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Fairport Convention and former group members received awards in three categories at the annual BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards in February 2006. Not only that but the Awards event, staged at The Brewery in London, featured two distinct Fairport line-ups playing live. The legendary band's classic album Liege & Lief (first released as an LP in 1969 and recently reissued as a CD) was voted 'Most Influential Folk Album of All Time' in a ballot of the public run by the BBC during December last year. Original member Simon Nicol, currently Fairport’s guitarist and lead vocalist, said: "It is very gratifying - and humbling - to find that an album we recorded over 35 years ago is still held in such affection and esteem by folk music fans." Another award went to Fairport Convention founder Ashley Hutchings. He was presented with a 'Good Tradition Award' in honour of his lifetime's work popularising British traditional music. The third winner was Fairport Convention's original lead guitarist, singer-songwriter Richard Thompson. Richard received a Lifetime Achievement Award. Apart from the late Sandy Denny, the band then recreated the
1969 line-up which recorded Liege & Lief for a one-off performance featuring Ashley Hutchings on bass guitar, Richard Thompson and Simon Nicol on guitars, Dave Swarbrick on fiddle, and Dave Mattacks on drums with acclaimed vocalist and Folk Award nominee Chris While singing in place of Denny. BBC Oxford’s Tim Bearder caught up with Simon shortly after the event to talk about the success the band have had and what lay in store for the summer at the bands annual get together at Cropredy. You can listen to the interview above and find out more details about the festival on the link at the top right of this page. | 
