Hi I am back again. After around 4 years without posting on here since my accident, I have decided it was about time I took the plunge and started to post again.
So here is a report of the latest gig I attended. Actually I have been quite a few concerts over the last 4 years so I will try and catch up in the weeks and months to come and blog about each of these. My gig attendance has been curtailed somewhat, but I am still managing to go to see bands so I decided to write about it again.
Last week I went to see Fairport Convention along with my carer Lisa at the Sage Gateshead. I use taxis now to get around which makes going to concerts significantly more expensive. 
The first thing we went to see, outside the Sage, was the knife angel sculpture. “The Knife Angel is a 27ft sculpture crafted out of 100,000 knives that have been surrendered to police forces across the country. It is also known as the National Monument Against Violence & Aggression. It was first unveiled in 2017 and has been touring the UK since.”Knife Angel
Then it was into the Sage to see old favourites Fairport Convention. First stop was to buy a programme, kindly signed by bass player Dave Pegg; one copy for me and another for my friend, John, who now lives in America. Peggy reminded us that he is the oldest member of the band and that this was his 50th year as a Fairporter. Once in the hall, which was packed, it was nice to meet up with old friend Mike and his wife Maureen. Our seats were in the normal spot, very close to the stage. 
I must admit I lost faith in Fairport Convention during the mid-70s, thinking that they had become too “traditional.” However in recent times I have returned to the fold and really enjoy seeing this band again. The format was similar to that of recent years. The concert began with support act Smith and Brewer a close harmony Americano duo, who played a very pleasant set, warming the crowd up well. They played a short 30 minute set at which point they were joined by the members of Fairport Convention for a song or two. Fairport then continued their set including a short interval; the first set containing several numbers from their new album and the second set comprising several songs from “Full House” which celebrates its 50th anniversary this year.
It was great to see them perform “Who Knows Where the Time Goes” in a version which did justice to the original. Closing songs were, as always, “Matty Groves” followed by the encore “Meet on the Ledge” for which they were joined by support act Smith and Brewer. Then it was back in the taxi and on my way home, picking up second carer Chris who had kindly agreed to help get me back to bed. All in all it was great to see Fairport Convention again, and I look forward to further encounters in the future. 
Setlist: Set1: Walk Awhile; Don’t Reveal My Name; Cider Rain; Good Time For A Fiddle And Bow / The Christmas Eve Reel; A Thousand Bars; Shuffle and Go; Moses Waits; Bankruptured; Moondust and Solitude. Set 2: Jolly Springtime; Steampunkery; The Year Of Fifty Nine; Farewell, Farewell; Sir Patrick Spens; Sloth; Doctor of Physick; Who Knows Where the Time Goes?; Matty Groves. Encore: Meet on the Ledge
I recognise the importance of Fairport Convention in the history of rock and pop music, and particularly folk-rock; however I have never been a massive fan of the band. I’ve seen them a few times in concert over the years, probably half a dozen or so in total. I used to play Meet on the Ledge a lot when I was younger; it featured on the lp You Can All Join In, which was a popular low price sampler album of the early 70s. Everyone at school had the album and Meet on the Ledge was a favourite track. I also had a Polydor 3 lp box set, which I think was called Pop Party, and had a couple of very early Fairport tracks on it, including If I Had a Ribbon Bow, which I thought was great fun. 
I also love Where Does The Time Go. Some of their other material is just a little too traditional folk for me. Having said that I’ve been to see them a few times recently and always enjoy their shows. I first saw Fairport in the early 70s at a gig at Sunderland Locarno (or it could have Sunderland Top Rank; or possibly at both…..). I remember thinking that they were suprisingly loud for a folk-rock band. I then saw them as support act for Zeppelin at Knebworth. I also saw a few Fairport related acts during the 70s: Sandy Denny solo, Richard and Linda Thompson and Dave Swarbrick solo. The ticket here is for a Fairport Acoustic gig which David and I saw at Alnwick Playhouse five years or so ago. We both enjoyed the gig, which was in quite initimate surroundings. The programme shown here is from a gig in the early 90s, which I don’t recollect attending to be honest. I think I may have bought this programme at a car boot fair some years ago! The last couple of times I have seen Fairport Convention has been at The Sage, Gateshead; I blogged on those gigs when I attended then. My admiration for, and interest in, the band continues to grow over the years. Long may they continue. 
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