The Chris Leslie Interview Cropredy 2014

Chris LeslieMany of our readers will know Chris as; the key songwriter in the current line-up of Fairport Convention, a top notch multi-instrumentalist, vocalist and all round good egg. What you may not know, is that he has a gem of a solo career going on the side as well.

When Nancy Dunham reviewed Chris Leslie’s last solo album, “Origins” for folking, in February 2014, there was a reference made to the Cropredy 2008 interview that Paul Johnson and I did, when Chris joked that the festival site was the center of the universe.

So, it will most likely not surprise any of our folking space cadets that Johno and I set our guidance controls to the center of the Cropredy festival star constellation again this year on a mission critical objective for a 2014 Galactic Commander Leslie debrief!

Chis&Johno_Croppers_14

As the saying goes, many a truth is said in jest. So it may well be in this instance. Leslie’s traveled a long way, literally and figuratively, since he was a young, self-taught fiddler in Banbury, dreaming of joining Fairport. And while he’s won acclaim for his work with the band and his mastery of an array of other musical genres, it’s clear his allegiance is to the Fairport-styled Folk that captured his youthful heart. Indeed, Oxfordshire remains the center of his universe. NANCY DUNHAM

Chris_folkmaster&johno_cropper14In this new interview Paul Johnson finally attempts to say “Downloadable Interview”, and we talk to Mr. Leslie about his last solo album “Origins” , where it was recorded, the intimacy of the recording itself and peoples reaction to it.

Chris also explains how the solo project took shape, how the solo tour was received last year and his love of his favourite tenor guitar.

Chris Leslie’s latest solo tour dates in October are also discussed (detailed below) and we get a little bit more detail about the plans for the forthcoming new Fairport album and the Leslie contribution to it. Click the play button below to listen to the interview.

To find out more about what Chris Leslie is doing and/or to order “Origins” visit – http://www.chrislesliemusic.co.uk/

Big thanks to Roger Sutton for taking the interview photos – get well soon mate.


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