Northwich Plaza Northwich reviews by real event-goers

Review of An evening with Fairport Convention

Venue only had about 30 loose chairs, most people had to stand or sit on the floor, fortunately we got there early and got one, otherwise would have had to go home. Astonishing especially as the audience for this band is known to be mainly older age group. Limited bar menu eg no red wine or crisps etc.

Review of An evening with Fairport Convention

Well, where to start, I walked into a lovely old building, evidence of its previous existence as a cinema was difficult to miss!
The initial panorama was that of someone stood at the top of the field at Cropredy festiva looking down toward the stage- albeit in miniature- toward a stage that was almost as big as the one deployed at Fairoorts Cropredy Convention!
Hardly any seating, which didn't bother me, but given the audience demographic some nice comfy chairs would have been nice.
Some brought their own deck hairs a la Cropredy, all we needed were a few flags scattered about and we'd have had a Cropredy away from Cropredy!
There was a support act who's name I didn't catch, he was reminiscent of Mark Fry - if anyone's never heard of Mr. Fry try youtube for his Dreaming With Alice album and the folk noir epic The Witch - with bits of Michael Chapman and Ed Sheeran thrown into the mix, lyrically a bit dark and introspective, but I can imagine there are far worse ways to while away twenty five minutes.
Fairport came on at around 20:00 hours and from the well worn opener Walk A While to gnarly old campaigner Matty Groves - about time they ditched that banjo and came up with something else - the boys turned in a classy, not to mention classic set, covering most of the tracks from their Full House album along with plenty of representation for their most recent album, Shuffle & Go, which is their strongest in many a year, along with the song John Condon from the 2018 Myths & Heroes disc, an apparent band and fan favourite that perpetuates the myth of a child soldier killed on the Somme.
Special mentions for incendiary versions of Sloth, Steam Punkery, Honour & Praise, Doctor Of Physick a sprightly Bankruoturee and a welcome return of the Nicol & Swarbrick deep cut Close To The Wind.
Simon Nicols' guitar playing is exemplary and it was amazing to watch him play on Sloth and Bankruptured, long may he continue, another solo album please Simon!!
Peggy of course is the glue that really does hold it all together and Ric Sanders despite the cheesy and unnecessary comedy showcase proves time and again why he's admired a d in demand for his fiddle playing, if not his ' comedy's.
Chris Leslie remains, defiantly their chief songwriter and multi- instrumentist and gave a excellent a countdown of himself on a array of instruments, lose the harmonica though Chris, they may work for Lindisfarne but you're in Fairport and adding harmonica on stuff like Condon , tw**d, and Honour & Praise - unnecessary don't particularly enhance the songs, I cringe tbh, I may be in a minority but I do. Mr Conway on the drums had an unimpeachable record, but I do hanker for Dave Mattacks era Fairport drumming, though that will never come again there is a massive DM shaped hole in the rhythm section.
And there's the rub, sometimes, this most glorious of bands, one I have followed since the 1960's at times seem like they're treading water, o occasionally they veer da generously close to the cheesy cod C&W beloved of turns that tread the boards at the local.Working Mens Club seven days a week.
However, last night was low on cheese, high on content, filled with class and great music, by the encore of their signature song Meet On The Ledge everyone seemed to be in their feet, like a proper Cropredy Saturday night at around 23:45 hours, and the lads got a richly deserved ed standing ovation.
Ticket prices were reasonableband pitched at the level one would expect to pay to see Fairport at a provincial venue, that said, if certain individuals pay out the best part of thirty quid for a ticket to see what is nominally an acoustic gig, why do they insist in talking loudly throughout that gig, it always annoys and mystified me, kudos to the man who told the chattering classes to shut up because people were trying to listen to Fairport, I'll buy you a beer at Cropredy next year!

Review of An evening with Fairport Convention

Surprised to arrive at the venue and find there was only a few seats available. All these were already taken so had to stand or seat on the floor. The tickets seemed expensive for a gig were you had to stand. There was no information provide at the time of booking to make you aware of this.Room was cold as well. Did enjoy the band.

Review of An evening with Fairport Convention

The venue lacked enough chairs . People were allowed to bring their own beach style chairs but this should have been advertised . However Fairport Convention were as brilliant as ever .

Review of An evening with Fairport Convention

Thoroughly enjoyable night, marred by the lack of seating, nothing mentioned about this in any advertising we saw or when we purchased tickets.

Review of An evening with Fairport Convention

The music was as ever superb but was very surprised that the gig tuned out to be not really seated - seems the venue has no seats and the promoter is supposed to supply chairs. In this case they provided about 60 seats on a first come first serve basis (which sort of made it worse) - first reaction from this on the door was that it wasn't advertised as seated - so we must assume the default is standing apparently - but given Fairport's likely audience demographic it seems a big miss - the band of similar age did have seats of course - we did manage to get a chair for one of our party who struggles walking due to a bad hip but not good enough for the price I'm afraid, and took the edge of what could have been a great night - shame

Review of An evening with Fairport Convention

An excellent performance at a fantastic newly refurbished venue. Wonderful to have such a place in the centre of Northwich back up and running and hopefully will attract a plethora of acts in the future.

Review of An evening with Fairport Convention

Great venue for the town but needs to review seating

Review of An evening with Fairport Convention

Fairport were brilliant as always. We were very disappointed with the venue. It should have been made clear that there is virtually NO SEATING! Some people had obviously been there before and brought folding chairs. We would have done so, had we known.

Review of An evening with Fairport Convention

Another amazing evening ,it’s like a fine wine ,the older they get etc...

Review of An evening with Fairport Convention

Great night with Fairport Convention. Please support this venue so it can become even better!

Review of An evening with Fairport Convention

Superb musicianship and entertaining interaction.. Some really emotional moments Waited over 40 years to see the band.. Not disappointed at all.. Superb

Review of An evening with Fairport Convention

Good to see this character full venue used for concerts. I hope they can find what they need to keep it going and improve it.

Review of An evening with Fairport Convention

Review of An evening with Fairport Convention

A full two-hour concert of music spanning 50 years. Their voices and harmonies were out of this world, tight playing with a full sound: unmistakeably Fairport Convention. Intimate venue, wonderful vibe. Tickets and drinks very affordable.

Review of An evening with Fairport Convention

The event was great Fairport convention are fab seen them a few times . You need to let people know if there are no seats. Happy to bring my own but unable to sit on floor or stand. Venue very atmospheric love to come again when you have folk or country music

Review of An evening with Fairport Convention

excellent music, poor venue. not clear no seating