Fairport Convention: Sir Patrick Spens

Today's video comes from a concert given by Fairport Convention at Maidstone in 1970. One genius, Sandy Denny, had already left the band but another, Richard Thompson, is still in place.

Like all good folk songs, this one involves drowned sailors. It is sung by Dave Swarbrick.

Fairport Convention are still going strong, though these days everything about them seems a little beery and the lead vocals are in the charge of Simon Nicol, whose nasal folk voice can become irritating after a while.

Still, every year I get invited to go to the Cropredy Festival with friends and one day I will get there.