The Deborah Bonham Band, the group led by late Led Zeppelin drummer John Bonham’s sister, played a set at veteran U.K. folk-rockers Fairport Convention’s annual Cropredy Festival on Saturday, August 9. During their performance, Bonham and her band welcomed a very special guest to the stage, Led Zeppelin frontman Robert Plant!
Videos by American Songwriter
Plant joined Bonham and company for the last two songs of their set, renditions of a pair of classic Zeppelin tunes—“Thank You” and “Ramble On.”
As seen in fan-shot video, the 76-year-old rock legend introduced “Thank You” by sharing a humorous exchange he had with a female friend regarding the tune earlier that day.
“A lady friend said to me in the car today, ‘How old were you when you wrote that with Jimmy [Page],” Robert told the crowd. “I said, ‘12?’” Then, as the band began the organ intro to the song, Plant gave an apparent humorous nod to Prince’s “Let’s Go Crazy,” quipping, “Dearly beloved.”
Other guests onstage for the performances of the Led Zeppelin tunes were longtime Fairport Convention bassist Dave Pegg on mandolin, and two members of Plant’s current side group Saving Grace—singer Suzy Dian and guitarist Tony Kelsey.
After an inspired and emotive performance of “Thank You,” Plant thanked Pegg, pointing out that he used to play with Dave in the group Band of Joy back in 1967. Robert added, “He had hair [so long] he used to tuck it into his jeans. He was a mean mother—-er. Still is.”
Plant also ripped through a rocking version of “Ramble On” with Bonham and her band for the set’s encore.
Plant’s History with the Cropredy Festival and Deborah Bonham Band
Fairport Convention began hosting the Cropredy Festival in 1976. The event takes place in the English village of Cropredy, located about 75 miles north of London. Plant has made numerous appearances at the event over the years. You can check out photos from Robert’s 2025 performance at Cropredy at the festival’s Facebook page.
Robert also has joined the Deborah Bonham Band as a special guest multiple times throughout the years. According to the Led Zeppelin News fan site, he most recently played with the group at a February 2, 2024, show in Blackpool, U.K.
More Recent Plant News
Plant recently announced plans to released his first album with his current side group Saving Grace. The self-titled collection is due out on September 26. The band has released a cover of the 2005 Low tune “Everybody’s Song” as an advance single from the album.
Plant and Saving Grace also will mount their first North American tour this fall to support of the album. The 14-date outing begins October 30 in Wheeling, West Virginia, and runs through a November 22 show in Los Angeles.
Saving Grace also just announced a pair of intimate album-release shows scheduled for September 28 in London. The concerts will be held at the Circuit nightclub and will take place at 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. local time.
(Photo by Steve Thorne/Redferns)
Leave a Reply
Only members can comment. Become a member. Already a member? Log in.