THIRTY-five years on the road and still going strong. Fairport Convention head back to one of their favourite venues on Tuesday to renew some old aquaintances.

"We love coming to Burnley," said the band's Dave Pegg. "I think we've been to the town every year since we started and the Mechanics is one of our favourite places to play."

Forever saddled with the label folk-rock, Fairport Convention have become an integral part of the British music scene.

"We play the music that we like," said Dave. "Every year we look at each other and ask how long can we keep on doing it, but we do enjoy playing live so much we carry on. Of course, you get fed up sitting in a van for five hours on the way to a gig but it's something we've done all our lives."

The band have been together longer than many married couples.

"I suppose we have to get on," joked Dave.

Last year, to mark their 35th anniversary, they played over 200 dates around the world, including two trips to the States and a tour of Japan and Australia, as well as hosting their annual Cropready Festival, but they show no signs of slowing down.

"We always go out on the road around February to keep in touch with out loyal fans around the UK," said Dave. "And we'll be touring pretty much for the rest of the year."

The band will be embarking on an acoustic tour in May and then tour America's east coast in June.

Fairport Convention are in danger of becoming a national treasure and still attract fans of all ages.

"At our gigs you'll see fans who were with us in the late '60s through to students," said Dave. "We have a regular newsletter which goes out to 23,000 people."

Yet it's unlikely you'll see much of Fairport Convention on TV or hear them played on the radio.

"It is a bit annoying that so few radio shows will feature our type of music," said Dave. "We were given the label folk rock in 1969 and it's stuck since then. The funny thing is that when we first started our material was seen as being very new. We were one of the first electric groups to play jigs and reels and had a huge following on the college circuit."

So, after so long on the road, how do the band keep things fresh?

"We are always bringing new material into the live show and we also reinvent some of the old songs," said Dave. "We have some good friends out there who come and support us and that what makes touring so enjoyable."

Fairport Convention play Burnley Mechanics on Tuesday, February 4 at 7.30pm. Tickets priced £15 are available from the box office on 01282 66400.