*** If it's autumn and it's raining it must be time for Fairport Convention, folk rock's finest and oldest band, to make their annual visit to Bermuda. As bassist Dave Pegg put it: "It's nice to be back in Bermuda, it seems like it was only yesterday,'' as indeed it was as I caught the second of their two shows at the Bermuda Folk Club.

There's no secret to their appeal or their longevity -- their sheer love of the music is evident from their smiles which never left their faces during the evening.

And they have a lot to smile about with each member having a flawless mastery of their instrument.

Drummer Gerry Conway didn't make the trip leaving a little more space for the remaining four on the Old Colony Club's cramped stage. But there still wasn't much elbow room which is a problem when you have two fiddle players.

Banberry Fair kicked off the set featuring Chris Leslie's androgynous vocals with some sublime harmony singing from guitarist Simon Nicol and Dave Pegg.

Crazy hand Michael followed, written by Dave Swarbrick and Richard Thompson.

Swarbrick, Simon Nicol noted, had the dubious pleasure of reading his own obituary printed in error by Britain's Daily Telegraph last year -- reports of his death it seems were greatly exaggerated.

The powerful Dangerous written by Christine Olsen was followed by Woodworm Swing.

The Dancer, a new song about the distinctly strange English practice of morris dancing, was up next.

As the band stretched out and the instruments meshed together it felt odd to realise there were just four musicians playing -- the band seemed so much more than the sum of its parts.

Heart of the Song and Rocky Road, also from the band's recent release the Wood and the Wire followed -- separated by the Bowman's Elbow which featured a twin fiddle attack from Ric Sanders and Chris Leslie.

There's a law that every folk gig must have a nautically themed number and Fairport fulfilled their contractual obligation early in the second set with Close to You about a lighthouse keeper missing his Mrs. Wandering Man saw Sanders and Leslie again doubling up on the fiddle.

A highlight for me was a chilling version of Ralph McTell's Girl From The Highland Fair featuring echoing fiddle swoops from Sanders.

But this was surpassed by a blistering performance of Matty Groves -- a classic performed with all the passion and verve of a newly-penned tune. A thoroughly-deserved encore saw the band sign off with Richard Thompson's Meet on the Ledge featuring a rich blend of three part vocal harmonies.

And then they were gone -- but they will be back no doubt with the rain and gloom of next autumn, just make sure you don't miss it.