newbie guide to Sidmouth folk festival

Subject: RE: newbie guide to Sidmouth folk festival
From: The Barden of England
Date: 26 Jul 10 - 08:23 AM

Tam - I think it's 'show up with the e-mail'. I'm sure the Stewards at the gate will let you know where to go to get all the 'Stewardy' stuff.

John Barden

Subject: RE: newbie guide to Sidmouth folk festival
From: GUEST,Girl Friday
Date: 26 Jul 10 - 10:21 AM

Thanks for all the help. I'll print off my email too. So glad that you've had great weather there. For a while I thought the S W was getting all the rain that we normally get here. It must be falling on someone!

Subject: RE: newbie guide to Sidmouth folk festival
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 26 Jul 10 - 02:31 PM

got our rota...

We are working every morning Sunday - Wednesday either in the Manor or Arts (where's Arts?). From 9:30 to 11:15 and then from 11:30 to 12:45. Think I am going to have to do some switching cuz that is a long go with only a 15 minute break. Seem to have all of Thursday free. Even though we specifically said we are leaving on Friday morning for a handfasting in Swansea, we have been booked for duty Friday morning and Friday night. Guess we will have to trade our free Thursday so we don't leave our Friday responsibilities high and dry.

Subject: RE: newbie guide to Sidmouth folk festival
From: GUEST
Date: 26 Jul 10 - 04:01 PM

The Manor Pavillion and the Arts Centre are the same building, the separate entrances are round the corner from each other.

Subject: RE: newbie guide to Sidmouth folk festival
From: JHW
Date: 26 Jul 10 - 04:40 PM

There are Permanent Campsites at Salcombe Regis, Part Thorn and Kingsdown Tail etc. well out of town (4m to Kingsdown Tail, the farthest) but there are Alpha buses from the Byes serving them all day and into the early hours. I certainly won't be using the festival site.

Subject: RE: newbie guide to Sidmouth folk festival
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 26 Jul 10 - 06:56 PM

Tam - still hope we can meet up somewhere, even though it sounds as if you won't be able to get to the morning Faulkner singarounds!

Kitty

Subject: RE: newbie guide to Sidmouth folk festival
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 27 Jul 10 - 03:32 AM

Probably worth remarking that other countries have climate, but in the UK we have weather.

Met-check and the Met office are disagreed.

Met-check says some rain during Friday afternoon - Met office says some sun during the day on Friday.

Met-check says some very light precipitation Saturday - Met office doesn't

Met-check says gusts of wind up to 22 mph all weekend. Met office says top whack 10 mph.

Subject: RE: newbie guide to Sidmouth folk festival
From: Cllr
Date: 27 Jul 10 - 08:55 AM

in the pub i will be dry on the outside and wet on the inside except thursday for the sing in the sea!

Subject: RE: newbie guide to Sidmouth folk festival
From: mattkeen
Date: 27 Jul 10 - 11:09 AM

Met Office is easily the more accurate

I am obsessed with trying to accurately predict the weather to faciliate my fishing expeditions - trust me Met Office is the one

Subject: RE: newbie guide to Sidmouth folk festival
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 27 Jul 10 - 05:26 PM

Ah, split infinitives make it harder to predict anything.

Subject: RE: newbie guide to Sidmouth folk festival
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 27 Jul 10 - 05:57 PM

Richard - or do they just make it harder to accurately predict anything?

Kitty (going to quickly look for her coat....)

See some of you in the Anchor on Thursday, I hope!

Kitty

Subject: RE: newbie guide to Sidmouth folk festival
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 27 Jul 10 - 06:25 PM

how exactly does one get to the campsite?   postcode for google search would be helpful

Also need a map or instructions where the hidden stuff is, like the Newt.

times for these fringe events also helpful. Already know about the Faulkner morning sing a rounds.

Subject: RE: newbie guide to Sidmouth folk festival
From: Leadfingers
Date: 27 Jul 10 - 06:46 PM

Tam - Look on the Festival Website for a map ! The Newt is The New Tavern !

Subject: RE: newbie guide to Sidmouth folk festival
From: The Barden of England
Date: 28 Jul 10 - 01:25 AM

Tam - 'Steve in Sidmouth' gave a link to buses etc which shows where the campsite is but just in case here it is :- http://www.seered.co.uk/busmap.htm. Scroll down and you will see a map. It's in the Bulverton Road before Ice House Lane. Hope to see you tomorrow.
John Barden

Subject: RE: newbie guide to Sidmouth folk festival
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 28 Jul 10 - 02:24 AM

Thanks Terry and John. Check - the Newt is the New Tavern, but I still don't see it on the festival map.

Where will I be likely to see you John?

I am getting kind of worried about the camp site. We have to leave Friday morning to go to handfasting Saturday in Swansea. How likely are we to be confined by mud?

Still need times that the fringe sing arounds are happening.

Subject: RE: newbie guide to Sidmouth folk festival
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 28 Jul 10 - 02:36 AM

Tam - I suspect you'll find John in a bar of the Bedford Hotel on the Esplanade, the main dining room of which is also a concert venue. The New Tavern is in Fore Street between the Esplanade and Dove Lane, and the Anchor is in Old Fore Street. Anchor sings are generally from about 12.30 - 3 and 8-11pm.

Kitty

Subject: RE: newbie guide to Sidmouth folk festival
From: Ruth Archer
Date: 28 Jul 10 - 03:14 AM

To reiterate: Sidmouth is currently lovely and dry (and sunny). There is no mud. The weather forecasts predict little or no rain. Mud should not be a problem.

Subject: RE: newbie guide to Sidmouth folk festival
From: GUEST,Ralphie
Date: 28 Jul 10 - 03:23 AM

A bit more info on the Volunteer.
The lunchtime session is normally run by George Frampton, (am assuming he's doing it this year?)
It's normally very crowded and tends to focus more on the traditional end of things.
There is usually a pit orchestra of two or three musos, to play the occasional tune. But, as there are so many fine singers, most people only get a chance of one song.
Still it's well worth the trek up the hill at least once during the week, but be advised to get there erly (pre-midday) for any chance of a seat.
Evenings are more relaxed, with a session in the bar, and mainly local bands playing in the garden.
Hope that helps, and enjoy your visit.
Glad the weather is looking good Joanie!

Subject: RE: newbie guide to Sidmouth folk festival
From: GUEST,The Barden of England sans cookie
Date: 28 Jul 10 - 03:45 AM

Herga Litty's right - I'll be in the bar of The Bedford Hotel which is on the sea front at the junction of Station Road and The Esplanade.
John Barden

Subject: RE: newbie guide to Sidmouth folk festival
From: Leadfingers
Date: 28 Jul 10 - 05:56 AM

Map

Subject: RE: newbie guide to Sidmouth folk festival
From: GUEST
Date: 28 Jul 10 - 06:23 AM

John B: "I'll be in the bar of The Bedford Hotel which is on the sea front at the junction of Station Road and The Esplanade."

Grand news - I'll see you there

Vince

Subject: RE: newbie guide to Sidmouth folk festival
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 28 Jul 10 - 08:00 AM

All the moisture will be INSIDE JOHN!

Subject: RE: newbie guide to Sidmouth folk festival
From: Noreen
Date: 28 Jul 10 - 05:05 PM

Rain gradually clearing on Saturday... just in time for me to get there :)

Subject: RE: newbie guide to Sidmouth folk festival
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 28 Jul 10 - 05:43 PM

Everything except food packed.

So we are planning to pitch caravan and then park in the Bulverton car park. I understand it is a 5 minute up hill walk from the campsite. Most of the time we will be using bus.

So how far from campsite is road where bus stop is? Is it also long uphill slog too?

Also we know there is a one way system for getting to Bulverton. When is that enforced? From Friday? Saturday? Are there any other one way roads in Sidmouth which may hamper us towing caravan to the campsite?

Previous answers muchly appreciated as will be following.

Subject: RE: newbie guide to Sidmouth folk festival
From: Noreen
Date: 28 Jul 10 - 06:01 PM

Don't go INTO Sidmouth with caravan, there is no need. Find your route to campsite staying out of the centre, where streets are narrow, busy and full of people.
Set up caravan, park car then walk everywhere, with bus as necessary.
Central Sidmouth is flat :)
See you soon!

Subject: RE: newbie guide to Sidmouth folk festival
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 28 Jul 10 - 06:16 PM

Has anyone mentioned the great problem with getting there?

AVOID THE A303 NEAR STONEHENGE.

I spent 3 hours doing about 100 yards there on the way down last year.

Subject: RE: newbie guide to Sidmouth folk festival
From: Surreysinger
Date: 28 Jul 10 - 07:16 PM

To add to Ralphie's observations on the Volunteer ....

George Frampton certainly IS in charge of the lunchtime events at the Volunteer again this year, and will (as previously) have a rota of co-hosts during the week.

>>It's normally very crowded and tends to focus more on the traditional end of things.There is usually a pit orchestra of two or three musos, to play the occasional tune. But, as there are so many fine >>singers, most people only get a chance of one song.

There is always a pit orchestra :-)
One thing to be very aware of is that this is NOT a singaround. Singers get asked to do their one song (and that isn't guaranteed by any means)by invitation of the co-hosts only. As Ralphie said, the pool of fine singers that turn up is a large one, and even some of the best may not get a song during the course of proceedings ! If you want a singaround, then you will probably be happier with the ones run by Herga Kitty every day in the Yacht Club (I'm assuming that it's there again this year Kitty), or the sessions that the Middle Bar Singers hold in the Anchor every day.

>>Still it's well worth the trek up the hill at least once during the week, but be advised to get there erly (pre-midday) for any chance of a seat.

A wee bit alarmist methinks. Most people tend to turn up after mid-day...

>>Evenings are more relaxed, with a session in the bar, and mainly local bands playing in the garden.

The evening sessions (which I assume will be proceeding as in the last three years under the benign leadership of Roger Grimes, Bernie Cherry and Ken Langsbury) are mixed - singers and musicians ... and start on Sunday night. Quite often the bands in the garden in the past (can't speak for the pub's policy this year, although George aka Gaddaffi on here may well know what Steve and Jo are likely to be up to) tend to compete in volume with what goes on in the pub itself, but it can be fun to pop outside to see things like we've had in the past - the Sidmouth Silver Band for instance at one point!)
Hope that helps, and enjoy your visit.

Looking forward to being in the Volunteer, or as Frank Ingnobody has dubbed it in Borfolk "The Tune Lover" later in the week ! :-)

Subject: RE: newbie guide to Sidmouth folk festival
From: Steve in Sidmouth
Date: 28 Jul 10 - 07:29 PM

I deal with several queries every year about towing caravans to the site - I'll be doing better maps shortly. However, for now, there are 5 roads into Sidmouth from the A3052 coast road.

Starting with the one nearest the east (from Seaton and Lyme Regis direction):

Fortescue Road - this is half way down the steep hill (Trow Hill) into Sidford. Avoid it.

Next is the major traffic light junction at Sidford Cross (junction of A375 and A3052). This is OK for buses and HGV into town but turn right at the mini island into All Saints Road before you get to Sidmouth High St. See Festival maps. Turn right again at Woodlands Hotel (another mini-island at top end of All Saints Road) and this takes you to the campsite easily - it will be on your right.

Next is the turning by Waitrose - Stowford Rise - no real point in taking this one.

Next is the Woolbrook Road - ditto as above.

Some distance further west (towards Exeter) is the A3176 at the BOWD - a big pub/restaurant on the right.

BEFORE you get to this pub travelling west (or just after it travelling east), turn onto A3176 to Sidmouth. Narrow country road but takes you to festival campsite which will be on your left. This junction is the FIRST one to Sidmouth if travelling east from Exeter direction along the A3052. It is also the one signed with FolkWeek signs.

Don't get stressed if you get into Sidmouth with a caravan - it is easy. HGVs do it all the time. Just stick to the main roads!!!

WHATEVER you do do NOT try to get to the official festival CAR PARK towing a caravan. Parts of your caravan might make it, other parts might not...... And don't overshoot the festival campsite entrance, it is some distance before you can turn around. And avoid Ice House Lane. It is a shortcut for people and small cars only.

Subject: RE: newbie guide to Sidmouth folk festival
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 29 Jul 10 - 02:35 AM

Irene - I will not be running any sessions in the Yacht club/ Sailing club, and never have done! Tim Edwards and I will take it in turns to run singarounds in the Faulkner bar of the Royal York and Faulkner hotel from Sunday morning through to Friday - as I mentioned earlier in this thread, anyone who fancies a sing will be welcome, if they can cope with the relatively early (10.30) start!

Kitty

Subject: RE: newbie guide to Sidmouth folk festival
From: Leadfingers
Date: 29 Jul 10 - 03:45 AM

I MAY just look into The Faulkner on my way to the Newt on the odd morning IF I get up early enough !

Subject: RE: newbie guide to Sidmouth folk festival
From: Mary Humphreys
Date: 29 Jul 10 - 04:00 AM

English Rebellion ( Nick & Mary Barber, Anahata and me ) will be the pit orchestra at the Volly on Tuesday. Hope to see some of you there!

Subject: RE: newbie guide to Sidmouth folk festival
From: GUEST,Ralphie
Date: 29 Jul 10 - 04:17 AM

If anyone is scared of the Radway Don't be!
Basically, continuous tunes Midday til Midnight (Strict curfew to appease the locals!)
Obviously, the main bits are Lunch 12-3, and evening 8-12.
Gets a bit quieter in the afternoon, which sometimes are the most interesting sessions. People get a chance to interact...
It's all pretty informal. New players are welcome, despite the rumours!
Music is generally English/Northern European/Spanish/Scandiwegian!
But it's not a singing session. As has been stated above, there are other venues for song. Which is the beauty of Sidmouth. Something for everyone.
So, any musicians, young or old, experienced or novice. Pop in if you're passing. I'm the tall ugly big nosed bloke with the concertina.
See you Sunday
Ralphie

Subject: RE: newbie guide to Sidmouth folk festival
From: Cllr
Date: 29 Jul 10 - 05:26 AM

Radway is Fab, I only do unacommpained singing but i do pop into the Radway to listen usually on the way to or from the Anchor, also the cider and beer is good in the Radway (westons and doombar)

Cllr

Subject: RE: newbie guide to Sidmouth folk festival
From: GUEST,Ralphie
Date: 29 Jul 10 - 06:57 AM

Thanks Cllr. Glad you enjoy it. It's a great place to stop at for a pint and a sandwich on your way into town! Maybe see you sometime next week

Subject: RE: newbie guide to Sidmouth folk festival
From: Surreysinger
Date: 29 Jul 10 - 07:18 AM

Whoops - sorry Kitty, I thought it didn't sound right when I typed it. Glad you cleared that one up :-)

Mary - tisk tisk ... tis my understanding that the details of the pit band for the Volly each day are supposed to be kept under wraps. (I certainly seem to remember Ralphie having his knuckles wrapped by a regular on here for announcing the day that Housewives' Choice were due in there a couple of years ago.) LOL

Subject: RE: newbie guide to Sidmouth folk festival
From: nickp
Date: 30 Jul 10 - 06:46 AM

The RIGHT HAND bar of the Bedford is usually American Oldtime.

Subject: RE: newbie guide to Sidmouth folk festival
From: GUEST, Fido
Date: 30 Jul 10 - 07:45 PM

well, we can guess what happened to JB but what happened to the Newt?

Subject: RE: newbie guide to Sidmouth folk festival
From: GUEST,GUEST: Va Tam - cookie crumbled
Date: 01 Aug 10 - 01:50 PM

To all who are still Sidmouth virgins - next year BE HERE!

Mawkin:Causley wonderful, Liza Carthy and Saul Rose ditto, Jim Murray with stolen half of M:C, Pete Coe, need I say more.

Don't have any more time gotta go to fringe.
See ya!

Subject: RE: newbie guide to Sidmouth folk festival
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 01 Aug 10 - 04:49 PM

Yeah, well, it was sort of all right. Best couple of hours was with the recovering JB in the Bedford from about 5 to about 7.30pm on Sat, until the piss-heads fucked it up. I must however admit that there was one fiddler in particular in the Bedford in Friday night who was good enough for it quite to inspire my goat-beating. The Mocha must have known I was there: they took tagine off the menu for folk-week. The otter bitter is better than the otter ale and the drayman (beer) in the Newt was pretty good too. The beer in the Faulkner was not nice, but there was a decent scotch (I forget the name) in the Volly. Did I notice a tendency for the electric bands in pubs to be well, less sort of "folky" (although the one I heard in the hotel with the hogroast as I passed by seemed OK)?

Subject: RE: newbie guide to Sidmouth folk festival
From: the lemonade lady
Date: 01 Aug 10 - 05:33 PM

Any lemonade there this year?
Sal

Subject: RE: newbie guide to Sidmouth folk festival
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 01 Aug 10 - 06:54 PM

Dunno Sal. Where would it have been?

Subject: RE: newbie guide to Sidmouth folk festival
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 01 Aug 10 - 06:59 PM

PS. I did hear a groundswell from locals met via my hosts who have lived there about 45 years and participate in some events that are part of the festival, so they are not outsiders to the festy) that the festy has priced itself out of the local market (and maybe other markets too).

They say

There used to be residents' season tickets.
Now you need a full season ticket AND at extra cost a Ham Season ticket - and still are not guaranteed admission.
And if you are non resident camping is costly and local B&B's are charging up to £90 a night.
Beer in most hotels is a stupid price (I will add that the Newt seems to be an honourable exception).

Subject: RE: newbie guide to Sidmouth folk festival
From: Tug the Cox
Date: 02 Aug 10 - 09:28 AM

The Beer prices this year are a disgrace..except the sailing club. I live 10 miles away in Exmouth, and can always get beer £1.00 a pint cheaper..the same beer, delivered on the same dray to pubs owned by the same companies. Why...Exmouth has a Witherspoons....makes everyone else sell beer at resonable prices. Sidmouth needs a Witherspoons quick...this cartel pricing is a crime.

Subject: RE: newbie guide to Sidmouth folk festival
From: Ruth Archer
Date: 02 Aug 10 - 10:22 AM

"There used to be residents' season tickets."

There are still residents' reduced price tickets, but they have to be purchased before a specific date. If we have priced ourselves out of the local market, I'm mystified as to why a postcode analysis shows so many ticket purchases from EX10.

We have also worked for months on the systems to ensure that Ham Evening ticketholders anyone who buys event tickets for those very popular events are ensured entry. Of course, if we had really priced ourselves out of many markets, over-subscribed concerts would not even be an issue - but we have, in fact, increased ticket sales by a very substantial margin this year, so our management systems for sales and venue access are constantly being monitored. This afternoon's concert in the Ham is sold out, and there is a queue currently to get in - just like three of the last four gigs in the venue.

And the sun is still shining. :)

Subject: RE: newbie guide to Sidmouth folk festival
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 02 Aug 10 - 11:26 AM

Don't shoot the messenger, Ruth. It makes no odds to me. I go to stay with friends (which costs fuel to get there and back and a token of my appreciation - this year three brugmansia and a couple of bottles of wine), I go to fringe thingies, I buy beer.

Tug, the stuff in the Newt was I think £2.80 per pint which seemed reasonable, and the "drayman" was nice.

Subject: RE: newbie guide to Sidmouth folk festival
From: Tug the Cox
Date: 02 Aug 10 - 01:21 PM

Will have a pint tomorrow....best so far is sailing club , London pride at £2.50.

Just off to my local in Exmouth, ( FnL) happy hour till 7.00. Directors, and Otter at £2.00, Stargazer and Yellowhammer at £1.80.
Maybe pop in at Wetherspoons later, good variety at £1.95, though Ruddles is normally only £1.65, or the Good old Bicton where Branoc is always £2.25 and Doom Bar £2.45.

Subject: RE: newbie guide to Sidmouth folk festival
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 02 Aug 10 - 04:39 PM

Dangerous!

Subject: RE: newbie guide to Sidmouth folk festival
From: Ruth Archer
Date: 03 Aug 10 - 04:30 AM

"Don't shoot the messenger, Ruth. It makes no odds to me."

And please don't take umbrage to my countering rumour and speculation with reality. I'm sure your anecdotal reports were not ill-meant, but such things can be damaging if reported as fact.

Subject: RE: newbie guide to Sidmouth folk festival
From: Ruth Archer
Date: 04 Aug 10 - 03:53 AM

Hard as it is to pick festival highlights, last night's Cordelia's Dad reunion and the singing session afterwards with Tim Eriksen, Jeff Warner, Jim Moray, Jackie Oates, Sandra Kerr, Barry Lister, Yorkie Bartram, Briony Griffith, Gavin Davenport, Reese Wesson, Jim Causley, Derek Schofield, Lucy Farrell, and loads of other people I can't remember right now, was just magic.

Subject: RE: newbie guide to Sidmouth folk festival
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 04 Aug 10 - 07:14 AM

The impression that I accurately reported is not affected by any rebuttals or even refutations here. What would be needed would be to convey the details that Ruth sets out to the people who spoke to me - the locals who she says are wrong, but whose non-opposition (or better support) the festival needs. That is a matter for festival publicity.