FOLK legends Fairport Convention are to play The Watermark in Ivybridge as part of a UK-wide tour ahead of their 50th anniversary.

The band, credited with creating British folk–rock music with their iconic album Liege and Lief, will have been making music for 50 years in 2017.

They will take the stage in the Ivybridge venue on Wednesday, May 25 at 8pm, playing material from their latest album Myths and Heroes along with old favourites from their extensive repertoire.

Fairport Convention’s line up for the 2016 tour includes founder member Simon Nicol on guitars and vocal, Dave Pegg, who joined in 1969 on bass, mandolin and

vocals, Ric Sanders on violin, multi-instrumentalist Chris Leslie on vocals, violin, mandolin, bouzouki, whistles and harmonica and Gerry Conway on

drums and percussion.

Fairport Convention have remained consistently popular over five decades, and won many plaudits including a Lifetime Achievement Award from the BBC. They have also organised their own folk festival - Fairport’s Cropredy Convention – in Oxfordshire for more than 35 years.

An evening of great music, entertaining anecdotes and amusing interludes is promised. Tickets are available by calling 01752 892220, in person from The Watermark Box Office, or online through the website www.ivybridgewatermark.co.uk .