Beverley folk festival

Subject: Beverley folk festival
From: oombanjo
Date: 01 Mar 02 - 04:11 PM

To all those who would have come!, The festival has been canceled for the first time in 20 years. 3 years after C. Wade premotions took over. (Its time she was canceled and a new management brought in.) YOUR COMMENTS ARE WELCOME.

Subject: RE: Beverley folk festival
From: brid widder
Date: 01 Mar 02 - 04:25 PM

Last year and the year before I stewarded at Beverley and had the unenviable task of walking along the queue waiting to get into the last night concert to tell anyone with a steward's or performers ticket that they would have to wait til paying punters were inside...if there was space they could come in. In 2000 this was for a Amazing Blondel concert which was never much more than half full (it's a large sports hall) Chris came on stage halfway through to thank them all for their participation.... it was VERY hot that weekend Morris men Mummers & other performers had certainly paid in full for their seats!!! unfortunately in recent years only MONEY matters....this is my local festival I am sad to hear this news...

sad but not surprised.

Subject: RE: Beverley folk festival
From: Paul from Hull
Date: 01 Mar 02 - 06:04 PM

I had already heard it wasnt going to happen.....is it known why?

I havent been since '99 (having Stewarded it since '85, only missing one year ('91, I think it was, though might have been '92) - Chris Wade's attidude towards me personally, being the biggest part of the reason for not going the last 2 years.

Its a great pity its not happening.

Subject: RE: Beverley folk festival
From: brid widder
Date: 01 Mar 02 - 08:29 PM

Anyone there will remember that last year, on friday evening the food tent was CLOSED before the first concert finished!! the bloke running it said it had been quiet...he thought we'd finished....we hadn't even started!!

and who doesn't remember with fondness the old Marquee...scouts & scouts mums cooking bacon&burgers all night...and joining in the singing, sitting round on bails of straw that pricked your bum..til daylight returned.

Subject: RE: Beverley folk festival
From: Les from Hull
Date: 02 Mar 02 - 08:55 AM

To be fair to Chris Wade, she only took over the running of the festival when other members of the organising committee wanted to have a break. Otherwise Beverley Folk Festival would have finished sooner. Perhaps residents (voters) in the East Riding could have a word with their elected representatives, or more effectively, with owners of businesses in Beverley who will miss the influx of trade.

Subject: RE: Beverley folk festival
From: Ritchie
Date: 02 Mar 02 - 09:20 AM

I went to the Beverley folk festival for the 1st time last year and was eagerly looking forward to this year's.

The town of Beverley was indeed very nice and the pubs we visited very welcoming.

Like a lot of events perhaps sometimes it seems a little 'self indulgent' especially with the loads of stewards ( who did a tremendous job very well indeed ) and the 'paying punters' sometimes had to take a back seat.

my only gripe was that I had to pay for a programme.

How ever I was enriched by Les Barker, Jackie Leven and Black Umfalosi along with most other performers that we managed to see ...oh yes I smoked my 1st joint that weekend too.

Thanks Beverley , hope to see you again someday.

regards Ritchie

Subject: RE: Beverley folk festival
From: Mr Red
Date: 02 Mar 02 - 09:58 AM

When I was last there ('97) there were a few retiring committee, they claimed they were moving on but I always felt there was a story untold. FWIW I have never had reason to be upset by Chris Wades company (or her) but then I was never that closer to the festival than "steward". Sad, since the originators had to busk to fund the first festivals!

Subject: RE: Beverley folk festival
From: Les from Hull
Date: 02 Mar 02 - 11:12 AM

Not a story untold, basically Richard and Jean Wastling wanted a rest (they also had an aged parent to care for) and others on the Committee decided to have a rest too. All the people involved are still the best of friends as far as I know, and still involved in running Nellies Folk Club.

Subject: RE: Beverley folk festival
From: Mr Red
Date: 03 Mar 02 - 10:43 AM

Yes I did see that there was no visible discomfort, I just read into it "ideological differences" about grants and size of the enterprise. In the light of the current status maybe the over-reaching was not a phantom concern.

Subject: RE: Beverley folk festival
From: GUEST,MC Fat
Date: 04 Mar 02 - 04:19 AM

I'm very very sad about this I've been to all bar the first Beverley and indeed Ray, Rich and co. have always been pals.Without Beverley I wouldn't have a number of really close chums: Les, Maggie, Jude and oodles more. I too have fond fond memories of the Scouts running the food tent (I knew the writing was on the wall when they put it out to tender). I remember one wacky year playing cricket with a used bread roll and my guitar case. Are folks still going to try and go and just have a singaround in the Tap ? or is it RIP Beverley ?

Subject: RE: Beverley folk festival
From: smallpiper
Date: 04 Mar 02 - 12:19 PM

Bugger that! The festival might not be happening and since I never actually went to the festival but stayed on the fringe I say that the fringe goes on! (at least it will if we make it happen)any one interested in sorting something out?

Subject: RE: Beverley folk festival
From: brid widder
Date: 04 Mar 02 - 12:50 PM

The bloke who runs the Grounds or is it called something else now?....Hodgsons or something?....formerly Flemingate House is very keen for folkies to go there too...it was a venue for the official festival...I wonder if he has any ground.... if he might be willing to allow a few campers....might be worth investigating. Also we could probably use the Youth Hostel...so maybe a substantial fringe event is a possibility

Subject: RE: Beverley folk festival
From: GUEST,MC Fat
Date: 05 Mar 02 - 10:17 AM

It is the camping thingy that's the problem. I too rarely attended anything 'official' but the Saturday and Sunday afternoon singarounds in the 'Tap' have always been special and an 'iced gems at teatime' for Hodgsons could be a poss. The fringe got betterer than the fest anyway over the years and with the demise of the scout tent. I don't perhaps interested parties could discuss it at Moor and Coast ?

Subject: RE: Beverley folk festival
From: Sir Roger de Beverley
Date: 05 Mar 02 - 12:19 PM

The Tap/Sun changes hands on Thursday of this week and the noises that I have heard about the new leaseholder/landlord aren't too good. I have been told that the plan is to carpet throughout and get rid of the "obscure beers" - it may just be scaremongering at this time but it doesn't sound too promising for us folkies if the rumours are true. Perhaps it would have been lost as a venue even if the Festival had gone ahead.

Roger

Subject: RE: Beverley folk festival
From: GUEST,MC Fat
Date: 06 Mar 02 - 06:20 AM

That's sad Roger about Tap/Sun, however I think if we was determined enuff we could find venues i.e. back to Nellies ? Hodgsons ? That club near the station (a previous landlord of Tap has it !!) even the small Mansfield pub along from the Tap/Sun were all welcoming of folkies in the past. I can't believe that the Council can't see the economic benefit that the Fest brings to Beverley town as a whole (or more to the point I can believe it considering Beverley Council must be run by a bunch of Tory Tossers).The Festival itself tried to squeeze the fringe a few years ago by trying to stop camping for non ticket holders (I always managed to find a way to get on the site) so it would be ironic if we managed to continue a fringe when the main festival went tits up !!

Subject: RE: Beverley folk festival
From: Sir Roger de Beverley
Date: 06 Mar 02 - 06:54 AM

I agree. I wasn't knocking the idea of putting something on - I'm up for that. It may well be that the Tap/Sun is still a possible venue. I need to talk to the new people about our regular Sunday and Tuesday sessions anyway to see if scruffy folkies are welcome or not - watch this space (but not for a few days as I am burying my Dad tomorrow!)

Roger

Subject: RE: Beverley folk festival
From: GUEST,MC Fat
Date: 06 Mar 02 - 07:25 AM

Sorry to hear your sad news Roger. I think the Hull crew would definately be up for it. I'll also have a talk to Padget & Co from Barnsley, Ken from Chesterfield and others I can think of. As I say they're are 'Folk Friendly' venues in the town. It's mainly accomodation etc that could be a problemo

Subject: RE: Beverley folk festival
From: Les from Hull
Date: 06 Mar 02 - 08:15 AM

I agree Jim, but the accommodation is the main problem. There should be plenty of B and B available as the festival won't be using it all up, and there is a commercial campsite a couple of miles south of the festival site. We never had an accommodation problem as in recent years (since I stopped being the official photographer) we commuted.

Perhaps we borrow the idea of what happens at Robin Hoods Bay in June (a few pubs are happy to accommodate sessions, and people stay in available accommodation). I'm sure that the East Riding folkies would make a bit of floorspace available, if we can't find a field. One problem would be closing time, and missing the traditional late night/early morning session.

Subject: RE: Beverley folk festival
From: GUEST,MC Fat
Date: 06 Mar 02 - 08:31 AM

I think floor space idea may have to be one of the premier ideas. My son is in halls at Cottingham so I could at a pinch crash with him but as you so rightly say Les it was the after time sessions that were good (although last year they were shite I remember some fat Scots bloke making an arse of himself on the Friday night ha! ha!) but at the minimum we could have a Friday night venue (Hodgsons or that club), Sat lunch the Tap/Sun (if friendly) iced Gems at Hodgsons evening sesh at club; Sun lunch Tap/Sun, Iced Gems at Hodgsons leaving the evening free for Roger's usual sesh. If Tap not available we could really roll back the years and go back to Nellies and I'm forgetting about the Tiger but perhapd we could leave that for the Mussos. I think it could be done Les.

Subject: RE: Beverley folk festival
From: Hamish
Date: 06 Mar 02 - 08:45 AM

Here's what I have from Julia of Adastra who are the organisers:

The Beverley Folk Festival is taking a break this year in order to concentrate its efforts on re-structuring and to seek more supporters, enabling the creation of a more sustainable and thriving event for the future. With an already crowded calendar of National and International events taking place in June this year, festival directors decided that rather than put on a smaller and less exciting event than is normal for this leading festival, to start planning for an even better 2003.

As a consequence the organisers are now looking to develop its education and outreach work as well as building on the past success of the festival weekend, and will be planning events during the coming year to build up to a major festival weekend on 20 - 22nd June 2003.

It is an exciting time in the development of the festival and the break for one year is a positive step forward to the future sustainability of the festival. The festival organisation is looking to incorporate feedback it has received from its regular supporters, as well as those new to it, in order to produce an event that combines the most important elements of interest to all its followers.

BEVERLEY & EAST RIDING FOLK FESTIVAL 20th - 22nd June 2003

Subject: RE: Beverley folk festival
From: GUEST,MC Fat
Date: 06 Mar 02 - 08:48 AM

Talk about putting a positive spin on something negative !!! Sound bollocks to me.

Subject: RE: Beverley folk festival
From: greg stephens
Date: 06 Mar 02 - 09:06 AM

I dont know anything whatsoever about Beverley Folk Festival's politics so i'll stay out of that(I'm a musician, I need bookings). What I doknow is that Middlewich Folk and Boat Festivalwas cancelled last year due to footnmouth (as were a lot of festivals). But theinteresting thing is that it just happened anyway, there were lots of people, music in all the pubs, loads of boats came etc etc. And a great time was had by all. So i would say to anyone who liked beverley folk festival, go anyway, and lo and behold there will be afolk festival. There's no organising committee in a beehive, but they seem to get the old honey together somehow.

Subject: RE: Beverley folk festival
From: Paul from Hull
Date: 06 Mar 02 - 10:46 AM

It DOES sound like the sort of 'prepared statement' a bloody Politician would make, yes, but it does give a little glimmer of hope for next year & subsequent ones. I havent heard much at all other than what Ive read here (I'm very much 'out of the loop' anyway, & wasnt really ever anything above an ordinary Stewarding bod anyway, at least not for a good few years) So I didnt know whether they were even thinking of the Festival EVER running again....

I'd like to just point out, Jim, that as far as I'm aware, the Festival wasnt ever trying to 'squeeze' the Fringe (though wasnt there something around the same time kind of time where for some reason Ray & Johnny were 'uninvited' to not come & do their running singarounds thing, or is my memory at fault & that sitiation actually happened at Whitby not Beverley???) The stoping Camping for non-Season Ticket Holders was because of a potential slight reduction in the size of the Campsite, because of a road supposedly in the planning stage running along the Railway Line, & behind the Leisure Centre. I 'ran' the Campsite at that time, though wasnt ayt all involved with Festival 'planning' so the 'No Ticket, No Camping' situation was news to me to, at the time. I thought then that the decision was somewhat premature, & said so....& as far as I'm aware, there is STILL no road there, almost 10 years on, if memory serves... (It was certainly way back in the days of Ray, Richard & Jean, & co. bebing the Festival Committee/Organisers, so no 'anti-fringe' policy then, even if (& I dont know!) Chris Wade didnt value that as an aspect of the Festival (& IF not (& as I say, I dunno!) she was the ONLY person who didnt!)

Subject: RE: Beverley folk festival
From: Rt Revd Sir jOhn from Hull
Date: 07 Mar 02 - 12:02 AM

Roger-Sorry to here about your dad.
MC Fat-hull University is not using Cleminson Hall this year, (Thaite Street, Cottingham), is it near enough to Beverley to be suitable for accomadation? I could try to find out if Hull Uni would be willing to hire the whole place out to a bunch of folkies for the weekend, & how much they would charge.It's a very big place, complete with full commercial kitchens & a huge dining hall.

Subject: RE: Beverley folk festival
From: GUEST,MC Fat
Date: 07 Mar 02 - 06:13 AM

Paul, with regards to your earlier comments about the committee trying to 'squeeze' the fringe. I did hear the 'paty line' about the camp site being decimated by road development but when that development didn't happen it just looked like an excuse that coupled with the problems at Nellies that occurred around the same time Ray & Johnny being marginalised (if that's possible) the Scouts being ousted from the food tent all gives creedence to the'conspiracy theory' agin the fringe. With regard to the hall at Cottingham sounds a good idea!! Shall I ask the boychild of my loins to find out as he's at halls there (Fearons) or would you be able to find out availability and cost Paul ? An alternative is a local (Beverley) school they usually would welcome the dosh. Perhaps via this medium we could come up with a list of potential attendees. Who needs Adastra anyway roll on the revolution.......

Subject: RE: Beverley folk festival
From: brid widder
Date: 07 Mar 02 - 01:01 PM

Like I said earlier we could use the Youth hostel...probably exclusively... and I wonder if we could maybe persuade a church or scout hut to allow indoor camping?...the scouts have always had a soft spot for us!I'll ask around see if I can come up with something. We should certainly give it a try.

as for the announcement from Adastra...well have they only just realised it's the Jubilee thingy this year?

Subject: RE: Beverley folk festival
From: selby
Date: 07 Mar 02 - 01:13 PM

At the end of this year The World Jamboree for Scouts takes place in Thailand each scout who is going has to raise £2500 I think armed with that knowledge for a donation most scout troops will be prepared to help.Hire Marquees,cook food, steward,etc. Keith

Subject: RE: Beverley folk festival
From: Sir Roger de Beverley
Date: 07 Mar 02 - 02:43 PM

Perhaps we could persuade the Beverley Chanber of Trade to make a modest contribution - say a tenner per shop and pub in the town. Attracting a festival crowd must be worth at least that to them!

Also, unless they were tipped off ahead of time, won't the council have automatically put in a reserved booking for the camping field for that weekend when they opened their accounts for the year. It is unlikely that they would have let it to anyone else is it? In which case it should be available for camping as per usual.

Perhaps we need to have a face-to-face meeting about all this and thrash out what we think may be possible.

Roger

Subject: RE: Beverley folk festival
From: brid widder
Date: 07 Mar 02 - 06:58 PM

Name the day Roger....and if you give us all a week or so maybe we could all look into our own suggestions and bring that info together....I dont mind speaking to the landlord at Hodgsons and trying to contact scout groups and churches in the area...the idea of the campsite still being available is one I hadn't thought of....might insurance be a problem?

Subject: RE: Beverley folk festival
From: harpmaker
Date: 07 Mar 02 - 09:14 PM

Insurance a problem, You bet. Best off going with Greg Stephens experience, That it will happen anyhow. So every body, just be there anyhow/anyway.

Subject: RE: Beverley folk festival
From: SarahC
Date: 08 Mar 02 - 02:21 AM

I like the sound of an 'official' fringe festival. I'm sure the musicians who normally just like to do the sessions are up for this - I certainly would be.

Go for it.

Cheers Sarah Cheffins

Subject: RE: Beverley folk festival
From: Sir Roger de Beverley
Date: 08 Mar 02 - 06:04 AM

Another thought:

There are several pubs in Beverley which regularly book acoustic acts - the Forresters, the Sun, the Mariners, Hodgsons to name but four. If we talked to them is it not possible that between them they could each book an act so that there is someone playing on Friday, Saturday and Sunday night and we have free entry entertainment for those that don't want to be playing in sessions all the time and it won't cost us anything to put on! Add that to the sessions in those pubs and clubs mentioned in earlier messages and we've got a back to basics festival.

Roger

Subject: RE: Beverley folk festival
From: Skipjack K8
Date: 08 Mar 02 - 06:18 AM

Roger, what dates are we looking at. I will try and get a posse from the south bank together.

Skipjack

Subject: RE: Beverley folk festival
From: GUEST,MC Fat
Date: 08 Mar 02 - 08:22 AM

Roger, I'm up for offering myself (or with others) as someone to play at any of the above pubs. Perhaps I could do a duo/trio with Les & Maggie maybe it could be the first 'official' gig of my new occasional band 'THE TWO RHETTS' who will have the slogan 'F*CK ME IT'S THE TWO RHETTS'. Float the idea Roger I know we'll all be up for it.

Subject: RE: Beverley folk festival
From: Sir Roger de Beverley
Date: 08 Mar 02 - 11:28 AM

Dates

I'm not sure whether the weekend of the 15th or the 22nd June corresponds most closely to what has gone before.

I have talked to Mark who runs the Dog and Duck next to the playhouse (apparently he used to run the bar at the playhouse during the festivals before Barry took over). He is friends with the people that run the racecourse and has offered to investigate whether the racecourse facilities could be made available for camping and caravans - he feels that it is a distinct possibility since there are no races on those dates. He also offered the D&D as avenue for sessions.

Roger

Subject: RE: Beverley folk festival
From: GUEST,MC Fat
Date: 08 Mar 02 - 11:52 AM

Roger I suggest it's best to stick to where the (official)festival should have been placed. The offer from the Dog sounds good. Perhaps they (and other hostelries) may be able to screw some dosh from their suppliers ? If we got some money it could go to helping get people backwards and forwards to Racecourse or Cottingham (or wherever)and maybe help with a bit of publicity/posters once we know things are firmed up. I'd be happy to help with any Desk Top Publishing as I'm sure Les would as well !!!So is it looking like interested pubs as ? Dog, Tap/Sun (?), Nellies (?), Tiger (?), Hodgsons (?) suppose there would be the usual split of the mussos etc they're used to using the Tiger or rooms at Nellies. God it nearly sounds like an organising committee !!!

Subject: RE: Beverley folk festival
From: Rt Revd Sir jOhn from Hull
Date: 08 Mar 02 - 01:50 PM

MC Fat-Your son will probably know exactly who to ask.
brid widder-There was a suggestion of using Beverley Youth Hostel for a gathering venue, but if I remember correctly there was some problem with this, they don't hire it to non-members or it was fully booked or something.
Sir Roger of Beverley-I think the idea of getting pubs to book folk acts is really good, it would be really good if they could book some Mudcat acts like 442 and The Pack as well.Is your beginers session still on for Tuesday? I went last week and it was really good.Maybe people could share their ideas there if it is still on.

Subject: RE: Beverley folk festival
From: greg stephens
Date: 08 Mar 02 - 02:00 PM

dropping in on this discussion, what you're talking about is what happened in Middlewich Landlords quickly picked up on the buzz that people were coming anyway, so booked various local folkies for odd nights, and deals were being struck with arriving musicians as to wherethey would play and for what, more or less as they arrived. The sessions developed in the usual way in the pubs without acts, or in the gaps between acts, and hey presto its a folk festival. no insurance, no marquees,no stewards, no committees,no budget, no regional arts boards,...just a festival, really. remember the 60's?

Subject: RE: Beverley folk festival
From: Les from Hull
Date: 08 Mar 02 - 02:16 PM

Yes I'll go along with all this, even with Jim offering my services in a duo/trio and the DTP thing. So we are looking for: accommodation, venues and dates. Just give me a s shout and tell me what to do.

Les (aka Rhett Oktober)

Subject: RE: Beverley folk festival
From: Rt Revd Sir jOhn from Hull
Date: 08 Mar 02 - 02:30 PM

Les-What's your DTP thing?

Subject: RE: Beverley folk festival
From: Les from Hull
Date: 08 Mar 02 - 02:53 PM

Publishing stuff using the computer - if we need any posters, leaflets or anything like that. It would be nice if we had a tiny budget for this. I'm happy to give my time for nothing (and I've plenty of that since I retired), but I don't want to get stuck with too much cost.

Incidentally, I did want to help when the organising committee retired and I was offered the job of producing the official programme. Richard used to sweat blood over this (and he's a DTP professional) so in the end I declined their offer.

We also do need to assure Chris Wade and the good burghers of Beverley (can you get a good burgher in Beverley?) that we are not taking over the Beverley Folk Festival, we are only marking time till they can get their act together again.

Subject: RE: Beverley folk festival
From: Sir Roger de Beverley
Date: 08 Mar 02 - 02:58 PM

I agree with Jim that if we could have "official" sessions in the Tap/Sun and the Tiger as normal that would be the basis of the whole thing(did you say that you would try out Johnny and Ray about running that, Jim?).

Other folk friendly pubs would offer the fringe of the fringe on an ad hoc basis and then if, say, three or four pubs would put on a paid act by adjusting their normal policy to cover each evening of the weekend we don't need anything else.

I'll approach the new people at the Sun and /Brid Widder offered to talk to Hodgsons - anyone know the management of the Tiger/Nellies/Forresters/Mariners?

Could we then approach the Chamber of Trade and/or the Licensed Victuallers to pay for printing and distributing leaflets and posters around the clubs? We need to tell people that something is going on because the message will have gone out that it is all off. Anyone have a contact in folk radio? Anyone know the copy date for the next Tykes News etc?

Are we looking at the weekend of the 14/15/16th June as that is the equivalent to last years dates?

So what do we call what we have created here? "Not the Beverley Folk Festival", "Beverley Fringe Festival", "Beverley - Back to Basics"?

John - yes the Tuesdays are still happening at the Sun and we should be there this coming Tuesday: I missed the last one because of my father but they managed without me.

Roger

Subject: RE: Beverley folk festival
From: brid widder
Date: 08 Mar 02 - 02:58 PM

John the 'problem' with the Beverley Hostel was only that we wanted it during the winter when it's closed. Hostel B&Bs floorspace...there's lots of accomodation available although a campsite would still be brill...we could well have the possibility of an excellent festival here!!!

Subject: RE: Beverley folk festival
From: Les from Hull
Date: 08 Mar 02 - 03:08 PM

Sir Roger - about the radio thing, you need to talk to Radio Humberside who co-ordinate the folk programme for the whole area. Henry Ayrton is the presenter/producer and Brian Swinton does the diary. They don't go to the same sessions I go to very often, but the office will give you a contact.

Brid Widd - I did mention the commercial site earlier on in this thread. I presume it's still there? About two miles south on the Hull road. That means that there's a bus an hour, for those who don't want to drive in.

Subject: RE: Beverley folk festival
From: Rt Revd Sir jOhn from Hull
Date: 08 Mar 02 - 03:17 PM

Les-If you need any paper just let me know, I will nick some from work.

Subject: RE: Beverley folk festival
From: Linda Kelly
Date: 08 Mar 02 - 03:22 PM

I'm sure this is a storyline from an old Hollywood movie! Any help required you know where I am!

Subject: RE: Beverley folk festival
From: brid widder
Date: 08 Mar 02 - 03:40 PM

so you did Les sorry First comittee meeting in 1 hour at the Kingston?

Subject: RE: Beverley folk festival
From: Les from Hull
Date: 09 Mar 02 - 09:45 AM

Yes Linda, this old barn could be a theatre - let's do the show RIGHT HERE!

Subject: RE: Beverley folk festival
From: Sir Roger de Beverley
Date: 09 Mar 02 - 11:12 AM

I have been in to the Sun(Tap&Spile) and the new people are very into live music. So, we are on for the usual singaround in there on Saturday and Sunday - beer and food supplied for whoever runs it.

Roger

Subject: RE: Beverley folk festival
From: oombanjo
Date: 09 Mar 02 - 12:33 PM

Iwas talking to Bill Sables on Friday, He says that the mudcatters may be looking for a new venue for their annual gathering maybe we could join the two ???