Fairground Attraction

Biography

Fairground Attraction are a British folk and soft rock band. They are best known for the 1988 hits "Perfect×Perfect31 March 1988 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracksAPerfect3:27BMythology4:20" and "Find My Love×Find My Love1988 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracksAFind My LoveBWatching the Party", both from their debut studio album The First of a Million Kisses×The First of a Million KissesMay 1988 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1A Smile in a Whisper3:312Perfect3:393Moon on the Rain3:564Find My Love3:435Fairground Attraction2:166The Wind Knows My Name3:577Clare3:168Comedy Waltz3:319The Moon Is Mine2:4210Station Street3:0211Whispers3:5112Allelujah3:24. The band won two Brit Awards in 1989, but broke up the following year to pursue solo careers. They reformed in 2024.

Career

Fairground Attraction were formed in London in the mid-1980s, consisting of Mark Nevin, Eddi Reader, Simon Edwards and Roy Dodds. The sound they developed together blends elements of folk, jazz, country, and cajun styles.
In 1987, they were signed to RCA Records. Their first single, "Perfect×Perfect31 March 1988 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracksAPerfect3:27BMythology4:20", was an immediate success and reached number one on the UK Singles Chart. It was also nominated for the prestigious Ivor Novello 'Best Song Musically and Lyrically' award.
The album The First of a Million Kisses×The First of a Million KissesMay 1988 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1A Smile in a Whisper3:312Perfect3:393Moon on the Rain3:564Find My Love3:435Fairground Attraction2:166The Wind Knows My Name3:577Clare3:168Comedy Waltz3:319The Moon Is Mine2:4210Station Street3:0211Whispers3:5112Allelujah3:24 followed in 1988, with all but one of its songs written by guitarist Nevin. It entered the UK Albums Chart at #3 and peaked at #2, eventually being certified double platinum. RCA released three other singles from the album: "Find My Love×Find My Love1988 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracksAFind My LoveBWatching the Party" (which reached #7), "A Smile in a Whisper", and "Clare×Clare1988 · ReleaseSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 4 tracks1Clare3:182Do You Want to Know a Secret?2:363The Game of Love3:254Jock O'Hazeldean3:09". At the 1989 BRIT Awards, "Perfect" won Best British Single, and The First of a Million Kisses won Best British Album. The group found an especially devoted following in Japan, where they toured in 1989.
The band split up in January 1990, whilst in the midst of recording a follow-up album. Reader and Nevin do not agree on what prompted their disbanding. The album Ay Fond Kiss×Ay Fond Kiss1990 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1Jock O'Hazeldean3:072The Game of Love3:263Walking After Midnight2:494You Send Me4:425Trying Times3:546Mystery Train1:597Winter Rose3:308Do You Want to Know a Secret2:349Allelujah (live)3:3410Cajun Band3:0211Watching the Party3:3312Ay Fond Kiss3:20 was released by RCA in June of that year, but it was not the intended second album the band had been working on. Instead, it was a compilation of B-sides and other material recorded alongside their first album, many being collaborations by just two band members. A cover of Patsy Cline's "Walkin' After Midnight" was released as a single, and achieved minor chart success in the UK.
Nevin later recorded material intended for the original second album with Brian Kennedy, and released it under the name Sweetmouth in 1991. He later worked with Morrissey, co-writing most of the Kill Uncle album. He also worked with Kirsty MacColl again, before embarking on his own solo career. Reader continued to perform as a solo artist, performing Fairground Attraction songs as well as her solo songs, occasionally working with Nevin over the years.
In December 2023, Reader announced on her Facebook page that Fairground Attraction would reform for a Japanese tour in 2024. The band subsequently announced new music and a UK tour on the band's Facebook page. They debuted a new single, "What's Wrong with the World?" on 24 March 2024, followed on 12 June with the title track of their second studio album Beautiful Happening×Beautiful Happening27 September 2024 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1Beautiful Happening4:432Sing Anyway4:023What's Wrong With The World?3:494A Hundred Years Of Heartache3:585Learning To Swim3:106Gatecrashing Heaven3:387Sun And Moon3:258The Simple Truth3:109Hey Little Brother3:5210Last Night [Was A Sweet One]3:5111Miracles3:1412Lullaby For Irish Triplets4:28. The album was released in September 2024, over 36 years after The First of a Million Kisses.

Personnel

Eddi Reader – vocals, acoustic guitar, concertina
Mark E. Nevin – electric and acoustic guitars
Simon Edwards – guitarrón
Roy Dodds – drums, percussion
Pete Geddis – guitar
Andrew Davies – drums

Tour personnel

Roger Beaujolais – percussion
Graham Henderson – percussion, accordion, acoustic guitar, mandolin, piano

Compilation albums

The Collection: Fairground Attraction, featuring Eddi Reader (1994)
Perfect: The Best of Fairground Attraction (1995)
The Very Best of Fairground Attraction, featuring Eddi Reader (1996)
The Masters (1997)
80s Eternal Best: Fairground Attraction Best (1998)
The Very Best of Fairground Attraction (2004)

Live albums

Kawasaki Live in Japan 02.07.89 (2003)
Beautiful Happening Live in Japan (2025)

Videos

The First of a Million Kisses (1990)
Collection of music videos: "Perfect×Perfect31 March 1988 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracksAPerfect3:27BMythology4:20", "Find My Love×Find My Love1988 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracksAFind My LoveBWatching the Party", "A Smile in a Whisper", "Clare×Clare1988 · ReleaseSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 4 tracks1Clare3:182Do You Want to Know a Secret?2:363The Game of Love3:254Jock O'Hazeldean3:09"

Live at Full House (1990)
Live performances from German television show called Live at Full House