Happy birthday (almost) to folk-rock pioneers Fairport Convention, who on 27 May will celebrate the 50th anniversary of their first public performance. But before that comes a new album, which is split equally between alternate studio and live recordings, and proves that the current lineup are great musicians with an impressively varied repertoire.
The best tracks here are live, and include Steve Tilston’s witty story of The Naked Highwayman, an exquisite first world war lament, John Condon, and a rousing reworking of the gospel song Jesus on the Mainline, with Robert Plant providing vocals and harmonica.
The studio tracks include a banjo-backed treatment of the traditional Lady of Carlisle with vocals from Jacqui McShee of Pentangle fame, and a thoughtful reference to Meet on the Ledge in Chris Leslie’s tribute to the band, Our Bus Rolls On: “Here’s to the Fairport family and those blown off that mountain.” Indeed.
