HE is one of the world’s greatest musicians: a brilliant guitarist and feted singer-songwriter who is responsible for some of the most enduring tunes of the past half-century.

But despite his international fame, Richard Thompson is rarely happier than when back on home turf, in a corner of an Oxfordshire field.

A founder member of folk-rock band Fairport Convention, Richard is regarded as one of the world’s greatest guitar players whose accolades include an OBE and an Ivor Novello Award. He also helped set up the band’s traditional gathering, Cropredy Festival, and despite living in the USA, plays the three-day knees-up whenever he can, including this weekend’s instalment.

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‘It’s a reunion,” says the man whose talent on the fretboard saw Fairport signed while he was just 17. He had already jammed with Hendrix and supported Pink Floyd.

“It is a point of reflection and I am very happy to be there with friends and the audience. I don’t play it every year. Trying something annual there would be like seeing your life flashing before your eyes. But I am happy to do it every three years.”

To its fans, Cropredy – or to use its formal title, Fairport’s Cropredy Convention – is more than just another music festival. It is a gathering of the clans; a ritual which sees families and friends return to the hallowed ground just beyond Banbury.

The line-up varies, but is always bookended with performances by Fairport Convention themselves: an acoustic show on the Thursday and an extended headline finale slot on the Saturday, in which they invite friends to join them.

“We are a friendly bunch,” he says. “We are special that way. The world of folk-rock has always been a very small one; it’s never been a big movement.”

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And the same can be said for its intimate on-stage festival.

“It’s very sensible having one stage,” he says. “Having more than one stage leads to issues of sound ‘bleed’ between one stage and another. Something like Glastonbury is out of control. Cropredy has about 20,000 people, which is a good size.”

Richard joins the band after a whistle stop European tour – itself following the release of new records Serpents Tears and Bloody Noses – which proved the antidote to the enforced hiatus brought on by the pandemic.

He has also just put out an acoustic CD, offered to gig and festival audience members.

“I wrote during lockdown, but it was a frustrating time in many ways,” he sighs. “But at some point you have to say ‘what are the advantages of this?’ I was off the conveyor belt, so it was a great time to write.”

There was also a new collection of old material and outtakes featuring him and ex-wife Linda, released with what appears to be partial permission. “I was contacted,” he says. “And I get tired of saying ‘no’ to everything.

“The nature of that compilation is that it’s trying to be complete, even if it’s rough around the edges.”

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Despite being in the States for so long, he says he loves being back in Oxfordshire; Fairport’s spiritual home.

“I always feel more at home in the UK and when I’m away I miss it more and more,” he says.

“As a musician, I need to travel for a living and need to spend six months of the year in the States, but being British is a state of mind. I can get The Guardian, or the Oxford Mail if you prefer, on any computer, so can stay completely in touch. And I never really got seduced by American culture.”

And does the star, who has an unfair reputation for generally bringing the rain, have any advice for first-time Cropredy-goers?

“Always bring sunscreen and a sun hat,” he says, laughing: “But also bring an umbrella, because it will probably rain!”

Fairport’s Cropredy Convention ends tomorrow night (13). Visit: fairportconvention.com

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