Fairport’s Cropredy Convention 2007 had its first dose of the power and passion that is the Demon Barbers Roadshow and the medicine went down a treat. Hitting the stage on a hot Saturday afternoon is perhaps not the best spot – no problem. With their inimitable approach to traditional music, song and dance the Demon Barbers grabbed the festival by the neck and thousands rolled with the Roadshow.

Damien Barber’s characteristic voice carried songs such as ‘Katy Cruel’ and ‘The Creel’ and with Bryony Griffith’s fiddle and Will Hampson’s melodeon, laid down an intricate musical web over the foundations of Ben Griffith’s drums and Lee Sykes on bass. The dexterous footwork of the clog dancers (and their endurance in the heat) and the acrobatic leaping of Dogrose Morris entranced everyone. When the ‘rapper boys’ left to get ready, Bryony sang alone – no mean feat in front of a huge audience.

The display from Black Swan Rapper lifted the crowd even higher. Clearly, many were seeing rapper dancing for the first time and were blown away. The seemingly impossible interweaving of dancers and swords resulted in a tied star of rapper swords held high – and Cropredy roared its approval. A return gig for the Roadshow - same time next year? Must be.