Folk rock legends Fairport Convention play the West Coast in Margate on Saturday (May 2).

Formed in the 1960s when the young musicians rehearsed at a house named Fairport which was the family home of rhythm guitarist Simon Nicol. Thus was born the name of a band that has endured for over four decades.

Since Fairport Convention played their first show in a church hall in 1967 they have been playing to audiences all over the globe for over forty years.

One of their biggest fans was the late broadcaster John Peel. He played the band’s albums on his influential BBC shows and recorded a number of BBC sessions which were later released later as the album Heyday.

With a history of festivals, tours and highly-rated albums, the band is still looking to break new ground, winning the coveted Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2002 BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards. The seminal album Liege And Lief was voted Best Folk Album Ever by Radio 2 listeners, and in the summer of 2006 it was awarded a gold disc for its continuing sales.

The current line-up of Simon Nicol (lead vocal, rhythm and electric guitars), Dave Pegg (backing vocals, bass guitar, mandolin), Ric Sanders (violin), Chris Leslie (lead vocal, fiddle, bouzouki, mandolin) and Gerry Conway (percussion and drums) still packs venues on its frequent tours.

Each year starts with Fairport covering the length and breadth of Britain on its winter tour. In August, the band stages its Cropredy Convention music festival in Oxfordshire. Most years, there is also a visit to America and Canadas by the Fairport acoustic line-up and by spin-off band The Dylan Project.

Tickets are £15 from www.westcoastlive.co.uk; by telephone on 07967 028 844; or from westcoastbar1@aol.co.uk. Doors open at 7.30pm.