The group has booked a whirlwind tour of the U.K. that has them playing nearly every day from February 1 through March 5. They’ll start in Tewkesbury, hitting Milton Keynes, Leeds, Salisbury, Northampton and two dozen more before wrapping in Oxford.

PJ Wright will appear as special guest at all shows, and they’ll appear with founding member Ashley Hutchings and his Rainbow Chasers at two gigs, in Cambridge and Croydon.

Fairport Convention plans to have a double live CD, Off The Desk, pressed in time for the tour.

Meanwhile, the group is firming up plans for the 2006 edition of its long-running Cropredy Festival in Oxfordshire. This year’s event will take place August 10-12, with Steeleye Span, Glenn Tilbrook, and Flook heading the crop of already confirmed performers.

Fairport is also looking to visit the U.S. this summer, with June dates in New York and New Jersey on the books.

The band is led by founding member Simon Nicol and Dave Pegg, who joined in 1973. Ric Sanders, Chris Leslie and Gerry Conway round out the lineup.