Last Four Fools Folk Festival (UK)

Subject: RE: Last Four Fools Folk Festival (UK)
From: GUEST, Tom Bliss
Date: 02 Jul 07 - 09:02 AM

Yes, the format works very well from an artistic point of view. But I would have made one suggestion if the festival was continuing in the present guise - a more structured timetable with shows more in sync with eachother. The event times all overlapped almost at random, so there was a lot of traffic around the site, actually while shows were in progress, with people arriving late and leaving early to cherry pick events, which was very disruptive at times. It's also a nightmare for artists with more than one instrument to have to arrive in the middle of a show because their previous gig didn't finish till after this one started, specially as it upsets the other artists on the same bill. (Sorry Bryony)!!

In a crowded room you can't find space to put your gear, and you certainly can't unpack or tune or prepare, so everything can become very hyper and 'seat of the pants', which is not really ideal from an audience point of view either. I was well aware that quite a few of us were not giving anything like our best at times (though hopefully it was good enough)! I'd also have suggested that rooms be habitually set out with the 'stage' at the opposite end to the door, again to minimise disruption. The drama and music rooms both had the door in the worst place.

But as I say, there isn't going to be a next time, and this was only an issue at certain pinch points. Most of the time things worked eatermely well, and the music was excellent, which is all that matters really.

Subject: RE: Last Four Fools Folk Festival (UK)
From: GUEST, Tom Bliss
Date: 02 Jul 07 - 09:04 AM

"eatermely" a cross between extremely, eternally, Easter and edible

Subject: RE: Last Four Fools Folk Festival (UK)
From: John Routledge
Date: 02 Jul 07 - 07:15 PM

A fond farewell to Four Fools. A memorable end to a wonderful festival.

News of proposals for a new format 2008 awaited with interest.

Many thanks to Angie and Ken for putting together so many years of fine singers!!

Subject: RE: Last Four Fools Folk Festival (UK)
From: Barb'ry
Date: 03 Jul 07 - 12:36 PM

Many thanks to Ken and Angie for a wonderful 'final four fools'! I have to say Tom, that I saw no evidence of performers 'not giving of their best' and heard no other festival-goers complaining of lower standards either - did anyone else think people were under performing?
We were having a 'post festival chat' to a number of festival goers who thought the standard of performance was fantastic!

I think the space issue is a difficult one - perhaps there is a need for a 'green room' where instruments can be tuned etc, prior to the performance.

Do other festivals have all their concerts synchronised? I'm looking at Cleckheaton's programme at the moment and there seems to be overlap there but perhaps it isn't the same at other festivals.

Anyway, hope the majority of people agree with me that it was a lovely, well organised traditional festival. Good luck next year with the 'First Lostock Hall Community Arts Festival'!

Subject: RE: Last Four Fools Folk Festival (UK)
From: The Sandman
Date: 03 Jul 07 - 06:17 PM

yes ,I have been booked there twice,and enjoyed it,thanks Ken and Angie.DickMiles

Subject: RE: Last Four Fools Folk Festival (UK)
From: andrewq
Date: 04 Jul 07 - 05:18 AM

Tom: "I was well aware that quite a few of us were not giving anything like our best at times"

I certainly didn't get that impression. I've seen most of the acts (including Tom & Tom) several times elsewhere and thought that the performances this last weekend were as good as they've given. "Seat of the pants" is often more effective than lots of dreary setting up time for the audience to get bored through. The suggestion about arranging the seating so that the door is at the back is a good one, though. In practice, the seating arrangements were left to the artists/session leader to sort out. We can't expect Angie and Ken to do that too; Four Fools is mainly Two Committed People with a bit of help from anyone else they can rope in. They do a fantastic job.

Subject: RE: Last Four Fools Folk Festival (UK)
From: Carol
Date: 04 Jul 07 - 07:41 AM

Had a great weekend - lots of singing. Roll on next year

Subject: RE: Last Four Fools Folk Festival (UK)
From: GUEST, Tom Bliss
Date: 04 Jul 07 - 08:13 AM

Well I'm happy if people enjoyed our slots (as they certainly seemed to). Of course the preparation (which can be quite complex for multi-instrumentalists) normally takes place off-camera, but this just not possible in some situations when compromises do have to be made. What audiences may not be aware of is that while a performance may be enjoyable, it's not necessarily the gig that the artists hoped to present, which might (you never know) have been even better (and might have helped shift more CDs too)!

But as I say, this is not a critisism. It would have been a friendly suggestion for making the festival even better in future, if it was continuing in its present format.

And yes, and excellent effort by two very committed, hardworking and very nice people :-)

Subject: RE: Last Four Fools Folk Festival (UK)
From: The Sandman
Date: 07 Jul 07 - 08:26 AM

tO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN,Any rumours about DickMiles,and what he is supposed to have said about the festival,are completely untrue.
DickMiles lives in Ireland,and has not seen the alleged scandal mongerer for many years,and would like to state categorically he has never said the things he is being accused of.
he is extremely pissed off,with these lies.
the festival is a great festival and Ken AND Angie do a good job of running it.

Subject: RE: Last Four Fools Folk Festival (UK)
From: nutty
Date: 07 Jul 07 - 08:53 AM

And where were these scurrilous comments supposed to have been made,   Dick?

Subject: RE: Last Four Fools Folk Festival (UK)
From: GUEST,The Foolish Two
Date: 21 Jul 07 - 12:46 AM

Yep, it was the last Four Fools Folk Festival, but its new beginnings. Next year over the same weekend (27 to 29 June 2008), book your place at the First Lostock Hall Community Arts Festival. The wonderful music song and dance and all that makes Four Fools unique, plus the chance to participate in pottery, watercolouring, spinning, weaving, workshops, and lots more traditional crafts as well. People can sign up for a weekend watercolouring and then take part in the entertainment on offer, of just have the same wonderful weekend we always have, with the cream of traditional music song and dance.

The School are really keen to help us with the Festival, and between us we have come up with this idea. It is something I (Angie) have wanted to do for a while as I think we need to keep all these traditional crafts alive, and where better to have a go but at a traditional Festival.

Do put the dates in your diary. Also many thanks from the Four Fools for all your support. It may not be everybody's cup of tea for a Festival, but from reading the messages of support etc we feel we are obviously giving a lot of people a good weekend. Here's to next year.

Cheers
The Foolish Two

Put it in your diary now. And tell all your friends.