Fairport Convention - live at Philadelphia folk festival (1970)

English folk group Fairport Convention circa 1970 played ragged-round-the-edges folk music at breakneck speed, with this 1970 clip (courtesy of the Clark Santee archive) a fine example of the effect they had live on crowds at then-popular folk festivals. Courtesy of the Clark Santee archives, this spirited performance of their English brand of instrumental folk went down a real treat in the USA.

[@veeeforvendetta]

God I wish I was back there then with all them hippies. And to watch Fairport live.

[@veeeforvendetta]

Was there once at the PFF..saw Ricky Scaggs.

[@Astralpains]

man this is amazing. if only the world was like this all the time.

[@kirtadams439]

Wow does this bring back memories. I was there .

[@websurfer5772]

I love this --- happiness - togetherness - and great music! Thank you. 💕

[@namcat53]

WE sure knew how to have fun then!

[@russellmaddox2437]

This is actually after Sandy Denny departed Fairport (she and Ashley Hutchings left in late 1969). This is the line up from the "Full House" album (Richard Thompson, Dave Swarbrick, Simon Nicol, Dave Pegg, Dave Mattacks).

[@StealthyAssassin007]

Yessss another true Fairport fan that ACTUALLY knows the history…

[@dhutton77]

True, but then she came back later. I saw the later Fairport in Providence, so was fortunate to see Sandy Denny in person. She has been missed sorely.

[@calbassist2494]

Also to add, with Martin Lamble who sadly passed after Fairport's van crashed in 1969.

[@dhutton77]

@@calbassist2494 In the same accident that killed Richard Thompson's girlfriend.

[@JohnMcGovern-dh9pn]

Amazing...i only ever saw stills of this......what a great band.......the Full House line up Richard and Swarb...for a short time......a great partnership......

[@jeffspencer646]

It would have been nice to see the band for more than four seconds.

[@granthurlburt4062]

I LOVE seeing the people dancing. Historic and rare.

[@gravm]

Blimey!

[@maanhills7982]

Morris dancing, no less.

[@jesusislukeskywalker4294]

🤠

[@andyrenshaw9148]

Yeah so this is after Sandy, not before. 'Specialised in ragged-round-the-edges folk music played at breakneck speed' also shows a complete lack of understanding regarding FC.

[@YorkyOne]

But the 'breakneck speed' was one of the reasons RT left the band. The subtlety that had been the mark of the band was being lost.

[@dwaynerosemeyer6463]

One song? Where's the rest of the show?

[@sirpatrickspens]

Where on earth did you find this? Anymore footage of FC?

[@slydogmania]

There possibly is more footage. Music archaeology of this type I'm passionate about, and because I present items properly for historic purposes etc, several great contributors have tolerated me digging through their archives

[@sirpatrickspens]

@@slydogmania I’ve since discovered the whole documentary from 1970, which as I’m sure you know has no more of FC. Unfortunately their positive effect on the crowd had a negative effect on how much they were filmed :(

[@andydixon2980]

!0 secs of footage of the band, if that.

[@sirpatrickspens]

@@andydixon2980 but what a great 10 secs

[@PHL76Music]

@@sirpatrickspens The Philadelphia Folksong Society has archives with individual performances from past years. The archives were made visible to subscribers over the past few years at specific times, most notably during the pandemic when we were stuck home with no in-person Folk Festival. I forget what they charged for access to the archive, but it was worth every penny to see those performances. Anyway, I don't remember if Fairport Convention is in there, but it is worth checking. Richard Thompson was surely in the archive with a solo set or two. PFS is going through a reorganization right now, and the website with the old performances was taken offline, but I expect it to be back along with the 2024 festival.

[@dannyhood8857]

This is when everybody, even the sheriffs family down the street joined the park hippy fest. They like this shit. Dont pay attention to concerts in the back playing frisbee. Nobodys ashamed. Embaressing. Hey whats that like? You know, Living life with no 'shame? 'Oh pretty good i guess, haha!

[@thearab59]

Very untypical of FC. I suspect they decided to do "one for the hillbillies".

[@David-mo5jw]

Sounds like they’ve had one too many cups of coffee

[@ChristopherPlatt]

I read that's one of the reasons Dave Mattacks left soon thereafter.

[@carlgator]

It's running fast.

[@StephenMerchant-up8sg]

@@carlgator Yes it is but that line-up could have played it even faster and still held it together. Top of their game in 70

[@lindsayheywood7195]

What a disappointing video! Who wants to see the audience cavorting about rather than the band playing?😊

[@hiraeth1340]

Ridiculous waste of an amazing opportunity to film a brilliant band. This has aged very poorly

[@raymondpierotti8414]

10 seconds of the group, and 2 minutes of a bunch of hippies leaping about. Bait and Switch.

[@garnetnewton-wade4091]

You don't get that at a Greatful Dead concert 😂

[@gregshirley-jeffersonboule6258]

You get the silly dancing, but with really bad music.

[@kirtadams439]

You did sure used to.