'Sidmouth 2005 attenders'

Subject: RE: 'Sidmouth 2005 attenders'
From: ConcertinaChap
Date: 15 Jun 05 - 10:51 AM

I'd like to see the return of some of the events that Mrs Casey saw fit to stop over the years (Sidmouth Singer of the Year comes to mind). Generally, the longer Mrs Casey were in charge the less I liked the way the festival was changing. So, yes, a return to an earlier style of festival would suit me well, which could include the international elements.

Chris

Subject: RE: 'Sidmouth 2005 attenders'
From: GUEST,Gadaffi
Date: 15 Jun 05 - 10:48 AM

There will be a forum held in the Arts Centre at Sidmouth on the Friday of Sidmouth Folk Week to discuss 'Sidmouth 2005 and Beyond'. Among those expected to be present are Eddie Upton, Derek Schofield and Gordon Newton with myself hosting.
Positive suggestions for the Festival's future will be invited. Please bear in mind that some of us have put a lot of time, energy, and in some cases personal cash at risk to foster this year's success with a view to ensure its future.

Subject: RE: 'Sidmouth 2005 attenders'
From: GUEST,James H
Date: 15 Jun 05 - 09:48 AM

Hi Don,

can I also reply even though I won't be there this year? (I've got other commitments that would have won out over Sidmouth as a one off whatever the plans had been for this year's festival). I'd have probably gone otherwise, but whether I'm there or not isn't the full story about what I'd like for the future.

I loved the Mrs Casey style of the festival for the last few years but don't mind the idea of it all being a little less commercial and on a smaller scale. But whatever the tone of the overall event, the things I think it would be a crying shame to lose in the long run would be:
* the ceilidh scene - what has in recent years been the festival dance house - which has been the key focus for a lot of the younger end of the festival. In particular, having it all in one place within walking distance of the campsite, having an earlier event and then an LNE.
* the atmosphere of the arena with all the crowds & the stalls & music & noise - the feeling of being at a fairground I guess.
* Shooting Roots
* such a huge variety of performers of different styles, and performances of different styles too (from big arena shows to big amplified concerts and ceilidhs, to small intimate acoustic concerts in the arts centre, to dancing in the street, and to sessions & singarounds in the pubs. I like a bit of everything!

James H

Subject: RE: 'Sidmouth 2005 attenders'
From: RobbieWilson
Date: 15 Jun 05 - 09:47 AM

I have never been tempted by the "International" tag at Sidmouth, though I have been by the World Of Music and Dance in Reading. I have been tempted by tales of people playing music around every corner and of great music in the Middle Bar but the price tag for a full week with kids has always been well beyond my reach.

I don't think, personally, that paid concerts are what makes a festival special. I live near Birmingham and could see top class music and dance from all around the world virtually 365 days a year if I wanted to.

It is the friendliness and shared sense of enjoyment that makes for a special festival and I am loking forward to Sidmouth 2005 because I expect to come across quite a bit of that.
Love Robbie

Subject: RE: 'Sidmouth 2005 attenders'
From: Lizzie Cornish
Date: 15 Jun 05 - 08:31 AM

So....The Arena?

Why not have a huge marquee in The Arena in years to come? There's plenty of space for one down on the flat part of Knowle Park. Yes it was lovely to sit on the hillside, but let's face it...it was darn uncomfortable! That hill is just too steep! You slide down it even when it's not raining!! I'm up and down it every day with my dogs and it's a killer. Great if you're a Longdog like mine is, but you really do need 4 feet to cope with it!

I've heard rumours that people are thinking about a covered area for The Arena. The last few years the weather has been dreadful during Festival week and when you're paying a lot of money for tickets, (we've got a family so x everything by 4) it's great to know that the weather really doesn't matter! That's why this year for the first time EVER, we bought our tickets in advance and all the previous years we've waited until the same day....often deciding not to go at the last minute because of the experience of slipping down that hill in thick mud! If there was a Marquee in The Arena we'd also buy tickets in advance.

All the other things could still take place as always. As long as special care was taken to centre everything around the town as well, thus including all the shopkeepers and local traders once more. It should all work beautifully!

Knowle Park is a beautiful space, but it had almost become the centre of the Folk Festival. Sidmouth is a beautiful town and this year I think a lot more people will be seeing the town in greater depth for the first time. I've had friends who, in the past, have only visited The Arena and nowhere else in town!! They got everything they wanted from The Arena so didn't bother with anything else!

I'm really looking forward to something a bit different this year. Although I very much loved the Festivals of the past it had become the same every year. The same children's entertainment in the same places, the same craft stalls, the same food stalls. It had somehow lost a bit of sparkle. I agree that sometimes it's nice to know that the same things will be there, like the Storytelling Tree and the Storyteller's Chair, but you need a bit of change too. Spices it all up!

I adore all the singers and dancers from around the world, but honestly, if an Arena Marquee becomes part of future Festivals, I can't see any reason why they won't all come flooding back again, but this time to a guaranteed, packed out, DRY...audience! It was wonderful seeing all the dancers wandering around town in their incredible costumes, but I'm sure it will all come back!

Always the optimist!

Can't wait for 2005 as it will be one of a kind and to have it at all is a huge blessing! SO looking forward to watching those torches being doused in the sea again this year. I've missed it in previous years as we live up by The Arena and always waited at the top to see the performers go past, then we'd go home as my young lad was wilting on his feet by then and we live very close to The Arena. So...I thought I'd missed the opportunity of ever seeing those torches again...but....here we are...2005 and it's happening!!

I'm overjoyed, don't know about anyone else. :0)

And I can't wait for 2006 either!

Lizzie :0)

Subject: RE: 'Sidmouth 2005 attenders'
From: Dave Earl
Date: 15 Jun 05 - 08:26 AM

I have rarely been to any of the "International" things in the years I have been coming to Sidmouth. Only the occasional African things that I happen to enjoy.

If Sidmouth evolves in to a smaller participatory festival with some guests that I wish to see I will continue to attend (other circumstances permitting.

I would like the festival to be more a "traditional" song/music/dance
with the accent on the British Isles and perhaps occasional stuff from further afield (Breton,French Canadian and maybe USA.

Not sure how this will fit in with what everybody else thinks but thats my two pennyworth.

Dave Earl

Subject: RE: 'Sidmouth 2005 attenders'
From: GUEST,Alan J.
Date: 15 Jun 05 - 08:22 AM

There is a major issue affecting festivals after 2006 which seems to have been overlooked by almost everyone, hardly surprising as it is hidden in the small print and hasn't been given any publicity by the authorities.
Anything held in non-licensed premises will need a Temporary Event Notice (TEN for short), and there is a limit of 96 hours per TEN, after which there has to be a gap of 24 hours. In other words, if the festival starts on Friday, there should be nothing in the Arena, marquees etc on Tuesday. http://www.culture.gov.uk/cgi-bin/MsmGo.exe?grab_id=43&page_id=11010560&query=TEN&hiword=TEN+
There might be a way out of this if the (East Devon??)council is enthusiastic - local authorities can licence a "public space" which could include the Knowle Arena, Ham and Blackmore Gardens. I suspect that LNE held on farmland would not benefit from this.
I have heard that Teignbridge council are looking to do this with some of their spaces such as the Triangles in Teignmouth, so it might be worth politely suggesting to East devon that they investigate a similar approach in Sidmouth.

Quote from the DCMS site---
"As stated above, local authorities will be encouraged to obtain premises licences to cover public spaces, such as village greens or indeed a number of streets, on which many performances take place. No additional licence would then need to be obtained by anyone else carrying out licensable activities on such premises covered by such a licence, although the consent of the local authority holding the licence would be required and permission given to use the land. But if there is no pre-existing licence, unless your event falls into an exempt category, a premises licence or club premises certificate or temporary event notice is required to authorise the provision of regulated entertainment."

Subject: RE: 'Sidmouth 2005 attenders'
From: Malc R
Date: 15 Jun 05 - 08:14 AM

Don

This will be my first Sidmouth, and it is the fact that it is a festival made up of many individual parts allowing me to pick and choose what I see/hear and what I pay for that has enticed me down south.

As I have other commitments at either end of the week I cannot attend for the whole festival so a season ticket would have been of no benefit to me in any case, and unfortunately the ever increasing bureaucracy and 'claim culture' insurances are making commercial performances prohibitively expensive, especially if attending as a family – possibly thread creep, my apologies.

Of the festivals I have attended, I much prefer the "Fringe" sessions to the commercial performances, although it is only at such large festivals that the opportunity to see/hear some of the international artists arises.

Ask again after the festival and you may get some different responses, but considering the event that has been organised in such a short space of time, then 2006 along similar, but more co-ordinated lines, should appeal to many old and new festival goers alike.

Malc

Subject: RE: 'Sidmouth 2005 attenders'
From: Mitch the Bass
Date: 15 Jun 05 - 08:13 AM

I'll be at Sidmouth 2005 as an artist as I have been at 6 previous festival between 1976 to 2004.

I like the diversity of the festival and, when the programme permits, go to concerts (both large and small), workshops, sessions, dances and displays and also visit the shops for instruments and CDs. This includes international performers. I realise that others may have more focussed interests.

It would be possible to have smaller festival whilst retaining the diversity (concerts, sessions, workshops, dances, international content etc), or have a large festival and narrow the focus for example to performance rather than participation.

For me, keep the diversity at whatever scale is viable.

Mitch

Subject: RE: 'Sidmouth 2005 attenders'
From: GUEST
Date: 15 Jun 05 - 08:05 AM

A smaller festival will suit me as I spend most of my time in the sessions, singarounds and workshops, may be only going to a couple of big concerts.

Subject: RE: 'Sidmouth 2005 attenders'
From: MBSLynne
Date: 15 Jun 05 - 07:39 AM

I've personally never been too bothered by the 'International' aspect of the festival and in recent years I've thought that there were perhaps too many international guests, all of whom have to be paid and accomodated. The festival has grown in the 22 years I've been attending, and added more 'roots' and other music. I haven't been entirely happy with the way it's changed since my early days there, though I realise that the management were trying to make it pay, and without some of the changes we probably would already have lost the festival. On the other hand, I've always liked the fact that it was a big festival. Perhaps what I'd like, is to see it become a little smaller than in recent years, but not too small.

I must admit that, while the loss of the arena as a venue for performers doesn't particularly bother me as I've only ever been to two concerts there in all my year, but what I really regret and will miss terrribly, is the loss of the arena showground. I think a lot of other people will too considering the packed crowds that frequented
it. I loved the range of goods and shopping you could do there, the kids' story glade, the punch and judies, the circus arts bits and so on, and it was yet another place for the childrren to go and enjoy themselves.

What I really want is the Sidmouth I used to know and love, but that isn't possible, so I think the answer is, a smaller festival, though still big and with as much variety and choice as is possible.

Love Lynne

Subject: RE: 'Sidmouth 2005 attenders'
From: GUEST,Blowzabella at work
Date: 15 Jun 05 - 07:22 AM

Don,

Please can I reply, even though I am not attending? The reason I am not attending is not because of a desire to return to an International Festival but, rather because Sidmouth has never really been much of a draw for me previously, because it was too big - hence I have other plans for my holidays. However, after seeing what is planned for 2005 - I would definitely look towards attending it in 2006, if it were following a similar format. I think that it looks like a brilliant programme of events and I would have loved to have been able to go - sadly, (well, not too sadly) I will be sailing round the Western Isles.

Blowz

Subject: RE: 'Sidmouth 2005 attenders'
From: Don(Wyziwyg)T
Date: 15 Jun 05 - 07:01 AM

BTW, for those who are not attending, I would like to stress that you are not being excluded because I am not interested in your opinion, but rather because, by not attending this year you have already expressed your desire for a return to the International Festival, which, for what it's worth, is also my desire.

Don T.

Subject: 'Sidmouth 2005 attenders'
From: Don(Wyziwyg)T
Date: 15 Jun 05 - 06:56 AM

This thread is directed specifically at people who ARE going to Sidmouth Festival 2005.

I'm trying to find out the consensus of opinion on what we are working towards, so I need to know your individual views on what you want future Sidmouth festivals to be.

Do you prefer:-

1. The International festival that has been a unique event in the calendar for a number of years?

2. A smaller folk festival, which is more performer oriented?

3. Something else?

It would be most helpful if we could keep to the subject of the thread, as that will make it much easier to collate results.

Thank you for your cooperation

Don T.