50th year for folk legends

Legendary folk band Fairport Convention are celebrating their 50th anniversary with a new album and tour.

The band will be at the Gulbenkian, Canterbury, on Tuesday, February 21, and Wednesday, February 22, when fans will hear many of their best-loved songs, as well as latest material. BBC Radio 2 listeners voted Liege & Lief as the most influential folk album of all time.

The group, who revolutionised folk music with their electric sound and traditional tunes in 1967, has survived many personnel changes. The current line-up is one of the longest running in the band’s history, with founder member Simon Nicol on guitar and vocals, Dave Pegg on bass guitar, Chris Leslie on fiddle, mandolin and vocals, Ric Sanders on violin and Gerry Conway on drums and percussion.

Joining them on lead vocals will be Sally Barker, who was a finalist in BBC’S The Voice in 2014. The shows start at 7.30pm. Tickets £25 from the box office on 01227 76905 or through boxoffice@kent.ac.uk.

Fairport Convention on a 50th anniversary tour