BRITISH folk rock pioneers Fairport Convention return to Leeds City Varieties Music Hall on February 21.

The veteran band now features Simon Nicol on guitar and lead vocals, Dave Pegg on bass, mandolin and backing vocals, Chris Leslie on fiddle, mandolin, bouzouki and lead vocals, Ric Sanders on violin and Gerry Conway on drums and percussion.

“We always enjoy visiting Leeds and City Varieties Music Hall is a great venue to play,” says Simon, who co-founded Fairport Convention in 1967’s summer of love. “Although we regularly record new albums, our first love remains live performance.”

Last year, the long-winding Fairport path was celebrated in a BBC4 documentary. “Now it’s time to move on towards our 50th year,” says Simon. “Fairport is a band that always looks to the future.”

In the spring, Fairport will play Pocklington Arts Centre on May 8 at 8pm. Box office: Leeds, 0113 243 0808 or at cityvarieties.co.uk; Pocklington, 01759 301547 or pocklingtonartscentre.co.uk