Sidmouth - was it good for you?

Subject: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: Ruth Archer
Date: 12 Aug 07 - 07:09 AM

I had a fantastic time. Perfect mix of concerts, workshops/special events, chilling out and carousing. Lovely atmosphere in the town, loads to do, glorious weather and a brilliant programme. Missing the sound of the seagulls today...


How about you lot? Any thoughts?

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: The Barden of England
Date: 12 Aug 07 - 07:17 AM

I had a brilliant time. Weather was almost perfect, just a couple of showers, but that didn't stop the enjoyment. Plenty to do, see and hear and most of the concerts were pretty near full. Excellent all round.
John Barden

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: MBSLynne
Date: 12 Aug 07 - 11:09 AM

Only managed the weekend but it was good. No ticket so no concerts and ceilidhs but Ashby de la Zouch folk club on Friday evening in the Volunteer garden was great. We had a mini Mudgather and I was really happy to get to meet Bente to whom I've spoken in the chat before. Otherwise it was the Upper Middle Bar which was good every session I was in. (The BIG plus to the new room is that the accoustics are brilliant).

Love Lynne

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: Leadfingers
Date: 12 Aug 07 - 11:19 AM

I had a ball though I had to leave on Friday morning due to financial commitments . Had quite a few catters drop in to The Newt through the week , which was nice . Bente had a good time - we HAVE chatted since she got home to Denmark .

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: bubblyrat
Date: 12 Aug 07 - 11:24 AM

Sadly I was unable to make it this year, having just started a new job !! A matter of priorities , really. But have booked the holiday dates for NEXT year !! Looking forward to Towersey , now, and hope to see you , Terry Leadfingers, at the Horse & Groom , in Henley ( and anyone else who can come ) on Tuesday , August 21st. !!!

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: bubblyrat
Date: 12 Aug 07 - 11:27 AM

Yes !! That"s right ! August 21st !!( Not 28th as promulgated, as people will all be elsewhere !!! )..

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: Goldengob
Date: 12 Aug 07 - 12:33 PM

It was good for Bill Whaley and me - we had a great three days and got to appear on some superb concert line-ups
Dave F

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: Sue the Borderer
Date: 12 Aug 07 - 03:25 PM

I had a brilliant time too.
As 'Herbaceous Border' we had 56 people in the Friday evening procession though sadly not Bente, who had set off home by then, or Bubblyrat. (I wondered what had happened to you, Roger) We also enjoyed the "not-the-Sunday-morning-procession" - in which Bente did take part.
Spent much more time in the Upper Middle Bar than I did last year. As Lynne said, the acoustics are great and, especially compared with last year, there was very little overspill of noise from the garden or the other bars.
Thought the Anchor security men looked very fetching in their maroon shirts - and were unfailingly helpful.
Sue

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: Ruth Archer
Date: 12 Aug 07 - 03:35 PM

Did anyone else catch any of the films put on by EFDSS from the VWML, presented by Sam Lee? They were a festival highlight for me.

Malcolm Taylor, the VWML Library Director, also did a really good talk on the future of the library which was really well attended and received.

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: GUEST
Date: 12 Aug 07 - 03:49 PM

I particularly enjoyed the Ceilidh in the Ford - not that it happened, of course. But I imagined it very clearly with brilliant sun and a miniature Napoli bobbing on the waters and somewhere in the dream there was a bottle of whisky......

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: Dazbo
Date: 12 Aug 07 - 04:45 PM

Couldn't summon up much enthusiasm for most of the concerts although I did a few (Glorystrokes, Brass Monkey, The Askew Sisters, The Devil's Interval and Last Orders all brill). I blame the weather: after two months of bloody awful weather it was too tempting to stay out in the sun than go into hot sweaty tents/rooms. Did loads of dancing at ceilidhs though, drank too much alcohol and discovered the joy of pims in the evenings:-)

I have some video clips that I'll add to my youtube soon - I'll let you know when.

Roll on Towersey!!!

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: GUEST,Malcolm
Date: 12 Aug 07 - 05:36 PM

Dancing on the prom as we watched the Napoli being towed away - loads of dancing - knackered legs - Tom Bliss and a hurdy gurdy workshop - the sunburn on my nose is still peeling - and I still managed to lose an inch on the waist despite some excellent pies and burgers (and beer).

Hi Sue, see you in Swanage. Hi Ruth, see you when you next accompany BMM? But I didn't find out about the non-existent Ceilidh in the Ford until Sunday.

Ho hum, back to work...

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: Ruth Archer
Date: 12 Aug 07 - 06:00 PM

BMM? If I'm accompanying it or them, I'm not sure I know about it...

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 12 Aug 07 - 06:05 PM

Rumour has it it was so good for Kevin the Clogs that the earth moved.....

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: GUEST,Malcolm
Date: 12 Aug 07 - 06:33 PM

Ruth Archer said..

"BMM? If I'm accompanying it or them, I'm not sure I know about it..."

If you did then you would, so I have the wrong person. For which assumption I apologise.

Malcolm

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: Surreysinger
Date: 12 Aug 07 - 06:38 PM

I had a great time - got virtually no use out of my day tickets (except for going to see Hammersmith Morris in the Blackmore Gardens, and meeting Housewives' Choice ... despite the fact that I'd already met most of them more than once before!)... but had a lovely week propping up the Bay Window in the Volunteer lunchtime sessions (and now rejoice in the name of one of the Bay Window Mafiosi ... respect!), going to Ballad sessions, indulging in evening sessions in the Volunteer with Ken Langsbury and Roger Grimes (among others), and then venturing down to the Bedford to sing into the small hours again.... who needs concerts??

I'm now thoroughly tired out, and trying to limber up for Whitby...

Oh and I forgot - got my lemonade from the Lemonade Lady at last :-)

(And another highlight - being introduced to Ruth's melodeon... and a nice little thing it seems to be - did you ever manage to link up with Anahata and Mary for that lesson after all??)

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: Don(Wyziwyg)T
Date: 12 Aug 07 - 06:56 PM

Wonderful week, despite a snivelling, streaming cold which severely limited my singing (I have told daughter that if she wants her huge tent pitched in the pouring rain next year it's D.I.Y).

Sidmouth never disappoints, and this one was no exception. Already looking forward to 2008.

Don T.

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: Don(Wyziwyg)T
Date: 12 Aug 07 - 07:17 PM

I have the misfortune to be summat of a dialect and accent sponge. Four weeks in any region with a strong local accent, and even my wife has difficulty understanding me.

I once had the Nawf Lunnon accent, but now after thirty years it's mostly somewhere between grammar school standard and Kentish.

I den't spend any time in Newcastle or Brum. Imagine it....halfway between Jimmy Nail and Jasper Carrott.

Don T.

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: Don(Wyziwyg)T
Date: 12 Aug 07 - 07:18 PM

Scratch that folks. Posted to wrong thread.

Don T.

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: bfdk
Date: 13 Aug 07 - 05:40 AM

I had a great time, would definitely love to do it again sometime. I'm knackered now and work has caught up with me, so just a brief note for now.

I did lots of dancing - both with Herbaceous Border and in the Anchor garden ceilidhs. Lovely weather most of the time, and all those beautiful flower pots and baskets hanging everywhere impressed me greatly. Sidmouth is a little gem of a town nestled at the foot of the hills, glad I didn't have to *walk* up to HQ, but could take the festival bus, though. The days just whizzed past in a blur, on Thursday I couldn't understand where all those days went and I was ready to start over again, given the chance. Sorry I missed the Friday revelries, it sounds as if I missed out on a lot of fun there.

I met a lot of nice people, if I don't start mentioning names, I won't leave out anybody by accident. Thanks to Sue I was - to some extent, at least - kitted out properly for the Sunday procession. And she lent me her beautiful hat with the red/orange/yellow flowers, thanks for that! On Wednesday night I even managed to get a ticket for the venue with Martyn Wyndham-Read, a favourite of mine for years and years, but first time ever I had the opportunity to hear him live. What a treat :-)

Now it's nose back to the grindstone..

Best wishes,

Bente

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: Folkiedave
Date: 13 Aug 07 - 06:03 AM

Glad you all enjoyed it - can anyone tell me about the John Glasson jig competition?

Dave

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: GUEST,Frank Lee
Date: 13 Aug 07 - 06:33 AM

Hi Dave - In case no-one else posts here re. the jig competition you can find all the results on the Morris Dance Discussion List (MDDL) archives. I don't think you need to log in to view this. I think it's 'Gasson' btw.
Sidmouth? Didn't see much of it, little point in venturing outside the Radway if you're a muso, especially if you have no ticket!
Cheers
Frank (he who you stayed with at Brampton Live once!)

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: Ruth Archer
Date: 13 Aug 07 - 06:34 AM

Solo: 1st Emma Darby (Oyster), Peter Derby muso.
      2nd Tracy Seelig (The Outside Capering Crew), Mark Rogers muso.
      3rd Jack Worth (Ditchling), John Bacon muso.

Double: 1st Ben Moss, Dom Moss (Great Western), Cat Radford muso
       2nd Fiona Bradshaw & Jess Arrowsmith (Pecsaetan), Richard Arrowsmith muso
       3rd Jack Worth & Neil Woolley (not sure who they dance with), Nick Cooke muso.

Audience Appeal: Simon Pipe (The Outside Capering Crew) & Lawrence Wright muso.

Best New Entrant: Ben & Dom Moss (Great Western) & Cat Radford muso

Best over 40: Tracy Seelig (The Outside Capering Crew) & Mark Rogers muso.

Judges: John Braithwaite, Sue Swift, Jill Griffiths and Barry Goodman. Sponsors were Pete Collinson, Daryl Hurtt, Chris & Tracy Rose, Trefor & Rhiannon Owen and Janet Dowling.

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: Scooby Doo
Date: 13 Aug 07 - 06:39 AM

I can remember to this day where i was when i heard about the accident,it was in the Anchor talking to Alvin,Jon and Colin.One minute we were laughing and then silence.



Scooby

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: GUEST,Ralphie
Date: 13 Aug 07 - 07:43 AM

Like nearly everyone else, Sidmouth seems to be gathering momentum again, after the hiatus of the past few years.
Because of work commitments, didn't get to see much of anyone else, but, as a large dance band, it was relatively easy to move around. The only exception was trying to derig in the Anchor gardens Sunday afternoon, when an unbooked twerp of a juggler started his act right in front of the stage as we finished, making it very difficult to get the van in for the drum kit. He wsa lucky not to have been run over!
I understand that he did this most days! maybe some sort of venue manger could have told him to sling his hook. Apart from anything else, it was very dangerous, because naturally the public stayed to watch.
But, that was the only blip, and it was lovely to see so many old friends, sessions in the Radway were fab, (I counted 7 Brass and woodwind players at one point.....scary!!)
Oh, and the other thing I discovered is that my electric shaver is in the key of D....(Jon Loomes was tuning up his Hurdy Gurdy at the time!}
Might see some of you at Broadstairs later in the week, and then Towersey for the first time in years.
R
(The Housewives' Choice Massif)

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: Folkiedave
Date: 13 Aug 07 - 07:48 AM

Thanks for that Ruth and Frank......

And I still remember your kind hospitality at Brampton.

You mean you stayed in the Radway the whole of the Festival? Isn't that normal then?

Dave

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: GUEST,Jon C
Date: 13 Aug 07 - 07:50 AM

A brilliant week all round.

Highlights ........

The concertina concert at the Bedford, Yves Lambert and his fantastic orchestra, the one session I was allowed at the Radway, John Gasson Jig, Hammersmith Morris, the Showcase concert on Friday when all the children performed .......

And a very big thumbs up to the Folk South West crew who made the Blackmore Gardens children's activities so enjoyable for us all. We loved the knitting drop-in - can we do it again please? Special thanks to red-haired Ellen - she really made our kids' week, particularly when she popped up at the Anchor to MC on Tuesday evening and was so graceful and funny.

We're all looking forward to Towersey via Whitby then it's back to grind ........ boo!

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: Ruth Archer
Date: 13 Aug 07 - 08:07 AM

Ralphie, I think the idea of the street performers in the Anchor Gardens was that the Anchor management invited them in to perform once the music was over. This was conceived, I think, to help alleviate the overcrowding out in the market square during street performances...of course, nature hates a vacuum, so new street performers were appearing magically in the market square anyway.

The thing I find so brilliant is the way so many people on this thread attended Sidmouth - yet all had a different festival. There was a staggering amount and diversity of activity on offer.

I know a lot of people have said that the loss of the arena makes Sidmouth "just another festival", but I have to disagree. It has a momentum and life all its own. Roll on next year.

(Did anyone see the fireworks on Friday night? Blimey!)

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: fiddler
Date: 13 Aug 07 - 08:59 AM

Brilliant Fireworks on Friday Ruth, Can't say much else really, spent the whole week on the Ham!

Andy

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: John J
Date: 13 Aug 07 - 09:15 AM

I wandered up and down the prom enjoying the sun, the performers etc. The rest of the time was spent in the (upper) Middle Bar singing my head off. Excellent!

John

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: alanww
Date: 13 Aug 07 - 09:43 AM

Yes, the Middle Bar's unaccompanied singing, the Radway's English music sessions, the Bedford's high octane music & singing, the Sailing Club's large loud sessions, the Doom, Gloom & Despondency Competition's respectful singing, the Anchor Garden's open mike and the Swan's laid back bit of everything were great this year.
Was anything else going on?
"... when I heard of some ringing, some dancing and singing!"
Alan

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: Leadfingers
Date: 13 Aug 07 - 10:32 AM

The beauty of Sidmouth is that whatever aspect of Folk or Acoustic type music , you can find it somewhere during the week , and , with some forms , literally ALL the week !
And The New Tavern is still the best mixed session in Sidmouth !

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: GUEST
Date: 13 Aug 07 - 10:37 AM

Folkiedave replied. 'You mean you stayed in the Radway the whole of the Festival? Isn't that normal then?'

Er, well, hmm, actually I did do some squeezing at a couple of concerts, not enough to warrant a free ticket, but they did let me in to these for free(!) so I got to see 'Last Orders'. Was expecting to be unimpressed by yet another group of young musicians venting their corporate spleen with 500-notes-per-minute-endless-belt-celtic-music. How wrong could I have been!
They probably left with a feeling of 'another job done', but I left on a high, feeling that 'feeling' is still there at the younger end of the spectrum!
Frank.

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: The Barden of England
Date: 13 Aug 07 - 10:52 AM

You're right there Terry Leadfingers. Nice to see you again and enjoyed the little time I was able to spend with you.
John Barden

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: Dick The Box
Date: 13 Aug 07 - 11:00 AM

A lot of the new wave of young performers are like the emperor's new clothes - a triumph of hype over substance. Maybe festival organisers are so busy not upsetting their delicate new flowers that they lose their critical faculties. That said, "Last Orders" were fantastic. Great musicians, nice lads, and humble with it.

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: Folkiedave
Date: 13 Aug 07 - 07:57 PM

Hi Dick the Box. I have seen a lot of the new performers and whilst I agree they are a bit like the curate's egg - most have a fantastic amount of talent - they need it tempered with some stage craft.

I have seen "Last Orders" a couple of times, they are brilliant though I have to tell you Joe O'Connor's sister, Marie-Louise is a stunning singer. If you have bought their record then you will know what I mean. If you have seen her live then you will know even more.

Of the others - Kerfuffle are also outstanding. So are Damien O'Kane and Shona Kipling, Sarah Hayes - I could go on........

I suspect that what is happening is that the media are belatedly catching on to the fact that folk is producing some amazingly talented young people - they tend to latch onto the first one they see.

Another name to look out for - Ruth Notman.

But many of these groups are just starting out. Few are fully formed and I am happy to cut them a bit of slack. The wonderful Robin Garside sums it up admirably. "Let's not talk about their talent. Let's talk about the amount of practice they've done to get that good".

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 13 Aug 07 - 08:00 PM

I got to meet Ruth Archer!

Not having a ticket, on account of running an event that had been shunted to the fringe, I found I sang more than usual, including at 4 ballad sessions, and the upwardly mobile Middle Bar, and the Doom and Gloom.

Thanks to everyone who supported the morning singarounds in the Faulkner bar, which were great fun.

Kitty

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: Folkiedave
Date: 13 Aug 07 - 08:04 PM

What time of day? Did she have the cinnamon vodka with her?

I think we should be told!!

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 13 Aug 07 - 08:12 PM

Dave - about 10am, when I was on my way to collect a collecting tin from the Scout Hut. Introduction by Derek Schofield. No mention of cinnamon vodka.

Kitty

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: SINSULL
Date: 13 Aug 07 - 09:54 PM

Bente failed to mention that she stalked Martyn Wyndham-Read and has a photo with him to prove it.
SINS

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: GUEST,Ralphie
Date: 14 Aug 07 - 01:08 AM

Ruth.
Point taken. No objection with street performers, The life blood of any good festival.
But, It was a bit silly of him to set up right in front of the stage, when we had half a ton of plumbing and drum kit to get out. (We had another gig only one hour later). and his attitude left much to be desired.
It was getting dangerous.
Apart from that, another memory was in the corridor outside the Concertina concert, talking to the aforementioned Mr Wyndham-Read (who had arrived late, and couldn't get in!) commented that "I can't understand the attraction, probably nothing on TV this afternoon!!"
Ralphie
Have now decided to form an electric shaver band for all those who can't afford a Hurdy-Gurdy!

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: MBSLynne
Date: 14 Aug 07 - 03:36 AM

I like "Upwardly mobile Middle Bar" Kitty. Perhaps that's what whould be on the next T-shirts!

Didn't get to see any performers of course, but I heard Glorystrokes and ShadyLady thought they were fantastic.

One of the things about all these young bands is that they often appeal to the young, thus, hopefully, bringing more youth into the folk scene. Then the audience and the bands can both develop to the benefit of all

Love Lynne

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: GUEST, Tom Bliss
Date: 14 Aug 07 - 04:01 AM

The organisation was exemplary, the concerts very well attended, and some wondeful acts. Jackie O Jim M and Nick Glorystrokes were particularly good standing in for Eliza at short notice (Nick was called from the sea to assist)! We got some stunning songs about the Napoli, but I can't agree about the seagulls. No sooner had the last musician been tipped out the back door of the Bedford (and I finally closed my eyes) than they started a-skreeeechin and a-skawin. It was WONDERFUL to escape to the peace and quiet of Dartmoor!

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: Mrs_Annie
Date: 14 Aug 07 - 04:35 AM

We too had a wonderful time. Our morning constitutional along the sea front, coffee from the Bedford, lunchtime drinking at the Swan, afternoon concert most days, tea from Chez Nous, evening concert sometimes but mostly just hanging out in the Bedford. What a relaxing week and what great music. Thanks to all those who played in the pubs and along the sea front, and the step dancing ladies.
Tom, we too enjoyed Jackie O Jim M and Nick Glorystrokes, and we too went on to Dartmoor. I was going to say 'hi' but the opportunity didn't arise. And I spotted Jim Causley there too.

It's raining and gloomy here, what a great holiday we had.

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: Folkiedave
Date: 14 Aug 07 - 04:41 AM

One of the things about all these young bands is that they often appeal to the young, thus, hopefully, bringing more youth into the folk scene.

I love that bit about the "young".

Though I agree (having seen them at Warwick) about their appeal. And they are younger than me. But then so are most people......

Dave

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: lilly
Date: 14 Aug 07 - 06:03 AM

Martin Wyndham Read/Glorystrokes-suprise find !/Vin Garbutt/ Jig competition/ Lester Simpson's 'interviews'/Rugby club concerts and workshops/trying to write song lyrics on the beach when there was a whole festival to go to !! Great time as always.

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: GUEST,albert
Date: 14 Aug 07 - 06:16 AM

I had a great time again in Sidmouth.

Enjoyed the morning singing with Kitty at the hotel on the front and lunchtimes in the Gardens. I hope this event goes back to the Theatre bar where it belongs next year and also back into the festival programme.

I thought the Spookymen were wild,weird and wonderful.Very entertaining.A cross between some 18th century gold prospectors and a gang of escaped zombies....loved the Swedish folk song at the end!

Also Bill Whaley and Dave Fletcher were simply great....
Congratulations and jubilations to all concerned with organising another brilliant Sidmouth!!

As a Welsh music lover could I suggest the organisers take a listen to Swansea band "Boys From The Hill" who are still magnificent.This year they are taking a break but are still playing festivals and other selected venues.
Albert

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: GUEST,Gadaffi
Date: 14 Aug 07 - 07:31 AM

I'm now having a nice restful time at work!

Best personal moment of week: Norma Waterson/Eddie Upton interview. House full, and I thought Eddie and Martin Carthy would nearly come to blows!

Best acts of week: Yves Lambert, of course. Housewives Choice have a lot of possibilities going for them. The Askew Sisters were a breath of fresh air. Watch out for David Steptoe - he has a lot of potential.

Worst personal moment of week: getting 'blanked' by John Howson in his cameo at The Volunteer. Rod Stradling does the same to me, but at least I'm getting used to that! My apologies to Ralphie for not having done my homework.

Most embarassing moment: finding out that the Volly wasn't in the programme in its normal place. Hopefully an oversight and not a deliberate policy change by FolkWeek, otherwise it's going to be doubly difficult to maintain this valued part of the Festival.

Now here's the challenge - how do we maximise use of the Bulverton in 2008, if at all?

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: GUEST,jethro
Date: 14 Aug 07 - 09:36 AM

Bulverton was utilised on most days as follows:

0900-1200 - workshops
1300-1430 - brunchtime concert
1600-1800 - soundchecks for 3 bands for evening and LNE
2000-2230 - Dance event
2300-0130 - LNE

The Brunchtime concerts were poorly attended - but all of exceptional quality. It was a joy to sit inthe sun and listen to it all.

There is space in the schedule for more events/workshops to be slotted in - though the stewarding requirement for the venue (this year about 45) would have to be increased.

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: GUEST,Gadaffi
Date: 14 Aug 07 - 09:39 AM

I thought Fluxus were excellent. It was a pity that so few attended.
The Bollywoods were equally enjoyable, but the early evening slot really does need careful thought.

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: Larkin
Date: 14 Aug 07 - 11:55 AM

I only made the last two days and managed lots of sessions although the Anchor irish session
was so oversubcribed that it was excruciating . Missed the Dove which was my favourite session . But some nice songs in the Bedford. Uiscadwr were fab and as always Tom McConnville , Clare Mann and Aaron Jones a joy to watch. I played in a great little session in the Ship with some very fine box players . just filing me finger ends down due to over callousing !!!

Martin

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: GUEST,Ms Lemon
Date: 14 Aug 07 - 12:17 PM

Was it good for me? Lemonade-wise, yes, but the camp site I thought was leaving a lot to be desired. We were in the 'quiet' field and found it noisy. Where were the stewards? Aren't they supposed to be patrolling the field by torch light to make sure all is ok? When I complained I was told how to destress when I hear noise in the night! "Take a deep breat in, and then a long hiss out" How I didn't go for her throat I don't know! It's not up to me to keep law and order, it's up to the stewards.

I also felt there weren't enough Fire extinguishers... ok so we had barrels of water but how does one carry the water to the fire? No buckets provided to do it.

The showers were a laugh. For two nights we had no electricity in one block. Then only two out of four of those showers worked. And when they did they gushed either scalding hot or cold.

The campsite was badly marked out and quite a few people had to repitch their tents because they were aparantly in the 'fire lanes'.

I have many more complaints... like Why do I as a trader have to pay £46 per adult to camp when I'm trading and have to pay £300 to do that?

I also wasn't happy about some lads selling lemonade on the sea front. I think competition is a healthy thing and their sales didn't affect me at all, but did they have a Pedlars Licence? Health and Safety certificate? Were they checked by the Environmental Health? Did they have insurance? Hand washing facilities (hot and cold)? If someone decided they were infected by food poisoning from these lads, they would probably just have said they had the lemonade from Sidmouth Festival and I would've got the blame! What's more they didn't pay £300 to be there.

There are no other festivals that I trade at that charge traders extra for camping. Last year I hated the campsite and gave it the benefit of the doubt for this year, but believe me, never again. I shall pay more and get a decent night's sleep and good showers.

Sal

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: melodeonboy
Date: 14 Aug 07 - 12:52 PM

I only managed to squeeze in two and a bit days between gigs, but it was worth going just for that. I managed to sing and play nearly all day.

I discovered the Newt for the first time this year. I found the decor and layout of the pub bizarre, but had a most enjoyable two hours' worth there one afternoon with some very interesting performers. I'm blowed if I can remember who they were but Don T. will know.

I shall try to make the whole week next year.

By the way, what happened to the late night "supermarket bus" that they ran last year?

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 14 Aug 07 - 12:54 PM

Gadaffi - I know just how you feel, not just about being dropped from the festival programme but in not finding out before the programme was published. I think it was even more iniquitous that "In the Tradition" got shunted to the fringe than the Theatre Bar singarounds - if your sessions aren't core folk I don't know what is. The message has been conveyed to Eddy Upton by Tim Edwards (and Eddy apologised), but messages of support for both events to be reprogrammed next year wouldn't go amiss!

Kitty

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: MBSLynne
Date: 14 Aug 07 - 01:29 PM

Sally, I was told by a campsite steward that they were told by the campsite manager that she didn't want them patrolling the campsite at night and that they weren't to ask people to quieten down even if there were complaints. The person who told me was very surprised as she and her husband have been campsite stewards for many years.

Melodeon boy, if you mean the bus that did a round trip last year, the boss of Alpha coaches said that the round trip didn't really work last year so they decided just to go up and down between the campsite and the town.

I missed the Dove too. I don't suppose anyone managed to find an alternative Dove after I left on Monday did they?

Love Lynne

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: Essex Girl
Date: 14 Aug 07 - 02:51 PM

Sidmouth was great as usual, wonderful weather and some wonderful sessions in the Anchor and Bedford.(and others) Thoroughly enjoyed stewarding at the Ham, nice friendly crowd, both stewards, managers and audience. Hardly a complaint the whole week, and then only about the noise level.

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: Ruth Archer
Date: 14 Aug 07 - 03:10 PM

"I got to meet Ruth Archer!"

Crikey, Kitty, I hope it wasn't too disappointing. I'm sorry I never got to any of your singing sessions - we always seemed to be so busy! I never even sang until Thursday night at the Bedford, and then only cause Barry Lister took pity on me...

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 14 Aug 07 - 03:22 PM

Lynne - all the Doveites missed the Dove, and we even lost DGD judges from the whole week. I prophetically forecast in my DGD entry that the judges would resort to another bird for alcoholic libations, as indeed they did. Thanks Alanww and Idris for consoling me for the loss of the Dove.

Kitty

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 14 Aug 07 - 03:26 PM

Ruth - I left the Bedford back lounge early on Thursday because I was sniffing and sneezing and needed an early night, so am really sorry I missed your singing!

I had a wonderful week, so thanks to everyone who made the festival happen.

Kitty

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: Surreysinger
Date: 14 Aug 07 - 03:40 PM

Gadaffi - just a quick word of thanks for your many and varied efforts. I hadn't been to Sidders for the last two years, and it was nice to find that the In the Tradition sessions were still going, and in appreciative hands!! My major "must do" every day (well, OK except for Saturday when I arrived, and Sunday when I was otherwise engaged watching and listening to HWC displaying their aforementioned possibilities), I agree with Kitty that it was beyond the pale that the In the Tradition sessions were not contained in the main programme as always used to be the case. Wish I could have been up in time to go to the early morning talks... maybe I would have found out WHY Martin nearly came to blows with Eddie - you didn't mention that at breakfast the next day, did you??

One other thing that didn't work was the location that the Ballad sessions were given to start with - on the first day, arriving at Jack's Bar we found a very worried Sheila Miller and Moira Craig conversing with Barry Lister. Jacks Bar was in full flow, with youth from the vicinity watching football on large screens - a totally inappropriate venue for the type of session involved. One can only wonder who thought the venue was an appropriate one, and why!!! An alternative home in the Bedford's dining room was found for the rest of the week, but even that was not really ideal - people walking in and out, stowing equipment in the room, walking through the room etc during the course of the sessions. Additionally, ballad related concerts and events were timetabled at the same time as the ballad sessions themselves. Ballads and ballad singing are rather specialised interests, and to timetable two separate events of a specialised related nature against each other was, to put it mildly, poor planning, and especially frustrating for those of us who wanted to attend both events.

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: fiddler
Date: 14 Aug 07 - 04:33 PM

Campsite and noise is a delicate area!

I know!!!!!!

Belieive it or not you get less complaints by letting the sessions run!

Patrolling only achives limited quiteness and lots of stress all round as the noise starts up again 5 mins later.

I sympathise Sal!

I don't know the answer.

Andy

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: Ruth Archer
Date: 14 Aug 07 - 04:44 PM

Kitty, you didn't miss much, belive me. And I'm still suffering with that self-same Sidmouth lurgy! Mine came on during the torchlight procession on Friday night...

Re quiet campsites, I've always wondered why the quiet doesn't extend to children running about shrieking/playing footie against the side of my tent at 8am, or relentlessly cheery types cooking their fry-ups and playing their newly-acquired instruments at approximately the same time...

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 14 Aug 07 - 04:46 PM

2-zone camping, like Broadstairs? Mind you there never seem to be ANY campsite sessions there, and tonight I think you might need a punt....

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: treewind
Date: 14 Aug 07 - 07:13 PM

We're only just back! - but we've also been to Dartmoor and Bideford (just for a concert last night). All good, I thought, and we met Ruth Archer too! And no, the mini melodeon workshop didn't happen, after a communication mixup, but the offer's still on!

One of my highlights at Sidmouth was discovering Last Orders. Others have mentioned them - a young band with a sense of humour. I sat through their set at the Rugby Club with a silly grin on my face all the way though, not to mention actually bursting out in giggles at some points and joining in with spontaneous applause mid-set as the members took jazz-style solos. Utterly delightful and they don't seem to take themselves a bit seriously, but they've obviously worked hard on the music. Heavens knows what they'll be up to in a few years time - watch out for them.

Anahata

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: MBSLynne
Date: 15 Aug 07 - 02:33 AM

Three years ago I discovered ear plugs and they are wonderful. As one of the ones who used to get moaned at regularly in my younger days I have no problems with people sessioning. It is, after all, a folk festival where people go to do music and enjoy themselves. What I do object to is barking dogs at all hours of day and night and people who play recorded music loudly on their car stereos with the doors propped open.

There is supposed to be a quieter field (the second one.

I know everyone always says the good old days were better, but we seemed to have much less problems in the days when I was a campsite steward than seem to occur now.

I wasn't at all happy to get back to my tent and find that a large group of people (I think they were members of a band) had pitched their tents all around me, two of them literally six inches from mine. They then proceeded to party every night, though I got to bed later than them the first night so only know because I was told! The second night I lay in bed remembering my campsite parties of the past....I couldn't use my ear plugs at that point because my daughter wasn't back. At half past two I asked them to quieten down and they did, I think, but then I put the earplugs in.....blessed quietness!

Love Lynne

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: George Papavgeris
Date: 15 Aug 07 - 03:30 AM

I was miserable the whole week. Didn't enjoy any of the concerts or the sessions. I particularly did not enjoy the Bedford sings.

Of course, I was in Chesham & Milton Keynes the whole effin' week, that's why.

*sigh*

Who, me green?

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: fiddler
Date: 15 Aug 07 - 03:57 AM

LOL George!

Lynne summed up some items - a quieter field - there never was a quiet field during my period on campsite!

That said are we as tolerant as we used to be - I remember sitting around all night jawing and singing and playing at a gentle level and not having any problems.

Andy

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: Folkiedave
Date: 15 Aug 07 - 04:17 AM

One of my highlights at Sidmouth was discovering Last Orders...... Heavens knows what they'll be up to in a few years time - watch out for them.

One of the things I hope they will be up to is getting Joe's sister to sing. Marie Louise O'Connor is by far the best young singer I have heard in years. She already sings on their record and beat Joe in a young performers competition last year.

And no, the mini melodeon workshop didn't happen, after a communication mixup, but the offer's still on!

Damn - Ruth there is always a place in my gazebo for you.......

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: treewind
Date: 15 Aug 07 - 04:50 AM

"One of the things I hope [Last Orders] will be up to is getting Joe's sister to sing"

Would that be the girl who did one song in the middle of their Rugby Club set?
Yes, they do need a singer, though in that acoustic (not an easy venue) her voice was struggling to be heard.

Anahata

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: Surreysinger
Date: 15 Aug 07 - 04:52 AM

Don't you just hate hearing about the good things that you missed because you were somewhere else at the time?? Thanks for the tip Anahata - I'll keep my ears and eyes peeled for Last Orders in future...

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: GUEST,s&r
Date: 15 Aug 07 - 07:42 AM

Maz won the Young Performers Competition at Fylde in 2005, and she's got better since. Last Orders and Maz are appearing at Fylde this year,

Stu

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: GUEST,Peter Stockport
Date: 15 Aug 07 - 11:35 AM

Never been before, got a platinum ticket and enjoyed it all.
But,and there's always a but!
The Ham was great, but I wanted to see more people! To get a good seat in the you started queing at 7.30, it finished at 10.30.Usually overunning .
So every night I just got to see just the two Ham acts. They were good but I would like to see more people in the Ham not just a top act and a support. Even though the supports were excellent if a few too many young "Celtic" bands.
Saturday night in the ham was Van Eyken and Kirsty McGee.

Sat night in the Bedford was Wistman's Wood, Pete & Sue Coe, Sara Grey & Kieron Means, Brian Peters and Bodega.
See!! 5 acts to 2.
130 seats in the Bedford over 800 in the Ham.
Why not more variety in the Ham? The most expensive tickets and the least artists? Much as I enjoyed the Spooky Men, Brass Monkey etc. who need the large venue, I wanted to see more!
Anyone else with the platinum ticket feel that there should have been shorter sets and more artists in the Ham?
Peter

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: Ruth Archer
Date: 15 Aug 07 - 01:00 PM

There were afternoon Ham concerts, too...

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: Ruth Archer
Date: 15 Aug 07 - 01:06 PM

Oh, and the acts at the Bedford get MUCH shorter slots than the headliners at the Ham.

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: Bob TB
Date: 15 Aug 07 - 02:39 PM

Wonderful week, as usual, despite be berated by Lynne at Ashby FC on Friday night for having a boring Mudcat name - so I've changed it! Thanks to Mick P for the inspiration.

Was unsure about the upper middle bar but it worked well - although you had to go to the garden for a decent pint. At least the MBS still have a pub!

Ham concerts were excellent - no ticket this year but staying within PA range! Did you know it was JK's birthday?

I thought it sad that the promenade was taken over by traders pushing out the dancers and (folky) buskers but I know at least one of the many festival directors is onto that.

Thanks to the Hills for laughing during Doom, Gloom and Despondency. The rest of you are taking it much to seriously!

Bob TB

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: MBSLynne
Date: 15 Aug 07 - 05:30 PM

Oh Bob, that's a MUCH better name!! Lol!

In Sidmouths past we used to have two other campsites as well as the main one, one of which was called the Family campsite and supposedly much quieter. I always liked being on the main site and the few years I camped up at Salcombe due to lack of ticket, I really missed the social side. That's still good. The sessions in the marquee at the gate were apparently brilliant. I think they were one of the main bits of my son's festival this year.

As far as being less tolerant goes....it was a regular part of my festival to have Alan White come to wherever I was camping to tell me to keep the noise down. What really amazed me was that last year he came to the gazebos where all the young contingent camp to say something about the noise, and with all these teens and twenties somethings partying there, it was STILL me he told off!!!! Then he joined us of course.

Love Lynne

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: fiddler
Date: 15 Aug 07 - 05:34 PM

Some things never change Lynne

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: GUEST,Guest
Date: 15 Aug 07 - 05:51 PM

Just to clarify some points raised in earlier messages: Jack's Bar was actually put forwards as a suitable venue by Barry Lister & Tom Addison!

The ballad session was timed for 3.00pm to 5.00pm which did not clash with the other ballad events namely, the ballad concert on Sunday from 11.30 to 1.00pm or Brian Peter's Child Ballad concert on Thurday from 11.30 to 1.00pm

Headline acts are headline acts for a variety of reasons. Whatever the reason however, they do command higher fees etc which in turn command higher ticket prices. We therefore have an obligation to our audiences to provide them with optimum viewing time in such circumstances.

We cannot ignore the fact that many artists are used to performing in a 'folk-club' format of 30 or 40 minute sets but surely no one would expect Yves Lambert, the Spooky Men or Eliza & The Ratcatchers to 'do' a 40 minute spot and then bugger off!

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 15 Aug 07 - 05:59 PM

As no-one else has mentioned Altan, I will. They were bloody fabulous. Bloody loud (too loud for the first three sets) but the sound chaps got it better in the end.

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: GUEST,Ay Up
Date: 16 Aug 07 - 03:14 AM

Was it good for you?

No.

Far too many older people there, both in the audiences and in the line-ups. It mirrored the unequal balance of the population of the town that Sidmouth has throughout the rest of the year.

The people I most enjoyed seeing were The Devil's Interval, who were wonderful, as ever and Uiscedwr who took my breath away. Both acts should have been on in The Ham in the main evening slot. Jim Moray should have been there too, as should The Demon Barbers. Where was Seth Lakeman? Last year the town rocked to Seth's music and it was filled with young people.

Nothing wrong with older people, don't get me wrong, but along with the grey highlights Sidmouth badly needs far more blonde, red, purple and blue. It needs to update itself, like Moseley Festival, who mix all types of music up and bring in a far more diverse audience.

Sidmouth needs to stop living in the past and being 'our little festival' and it needs to concentrate urgently on offering far more for younger people.

The craft tent was so smelly you could barely go in it and it was filled with many of the same traders that are there year, after year, after year. There wasn't enough for children at the festival either, it would be far better to have the craft tent elsewhere and the whole of Blackmore Gardens given over completely to children's entertainers and entertainment.

And talking of entertainment, where were The Chipolatas?

Good to see so many morris teams though, I did enjoy those very much.

The Ham Marquee needs looking at though. This year apart from anything else, it was hot, uncomfortable and decidely smelly. The straw that some bright spark had decided to put down over the mud attracted all the flies which were buzzing round about happily. When I pay £15 and upwards for tickets I do expect to sit or stand in a relatively pleasant place.

Why is there never any dancing or even standing allowed in The Ham? It seems to me that there's just row upon row of chairs filled with serious faced folkies who don't even have the good grace to smile at the performers and let them know they're enjoying themselves. Compare this to a Seth Lakeman concert or Demon Barbers one, where the audience simply HAS to dance, where they break 'the rules' and just stand up and shimmy, far more enjoyable. Maybe they need far less seats and a big area for people to stand up/dance in.

Here's a copy of the message I left in the Jim Moray thread, just in case anyone from Sidmouth Fuddy Duddy Folk Week may be listening. I've put it in here because I think it's important, even if they don't.





- I wouldn't like to gauge how much he actually needs the ever-so belated approval of 'the f*lk world' who back then wanted him burned as their very own wicker man. -

-------Dear lady from Frollocks,

Jim would appear to suffer from the same 'Wicker Man' trouble as Show of Hands do, from things I've read. How strange those things were written by you.

For the second year running now Jim Moray has not been at Sidmouth despite him being -at- Sidmouth as a spectator. I found this bizarre, as his sister Jackie Oates was there, as she was last year, as was Jim Causley and The Devil's Interval, Jon Boden, John Spiers, Eliza and Mawkin. Don't get me wrong, it was wonderful to see all of them there again, but it wasn't wonderful to feel that Jim Moray had been overlooked once more.

Has Jim upset the people who run Sidmouth? He would have brought in many young people to the town and that is something that Sidmouth Folk Week needs very badly.

Where were The Demon Barbers also? Yet again they were not at Sidmouth and yet they brought in a huge audience last time they were there two years ago.

It really is time that these grey bearded geography teachers, who sadly seem to dominate many festivals, got a grip on how the folk world is changing, and that young, vibrant and innovative acts such as Jim Moray and The Demon Barbers are setting it alight and working very hard to make folk music inspirational once more.

I'll put this in the Sidmouth thread too I think, just in case any of the grey bearded geography teachers are reading it. --------------

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: fiddler
Date: 16 Aug 07 - 03:47 AM

Hmmmmm........

Ay up

Quite a tirade.........

Dancing was not stopped in the Ham but please note it is licenced as a concert venue with seating. We can take this on board in relation to future applications for licencing, you're not the first to raise this point but with over 6000 tickets sold and less than a dozen or so requests not sure how the powers that be will take that.

As for the straw............

This did not cause the flies it is a long and complicated story which I don't know the answer to. It relates to the wet weather, the hot weather, the sewerage scheme below the Ham the tide levels and the river flow. some of us had to live with it all week so we really do sympathise.

As for artists, email the festival with your wish list - they will listen, you may get some along next time you may not.

Their aim (and mine in my role) is that as many folk and folkies have an enjoyable, relaxed and safe festival, tell their freinds and come again the next year with their friends too.

We can only address our shortfalls if they are pointed out to us lucidly and constructively, so do it - contact the festival via the web site or pm me.

Andy

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: MBSLynne
Date: 16 Aug 07 - 04:09 AM

Interestingly the large and growing crowd known as "The Gazebo mob" consists of mostly teens and twenties some of whom came to Sidmouth for the first time three years ago and now wouldn't miss it for anything. The group of, probably 15 YOUNG people has grown to a straggling crowd of possibly 30 or more. I think the festival must be offering something that an awful lot of young people enjoy. Notably, this crowd doesn't distinguish between themselves and the older people, nor the much younger and accept both as friends and as an integral and necessary part of the festival.

My son, who is 16 had the best time he's ever had this year and my daughter, aged 11 was really upset because we had to leave at the end of the weekend. They wouldn't contemplate missing Sidmouth. And they have many friends there of all ages because they understand that it is a progression.

Love Lynne

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: Ruth Archer
Date: 16 Aug 07 - 04:15 AM

To Ay Up:

*waves* Hi, Lizzie!

Are you sure you haven't simply had your nose put out of joint because Sidmouth was a roaring success despite no one having to read acres of your mindless drivel about it for weeks beforehand? Sadly, you are not the saviour and champion of Sidmouth. It survives and thrives without you. Personally, I think your rant is just sour grapes.

As someone who is constantly championing Show of Hands as the saviour of our youth (and of British culture), did they not bring enough young people into the festival and the town for your liking? Usually you're going on about how they bring thousands of young people into folk.

Jim Moray did play with Jackie, as it happens, at the Bedford late in the week. Very good they were, too.

You keep banging on about how the festival didn't book the Demons or Seth Lakeman. Lizzie, they can't have the same acts every year. People who are not obsessive about those acts would simply get bored. You haven't mentioned some of the youngsters, not so well established, who got a lot of positive feedback this year: Last Orders, or the Askew sisters, or Park Bench Social Club for instance. If you ventured away from the Ham at all (which I suspect you didn't) you'd have seen an incredible range of musicians, young and old, doing great stuff.

I don't know where you were all week, but I saw loads of youngsters enjoying themselves and being well catered for. Did you go down to any of the Shooting Rooots sessions in Jack's Bar? 30 or 40 kids at a time, under 18, playing folk music and having a brilliant time. There were also the LNEs at the Bulverton. Were you at the Whapweasel gig? No, I didn't think so. But hundreds of young people were.

I did a focus group on Friday with 18 - 30 year olds. They were all really happy with the range of events that targeted them (though they had some great ideas for how things could be even better). As has been explained to you before, a lot of young people in folk are not really concert-goers: they like ceilidhs, morris dancing and playing in sessions. If you're not seeing them in the concerts that you go to, maybe that's why.

You are a great one for criticising, Lizzie - why don't you do something about it? Volunteer. Do something positive. The festival needs the support of local people.

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: GUEST,Ralphie
Date: 16 Aug 07 - 04:47 AM

Ruth.
Well said
R xx

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: treewind
Date: 16 Aug 07 - 05:20 AM

Well, I never realised the smell in the Ham was caused by all those old people. Perhaps some of them died last year and nobody's noticed yet.

As for dancing, I understand the Bulverton Marquee was the place to go if you wanted to do that (or the Church House or Blackmore Gardens marquees, or the Anchor Garden or several other locations depending on preferences).

I'd see it as very encouraging that Jim Moray saw fit to attend the festival as a punter - says something about its appeal to young(ish) people, surely?

Of course Sidmouth is the only folk festival in the world, so it's very sad that it doesn't book all the performers in the world every year.

Anahata

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: Ruth Archer
Date: 16 Aug 07 - 05:39 AM

"Of course Sidmouth is the only folk festival in the world, so it's very sad that it doesn't book all the performers in the world every year."

LOL!!

I did say earlier in this thread that one of the things I think is so interesting about Sidmouth is the vast range of activity on offer. A dozen different people could each have their own Sidmouth, as it were, and barely cross each other's paths.

While the big name acts are important for profile and revenue, for me they're not really what Sidmouth is about - and anyway, they all get around a fair bit. The Demons, for instance, played Cropredy (which takes place towards the end of Sidmouth week, so maybe they just had other things to do?) and are launching their new road show at Towersey. If someone wants to see specific acts, there are over 300 folk festivals in the UK where they will no doubt be able to do so. It would be dead boring if every festival, incuding Sidmouth, all booked the same acts (though there are Mudcatters who will argue that that's pretty much what happens anyway).

It's no use having a tanty just because the only festival you actually attend is the one in your town, and they don't book your favourite bands every year.

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: Surreysinger
Date: 16 Aug 07 - 06:33 AM

Dear Ay Up... or whoever you are... your comments about Jim Moray intrigue me... has it ever occurred to you that Jim may not have _wanted_ to be booked for the festival?? Artists too like to have their hols I have no doubt ... I have the feeling that I had read his own comments somewhere else to the effect that his touring etc this year was taking a back seat to other projects he had running in his life. And anyway, as pointed out, he did appear ... summoned from a swim on the beach by mobile phone at short notice to appear in place of Eliza Carthy who had been stricken down with illness, and then repairing back to the beach immediately afterwards.

As to "nothing for the young" looking at the programme there seemed to be any number of events specially designed for the very young, and the Shooting Roots age group. In addition, during the week I was mixing with quite a few young people who were happily joining in with us old fuddie duddies. I was involved in one evening session at the Volunteer nattering to a 17 year old fiddler (there with his better known dad), who didn't seem to be finding it a deadly chore to mix in with us lot; had grand chat with a couple of young morris dancers who were "locked out" of the folk club at the Woodlands at the same time as I was, and was made aware that some of their friends were having a Pimms party on the campsite; shared a singing session in the Bedford at stupid o'clock at which two extremely young singers (one male, one female) both of whom were VERY good didn't seem to have any difficulty in associating with us crinklies. And it was only too obvious that there was a completely different scene going on up at the Bulverton ... wish I could have been at the Glory Strokes event on the Saturday night... I'd love to see/hear some heavy metal ceilidh going on... maybe another time.

As Ruth said, Sidmouth is and always has been more than one festival ... it has numerous sub-sets going on within the overall whole. Dancers dance, singers sing, session players do their own thing, and those who don't "DO" put their bums on seats at concerts, and the sub-sets don't necessarily have any cross-overs. There is also a young person's thing going on that people like me are aware of but don't get involved in. So your Festival and mine, or Ralph's or Ruth's, and our perceptions of the whole are all likely to be very very different. I wouldn't presume to comment on provision for the young apart from to say that all of the young people (teens and twenties) that I spoke to during the week (and later this week back at home0 seemed to have been having a great time!

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: Mrs_Annie
Date: 16 Aug 07 - 06:41 AM

I sympathise with everyone who had to work in the 'music room' sales area at the front of the Ham. The smell was so disgusting I could only stay in there for a few minutes at a time. Not conducive to CD browsing.

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: Ruth Archer
Date: 16 Aug 07 - 06:48 AM

the smelly issue in the merch area was bad - a pair of my shoes seem to be permanently permeated with the smell. I can't help wondering whether sales were down as a result. But as was said earlier, it was a combination of factors that were to blame, and which unfortunately couldn't be resolved in the short term. But the organisers have been made aware of several potential future solutions, so hopefully the smells will soon be only a dim and distant memory...except to me, whenever I put on my ballet pumps.

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: GUEST,Ay Up
Date: 16 Aug 07 - 06:51 AM

- Well, I never realised the smell in the Ham was caused by all those old people. Perhaps some of them died last year and nobody's noticed yet. -

Blimey! Hadn't thought of that! *laughs uproariously*

No, it's the straw. Never smelt that smell before at The Ham and I've been there since the new sewage works were put in. I noticed it as soon as the straw went down.

We need more than 30 young people at Sidmouth. Seth Lakeman brought them in by the hundreds.

Uiscedwr were *brilliant* though! What JOY! What ENTHUSIASM! Anna positively radiates sunshine, as does Cormac and Kevin, that man can break and re-string guitar strings at the speed of sound. Marvellous!

Anna also told us all about her Bone Marrow Transplant and urged people to go out and give blood.

We went on Tuesday Anna! The Blood Transfusion people were astounded at how many new young donors they had at Sidmouth this week. I told them all about Anna and her wonderful vitality and love of life. That girls ROCKS!

Ruth, take a listen to Uiscedwr's song 'Everyday Cynic' here, you may learn to be less er cynical and spiteful m'dear. Too many years as a journalist I'd day. *wink*

Uiscedwr Myspace

I always like to help where possible.

Looking forward to seeing Jim Moray in The Ham next year! Without straw though. *bad idea that grin*

We need some Reg Meuross there too and Martyn Joseph, you know, Acoustic Up a little more! While we're about it let's have some Stephen Fearing, Oliver Schroer (when he's better) and James Keelaghan too. All wonderful artists.

Sidmouth Goes Canadian..WOW!! *wink*

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: GUEST,Ay Up
Date: 16 Aug 07 - 06:53 AM

Sidmouth Goes Commando could be even more fun though! *double wink*

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: Ruth Archer
Date: 16 Aug 07 - 07:04 AM

Less cynical and spiteful? I'm just talking about Sidmouth. You, on the other hand, created a new identity yet again just so you could join in with putting the boot into Diane on another thread. That's spiteful.

The smell was nothing to do with the straw. It had started before the straw went down. It was to do with the carpeting in the merch marquee.

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: fiddler
Date: 16 Aug 07 - 07:09 AM

Ach well I tried, glad some of you listen!

ay up chucks I'll shut up now.

Andy

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: Ruth Archer
Date: 16 Aug 07 - 07:17 AM

Andy, I should have been clearer in agreeing with you: there were a lot of contributing factors to the smell, as you said. The reason, apparently, that they were not going to go away was because the carpeting was contributing to the problem by trapping all the nastiness underneath. I think some suggestions with regard to "living" or organic flooring were made by Mr Heap when he visited in the week. I'm not sure it could have been to do with the sewage lines, to be honest, as there was a similar problem in the Blackmore Gardens marquee - though the smell wasn't quite as bad.

But it was definitely nothing to do with the straw, which was being replaced regularly and was clean.

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: KeithofChester
Date: 16 Aug 07 - 07:25 AM

Where was Seth Lakeman?

From what I read elsewhere Seth was gaining a rather large number of new admirers at Edmonton Folk Festival (that is the Edmonton in Alberta). Seth did actually interrupt a Canadian tour earlier this year and dash back to London for the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards, then flew straight back to resume his Canadian shows. I suspect that experience has cured him of trying to play on more than one continent simultaneously.

He is at Falmouth today, both V Festival Sites (Chelmsford and Stafford) this weekend, then Tonder (Denmark) and then Towersey later this month, so he isn't exactly under-gigged.

Seth has got Teddy Thompson with him as support for most of his Autumn tour, which should make it pretty good value.

Seth also did a "launch gig" for his new Poor Man's Heaven album in Regents Park two weeks back. Now, I assume that has a release date just before the Autumn tour starts (since they have the same name), but no where can I find the official date for that. Still, it should be easier for the folk awards panel this year, since they won't have to worry which of two different versions of a Seth album actually they are voting for as "best album". That so bewildered last year's panel that the BBC still can't tell us which version of Freedom Fields actually won "best album" in 2006...

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: GUEST,Ay Up
Date: 16 Aug 07 - 07:28 AM

Poor Ol' Sidmouth, fancy missing out on Seth. *unhappy smile*

AND Jim!

Ruth, I think you may need to listen several times over dear. *wink*

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: Ruth Archer
Date: 16 Aug 07 - 07:31 AM

"We need more than 30 young people at Sidmouth. Seth Lakeman brought them in by the hundreds."

I love the way you selectively read, Lizzie. There were hundreds of young people at the Bulverton for Whapweasel and the Glorystrokes. Just because these are dance bands and not on your radar doesn't invalidate them, or the young people who went to see them.

I don't know why I bother arguing with you anymore, to be honest. You're in your own little world, you see what you want to see (this year, you decided that the Sidmouth lineup wouldn't be attractive to young audiences so you chose not to see all the younger people who turned up for the festival) and you read what you want to read. It's all about making the world fit with your perceptions.

The only thing that concerns me, really, is that there are people who weren't there, who will read your diatribe about Sidmouth and think it's an accurate reflection of the festival. I can assure them that it isn't.

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: GUEST,Ay Up
Date: 16 Aug 07 - 07:37 AM

Now, now Ruth, keep your big girls knickers on.

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: Ruth Archer
Date: 16 Aug 07 - 07:47 AM

I think you've got your own OAPs incontinence pants in a bit of a twist because you're no longer the champion of Sidmouth FolkWeek, and yet it's doing just fine.

Who'da thunk it? Lizzie Cornish: Moaning Minnie.

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 16 Aug 07 - 07:58 AM

Make up your mind, Lizzie, is it commando or knickers?

I nearly saw Mr Lakeman at Fareham and Gosport - I was not in the hall but could hear the bass guitar perfectly and the rest if I listened - and although I am a senile delinquent with a strong liking for bass and kick, I found it hard to hear a strong melody line (or more particualrly vocal melody line) in anything on his last CD, and I couldn't hear one at all at Fareham and Gosport.

I'm sure he's fine, in many circumstances, but he is not the only young scion of a folk dynasty, and at a festival one does need variety as well as excellence - and plenty of room for participation.

People keep telling me I'd love Sidders, and I really must get there one year. The variety in the fringe does sound a lot of fun.

Am I not right that Jon Loomes was there this year and booked? Did anyone see him? He always impresses me on so many fronts at once, from his fiendish sense of humour and lightning repartee, to his choice of material and his guitar wizardry - not to denigrate his multi-instrumentalism or his vocal technique. I'd much rather listen to him than the new-wave-euro-disco folkies or the euroceltique-million-notes-a-second brigade, and he's quite young (and an impressive drinker) as well.

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: ShadyLady
Date: 16 Aug 07 - 08:06 AM

Well, Ay up, i am a youngie, and I happen to know almost a whole stewards village full of young people, plus more, who wouldn't miss sidmouth for the world (including me). I also think that the oldies are entitled to it, as they were the ones who started it.

Shady

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: fiddler
Date: 16 Aug 07 - 08:08 AM

Ruth,

'I don't know why I bother arguing with you anymore, to be honest'

You're right!

Andy

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: GUEST,Ay Up
Date: 16 Aug 07 - 09:26 AM

Jon Loomes myspace - he IS good Richard!

- Make up your mind, Lizzie, is it commando or knickers? -


Well, it depends if it's in The Ham or The Bulverton I suppose *wink*

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: MBSLynne
Date: 16 Aug 07 - 09:50 AM

Well if this is Lizzie and not only is it her style but she does seem to be admitting it, I'm disappointed. I'd stuck up for her in the past and exchanged friendly PMs. I begin to see what so many people had against her and why Joe said what he did about her and diane.

Ay up, Lizzie, or whoever. Please don't be ridiculously juvenile by saying Sidmouth needs more than 30 young people. I said there were 30 or more in the "Gazebo mob". They most certainly weren't the only young people there.

And now another enjoyable and pleasant sidmouth thread has been spoilt. I do begin to agree with those who suggest we shouldn't allow Guest postings on Mudcat. Whenever a thread is hijacked and ruined it is almost invariably by a guest. This is where I cease to contribute to this thread.

Love Lynne

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: GUEST,Me
Date: 16 Aug 07 - 09:54 AM

All of your points and comments regarding the artistic content at Sidmouth are valid. I can assure you that the festival has no 'black list' with regards to performers and that any 1 year's programme is based purely upon balance and variety, plus of course 'the balance sheet' which cannot be ignored as the figures do have to add up at the end of the week.

Unfortunately, some of the percieved 'younger bands'are charging huge fees for appearances and festivals are finding it hard to afford such artists even if the Ham Marquee was filled with £20 ticket holders ... and then we would face the argument that 'young people' can't afford £20! But with Salsa Celtica, Glorystrokes, Bollywood, Monobloco, Whapweasel etc etc ... we had hoped that this might of provided loads of opportunities for 'letting lose'.

Sidmouth has always had the reputation of providing a breadth of music ... young / old ... established / emerging and sometimes we cannot put on the ideal 'virtual' folk festival for everyone, at every event, every day. We wish we could but all we can do is do our best. Early feedback from attendees and artists is telling us that this year's festival provided the most extensive/quality programme for several years ... Thanks to everyone who makes a comment, as I/we do listen.

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: Surreysinger
Date: 16 Aug 07 - 10:07 AM

Guest, Me ... I would be guessing that you are one of the Festival organisers, but you haven't said so! Are you also the previous Guest:Guest?? Very confusing!!

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: The Borchester Echo
Date: 16 Aug 07 - 10:09 AM

Joe Offer criticises me, quite rightly, for bothering to argue with madlizziecornish. It is a complete waste of time. I do it only because the music and the artists do not deserve such a distorted and potentially harmful deal at the hands of such an obnoxious, self-obsessed, vindictive troll.

I've not contributed to this thread because I was not at Sidmouth this year. I know LC was thanks to a string of outraged texts describing bizarre sightings. Otherwise I wouldn't have recognised it from her postings here.

She hasn't the faintest notion of what Sidmouth is and what it means, despite being a resident for a couple of years. What she appears to want is 'all-star lineups' of MOR popstars who may or may not be prepared to put up with her vomit-inducing fawning. She could move. To Cambridge . . . or anywhere.

Outta this thread.

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: Don(Wyziwyg)T
Date: 16 Aug 07 - 10:46 AM

"We wish we could but all we can do is do our best. Early feedback from attendees and artists is telling us that this year's festival provided the most extensive/quality programme for several years."

No one can do more than that, Guest,Me. The balance is a delicate one, and in the main you organisers have got it about right. That is possibly the major reason for Sidmouth's continued popularity.

For me, this year represented one more step in the progress of Sidmouth toward an even brighter future. The operative word is progress.

My suggestion would be that you are on course, and simply need to continue. By all means take on board the sensible feedback, while ignoring those who are complaining just to hear the sound of their own voices.

Don T. (grey haired, but NOT a geography teacher)

P.S. We do need a replacement for The Dove, tho'. I really miss that one.

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: treewind
Date: 16 Aug 07 - 10:50 AM

Not Cambridge. Please.

A.

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: The Borchester Echo
Date: 16 Aug 07 - 11:00 AM

Sorry Anahata.
I mean Cambridge, Massachusetts, obviously.

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: The Borchester Echo
Date: 16 Aug 07 - 11:05 AM

Sorry, Massachusetts.
Consider deportation to Canada,
Gone.

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: GUEST,Ay Up
Date: 16 Aug 07 - 11:12 AM

- Don T. (grey haired, but NOT a geography teacher) -

Phew! You had me worried there for a moment Don *wink*. Grey is good by the way, grey is VERY good! Although...'silver' is better, but just so don't get me going on white, now that's beautiful!

Now back to Sidmouth...

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 16 Aug 07 - 11:15 AM

Hell, Gordon Lightfoot will be spinning in his grave....

And at least one deceased Mudcatter too....

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: GUEST,Ay Up
Date: 16 Aug 07 - 11:18 AM

I saw Gordon Lightfoot years back at The Royal Albert Hall, I grew up singing his songs. Brilliant chap!

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: trayton
Date: 16 Aug 07 - 11:59 AM

I had a great time at Sidmouth
Hats off to George for his work at the Volunteer and it should be a very large hat to reflect all his hard work and persistence just so the rest of us can spend a lunch time in the very best of company, singing and music.

It was very good to have the Ballad Sessions back but the venue is important it needs a quiet undisturbed room where people can sing and listen with the level of concentration that these fine old songs deserve. It is a minority sport but at each session there were enough singers to fill the two hour slot and people just there to listen. The Ballad Sessions have a long history at Sidmouth it will be a sad day when a small quiet space can't be found for them, long may they continue.

Downside, the timing of events during the day seemed to lead to far more clashes of events and especially across lunch time.

Finally my do something different activity was joining the John Kirkpatrick festival band workshops, I really enjoyed it and much to my surprise enjoyed the performance at the end.
malc

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: KeithofChester
Date: 16 Aug 07 - 12:05 PM

Gordon Lightfoot may have been seriously ill in recent years, but he is still numbered amongst the living Canadians.

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: Surreysinger
Date: 16 Aug 07 - 01:29 PM

>Downside, the timing of events during the day seemed to lead to far more clashes of events and especially across lunch time.

Definitely agree on the matter of timing of events, Malcolm, but from a slightly different point of view . I got to at least two events on time only to find the House full sign up. Because the events were all timed to start at the same time (for the evening one certainly - not sure about the others), there was no point in trying to get into another concert or event on the other side of town, due to wasted time, and the added likelihood that there would be no possibility of getting into that one either. Whitby on the other hand does have some staggered starts, which allows you the prospect of haring off to something else if you can't get into your first choice.

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: Joe Offer
Date: 16 Aug 07 - 01:50 PM

Lizzie Cornish (Ay Up???), you gave your word that you were leaving Mudcat for good. I expect you to honor it.

I forget what it was I said about Lizzie and Diane and their conduct. I think I told both of them in a personal message -not in the Forum- that they were obnoxious. Lizzie and Diane are classic examples of what are known on the Internet as trolls. They get pleasure out of getting people riled up, and they are very good at what they do. I have to say, though, that the people who respond to the likes of Lizzie and Diane, are every bit as obnoxious.

Goodbye, Lizzie. You said you were leaving Mudcat for good. Please leave.

Most of our trolls are easy to exclude because it's obvious that they have nothing to do with folk music, and that they just come here to cause trouble. It's easy to classify them as non-persons and ignore them. They don't post to the folk music threads, so they're not really a problem.

Lizzie and Diane different, since they are actual people who do attend folk music events. Same with Shambles, I suppose. I'd really rather not have either Lizzie or Diane or Shambles leave us - I'd just like them to be part of the community, instead of constantly fighting against it.

I have enforced the non-presence of Shambles because he purported to leave, of his own accord, and then tried to come back under other conditions, as a non-member. I will also enforce the non-presence of Lizzie. She said she was leaving, and I expect her to stay gone unless she contacts me by e-mail [[e-mail]] and we come to an agreement on the conditions of her presence here.

Ordinarily, I would delete all of the messages Lizzie has posted under names other than Lizzie Cornish - since our policy is not to allow posting under multiple names. I would also delete all of her other messages, since she told us she was leaving us for good - for the same reason I have deleted messages from Shambles. The trouble is, a good many people have responded to her, and deleting only her messages would destroy the entire thread. So, people, if you don't want trolls here, don't respond to them. Both Diane Easby and Lizzie Cornish are prohibited from posting in this thread; and any messages they post in this thread from here on, will be deleted. If you don't want to sound foolish, don't respond to them.

So, about Sidmouth - was it good for you?

-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: Ruth Archer
Date: 16 Aug 07 - 02:02 PM

I have to say, Surreysinger, I found that a good object lesson right across the festival. Next year I'll make sure I arrive really early for events I'm keen on, as there were a few things I'd set my heart on that I didn't get to attend. I was astonished at the popularity of some of the daytime events: the EFDSS films, for example, and the talk by Malcolm on the future of the library. It was great to see them so well supported.

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: MBSLynne
Date: 16 Aug 07 - 02:03 PM

And if you read this before you leave.....don't bother to send me any more PMs if you sign on under yet another name. You've done yourself with me. You are everything they've all said.

Lynne

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: Crazy_Man_Michael (inactive)
Date: 16 Aug 07 - 03:09 PM

slightly off topic

a very much alive Gordon Lightfoot's 2007 tour schedule

Gordon Lightfoot Touring 2007

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: GUEST,MikefrromDorch
Date: 16 Aug 07 - 03:17 PM

I'm surprised more hasn't been said about the new Middle Bar location. I think on balance I preferred it, partly because I could get a seat and partly because you could hear everything that was sung. Downstairs quieter, particularly female, voices could be drowned out by the noise at the bar and from the gardens. The progress of the twig seemed more logical and fairer than it has at times in the past, However, I did miss that glorious feeling of being completely surrounded and swept away by voices in harmony that I used to love down in the dark and smoke of the real low-ceilinged Middle bar. It was a bit colder and clearer in the new room.

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: MBSLynne
Date: 16 Aug 07 - 03:38 PM

Probably sums up most of my thoughts on the Middle Bar Mike. It was great and there were no bad sessions, but there was something about the dark, crowded atmospherer of the old Middle Bar. I've considered it my spiritual home for the past 26 years and I miss it. On the other hand, the singing was much easier upstairs and we'll never have the old middle bar back so I think we've made the best move we possibly could. We now have to work towards making the Upper Middle Bar our home properly for the next 26 or more!

Love Lynne

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 16 Aug 07 - 07:50 PM

I feel unqualified to sit here criticising the Sidmouth festival in any way as I was there for only the one day, but I should like to say the following about the Ham marquee and then be damned. I was there for the Tuesday concert featuring Altan. They were magnificent, but the venue was not. For starters, it stank. You are supposed to put down straw to cover the mud, not strawy manure. It was a humid and damp evening and the foetid atmosphere in the big tent attracted 100,000,000,000 biting midges. I had insect repellant with me but the guy in front of me, and his missus, were scratching their way through the whole evening. The tent is deep and long, and, as all the seating is on the same level, I doubt that more than 20% of the attendees could actually see a darn thing. Wheel 'em in, take their money and sod 'em seems to be the attitude of the organisers. There was a measly 15 minute interval, during which anyone who required a toilet had to traipse bloody rapidly (lest they missed the second half) to the woefully-inadequate public lavatories up on the prom. By the time I reached the gents they were in a disgusting state. Gawd knows what the ladies were like, but I've never had to queue like that for a pee in my life. I got one chap's life story while I was waiting.   Putting on a free gig? Yeah, great, we'll put up with anything. But charge big mazumas for tickets and assume we all love to be treated like defunct hippies? You're taking the pee, aren't you!

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: Bob TB
Date: 17 Aug 07 - 02:37 AM

Large fans on stage at a music concert?
Ummm...

Bob

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: Bob TB
Date: 17 Aug 07 - 02:48 AM

As for the straw, I know for a fact that at least one long serving Task Force member was recommending the wood chip / forest bark that was used so successfully 10 years ago. Works much better, is easier to clean up afterwards, doesn't present such a fire hazard when it dries out and doesn't smell! Of course it costs more and can't be obtained with a quick call to a local farmer. I would guess that SH recommended the same. I suspect cost and convenience won.

The new road into the campsite was an excellent innovation though! Prevented a lot of the usual problems with mud at the gate without the expensive, noisy metal track. Anyone notice it? Congratulations to Alan W for this.

Bob

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: fiddler
Date: 17 Aug 07 - 03:49 AM

Some good comments coming out here, I can say that the ham staff ans organisers in no way represented a take the money and run mentality! As any of the staff about their briefings?

Tuesday as a bad day, the straw, however, was fresh and was managed each day (reduced to let the ground dry out).

The seating is as it has been for a number of years.

Other alternatives can be considered but time & cost is often involved in the equation.

We did the best we could with what we could get to create a comfortable, enjoyable and safe environment for the concerts, if we failed it needs to be reviewed logically as to where and how and how we cna improve.

Glad you enjoyed the show though, despite everything.

Andy

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: Surreysinger
Date: 17 Aug 07 - 05:09 AM

"The seating is as it has been for a number of years"
And is therefore one of the reasons I wouldn't normally contemplate going to any of the Ham concerts at the prices that were being charged for them this year. A friend of mine bought a ticket for the John Kirkpatrick concert at a cost of £15+ (actually MORE than the sort of price I've paid to see him or similar in our local theatre venue - which has comfortable raked seats); she has back problems, and had to leave at the interval as the seating was far too uncomfortable for her, and it was causing her problems. I think if you're going to charge theatre prices for tickets for these concerts then the seating and accommodation provided should reflect that (although how this could be done in a marquee venue, goodness knows), or the price of the seats should be reduced to a level which takes into account the fact that punters cannot be provided with the sort of facilities that that sort of price should normally command.

Tricky ... as I'm sure that the costings probably wouldn't allow for that :-(

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: Folkie
Date: 17 Aug 07 - 06:05 AM

I had a fantastic Sidmouth. I had a gold season so I only went to the Ham a couple of times in the afternoons - the smaller venues had everyone I particularly wanted to see so I don't think I missed much. The only problem was there was so much wonderful choice in the programme I had to miss things I really wanted to go to because I was somewhere else having a wonderful time. Keep it up Sidmouth. You're doing it right.

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: Ruth Archer
Date: 17 Aug 07 - 06:05 AM

Surreysinger, the JK concert was him AND FRIENDS - not the same as seeing him in your local venue, as he had a number of artists with him like John Tams, Barry Coope and Martin Carthy, and all the members of the erstwhile JK band, several of whom were not performing elsewhere in the festival and came especially for that concert. It was a special event, with a lot of artists to be paid...the ticket price surely had to reflect that.

For the millionth time, the smell was nothing to do with the straw. It had started before the straw went down and was emanating from the CD and merch marquee.

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 17 Aug 07 - 06:39 AM

I had a great Sidmouth: loved the Upper Middle Bar (like the new venue, but I haven't as long a history in the MBS as Lynne and some others, so maybe not quite such a strong bond to downstairs). As usual did the Bedford late night, but I also found Rosie's sessions in the Faulkner, where people actually listen to you, and you can even hear yourself sing: amazing hilarious songs (and delivery of same) from Dave Taylor.
Did the Cockersdale (Keith Marsden songs) workshop, which was enjoyable, educational and emotional (thanks to Val, John and Graham).
Concerts: Tinker's Bag, Spooky Men,Altan and JK ("Did you know it was my birthday?") were all outstanding, and I loved the Omega 3 who "warmed up" for Vin Garbutt (as well as Vin himself, of course).

Other stuff: mainly good weather, but the Monday downpours and standing outside the Ham tent in the rain trying to get into Brass Monkey (one out, one in, but there were LOADS of free seats when I eventually did get in) And the smell.......yes, woodchip next year, please, if needed.

The bow section of the Napoli being towed away, while the red sails of the dinghies sailed nearer inshore, and a lone girl piper played on the prom. I eventually wrote my "Napoli" song in the car on the way home: didn't get to the songwriting workshops, sorry.(Not me driving!)

The guys with the wrap-around monkeys doing "Rolling Home" in the Bedford: oh yes, the monkeys joined in!

And the Rugby Club: Norma and Martin sitting just in front of the brass plaque on the wall that says "Old Farts Corner"!!

Ageism: I thought it didn't really exist in folk: I've always maintained it doesn't matter what age you are or what your day job is. No, I'm not a geography teacher either. I have my bus pass, but was up dancing for Altan.

Roll on next year!
Love and hugs to any friends I didn't get a chance to say goodbye to.
TB

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: Dick The Box
Date: 17 Aug 07 - 06:43 AM

My collected thoughts......

Negative:

I attended several concerts at the Ham and was disappointed at how little effort was made by the stewards to get people to move to the centre of rows to make the remaining empty seats obvious and accessible. Halfhearted announcements were made by the artistes but then seating management is not part of their job. It is not fair that people could not get in when there were many empty seats available (around 5% on each occasion).

With regard to the smell, I think that the straw outside and the carpets inside had nothing to do with it. I think it had more to do with the intense showers on the Monday forcing gas out from the sewage plant under the ham. This would normally percolate through the soil and disperse but with a marquee on top it became trapped because there appeared to be no roof vents in the canvas. The concert part of the tent was not affected but the music stalls were, which indicates a specific problem at that location. The smell was distinctly sewage based rather than rotting straw or carpet. Whatever the cause, it needs sorting out.

The traders on the prom and the street artistes were a problem. There are notices on every lamp-post forbidding trading on pain of a £1000 fine. But where was the enforcement? The street artistes are not booked by the festival but they muscle in on the audiences generated by the festival. The money they collect goes straight into their pockets. We also had problems on several occasions on the market square in getting them out of the way so that scheduled displays could go ahead.

The campsite was noisy but that is part of festival life. However, there has to be some thought for others - a noisy session (that can be heard all over the site) still going on at 4.00am is not reasonable.

The bottom camp site exit at Ice House Lane needs to be open. The last bit of main road up to the main entrance is extremely dangerous and the bottom exit allows you ot avoid at least part of it by going down dark lane, or else going into town via the Sidford road past the Volunteer.

Sad to see the Arena as just a dogs toilet and play area for the rabbits.

Positives:

Bought a new melodeon - You can never have enough....

Blackmore Gardens - Lovely relaxed family space.

Blackmore Dance Tent - Good dance floor, good bands, good bar (best and cheapest beer in town).

Festival Bus - Really useful, frequent and available from early until the wee small hours.

Chez Nous - Usual good grub, good value and loads of it.

Camp site entrance road and bus park improvements - Big thumbs up.

Radway - No pool table and nice carpet.

Jig Contest - Usual high standard of dance and huge number of entrants

Hammersmith - They kick ass (but not as much as Great Western)

Lots of happy people - What more could you ask for?

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: Dick The Box
Date: 17 Aug 07 - 06:45 AM

Oh yes. Nearly forgot.

Spooky Men were superb.

And I am pretty enough......

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: Surreysinger
Date: 17 Aug 07 - 07:13 AM

Ruth - yes,noted, but that concert was only mentioned because it was the one that my friend went to... It probably was the only one that I might have paid that price for if I'd wanted to go to, in view of the novelty value.

The pricing for the others was still very high, particularly since each concert generally had only ONE artist that I actually wanted to see, plus only one other support (who I generally didn't want to see.) And it still doesn't make the seats any more comfortable, or the accommodation any lovelier :-)

And hey... I didn't mention the smell ... the comment was nothing to do with me!!!
See you at Whitby!

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: GUEST,Peter Stockport
Date: 17 Aug 07 - 07:51 AM

I can see I'm not the only one who found the seats in the Ham uncomfortable, too small and too close together.
I'm surprised no one has said "It's been like that for 30 years"
Because that's what everyone said when we dared to mention the campsite or anything else!
Is Sidmouth the only festival to charge for the festival bus? £20.00 for a weeks ticket, after I'd forked out for the platinum ticket and camping. It could have been mentioned beforehand!
Oh, I forgot.
"It's been like that for 30 Years"
Yes, it was good for me and I will go back. Just get those seats better!
Peter

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: Bob TB
Date: 17 Aug 07 - 08:18 AM

There are notices on every lamp-post forbidding trading on pain of a £1000 fine. But where was the enforcement?

The problem is that the act that imposes the £1000 fine also exempts anyone who holds a pedlars licence issued by their local police under the Pedlars Act 1871! Unfortunately there are limited grounds for refusing a licence and the definition of "pedlar" is not clear. This makes it difficult and expensive to control the trading. That said, I believe that the traders could and should have been controlled. As mentioned in my original post the organisers are on to this, although EDCC are the only ones with the power to enforce the law.

Busking is even more difficult to control as there is no law specifically preventing it. Obstruction is the usual one.

Bob TB

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: fiddler
Date: 17 Aug 07 - 08:40 AM

Seat comment on the Ham are noted and have been elsewhere too - you are not alone.

Being like it for 30 years never was or is a reasonable response, that said finding the right solution may take more than one year and even then may take more attempts to get it right.

The chairs are the same one used by many festivals, though this year they were on very soft ground and not quite even in their attitude becaus of this. Their spacing is their width where they are tied together - a legal requirement.

Sorry about Brass Monkey and all other sell out concerts, but by calculation on the seats pre sold, sold on the door and those seasons (all of which was 'clicked' in and out) who came it was full!

Volunteer staff did as much as they could adn worked very hard to try and 'keep teh customers satisfied'.

I'm sure folk would be less happy if too many were let in and then an incident occurred! The Ham did open the doors early when the weather was bad, and all artists asked on such occasions accepted that it was needed and they could not finish the sound check in private.

There are no laurels to rest on here, the right solutions are not far away but not as yet obvious when the whole equation is taken in to account. Lucidly and clearly expressed constructive criticism as in many of the posts above on all aspects is worthwile.

Please send it to the festival via the web site too!

Andy

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: GUEST,Why so mean minded?
Date: 17 Aug 07 - 09:15 AM

What kind of person would resent pedlars being at a festival?

Without the hair braiders or the clothes sellers, the orangutan man (cue Tom Palmer) or the wooden rose seller, the jewellery stores or the artists, Sidmouth seafront would be just boring old Sidmouth Sea Front.

I appreciate Sal's comment above about the othe other lemonade sellers and see her point of view about that entirely.

But come on folks...it's a festival! Lighten up and let some people make a bit of money on the side now and then for heaven's sake. It's not the end of the world!

Live and let live. The pedlars are great!

Next you'll be wanting the buskers to have licences and a 'pitch'!!

1984 Here We Come

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: Dick The Box
Date: 17 Aug 07 - 09:40 AM

Dear anonymous guest,

I do not resent the pedlars - I said that they were a problem. It is not the selling that causes aggravation, it is the size of some stalls and pitches (and maybe the quantity). This causes bad feeling between pedlars, performers, audience and motorists (when pedestrians spill onto the road), especially on the Sunday when the morris teams all dance. I realise that it is a free world but since the council purports to control the pedlars by licencing, then maybe they should exercise that control by removing the unlicensed pedlars and making sure that the licensed ones don't take up an unreasonable amount of space. Compromise is the name of the game.

Richard Ashe aka DickTheBox

PS I am actually a mate of one of these pedlars I apparently resent so much.

PPS Sorry about rising to troll bait. Bad habit.

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: GUEST,ms lemon
Date: 17 Aug 07 - 10:50 AM

I thought the buss drivers were fantastic. they drove on and on and on. It must have been an edurance test.

There was a horrible smell in the craft marquee too, did anyone notice that? the traders decided it must've been rotting grass and rotting carpet.

when bark was put down at shrewsbury festival last year the smell was absolutely dreadful. bark no, wood chippings maybe, straw no.

Sal

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: Dick The Box
Date: 17 Aug 07 - 11:03 AM

Hi Sal,

Hope it was a successful Sidmouth for you.

How many catters signed the guestbook in the end?

Richard

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: Surreysinger
Date: 17 Aug 07 - 11:05 AM

I'm surprised about the comments about having to pay for festival buses. I've only been to two festivals where buses were provided, and in each case payment for the service was the norm. I certainly did not object to paying £1 for a trip up the hill at stupid o'clock in the morning - anything rather than have to mountaineer back to the house!! And the driver was the same one on both occasions - thoroughly nice, and helpful at a strange time of the day to be plying his trade... nothing to complain about there in my book!

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: GUEST,Peter
Date: 17 Aug 07 - 11:43 AM

It wasn't just the paying for the bus it was the fact we weren't told we would have to pay. There's no warning on the website or program. Plus the cost was not a quid but £20.00 for the week.
There were a lot of complaints at the bus stop on Friday eve! From a lot of people as they got on and realised the bus wasn't free.
Accusations of stealth tax even!

Yes, the value is good but if you don't want complaints then let people know!
Peter

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: GUEST,Peter
Date: 17 Aug 07 - 11:48 AM

Blimey!
Enough moaning from me.
I thought Eliza and the Ratcatchers was the highlight but Brass Monkey came close!
ALso the session in the sailing club every night! Fantastic!
More session next year!.
Peter

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: MBSLynne
Date: 17 Aug 07 - 01:11 PM

Not sure why anyone would assume it's free. It never has been. You didn't have to pay £20 either, you could pay £1 per trip giving you the option of getting lifts with people driving down, or walking. It's only a mile for goodness sake!

Love Lynne

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: GUEST, Topsie
Date: 17 Aug 07 - 05:57 PM

I do remember one year when the bus rides were included in the season ticket.

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: MBSLynne
Date: 18 Aug 07 - 05:22 AM

Certainly not for a long time. What moaners have to remember is that nothing is "Free". If the bus tickets were included in the season ticket price, presumably the season ticket price would need to go up accordingly and then you would have to pay it whether you wanted to use the bus or not. This way you do get a choice. I've always quite liked the walk down from the campsite, though these days I'd often rather get the bus back up!


Love Lynne

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: Bob TB
Date: 18 Aug 07 - 05:38 AM

Like Lynne I always used to walk from the campsite (although I had shoes!). Even used to walk back out to the Bowd marquee at 11pm.

I have no objection in principle to traders but this year there were so many that they pushed many of the dance teams and folky buskers off the prom. There was simply no room. If word gets around I can see even more turning up next year. The sea front performances are an important feature of the festival and a showcase for folk music and dance. It is, as has been said, a matter of balance and that means some degree of control.

Bob TB

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: MBSLynne
Date: 18 Aug 07 - 05:54 AM

Yes, I think balance is the key. I enjoy the street stalls and buskers and all the other stuff, especially lacking the colour and atmosphere of the Arena showground now.

I used to walk BACK from the bowd marquee in the pitch dark (and it was VERY dark down that little lane!)... and without shoes!

Love Lynne

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: Declan
Date: 18 Aug 07 - 08:56 AM

I had a great time. Four Great Concerts - Altan, Spooky Men, Yves Lambert and Bodega/ Emily Smith, and a few other fairly good ones. I felt I got good value for my Platinum Season ticket, although its a shame to have to queue for an hour for the Ham when there's so much else happening around the town.

Plenty of sessions too from early until early. Three cheers for Colin Pyne and his great staff in the Bedford.

And I have a bit of a sun tan too, which is more than I would have got if I'd stayed here in rainy Dublin.

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: GUEST,Peter
Date: 18 Aug 07 - 09:33 AM

I've been to the festival website so I can leave some feedback and I can't find any where to leave feedback!
How do you mail the organsisers?

Peter

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: mattkeen
Date: 18 Aug 07 - 09:59 AM

I know what you mean about the Ham queue,

But later on the week got more relaxed about it and starting turning up 20 mins before the concert start and got in fine though obviously had less choice of where to sit.


I though van Eyken, Yves Lambert, Devils Interval and the Spookies were all great.

Whalley & Fletcher were brill too at the Manor as was Lester Simpson

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: fiddler
Date: 18 Aug 07 - 12:48 PM

Peter, and everyone else

You seem to be right!

Or if it is there it is well hidden.

I have emailed those who need to know and suggested it be rectified.

In the meantime and feedback sent to me by pm will be passed on to the appropriate people.

That is a cast iron guarantee.

This festival means a lot to a lot of people and we need to get it right.

Andy

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: Dazbo
Date: 18 Aug 07 - 01:12 PM

I've added some clips from Sidmouth to youtube now. If you search on sidmouth folkweek 2007 you should find them. Clips include The Askew Sisters and Glorystokes.

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: GUEST, Topsie
Date: 18 Aug 07 - 05:20 PM

I once made it on foot from the Ham to standing in the bar at the Bowd (LNE) with a drink in my hand, in 35 minutes - a friend happened to be buying a round as I walked in, which was great (and I was a lot younger then).

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: fiddler
Date: 19 Aug 07 - 01:32 PM

Further to my last post: -

There is a pdf feedback form on the Sidmouth website at http://www.sidmouthfolkweek.co.uk/pdfs/2007-questionnaire.pdf

This is the same as the one which went out in hardcopy at the Festival and was included in the final Newsletter.

Some people are pasting it into word and emailing to [e-mail] which is fine.

Others are printing it out, filling it in and sending it to the address at the bottom of the feedback form – also fine.

Andy

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: Steve in Sidmouth
Date: 19 Aug 07 - 06:53 PM

Some collated comments together with copies of early local newspaper reports are here:

Sidmouth folk week 2007


I will be updating in the next few days, in the meantime any (sensible and considered) comments welcome via the email address on the webpage.

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 20 Aug 07 - 03:17 AM

Almost nothing about the music or the fringe - the two bits that would interest me if I were to go.

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: GUEST,bobcat
Date: 20 Aug 07 - 09:14 AM

The festival was good good good for me!! I had a great time.
Great workshops with Matt Norman for the mandolin..I managed better than last year! Great workshop with Nick and Mary Barber..loved being in the Ceildh band. Went to some excellent concerts. Saw my long term favourite, Martyn Wynnham-Read..Whalley and Fletcher, Mary Humphries and Anahata..Eliza and the ratcatchers...and an amazing 11year old fiddler, Kieran at the family concert and th fddle-fest who played with real feeling. One of the highlights for me was Cockersdale's presentation of Picking Sooty Blackberries.
Could do with more venues to reduce the feeling of being a sardine in a tin!! The Balfour should be back in the programme....huge space up there, not too far from the campe site and on a bus route( 20mins walk)There were a couple of fringe events there but few trekked up to see/take part..and good food there, not to mention near my lovely B&B!!

Suggestions for next year..how about getting Eric Bogle? Damian Barber and his latest Roadshow, which was tops at Dartmoor this year

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: GUEST, Topsie
Date: 20 Aug 07 - 01:57 PM

Sidmouth enthusiasts may be interested in this

ebay site that includes a Victorian watercolour of Sidmouth


it is the view looking west from Jacob's Ladder, towards Budleigh Salterton, as it was nearly 120 years ago - interesting to look at even if you are not planning to buy the picture.

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: GUEST,Crazy Man Michael
Date: 20 Aug 07 - 05:41 PM

"hasn't the faintest notion of what Sidmouth is"


a festival that's way passed it's sell by date.

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: Don(Wyziwyg)T
Date: 20 Aug 07 - 08:01 PM

Keep saying it Guest. One day you may even believe it yourself.

Prat.
Don T.

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: GUEST,Gadaffi
Date: 21 Aug 07 - 04:03 AM

Ten days later, I get round to reading the Sidmouth Herald! The story of the week was missing.

Anyone know what happened to the looney Pole who (allegedly) drew a knife on Steve Lea at The Volunteer, and precipitated a mass police raid with Devon's finest resplendent in body armour and weaponry on Monday night? Last I heard he was banged up in Exeter nick, but you know how these stories escalate from fact into fable!

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: GUEST,Crazy Man Michael
Date: 21 Aug 07 - 12:01 PM

name calling the best you can do is it? *LOL*
and I do firmly believe it....

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: Kev The Clogs
Date: 21 Aug 07 - 03:09 PM

Now now people - all of this bitching is loosing the point of the thread!!! Sidmouth = was it good for you?

I had a fantastic time!! It's my sixth Sidmouth, so I'm new to it compared to a lot of you. All festivals have their good points and their bad points - so what!!! As long as a good time (in the main) was had, then surely, it must have been good!!!

I was Stewarding for the first time this year - and I loved every minute of it!! I was in the Pavillion/Arts Centre - great team - look forward to doing it in the future.

Went to some great concerts - Show of Hands, Spookey Men, Eliza an The Rat Catchers, Altan to name but a few - superb!!

Good variety of beer in the various pubs. Good selection of food for "on the move". My B&B was good, situated between town and campsite - so car was left in Rugby club during the day acting as a wardrobe, taken to digs at teatime, then bus to Bulverton in the evening.

Spent a fair amount of time drumming for Herbascious Border. Did a few sessions - what more could you ask for!!!

THEN - left Sidmouth at 11.45pm on the Friday and drove to Broadstairs for a workshop on the Saturday morning for another week of it!!

For me, Sidmouth is one of the jewels of the season. I'll be back year after year!   Hope this gets the thread back onto a positive note??!!!!

Hope to bump into some of you in Faversham and, certainly, Knockholt!!

Happy Folking pepes :-)

Kev

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: bfdk
Date: 21 Aug 07 - 03:43 PM

Were you part of this lot then, Kev?

Best wishes,

Bente

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 21 Aug 07 - 05:08 PM

See the git with the grey top hat and the big (errm) drum? He's the reason they call them f**k festivals.

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: Rumncoke
Date: 21 Aug 07 - 05:44 PM

Ah - the Hosepipe Banned - with the front bit of the Napoli being towed away in the background.

That would have been Wednesday - I think - or Thursday maybe - the days get a bit blurred after the weekend.

I was always trying to be in two places at the same time, what with drumming with Herbaceous and singing/playing in different places around the town.

I don't know how many times I have been to Sidmouth - I do try to get there for the full week now, but in the past usually managed to visit for a day or two. I bought a tee shirt at the 25th I recall.

I don't buy a ticket, as I am not really interested in the concerts. I think I was almost entirely 'fringe' this year now they have displaced the singing from the Theatre bar. I always have a great time and need a week to recover, and I even lose weight as I don't have enough time to eat.

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: GUEST,Ralphie
Date: 22 Aug 07 - 03:37 AM

Have to agree with Kev the Clog.
Sidmouth evolves and changes as the years go by.
It's a very different festival from the one I first went to in the seventies, but, the town is the same, the sea is still the same, and I had a lovely time.
Congratulations to all the people running it.
I know how much work it takes to organise an event like that.
More power to them, and hopefully I will be back next year.
Ralph

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: Kev The Clogs
Date: 22 Aug 07 - 09:57 AM

Me again.

Yes Bente, I am the one in the grey top hat, green and yellow tatters and drum. Hoffmeister (Richard B) you are going to get me a bad reputation - I behaved myself for the whole week in Sidmouth!!!

Rumncoke, are you the snare drummer or BIG bodrahn player for Herbascious? By the tee shirt that I was wearing in the photo that Bente posted, I think it was Wednesday evening (just confirmed, as I have a copy of the photo, and it has the time that it was taken and printed on the back!.

Well done Ralphie, more positive comments!!

Kev

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: GUEST,Crazy Man Michael
Date: 22 Aug 07 - 02:03 PM

"Well done Ralphie, more positive comments!!
Kev"

this lad really tries hard doesn't he..? but opinion won't change.*LOL*

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: The Barden of England
Date: 22 Aug 07 - 04:55 PM

Where were you the GUEST, Crazy Man Michael? If not there, then where?
John Barden

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: Kev The Clogs
Date: 22 Aug 07 - 05:35 PM

Hey John,

the post above from Guest - don't even give him time!!! We had a great time and we will continue to do so. See you in Faversham, Knockholt and Deal.

Kev

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: bfdk
Date: 22 Aug 07 - 05:40 PM

Kev, here's one for your scrapbook, in case you haven't seen it yet. Looks like great fun, pity I had to leave before then..

Best wishes,

Bente

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: JennyO
Date: 23 Aug 07 - 09:44 AM

Well I just watched that, and I have to say -

YOU GUYS ARE ALL MAD!!!

What fun! Makes me want to go. Unfortunately that might be a little difficult seeing as I am in Oz. I did go once, in 2001, with the Solidarity Choir, but somehow I missed that event.

Well, you never know, if I save some pennies...

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 23 Aug 07 - 01:52 PM

I have given Jack to Severn for onward transportation to Wareham, gawd 'elp him, he has a bottle of Jim Beam Black Label, and Jack knows we didn't finish it all. He drank my Jim Beam too.
G.

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 23 Aug 07 - 02:46 PM

I enjoyed it very much, met some nice folks, glad I didn't meet some of the people who have bitched on here though.
Sal [nice to meet you at last] was right, the smell was because the tents and ground sheets were put up on wet grass, and basically the smell was silage in the making. never could understand why cows ate the smelly stuff!
The bus service is good, and CHEAP, stop moaning about the cost!
I have booked my camp site for next year, [King's Down Tail] where the owners are friendly, the showers work, and the noise is minimal.
Giok

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: John J
Date: 23 Aug 07 - 07:18 PM

Excellent video clip! Well done to whoever filmed it.

John

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 23 Aug 07 - 07:40 PM

Not quite such a good one quality-wise, as done on my wee pocket-size 4mp camera, but still fun!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WyINHzR146U

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: Rumncoke
Date: 23 Aug 07 - 07:47 PM

yes, great video, and I recognise some of the usual suspects from the Hosepipe Banned at the ford - unfortunatly I had to be elsewhere at three o'clock - but there seemed to be sufficient percusion at the riverside.

I'm the drummer of the female persuasion, with the red drum. I sing a bit so can't get to all the Herbaceous Border sessions, however, I turn up whenever I can, for as long as I can.

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: MBSLynne
Date: 24 Aug 07 - 04:37 AM

Giok, good silage with the right bacteria smells like rich fruit cake and actually makes my mouth water. It's the stuff with the wrong sort of bacteria that stinks. (You might have known I'd pop up when you mentioned cows!)

Someone told me that Malcolm Burrows campsite on the golf course at Salcombe is closed. That's where we used to go and it was great and not very expensive. Anyone know if it's true?

Love Lynne

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: DG&D Dave
Date: 24 Aug 07 - 07:50 AM

Gutted!
Change of bird, at my age! They can break your arm, you know.
Who won the DG&D?
Will I be seeing any of you at Bromyard.
Still Gutted!
"She'd a voice like a Nightingale skin like a Dove..."

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: DG&D Dave
Date: 24 Aug 07 - 07:52 AM

P.S.
When's the MBS Reunion?
Dave B.

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: MBSLynne
Date: 24 Aug 07 - 08:16 AM

I believe Idris won DG&D with Kitty second, but I'm sure she'll post with the details before long.

I wore my metaphysical Dove T-shirt. It seemed appropriate.

Love Lynne

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 24 Aug 07 - 09:53 AM

'Sright, and a young lad got third with "Paddy's Sick Note": these 3 were the only ones who really got the black humour idea.
For my sins of last year I put in the coffin a black sack containing a miniature scroll with the words of the "Sack 'em Up Boys" song about Burke and Hare, the Edinburgh body-snatchers, suitably tied with BLACK watch tartan ribbon.

THE SACK 'EM UP BOYS
Chorus
Up the Close and doon the stair,
But and ben wi' Burke and hare,
Burke's the butcher, Hare's the thief,
Knox the boy who buys the beef.

Hurry doon the Castle Wynd,
Look before and look behind,
There they wait tae tak yer life
And sell ye fur the surgeon's knife….

Auld or young or dark or fair,
It maks na mind tae Burke and Hare,
While Dr Knox peys oot the tin,
They'll sack 'em up and bring them in…

Reekie's rows are dark and drear,
Reekie's vennels reek wi' fear,
Mind yersel gaun doon the stair,
Fur fear ye meet wi' Burke and Hare…

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 24 Aug 07 - 10:01 AM

Reunion weekend is 22nd-24th Feb: sorry can't make it: will be supporting Scotland v Ireland in Dublin: we did beat 'em on the glorious 11th too!
Here's a clip of the Exmouth Shantymen in the Middle Bar, verse 394 of Bold Riley, I believe!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kcGJq1VSk1s

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: Bob TB
Date: 25 Aug 07 - 04:38 AM

Dave - Lynne is correct. Idris won DGD. Given the number of winners who have sadly passed away over the years I'm not sure a second win is a good thing. Kitty close behind with a song about the death of your beloved bird.

We were a little concerned that people are taking DGD too seriously. The spirit of the event is perhaps summed up by the memory of Lynne's brother singing a very depressing song about traffic lights and having the audience struggling to suppress laughter and retain their composure. It was a depressing song though.

(For those not in the know, Doom Gloom and Despondency is a fringe event started by the late Alan Bond almost 20 years old. There's a lovely prize for most depressing song. Anyone not behaving with suitable decorum, e.g. smiling, will be evicted. )

Bob

P.S. There are other pubs in Sidmouth, you know.

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 25 Aug 07 - 12:12 PM

Idris won the DG&D with a song about a most unfortunate person, and scored 109 points. Mine was second with 102 points. Stephen Snow came third with the Sick Note. No-one came up with a song about the Napoli or the floods.

One contestant was given nul points by one of the new judges because he declaimed a story instead of singing a song. The rules will need to be clarified and more clearly publicised in advance next year - I don't think Alan Bond would have insisted that the entry be sung rather than declaimed.

Kitty

PS My song was about displacement and absent friends:-

I went to the Theatre Bar, last year it was heaving
Every singer was a star, but they forced us to go

Now I'm in the Faulkner Bar, but my heart is still grieving
To the fringe cast afar, with no ticket to show

And the Doveites lament for the pub that is gone
They sit outside the Anchor, so sad and forlorn
And where in the wide world is a pub to compare
With the metaphysical concept on the t-shirts they wear

Broken-hearted I'll wander, broken-hearted I'll remain
For the loss of my true Dove, I'll never drink in again

When the DGD is over, oh, where will we go
To dry up our salt tears for an hour or so
When the points are all counted, and we know who has won
Will we seek consolation in a room of the Swan…?

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: GUEST
Date: 25 Aug 07 - 06:34 PM

Nice lyrics, Kitty. Although I was so shocked to find the Theatre Bar singrounds missing from the Working Programme I nearly didn't come to the Festival, in the end I thought the Faulkener was a more than adequate alternative. Thanks for keeping them going even though you weren't given a ticket. Let's hope our lobbying restores your official status next year.

I did miss being able to have my lunch at the same time - the home-cooked meals in the TB used to be very good. Was it because not many people ordered food and drink that the sessions were evicted?

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: GUEST,Gardener
Date: 30 Aug 07 - 08:30 AM

'ere, who killed all the grass in Blackmore Gardens? Where you parked the craft tent is a sea of brown earth with not a blade of grass to see even now. Next year can you please use something that doesn't kill the lawn.

Ta

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: GUEST,ms lemon
Date: 30 Aug 07 - 08:37 AM

Gardener: that's very interesting about the grass being dead. The smell coming from under that carpet was not nice! Now we know what was happening maybe?

Sal

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: GUEST,ms lemon
Date: 30 Aug 07 - 08:39 AM

Btw...
The organisers of Sidmouth could really do with contacting Allan and Sandra Surtees with regards to setting out a campsite. shrewsbury Festival's site was wonderful.

sal

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 30 Aug 07 - 04:50 PM

Come to the Wareham Wail again Sal, and you can tell them in person!

Kitty

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: GUEST,Alice Bluegown
Date: 31 Aug 07 - 04:49 PM

Yes, it was great. And Sid's Mouth is just the best!!

A.B.

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: bfdk
Date: 21 Sep 07 - 09:55 AM

At long last I got my photos sorted and made ready to go online. Sorry about the delay but here are my photos from this year's Sidmouth.

There are a good many people for whom I don't know the names, any additional naming of the various "suspects" will be added as I get the time.

Best wishes,

Bente

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 21 Sep 07 - 11:51 AM

Great stuff, Bente: you had me right back there for a while! And now I know who YOU are !
However, it's not Drumshanty in pic m 167, but me, Tattie Bogle! Drumshanty has never been to Sidmouth. Maybe Giok got us mixed up as we were going to go the Scottish Mudcatters' gathering together (now regret we can't).
Hope to see you again next year.

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: bfdk
Date: 21 Sep 07 - 12:22 PM

Ooops, sorry about that, it's hopefully been corrected by now (I tried, at any rate). I got the name from someone, obviously, but I think I'd better have the guts to say "any mistakes are on me", hadn't I? ;-)

For that particular photo I had "doomesdaylady" as working title, so now you can see which one you prefer :o))

Yes, I definitely hope I'll get the chance to go back there next year, I had a great time. And we could do with a bit of that sunny weather around here at present, the weather's turned downright nasty..

Best wishes,

Bente

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 21 Sep 07 - 12:29 PM

mea culpa

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: Susan B
Date: 21 Sep 07 - 02:14 PM

Didn't get round to posting on this when it was more active, but thought I would add a few comments on things that haven't been discussed before (unless I have missed them). There have been so many comments on the things that I *did* enjoy at the festival that I'm not going to repeat them. So don't take it that I am knocking the festival as a whole when I give more negative thoughts.

Re noisy field v. quiet field. We were definitely told that the left hand field as you came in was supposed to be the quiet field and, as such, thought it might be worth the organisers putting the tent used as a late night session tent in the other one! Ear plugs are wonderful things though.

Facilities for disabled people - the organisers seem not to know that under the Disability Discrimination Act they have a duty to take practical and reasonable steps to overcome discrimination. There seemed to be an assumption that disabled people will be elderly, not want to join in with any dancing, and won't mind if they can only access a few venues. This could then become a self-fulfilling prophecy! Info on venues in the programme was very hit and miss. We emailed the Festival as soon as we found that our daughter was going to need to use a wheelchair, but never had any reply to our queries and only had a very dismissive response (from the Tourist info office?) when we phoned the info line. In the actual week we reached someone much more helpful, but it was rather late to put some things in place.

Needing disabled access we hadn't much choice about where we could camp and the area reserved for "disabled" was almost the most sloping and uneven that there was! We moved to the caravan row, but it was still not as level as the areas along the top edge of the field, which were all taken. And, disabled people do need to wash sometime during the week! Particularly young, sweaty campers! The disabled toilet had no washing facilities in it. Luckily we could get my daughter up into the showers as she can still walk a bit, but next year maybe not. And it would have been a fairly simple task to provide a ramp to one of the shower units.

The buses were great - they are the only reason why we continue to camp on the Festival site. They allow freedom for everyone in the family to get around independently and all get back for supper together. They must reduce congestion in the town considerably and I, for one, am happy to pay my £20 a week. Using the car would be a lot less convenient and more expensive in parking fees. And a big thank-you to the bloke who removed the wheelchair-and-pushchair-obstructing-bar in the middle of the doorway!

I notice in the comments about younger folkies and older ones that no-one has mentioned the age segregation that appears to be encouraged by the "Bulverton only" tickets (which were the only student concession tickets, I think). My daughter (the mad one with pink hair and a wheelchair) and a friend were just under the 18 years age limit this year, so were able to go to anything that appealed, but said that there was no way that they want the "Bulverton only" option next year. They found the Bulverton events in the evenings boring because they were disco type things, and some others they spoke to said that they were only hanging out there because they couldn't afford the Gold tickets.

RE amplified music on the prom - did anyone else notice that the music of the panpipe "player" didn't always stop when he took his mouth away from the pan pipes! And people were still giving him money! It would be much better for the festival if the police did enforce the "no amplified music" bit. I was playing happily on the front one day and then got drowned out by an amplified group that set up really close. And most of the amplified lot couldn't care two hoots for the festival; it's just seen as a cash opportunity - they migrate to anywhere there will be a lot of people and they are crowding out the folk musicians.

Andy says to send comments to Sidmouth, which I did, but it would be nice if our comments were acknowledged in some way. I went to the link provided further up, but couldn't see any of my comments represented. As it is, sadly, I don't even know if my comments have got through to those who need to read them. We want to come next year, but need to know if we will be able to manage, without making my daughter feel like a second class citizen.

And, lastly, I have offered to help if the organisation needs any advice on reasonable, practical solutions to disability access. So, I'm not being negative without offering to do something about it!

Susan B

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: Surreysinger
Date: 21 Sep 07 - 02:48 PM

Thanks for posting the photos bfdk. Sadly, as I don't have broadband yet, it takes too long for them to load to look at many, but I've had a chance to dip, and to find faces for some names!! Even found one event that I'd been to, as well :-)

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: MarkAustin
Date: 21 Sep 07 - 05:06 PM

There've been some comments about the non-festival buskers and the traders on the front. I raised this with the organisers at the feedback meeting, and basically the problems are that the traders all have peddler's licences. These can be got (more or less on demand) from your local police and are valid over the entire country. They are NOT licenced, encouraged or organised by the festival. Because I was on the collecting team, I spoke to a lot of people and know that there is a perception that they are in some way organised by the festival, so if anyone says this can you correct them. Peddlers licences allow people to do mobile trading: their stalls must be movable on demand and, in theory, they should be moving around during the day. In practice, the law is vague enough that the semi-fixed stalls on the front may be legal, and would not attract a substantial penalty even if they were charged with illegal trading and found guilty. Also, if the police *did* take action, every one they picked up would take 2-4 policemen off the streets for most of the day. Given the numbers of traders, you can see why the police take no action. A similar situation applies to the amplified muisicians. They did make some contribution to the festival: one of our team toured them every day, and collected about UKP50 from them (in total) each day. Not much, but something. Even the traders admit there are probably too many (though none want to be the ones to go). I did suggest (at the meeting) that areas be blocked off for musicians/dancers, but this raises a legal question in that the Festival would become legally responsible: thus needing stewarding, H&S evaluation, insurance etc, etc, etc. The Festival and Council are well aware of the problem, but solutions are not easy.

Nark Austin

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: GUEST,Jim Martin
Date: 22 Sep 07 - 12:14 AM

Surely, if the local authority/ies had a mind to, the solution could be very simple?

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: GUEST,Ralphie
Date: 22 Sep 07 - 01:01 AM

Bente.
Nice pics, Congratulations.
No 37 is Ed Rennie Melodeon, Me, Concertina, Pierce Butler, Drums
No 38 is Trevor Bennett, Trombone, Alan Rawlinson, Sousaphone
Housewives Choice Anchor Gardens Sunday.
Cheers Ralphie

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: GRex
Date: 22 Sep 07 - 04:36 AM

Many thanks for posting the photos BDFK. Couldn't make it to Sidmouth myself this year and the pics show me what I have missed.    Number 184 is Pete Luscombe.      
       GRex

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 22 Sep 07 - 08:53 AM

Bente - nice pics, and I've posted the link to the MBS newsgroup. No 141 is Chris (from the Middle Bar) and 200 is Ken Langsbury (with Roger Grimes and Jen Spencer, I think - they sing together as Roger Jenkens).

Kitty

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: MarkAustin
Date: 26 Sep 07 - 12:13 PM

GUEST,Jim Martin said "Surely, if the local authority/ies had a mind to, the solution could be very simple?"

What is your simple solution?

Mark Austin

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: Declan
Date: 26 Sep 07 - 08:10 PM

While I enjoyed Sidmouth immensly, whether it was good for me is a different question. All that Otter and Exemoor bitter, to mention but a couple. has probably done my liver serious damage. And playing music into the wee small hours every night for 8 days is probably damaging to the health as well.

I'm looking forward to 2008 already, although I probably won't get there until Monday beacuse the dates clash with Cambridge again next year.

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: GUEST,Jim Martin
Date: 26 Sep 07 - 08:53 PM

Mark Austin.

Surely the local authorities have powers to curb any, what they would consider to be, un-desirable trading?

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: Ruth Archer
Date: 27 Sep 07 - 03:56 AM

Have you read Mark Austin's earlier message? It explains why the situation is so difficult for the local authorities. These people are licenced; the problem is with the way the licencing works. If licences could only be issued locally there would be a ready-made means of controlling the trading; as it is, they can't.

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: bfdk
Date: 27 Sep 07 - 04:58 AM

I've updated with the names put forward by others, only I'm in doubt about this one:

Herga Kitty: "No 141 is Chris (from the Middle Bar)". Can't find that number, do you mean 191??

Best wishes,

Bente

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: Fidjit
Date: 27 Sep 07 - 05:26 AM

Never been, but after looking at Bente's photo's I'll see if I can make it in 2008. Even if it's just for the Celidh in the Ford.

I'll bring my car.

Chas

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: fiddler
Date: 27 Sep 07 - 08:11 AM

But there is no Ceilidh in the Ford - how many times have I never managed to get to teh event that never happens!

Andy

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: The Barden of England
Date: 27 Sep 07 - 09:51 AM

And it doesn't happen on the last friday of course ;-)

John Barden

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: bfdk
Date: 27 Sep 07 - 10:24 AM

So, Chas, you'll just have to make sure not to be there - just like I intend to next year :-)

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: Fidjit
Date: 27 Sep 07 - 11:39 AM

Ah! Where's my diary and map of Sidmouth for the ford?

Chas

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: Snuffy
Date: 27 Sep 07 - 01:18 PM

Chas, I thought you already had a plentiful supply of fjords - no need to come and nick one of ours!

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: GUEST,Crazy_Man_Michael
Date: 27 Sep 07 - 04:17 PM

:Surely the local authorities have powers to curb any, what they would consider to be, un-desirable trading?:

First of all you have to have more or less clear definition of un-desirable trading, one that everyone's going to be more or less happy with. Then you can proceed.

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: Fidjit
Date: 27 Sep 07 - 04:48 PM

Yes my bacon butty friend. I know, but they are for Ocean going liners. Not dancing feet.

How are you keeping?

Chaa

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 27 Sep 07 - 05:25 PM

Bente - sorry, yes, Chris was 191 (looks like I couldn't read my own writing from my notes...)

Anyway, Sidmouth was good for me! And I expect to be back next year.

Kitty

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 28 Sep 07 - 04:00 AM

The local authority could quite easily impose a limit on the number of traders, licenced or otherwise, like wise the number of buskers. It could DEFINITELY put a stop to the amplification.
All they need to do is utter the magic words "Health and Safety". It certainly seems to put a stop to a lot of things, both desirable and undesirable!
Giok

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: Teribus
Date: 28 Sep 07 - 10:46 AM

Looks like everybody had a great time - the weather was certainly better than at Skagen Bente, thanks for sharing the photos with us.

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: GUEST,Crazy_Man_Michael
Date: 28 Sep 07 - 02:32 PM

:It could DEFINITELY put a stop to the amplification:

there are many places that have prohibited buskers using amplification, that alone would help.

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: bfdk
Date: 28 Sep 07 - 02:37 PM

Dunno, Michael. I saw several signs in Sidmouth saying exactly that - no amplified music in the streets. Didn't prevent it entirely from happening, though.

Yes, Teribus, the weather was entirely different from what we had to make do with at Skagen. But then, Skagen had the good weather last year..

Best wishes,

Bente

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: GUEST,Crazy_Man_Michael
Date: 28 Sep 07 - 03:24 PM

there's a difference in creating the by-law and enforcing the same by-law, the will to enforce needs to be there, and therein lies the problem

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: Mr Red
Date: 28 Sep 07 - 03:29 PM

Simple answer not good - bloody fantastic.

And bfdk did a Danish translation for my site - apparently (blame Babelfish) I had described a jam session as "marmalade" - well I'll take the laughs from wherever they come from.
Thanks Bente - see ya next year.

Joy is pecilling-in - with ink! - the whole week. Oh my aching feet.

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: Susan B
Date: 29 Sep 07 - 08:01 AM

"there's a difference in creating the by-law and enforcing the same by-law, the will to enforce needs to be there, and therein lies the problem"

True - I asked a policeman why they were not enforcing the "no amplified music" bit and he implied that they were going easy on performers during festival week as they didn't want to spoil the atmosphere. When I said that mostly the amplified groups were not generally part of the festival he was surprised, but said that he couldn't tell the difference between different perfomers anyway. It might be worth the festival organisers discussing this aspect with the police?

Susan B

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 01 Oct 07 - 12:00 PM

Any booking agents out there? For next year....how about the Red Hot Chilli Pipers (aye the Scottish ones, not the Peppers). Just saw them in Dundee at the weekend, great spectacular act, loadsa noise, award-winning musicians. But is Sidmouth/England ready for them yet?

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: GUEST,Malcolm
Date: 01 Oct 07 - 01:03 PM

I didn't mind most of the traders, many added to the atmosphere - the tattoo merchants, hat vendors etc. Not sure about the bloke selling window cleaning magnets, though.
There was a jazz band playing on Sunday, they were so loud that they effectively took up three or four pitches. Funnily enough, even when they had to turn off their amp (bass guitar) their sax player was just as bl**dy loud.
The Indian pipe players are semi professional - they can often be seen in Poole High St playing- and while I don't grudge them earning a living (if that IS what they're doing) I don't think an English folk festival is the place to do it.

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: GUEST,Reglr
Date: 01 Oct 07 - 09:36 PM

The sax & Guitar players on the front made up the nucleus of the youthful,brassy 5/6 piece jazz band outside Dukes on the last night-they played rockish jazz,plenty of improvisation,very competent.The Dukes forecourt & the path outstide were jam-packed with The General Public and young'uns-I was surprised that repetoire would pull such a crowd.

Did anybody catch their name?

Thanks. Reg.