So many 'live' festivals cancelled this year saw some enterprising organisers make alternative arrangements. Fairport Convention's Cropredy annual gathering went online via a YouTube channel broadcast to coincide with the Saturday night when the field was full of cows rather than hoards of Fairport fans. 

It was the next best thing to actually being there, swapping a plastic glass of beer and the smell of grass for the comfort of the sofa, though still with a beer and a  much closer view of the bands playing.

The online show was a recording of the 2019 Cropredy, the main event being of course the entire set from Fairport Convention up to midnight. Preceding this was original Fairporter Richard Thompson warming the night up with his performance from last year. 

Lots of great music from him, but after searching for the exact same performance of this favourite track I gave up and made do with a very similar version from the Cambridge Folk festival in 2011. Off the 1991 LP 'Rumor and Sigh' - a sad tale of love and a '1952 Vincent Black Lightning'. 

While on my search I did come across this. Didn't think I would like it (because I love the original) but I did ! Check out Red Molly and their version > www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZlumFUwKVk0