Quo looking forward to making Cropredy debut (From Oxford Mail)

Quo looking forward to making Cropredy debut

5:09pm Friday 19th February 2010

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ROCK band Status Quo have said they are looking forward to their first festival appearance in Oxfordshire.

The band, fronted by veteran rockers Francis Rossi and Rick Parfitt, have been unveiled as a headline act at this year’s Cropredy Festival, which takes place near Banbury in August.

The band’s presence on the line-up of what is still traditionally regarded as a folk festival, has been celebrated by organisers who have described this year's line-up as the best in the event’s 30-year history.

The denim-clad rockers, who were this month presented with OBEs at Buckingham Palace, will be joined by an eclectic selection of artists, including prog-rock keyboardist and television Grumpy Old Men star Rick Wakeman, folk band 3 Daft Monkeys, ska artist Pauline Black of The Selecter, and USA country-rockers Little Feat.

The county’s musical talent will be represented by folk-rock act Bellowhead, whose accordion player John Spiers lives near Abingdon, and who were named Best Live Act at this year’s BBC Folk Awards.

Other Oxfordshire artists include singer-songwriter Thea Gilmore, who comes from North Aston, near Bicester, and festival organisers Fairport Convention – most of whom live in north Oxfordshire.

“Outdoor summer shows are always special,” Mr Rossi told the Oxford Mail.

“We have heard great things about Cropredy and are looking forward to getting to the site, having a look around and livening up an August evening with a great show.”

Fairport Convention organises the festival and its founder Simon Nicol, who lives in Chipping Norton, said: “This is arguably our best line-up ever. People consider Fairport Convention a folk-rock band, but this shows we are not just banging a drum for traditional music.

“We have a gift of a festival for all ages and all music-lovers – and it’s all about variety and excellence.

“Status Quo have been voted the best festival act ever, and getting them is a real coup. The festival is all about smiling and having a good time, and I can’t wait to see people’s faces when the Quo come on stage.”

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