Festival Bell

The name of the album (as well as the cover and the title track) is a reference to the bell of the same name that currently rings in St Mary's Church in Cropredy, Oxfordshire.{{cite web|url=http://www.cropredyvillage.info/ChurchBells.htm|title=Cropredy Church Bells|publisher=Cropredy Village info|access-date=2011-02-19|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120603100118/http://www.cropredyvillage.info/ChurchBells.htm|archive-date=2012-06-03}} The track "Ukulele Central" features guest appearances from comedian Frank Skinner and singer Joe Brown.{{cite web|url=http://www.musikfolk.co.uk/expletive-delighted/index.html |title=Festival Bell information from Expletive Delighted |publisher=Ian Rennie |access-date=2011-05-16 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111003214820/http://www.musikfolk.co.uk/expletive-delighted/index.html |archive-date=2011-10-03 }} The song "Mercy Bay" tells of the ill-fated voyage of {{HMS|Investigator|1848|6}} to search for Franklin's lost expedition, itself searching for the Northwest Passage.

{{Album ratings

| rev1 = Record Collector

|rev1Score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite magazine |last=Abbott |first=Kingsley |editor1-first=Alan |editor1-last=Lewis |editor2-first=Jason |editor2-last=Draper |date=April 2011 |title=Fairport Convention – Festival Bell – Album Review |magazine=Record Collector |issue=387 |page=86 |publisher=Diamond Publishing Ltd |location=London |url=http://www.recordcollectormag.com/reviews/review-detail/6884 |access-date=8 May 2011 }}

| rev2 = musicOMH

|rev2Score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite magazine |last=Chapple |first=Jon |date=April 2011 |title=Fairport Convention – Festival Bell |magazine=musicOMH |publisher=OMH |url=http://www.musicomh.com/albums/fairport-convention-2_0311.htm |access-date=11 July 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110425204946/http://www.musicomh.com/albums/fairport-convention-2_0311.htm |archive-date=2011-04-25}}

| rev3 = BBC

| rev3Score = (favorable) {{cite web |url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/music/reviews/v5wx |title=BBC - Music - Review of Fairport Convention - Festival Bell |first=Sid |last=Smith |work=bbc.co.uk |date=30 March 2011 |access-date=3 January 2012}}

| rev4 = The Guardian

| rev4Score = (favorable) {{cite news |url= https://www.theguardian.com/music/2011/apr/07/fairport-convention-festival-bell-review |title=Fairport Convention: Festival Bell – review | Music | The Guardian |first=Robin |last=Denselow |work=The Guardian |date=7 April 2011 |publisher=GMG |location=London |issn=0261-3077 |oclc=60623878 |access-date=3 January 2012}}

}}

The album was released four years after the band's previous studio work, Sense of Occasion. It consists of 14 tracks, mixing original compositions with four cover versions including a reworking of the title track from the band's 1975 album Rising for the Moon. Record Collector magazine's 4 star review of the album stated: "Festival Bell is a work of maturity and depth, yet delivered with a lightness of touch that will delight fans old and new".

1. "Mercy Bay" (Chris Leslie)
2. "Rui's Guitar" (Chris Leslie)
3. "Danny Jack's Chase" (Ric Sanders)
4. "Reunion Hill" (Richard Shindell)
5. "Wouldn't Say No" (Chris Leslie)
6. "Around the Wild Cape Horn" (Ralph McTell)
7. "Celtic Moon" (Mark Evans, Carolyn Evans)
8. "Ukulele Central" (Chris Leslie, Ric Sanders)
9. "Albert and Ted" (Ric Sanders, Dave Pegg)
10. "Darkside Wood" (Chris While)
11. "London Apprentice" / "Johnny Ginears" (Ralph McTell / Ric Sanders)
12. "Rising for the Moon" (Sandy Denny)
13. "Danny Jack's Reward" (Ric Sanders)
14. "The Festival Bell" (Chris Leslie)

• Simon Nicol - vocals, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, bass ukulele
• Chris Leslie - vocals, mandolin, bouzuki, violin, Portuguese guitar, ukulele, whistle
• Ric Sanders - violin, ukulele, keyboards, bass ukulele, backing vocals,
• Dave Pegg - bass guitar, vocals, ukulele, mandolin, acoustic guitar
• Gerry Conway - drums, percussion

;Guest musicians

• Frank Skinner - banjo ukulele on "Ukulele Central"
• Joe Brown - ukulele, backing vocals on "Ukulele Central"

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Category:Fairport Convention albums

Category:2011 albums

Category:Albums produced by John Gale