PAUL JOHNSON’S CROPREDY FESTIVAL 2024 LITTLE POD CAST REVIEW


Hi all

Well we all know its been a bit of a hard and dramatic year in our world this year with many sad passing’s, huge news stories,  such as UK general election USA elections with all their mad twists and turns.. and sadly a fair few festivals in these hard times have folded or are just calling it a day. If you talk to most of the small to medium festival organisers they will reluctantly tell you that attendances and numbers are down, as we all feel the dark shadow and tendrils of pressure reaching us from the cost of living crisis, and the ever increasing costs of facilities hire, travel, fuel and services all escalating.

So its pleasing, and relief to know that some of our favourite festivals are still happening and hanging on in there in the face of this adversity.

This was certainly true of this years Cropredy Festival. A few months back we were told that it really was touch and go as to whether the festival could happen… but such is the determination, dedication and love for the festival of all involved they made the 2024 Cropredy Festival happen. So huge congratulations to Gareth Williams and each and every one of the festival staff, volunteers and team members for really going… not the extra mile – but that extra 100 miles!! to make Cropredy happen.

So if you didn’t go…. why not!?  or if you just couldn’t make it this year due to financial restraints or may be other more sadder reasons  I’m sorry for you. All we can hope is that next year is a better year for you and you will return to that magical place that is Cropredy.

Thankfully now announced… Cropredy is on again next year and set in the diary to be held on August 7th, 8th and 9th of August 2025.

 So if you didn’t go what did you miss?

Well here I will try to give you a little bit of the atmosphere of the hot sunny weekend (after Thursdays rain!) and some interviews from some of the artists.  One which has now firmly become folking.com’s yearly talk date…with the totally delightful and hugely talented lovely man Chris Leslie and a band with the glossiest classiest tour brochure and merchandise I’ve ever seen! – The multi international Big Big Train.

So..the weather…

Well I have to say that it was a concern on the Thursday as it was pretty persistent drizzle interspersed with heavy rain, but luckily it was really warm so any wet clothes dried out really quickly. Friday started cloudy and rather gloomy but out came the sun about midday – so did the sun cream! it was hot! and that was the story throughout the weekend – The Cropredy tan was available!

The atmosphere..

As usual with Cropredy and if you have never been to this magical festival its hard to explain in words what a special and friendly atmosphere it is that runs deep in the veins of this brilliant festival – you just need to come to Cropredy and experience it… bring a friend or five – you will have a fantastic time!

But looking around I could tell,  personally having been going every year since 1989 – looking across the field I’ve seen it sold out and packed many times over the years – there did seem to be fewer people there .. but as Chris Leslie put in in our chat you will hear in this feature  ‘We’ve got a field full of people’  it was not glaringly obvious to most people that there was  fewer there.

There was some new food stalls as well as the old favourites that have been going as long as I have! The Cropredy Village now has a huge line up of varying bands in ‘The Brasenose pub Cropredy Fringe‘ over the weekend and there’s coffee, clothes, gift stalls and snack vans all through the lovely village of Cropredy a great place to wander around soaking up the magical vibe of the weekend.

So sit back, get ya self a cup of tea or a beer…relax… and have a listen to my Folking.com ‘little pod cast review’ of Cropredy 2024.

I go backstage to have my now ‘yearly talk’ to the wonderful kind, generous and hugely talented Chris Leslie about all things Cropredy, mandolins, plectrums, the TV series ‘Lost in space’ and ‘UFO’ and the worrying world we live in of late all will be revealed here..

I go backstage to talk to three members of the truly international super group Big Big Train.. about touring, retro and sexy fiddle playing shepherds… all will be revealed below..! 

All that remains is for me to say I hope you enjoyed our mini podcast review and all I can say is if you haven’t been to Cropredy yet it is without doubt a must do of all festivals – and if you have been or are a regular now more than ever .. please, please introduce your friends and bring them with you, it will change their lives for ever like Cropredy has changed so many lives over the years.

See ya on the field 2025!

Paul Johnson

 

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