VETERAN folk rock band Fairport Convention are stopping off at the Alban Arena next Saturday, February 23, as part of their 2013 Winter Tour.

As well as the concert in St Albans the band is visiting more than two dozen other venues throughout England.

Each concert opens with a short set by John Watterson before Fairport take the stage. John performs his own interpretation of songs by the late Jake Thackray, noted for his quirkily humorous lyrics.

Said Fairport co-founder Simon Nicol: “We always enjoy visiting St Albans, The Alban Arena is a great venue to play.

“Although we regularly record new albums our first love remains live performance.”

Fairport Convention features Simon (guitar and lead vocals), Dave Pegg (bass, mandolin and backing vocals), Chris Leslie (fiddle, mandolin, bouzouki and lead vocals), Ric Sanders (violin) and Gerry Conway (drums and percussion).

Formed in 1967’s Summer of Love, Fairport Convention has been entertaining audiences for over four decades. Hailed as the originators of British folk-rock music, the band’s annual music festival, Fairport’s Cropredy Convention, is broadcast by Sky Arts 1 HD each year.

Fairport have won a coveted BBC Lifetime Achievement Award and Radio 2 listeners voted Fairport’s groundbreaking album Liege & Lief as the most influential folk album of all time.

Tickets at £19.50 are available from the box office on 01727 844488 or online at www.alban-arena.co.uk

Rock’n’Roll Paradise brings six of the biggest names from one era together when the show appears at he Alban Arena next Sunday. February 24.

In a concert that could never have happened in the golden era of rock’n’roll, the show brings together Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Buddy Holly, Roy Orbison, the Big Bopper and Eddie Cochran backed by the Paradise Band.

Now in its fourth year, it features over 40 songs packed into a two-hour show.

The performance begins at 7.30pm and tickets are £18.50 with concessions £1 off.

n Three giants of the entertainment industry will be playing to full houses at the Alban Arena next week after selling out.

They are Cockney comedy star, Micky Flanagan, next Wednesday, February 20, who sold out in just 19 minutes, Jimmy Carr, making his fifth appearance at the theatre next Thursday, February 21, and singer songwriter and former frontman of Ace, Squeeze and Mike & The Mechanics, Paul Carrack, next Friday, February 22.