THE original folk rock band Fairport Convention will play Bridport Electric Palace on June 8.

With a sell-out winter tour in the rear-view mirror, the band refuse to let the grass grow and will head out on a 27-date Spring 2018 UK tour from May.

The legendary and award-winning group kick off their 51st year on the road inside London’s famous Union Chapel.

Rave reviews followed Fairport’s Winter 2018 tour, where they were joined by special guests Winter Wilson and many dates sold-out well in advance. “I know that at some point in the individual lives and experiences of our fans, something Fairport has done has reached into them and made an impact and a connection,” says founding member Simon Nicol.

“They may have nothing else at all in common, but at our gigs we are at the centre of their personal Venn diagram.”

The band’s annual Cropredy Festival shindig is also looming over the horizon and big names such as Kate Rusby, The Levellers, Oysterband and Afro Celt Sound System have already been announced.

Fairport Convention has been making great music for more than 50 years. Credited with originating British folk rock music, the band has been through many changes, but the current members retain a passion for live performance.

This year’s Spring Tour will feature a mix of long-established Fairport favourites and new material from their most recent studio album, 50:50@50, celebrating last year’s Golden anniversary.

Fairport Convention has attracted critical acclaim: the band has won a coveted BBC Lifetime Achievement Award; Radio 2 listeners voted Fairport’s ground-breaking album Liege & Lief 'The Most Influential Folk Album of All Time; and their story has been celebrated with a major documentary on SKY Arts television.

Fairport Convention features Simon Nicol on guitar and vocals, Dave Pegg on bass guitar, Chris Leslie on fiddle, mandolin and vocals, Ric Sanders on violin and Gerry Conway on drums and percussion.

*Fairport Convention, Ballroom, Bridport Electric Palace, June 8. Fairport Convention will also perform at The Tivoli, Wimborne, on May 29.