Gonna See All My Friends - Richard Houghton

Gonna See All My Friends is a fully authorised history of Fairport Convention as told through over 300 fan memories. Illustrated in full colour throughout with photographs of the band and rare memorabilia, this book is a must have item for every Fairport fan. The book includes contributions from Fairport stalwarts Simon Nicol and Dave Pegg along with memories from some of the band's many friends across the music world, including Ian Anderson and Doane Perry (Jethro Tull), Ralph McTell ('Streets of London'), producer Joe Boyd, BBC broadcaster Michael Billington and folk luminaries annA rydeR, Edwina Hayes, Brendan Murphy, Kieran Goss, Fraser Nimmo, The Bar-Steward Sons of Val Doonican, along with Huw Williams and Steve Tilston. With an introduction by Fairport historian Nigel Schofield, this book is a fan's-eye romp through 55 years of making music, mates and mischief, the latter aided from time to time by the odd pint of beer. Fairport Convention first convened in 1967, invented British folk-rock and 55 years later are still going strong. With 29 albums and thousands of gigs to their name, along with countless solo and collaborative projects by current and former band members, Fairport have found friends and fans everywhere. And with their annual Cropredy Convention regularly attracting 20,000 people to 'Britain's friendliest festival', the affection and regard in which the godfathers of folk-rock are held knows no bounds. Gonna See All My Friends takes its title from their Richard Thompson-penned anthem to enduring friendship, 'Meet on the Ledge'.