave Pegg (bass), and Dave Swarbrick (fiddle), all of them showing their virtuosity in a wide range of styles. And that is a hallmark of Fairport Convention, their rich variations in pace, styles and textures of sound. I could easily stand a whole concert of Jerry's immaculate guitar, Swarb's frenetic fiddle, or Sandy's vocals alone. Together, the mixture is exhilarating.

By the time Hexhamshire Lass' comes around the more energetic are dancing to one side. Sandy's clear powerful voice is spotlighted on two songs from her solo albums, 'Late November", and 'I am a Traveller', and all too soon its time for Fairport's last number. The whole crowd is soon on its feet clapping away, for its one of their renowned jigs/reels. A suitably enraptured mass demands more, and to my delight Fairport change the pace completely with my personal favourite, Sandy Denny's 'Who Known Where The Time Goes'. Superb.

A gratified crowd dutifully wends its way homeward.

Without inducing the sheer emotional intoxication inspired by Eric Clapton, Fairport Convention have given us all a truly enjoyable evening.

Kerry Doole.