Fairport Convention Quiz Questions and Answers
Q1. In what year was Fairport Convention formed?
A. 1965
B. 1967
C. 1969
D. 1970
Answer: B. 1967
Q2. The band was named after a house in Muswell Hill called “Fairport,” which belonged to the father of which founding member?
A. Richard Thompson
B. Ashley Hutchings
C. Simon Nicol
D. Martin Lamble
Answer: C. Simon Nicol
Q3. Who was the original female vocalist on Fairport Convention’s debut album?
A. Sandy Denny
B. Judy Dyble
C. Iain Matthews
D. Linda Thompson
Answer: B. Judy Dyble
Q4. Fairport Convention’s debut self-titled album, released in 1968, was heavily influenced by which American band, earning them the nickname “the British Jefferson Airplane”?
A. Jefferson Airplane
B. The Byrds
C. The Band
D. Crosby, Stills & Nash
Answer: A. Jefferson Airplane
Q5. Which singer joined the band in 1968, replacing Judy Dyble and contributing significantly to their shift toward British folk influences?
A. Judy Collins
B. Sandy Denny
C. Joni Mitchell
D. Joan Baez
Answer: B. Sandy Denny
Q6. What tragic event occurred on May 12, 1969, involving the band’s van after a gig in Birmingham?
A. A fire destroyed their equipment
B. They lost all their master tapes
C. Drummer Martin Lamble was killed in a crash
D. Bassist Ashley Hutchings was seriously injured
Answer: C. Drummer Martin Lamble was killed in a crash
Q7. Which album, released in January 1969, was the first to feature Sandy Denny as lead vocalist?
A. Fairport Convention
B. Unhalfbricking
C. Liege & Lief
D. What We Did on Our Holidays
Answer: D. What We Did on Our Holidays
Q8. The song “Meet on the Ledge,” a Fairport staple, was written by which member and first appeared on which album?
A. Sandy Denny; Unhalfbricking
B. Richard Thompson; What We Did on Our Holidays
C. Dave Swarbrick; Liege & Lief
D. Ashley Hutchings; Full House
Answer: B. Richard Thompson; What We Did on Our Holidays
Q9. Which 1969 album featured the track “Who Knows Where the Time Goes?” written by Sandy Denny?
A. Liege & Lief
B. Full House
C. Unhalfbricking
D. What We Did on Our Holidays
Answer: C. Unhalfbricking
Q10. Fairport Convention’s only UK Top 40 single was a French-language cover of a Bob Dylan song titled:
A. Si Tu Dois Partir
B. Million Dollar Bash
C. Percy’s Song
D. Autopsy
Answer: A. Si Tu Dois Partir
Q11. On which album did Dave Swarbrick first appear as a guest fiddler, particularly on the track “A Sailor’s Life”?
A. What We Did on Our Holidays
B. Liege & Lief
C. Unhalfbricking
D. Full House
Answer: C. Unhalfbricking
Q12. Which 1969 album is widely regarded as pioneering electric folk and was voted “Most Influential Folk Album of All Time” by BBC Radio 2 in 2006?
A. Unhalfbricking
B. Full House
C. Liege & Lief
D. Angel Delight
Answer: C. Liege & Lief
Q13. The track “Matty Groves,” a traditional ballad, is a highlight on which album?
A. Unhalfbricking
B. Liege & Lief
C. What We Did on Our Holidays
D. Full House
Answer: B. Liege & Lief
Q14. After Liege & Lief, which two key members left the band, with one founding Steeleye Span?
A. Richard Thompson and Dave Mattacks
B. Simon Nicol and Dave Swarbrick
C. Sandy Denny and Ashley Hutchings
D. Dave Pegg and Jerry Donahue
Answer: C. Sandy Denny and Ashley Hutchings
Q15. In what year did Fairport Convention officially disband before reforming in 1985?
A. 1976
B. 1979
C. 1980
D. 1982
Answer: B. 1979
Q16. Which album from 1970 was the first with the all-male lineup after Sandy Denny’s departure?
A. Liege & Lief
B. Angel Delight
C. Full House
D. Babbacombe Lee
Answer: C. Full House
Q17. Who has been the longest-serving bassist in Fairport Convention, joining in 1969?
A. Ashley Hutchings
B. Dave Pegg
C. Simon Nicol
D. Trevor Lucas
Answer: B. Dave Pegg
Q18. Fairport Convention received a Lifetime Achievement Award at which event in 2002?
A. BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards
B. Glastonbury Festival
C. Brit Awards
D. Mercury Prize
Answer: A. BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards
Q19. The band’s farewell concert in 1979 took place in which village, leading to the festival’s origins?
A. Banbury
B. Cropredy
C. Muswell Hill
D. Oxford
Answer: B. Cropredy
Q20. Which violinist joined the reformed band in 1985 and remains a current member?
A. Ric Sanders
B. Dave Swarbrick
C. Maartin Allcock
D. Chris Leslie
Answer: A. Ric Sanders
Q21. “Meet on the Ledge” is a famous song written by which member?
A. Sandy Denny
B. Dave Swarbrick
C. Richard Thompson
D. Simon Nicol
Answer: C. Richard Thompson
Q22. Which album from 1971 was a concept album about “the man they couldn’t hang”?
A. Angel Delight
B. Babbacombe Lee
C. Rosie
D. Nine
Answer: B. Babbacombe Lee
Q23. Fairport Convention is often credited with inventing which genre?
A. British folk rock
B. Prog rock
C. Psychedelic rock
D. Punk folk
Answer: A. British folk rock
Q24. Which multi-instrumentalist joined in 1996 and is part of the current lineup?
A. Maartin Allcock
B. Chris Leslie
C. Jerry Donahue
D. Trevor Lucas
Answer: B. Chris Leslie
Q25. At the 2006 BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards, which Fairport album was voted “Most Influential Folk Album of All Time”?
A. Unhalfbricking
B. Full House
C. Liege & Lief
D. Rising for the Moon
Answer: C. Liege & Lief