Leamington remains Fairport Convention’s favourite location

The lively musicians have announced a 39-show tour that will take them around England and Wales through the early part of 2012, giving them time to prepare for their ever popular Cropredy festival in the summer.

They have made sure that as part of the tour they will come to their favourite location of Leamington, where they will play at the Spa Centre on Saturday (January 28).

The 2012 anniversary tour will feature songs from the band’s recent studio album, the critically-acclaimed Festival Bell.

However, with such a long history the band has quite a back catalogue to draw on, so this year the tour concerts will also include a selection of favourite songs and tunes specially chosen in a poll of the band’s fans.

Guitarist Simon Nicol founded the band in 1967, and says they have lost none of their youthful vigour and love of touring.

He said: “Forty-five years is a milestone, but we don’t intend to rest on our laurels or hark back to the past.

“Fairport is a band that always looks to the future.

“All five of us are looking forward to getting back on the road - in fact, we’re raring to go - because our first love is live performance.”

Every concert on the 2012 tour will open with a supporting set by Keiran Goss, one of Ireland’s most popular singer/songwriters.

He has previously supported the likes of Elvis Costello, Christy Moore and Joe Jackson, and will take to the stage with nothing but himself on guitar for accompaniment.

As well as Simon Nicol on guitar and lead vocals, Fairport features the unchanged lineup of Dave Pegg on bass and backing vocals, Chris Leslie on fiddle, mandolin, bouzouki and lead vocals, Ric Sanders on violin and Gerry Conway on drums and percussion.

Formed in the summer of love, they have been hailed as the founders of British folk-rock music, have picked up a plethora of awards including the BBC Lifetime Achievement Award, and their album Liege and Lief was voted the most influential folkrock album of all time.

Four decades later they are still going strong, and having fun at the same time.

For tickets or more information call 334418 or go online.