Category: Tour News

In a change to their usual schedule, legendary Folk-Rockers Fairport Convention have announced dates for their all new Spring Tour, starting on 17th March 2026.

After a packed 2025, including two acclaimed tours and a sold-out Cropredy Convention, the group will reunite with esteemed drummer, Dave Mattacks for 24 dates throughout the UK – cueing up celebrations for Fairport Convention’s diamond anniversary in 2027, marking an incredible 60 years in the business.

Formed in 1967, the band pioneered the blending of traditional and electric instruments, in turn becoming synonymous with the ‘electric-folk’ sound. Their annual music festival attracts up to 15,000 people to the fields of Oxfordshire each August, and unlike many of their peers, they continue to sell out venues across the country – delighting both existing fans and new converts alike.

With a career now spanning 59 years, the chaps continue carrying on the Fairport torch, with the 2026 tour marking 30 years of the band’s current lineup – featuring Simon Nicol, Dave Pegg, Ric Sanders and Chris Leslie, augmented by Dave Mattacks on the drummer’s stool.

With their most well-known track ‘Who Knows Where The Time Goes’ reaching over 32 million Spotify streams this year, Fairport are true statesmen of British music – cherished by critics, musicians and fans alike. The band have also won a BBC Lifetime Achievement Award and Radio 2 listeners voted their ground-breaking album Liege & Lief ‘The Most Influential Folk Album of All Time’ in 2006.

Proceedings commence on 17th March at The Stables in Milton Keynes – visiting the likes of Union Chapel in London and The Forum in Bath – before wrapping up on 12th April in Leamington Spa. This year’s lineup features Simon Nicol on guitar and vocals, Dave Pegg on bass guitar, Ric Sanders on violin, Chris Leslie on fiddle, mandolin and vocals, whilst Dave Mattacks returns on percussion duties.

Mattacks featured as Fairport Convention’s longstanding drummer throughout most of the 1970s, 80s and 90s. His skills have been in demand ever since, seeing him contribute to numerous studio recordings by the likes of Paul McCartney, Brian Eno, Elton John and Nick Drake.

Artist’s website: https://www.jennbutterworth.co.uk/

Support for the Spring Tour comes from the award-winning, folk powerhouse, Jenn Butterworth. Widely recognised as one of the UK’s leading exponents of traditional folk guitar, Jenn has stormed the thriving Scottish-folk scene – winning Album of the Year with acclaimed folk supergroup, Songs of Separation at BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards in 2017 and Musician of the Year at the Scottish Trad Music Awards in 2019.

Seamlessly adapting to any stage or project, Butterworth is renowned for her exceptional skills in collaboration, accompaniment and arrangement. Her versatility has seen her contribute to an impressive array of projects, including performances with Fiddlers’ Bid, Treacherous Orchestra, Ross Ainslie and Ali Hutton, Bella Hardy, Adam Sutherland, Sian, Malin Makes Music, Claire Hastings, and RURA’s Jack Smedley & David Foley.

TOUR DATES

Tuesday 17th March, 8pm
The Stables, Milton Keynes
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Wednesday 18th March, 7.30pm
The Apex, Bury St. Edmunds
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Thursday 19th March, 7.30pm
Princess Theatre, Hunstanton
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Friday 20th March, 7.30pm
New Century Hall, Manchester
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Saturday 21st March, 7.30pm
Buxton Opera House, Buxton
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Sunday 22nd March, 7.30pm
The Lamproom Theatre, Barnsley
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Tuesday 24th March, 7.30pm
Taliesin Arts Centre, Swansea
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Wednesday 25th March, 7.30pm
The Roses Theatre, Tewkesbury
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Thursday 26th March, 7.30pm
Corn Exchange, Exeter
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Friday 27th March, 7.30pm
The Forum, Bath
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Saturday 28th March, 7.30pm
Union Chapel, London
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Sunday 29th March, 7.30pm
Town Hall, Loughborough
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Tuesday 31st March, 7.30pm
Turner Sims, Southampton
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Wednesday 1st April, 7.30pm
The Haymarket, Basingstoke
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Thursday 2nd April, 7.30pm
Colyer-Fergusson, Canterbury
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Friday 3rd April, 7.30pm
The Old Market, Brighton
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Saturday 4th April, 7.30pm
Chequer Mead Theatre, East Grinstead
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Sunday 5th April, 7.30pm
Eric Morecambe Centre, Harpenden
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Tuesday 7th April, 7.30pm
Harrogate Theatre, Harrogate
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Wednesday 8th April, 7.30pm
The Fire Station, Sunderland
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Thursday 9th April, 7.30pm
Queen’s Hall, Hexham
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Friday 10th April, 7.30pm
Lowther Pavillion, Lytham
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Saturday 11th April, 7.30pm
Town Hall, Kidderminster
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Sunday 12th April, 7.30pm
Royal Spa Centre, Leamington Spa
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Artists’ website: https://www.fairportconvention.com/