Legendary folkrockers Fairport Convention will be on the road in their semi-acoustic format during May. The band will visit two dozen venues with a mix of brand new songs and reworkings of their classic repertoire.

Formed in 1967's 'summer of love', the Oxfordshire-based band has been delighting audiences for 46 years. One of the most enduring bands to emerge from the fertile 60s music scene and hailed as the originators of British folk-rock music, Fairport Convention is still as vibrant and inventive as ever.

This tour will feature material from the band's recent critically-acclaimed album Festival Bell as well as a selection of favourite songs and tunes specially chosen in a poll of the band's fans.

The semi-acoustic shows on this May tour will have a lighter more intimate feel than the more muscular folkrock style usually associated with Fairport. The line-up will feature Simon Nicol (vocals, guitar), Dave Pegg (bass guitar), Ric Sanders (violin), Chris Leslie (mandolin, fiddle, vocals) and Gerry Conway (percussion).

"We're really looking forward to being on the road again." says founder-member Simon Nicol. " In fact, we're raring to go because our first love is live performance. It will be good to play in smaller more intimate venues."

After the tour, the band members will be preparing for their annual open-air music festival at Cropredy in Oxfordshire which takes place on 8, 9 and 10 August.

Fairport Convention was the subject of an hour-long BBC music documentary which was broadcast on BBC Four television in September 2012. The band has also won a coveted BBC Lifetime Achievement Award and Radio 2 listeners voted Fairport's groundbreaking album Liege & Lief  'The Most Influential Folkrock Album of All Time'.

Fairport Convention tour dates: May / June 2013

9  May  Abergavenny, Borough Theatre;  01873 850805
10  May  London, Borderline;  0844 847 2465
11  May  Cambridge, The Junction;  01223 511511
12  May  Cromer, Folk On The Pier;  01263 512495
13  May  Nettlebed Village Club;  01628 636620
16  May  Leek, Foxlowe Arts Centre;  01538 385260
17  May  Dartford, Mick Jagger Centre;  01322 291100
18  May  Bicton, In The Park;  01395 443419
19  May  Mylor, The Mylor Sessions
20  May  Mylor, The Mylor Sessions
22  May  South Petherton, David Hall;  01460 240340
23  May  Boston, Blackfriars Theatre;  01205 363108
24  May  Masham Town Hall;  01765 680200
25  May  Chipping Norton, St Mary's Church;  01608 642350
28  May  Swindon Arts Centre;  01793 614837
30  May  Southport, The Atkinson;  01704 533333
31  May  Bury, The Met;  0161 761 2216
1  June  Hailsham Pavilion;  01323 841414
2  June  Southampton, The Brook;  02380 555366
3  June  Didcot, Cornerstone Arts Centre;  01235 515144
4  June  Guildford, The Boileroom;  01483 440022
5  June  Gloucester, The Guild Hall;  01452 503050
6  June  Canterbury, Cathedral Lodge;  01227 831493
8  June  Tenbury Wells, The Regal;  01584 811442
9  June  Tring, Court Theatre;  07543 560478

Fairport Convention