LIVE MUSIC: Fairport Convention in Worthing
WINTER just wouldn't be winter without Fairport Convention going out on the road (Pavilion Theatre, Worthing,Tuesday, February 2, 7.30pm).
It's a tradition which goes back more than the 23 years that violinist Ric Sanders has been with the band – and Ric wouldn't have it any other way.
"Fairport Convention has always been a hard-working, board-treading band," he says.
They finish the current tour in early March and will then be out on the road again in May, same personnel, but this time in their acoustic format which offers different instrumentation and a different repertoire.
"We don't work in the record industry way of spending epic amounts of money recording an album and then going out and promoting it."
In fact, there's a lot about the current industry that the band is delighted not to do.
Ric makes the point that the band's first gig was in 1967 on the day that The Beatles released Sgt Pepper.
If you asked the question back then, who was in charge of the music business, the answer would have been The Beatles and George Martin.
Ask it now, and the answer is most definitely the businessmen – which for Ric sums up the way that things have sadly gone.
Ric insists he would never be critical of X-Factor and similar shows. He stresses that music belongs to everyone: "But I am critical of the business monopoly that has put a stranglehold on popular culture."
Ric instinctively rejects the competitive side which has taken over: "We live in a very, very competitive, judgemental society. Some poor thing has to sing in front of the judges who then drone on.
"I don't like the whole judgemental side where the winners and losers have to be paraded. It's kind of medieval.
"I know that there are lots of people that go in for these competitions that just never stand a chance.
"I just don't want to see anyone's dreams shattered in such a public way."
And that's never been the Fairport way: "We come from an older world." A world where the musicians were in charge and where it all filtered down from the likes of The Beatles.
"We've still got one foot in that world!"
Tickets on 01903 206206.
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Weather for Worthing
Tuesday 14 February 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 4 C to 8 C
Wind Speed: 16 mph
Wind direction: North
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: 3 C to 10 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
Wind direction: North west
