I​T’S been more than 40 years since their first gig but Fairport Convention are still as great as ever.

The band came to Margate on Saturday for the second date of their winter tour and the Theatre Royal was full of eager fans.

In winter Fairport travel round the country visiting smaller venues and the intimate theatre’s cosy acoustics suited the band’s style perfectly.

The group is famous for its contribution to the folk-rock scene during its earlier history but it has evolved over the years, with  the band playing a mixture of their old classics like Who Knows Where The Time Goes,  arrangements of others’  songs like The Jewel

In The Crown and newly composed instrumentals. All received a very warm response from the audience.

Fairport Convention are famous for their ever-changing line-up; playing at this performance were Simon Nicol (rhythm guitar and lead vocals), Dave Pegg (bass guitar and backing), Ric Sanders (violin), Chris Leslie (cor) (mandolin, fiddle and lead vocals) with Gerry Conway on drums and percussion all showed their extensive expertise.

The support act, accomplished acoustic duo Keith Donnelly and Flossie Malavialle, (cor) suited the evening perfectly and joined the band in some numbers, including Fairport’s classic French version of Dylan’s If You Got To Go, Go Now.

Overall the gig was very enjoyable and just proved to fans that Fairport Convention is still at its best.  

Barny Joyce