This year marked the 40th anniversary of Fairport’s Cropredy Convention, plenty of memories from each and every previous event to be shared, for those fortunate enough to have been there. As for the 2019 event, it will probably go down as the windy Cropredy. That weekend, festivals up and down the country were cancelled before they’d even begun, others had to give up partway through. But Cropredy survived the 50 mph gusts thanks to a site team that seem to be prepared for just about any eventuality. Naturally, there was rain as well as wind but, for once, Richard Thompson’s reputation as the Cropredy rain god deserted him. Instead, Seth Lakeman, playing immediately prior to RT, had to contend with the heaviest showers. I guess even rain gods are fallible but, when I’d talked with Seth earlier that afternoon, we’d had more interesting things than the weather to discuss.
Busy times, third gig this week?
Yes, we were in Brighton last night and Sidmouth the night before. We played the Bulverton and it was a really good night, maybe even the best Sidmouth night for us.
Currently, you’re with the band that recorded ‘The Well Worn Path?’
Yes, a 4-piece band (Ben Nicholls on bass, Kit Hawes on guitars and Evan Jenkins on drums) and it’s turning out to be a great, live, folk-rock act. It’s like the early days, and it’s nice to establish that really heavy groove. There’s a sense of psychedelia as well with Kit Hawes, when he’s playing. He’s a wonderful electric player.
So, no standing still?
Well, I play lots of different instruments and I like to explore, to experiment with the writing. The last record I did was with Wildwood Kin, it was an Ethan John production, ballad story-telling in an Americana sense. With Well Worn Path it’s more amplified, more direct, back to the narrative. But then the next record I’ve written is more to do with musical theatre, I guess.
That sounds interesting…
It’s about the Pilgrim Fathers and the 400th anniversary next year of their crossing, it’s with Paul McGann. It’s an interesting project, it also involves Cara Dillon, Benji Kirkpatrick and Ben Nicholls. A February tour is going to happen and the record will be released (to time with that).
So many events are being planned in Plymouth for next year. I’ve been working closely with the Theatre Royal for the last couple of years building up the theatre show that’s going to be happening in June 2020. That was the origin of the idea but it’s turned into a record as well.
The show is called This Land and the record is The Pilgrims Tale. The Pilgrim Band will be part of the production and members of the Wampanoag tribe who I met whilst I was out in America are coming over to take part. (One of the Native American tribes in the area of the Pilgrim Fathers’ landfall.) There’ll be visuals on projection and narration that will weave the story, stitch it together. So, it’s quite a specialist show.
I noticed you have a UK tour booked for December. Is that solo?
Yes, it started off with just 2 shows but it’s now going to be something we’ve put together for a week, a solo Christmas thing.
It seems you’re not planning on much live work between now and that first week in December. Have you any recording planned? Or might you even have a rest?
I might just try to get my head around where I am, what’s going on. I’ve just finished this long tour with Robert Plant, two and a half years, living a privileged existence. Following him and just learning from the fellow Sensational Space Shifters. So, I think it’s good to just come back and take stock, because it’s a very busy January, February, March, with all the things kicking off. So, yeah, that’s where the break is.
And you’ll be getting back to the South West, you still draw so much of your music from that area, don’t you?
Well, I’m always writing, but I can’t really write anywhere else. So, it’ll probably give me a good opportunity to get stuck into it again. I enjoy the process, so I think it’ll be nice to be at home and just write some songs. You’ve got to have a break at some point.
For details of Seth’s upcoming gigs visit: https://www.sethlakeman.co.uk
Photo Credit: Matt Austin