The East Anglian Fairs began with the Barsham Medieval Faire in 1972, and developed into a significant feature of rural counterculture in Britain, drawing on aspects of pop festival culture, the reinvention of traditional rural or nomadic seasonal gatherings, and a back-to-the-land early green ethos.
The voluntary organisers worked under the name of the East Anglian Arts Trust (EAAT).
An ad hoc group of fair organisers and crew participated in the Eye Show in August 1977.
Many London and East Anglian bands and theatre groups played at these fairs, among them The Papers, who released a live album (live at Thornham Magna) in 1981, capturing the atmosphere of the fairs.
They played as the headline act at Barsham, Cromer and many other events, as well as being well known on the London clubs circuit.