Tag Oxford

CROPREDY 2025

Al Brown Artist. Leave a comment

My annual trip to Fairport’s Cropredy Festival in Oxford for music, great food and beer. I have a wonderful time walking along the picturesque canals with their longboats and drinking in the two pubs, The Brasenose and The Red Lion. Both pubs have fringe music festivals and I enjoy having a few ales in the churchyard amongst the gravestones opposite The Red Lion. The picture above is of the old lock keeper’s cottage and this is where I often spend time peacefully in the sun.

During this busy visit I managed to get in some time to do some pen and ink sketches. The canal tow path with lock man’s cottage is a particular favourite of mine at Cropredy. The other sketches are of the main arena and stage at the festival with its lights and speaker systems. It was great to see the Harvest Moon in the sky during the evening performances and a special appearance by the famous Robert Plant of Led Zeppelin.

CROPREDY 2022

Al Brown Artist. Leave a comment

I spent a rather enjoyable few days at this year’s Cropredy Festival in Oxford. It was the first time this has been held for a few years and an air of excitement hung over the area. This festival is run traditionally by the fantastic Fairport Convention and always shows an eclectic mix of the best music around. I loved visiting the village in the morning, having coffee by the working canal and listening to the fringe music at the Brasenose and Red Lion Pubs.
Highlights for the weekend for me were, Trevor Horne with Lol Creme of 10cc, Robert Fripp & Toya, Steve Hackett of Genesis, Turing Brakes and of course the emotional end of the festival featuring Fairport Convention with Richard Thompson and Dave Mattacks playing the entire 1970 Full House album. Matty Groves was a favourite of mine too. Harvest Moon pictured at the top features Steve Hacket playing Afterglow!

Above the Fairport Farewell with all musicians.