Why are you not going to Sidmouth

Subject: RE: Why are you not going to Sidmouth
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 02 Jan 05 - 07:00 PM

I'm going, because it's the first festival I went to, and loved, before Steve Heap rescued and expanded it. It was where I first heard Steve singing (with the Valley Folk), and heard Eliza's dad performing with Dave Swarbrick, and Laura's dad singing, all in the Beach Store. Even when it was a small festival it was brilliant.

Kitty

Subject: RE: Why are you not going to Sidmouth
From: Sorcha
Date: 02 Jan 05 - 05:49 PM

Because it's too far away.

Subject: RE: Why are you not going to Sidmouth
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 02 Jan 05 - 04:17 PM

I'm not a die hard folkie, neither am I a Sidmouth Regular (although I believe I still owe £15 in fines to the Middle Bar, for one song), so it would have been an unusual occurence for me to go anyway. I've always found it was priced a little higher than I'm prepared to go. Having said that, if someone offered me a ticket, or I got booked as a gig or a stewards place, I'd go. It is one of the few festivals that makes it to mainstream media, it is one of the few that actively invites and encourages traditions from all over the world, often from areas we consider as cultural deserts, and it's one of the few that would be missed across the world if it folded for ever.

Eliza is right, Steve doesn't deserve to be labelled the bad guy in this, he has his moments, but this is not one of them.

LTS

Subject: RE: Why are you not going to Sidmouth
From: GUEST
Date: 02 Jan 05 - 03:33 PM

Because I booked well in advance for Whitby before I found out that anything had been salvaged for 2005. As my boss has this funny idea about my coming in to work in return for being paid I can't do both.

Subject: RE: Why are you not going to Sidmouth
From: GUEST,eliza c
Date: 02 Jan 05 - 12:47 PM

I won't be going this year because it won't be the festival that I grew up at. I loved the fact that you could see everything from the trad English sessions in the Volunteer to traditional dancers from Uzbekistan on the Arena, everyone together and equal, a folk festival in the most global sense.
Don T, I'm sorry, but I have to stand up for Steve Heap. The reason he isn't doing it any more is because he couldn't afford to keep going out of his own pocket. He loves both the music and the festival and I know him to be an honest and hard working man trying to do his best for what he sees to be important for the scene. This may not tally with what other folkies think of as important, but one of the wonderful things about the folk scene is that it is so diverse, full of ideas. He doesn't deserve to have his name bandied about in such a way.
As for a "real" folk festival, why did Sidmouth in its present form have to die so that this could happen? Was there no more room for other folk events in this country? Was it so worthless? A unique and enriching experience is potentially lost forever. It really is a shame. Sidmouth was the one large festival that did cater for the most die-hard trad fans, and provide those who may not know about that aspect of the music with the opportunity to experience it, and now it is gone.
Sorry if all of this has been said on threads I haven't seen folks, but I've been away for a bit. I really will miss it, needed to say my bit.
x eliza

Subject: RE: Why are you not going to Sidmouth
From: Rt Revd Sir jOhn from Hull
Date: 01 Jan 05 - 10:07 PM

its too far away, if they move it to hull, i might go.

Subject: RE: Why are you not going to Sidmouth
From: GUEST,Roger Hayes
Date: 01 Jan 05 - 02:27 PM

I agree with Laura.

I'm not going because it's not going to be anything like the Festival I have known and loved, also because there are better alternatives in 2005 at Broadstairs and, I hear, Eastleigh in Hampshire.

Having said that, I wish those who do still go for the sessions in The Anchor and The Bedford or the concerts in The Manor Pavilion or at the Ham an enjoyable time.

I respect their wish to have a smaller, very traditional Festival with few big-name artistes and international visitors. Good luck to them. I hope they have a great time.

All I ask is that they also respect my reasons for not joining them. We're all entitled to our own views so please let's avoid all the negative sniping that sadly characterised previous threads on Sidmouth.

Happy New Year!

Subject: RE: Why are you not going to Sidmouth
From: *Laura*
Date: 01 Jan 05 - 12:19 PM

Because there hasn't been enough time to organise it properly and it is quite likely to be a bit messy.
And because if everyone goes this year the council won't bother to give any funding for next year because they'll assume everyone will turn up anyway.
And because Mrs Casey aren't doing it so I don't have a job.

Subject: RE: Why are you not going to Sidmouth
From: Don(Wyziwyg)T
Date: 01 Jan 05 - 11:41 AM

I'm getting particularly sick of hearing the word "fringe" bandied about by people who seem to have forgotten what folk music is about.

Please, please, please GUEST, DON'T go to Sidmouth this year, in case you become corrupted by a REAL folk festival, and consequently useless to the cause of Mr. Heap's commercial success.

The real folk festival is, and has always been, in the pubs, and streets, of the town. Such a pity that that the likes of GUEST (Who?) have never taken the trouble to leave the trendy followers of the latest imported dance acts, in order to re-connect with the heritage of their own land. Internationalism should be inclusive of the host nation, but there is damn all to suggest that the English heritage, and tradition, mean anything at all to them.

Do have a Happy New Year GUEST, as far as possible from me. I shall be in Sidmouth, and I don't care who knows my identity.


See you all in the Bedford, or The Swan, I hope.

Don Thompson

Subject: RE: Why are you not going to Sidmouth
From: The Unicorn Man
Date: 01 Jan 05 - 04:04 AM

I am.

Subject: Why are you not going to Sidmouth
From: GUEST
Date: 31 Dec 04 - 02:04 PM

Due to the fact its a fringe festival,roll on 2006.Happy New Year everybody.