Towersey to move to Thame

Subject: Towersey to move to Thame
From: steve_harris
Date: 27 Jul 14 - 10:16 AM

Heard a rumour that Towersey festival will move to Thame in 2015?

Subject: RE: Towersey to move to Thame
From: GUEST
Date: 27 Jul 14 - 11:22 AM

Sources?

Considering how close Towersey is to Thame that could just mean moving by about three fields to cross the parish boundary.

Subject: RE: Towersey to move to Thame
From: GUEST,Peter
Date: 27 Jul 14 - 11:37 AM

Thame Showground? Three miles from Towersey, maybe a fraction larger (possibly more capacity if the adjacent rugby club field can be used) and main road access.

Not sure that I believe it but it's the obvious fall back if there were issues over the existing location.

Subject: RE: Towersey to move to Thame
From: GUEST,whippet
Date: 27 Jul 14 - 04:49 PM

IMHO..should be the THAMES.. Towersey has to be the second most unfriendly festival in the country it has been my displeasure to attend, Cambridge being the first...

Even the locals don't want it..never did.

North south divide at its worst..

Subject: RE: Towersey to move to Thame
From: Surreysinger
Date: 27 Jul 14 - 05:36 PM

"Even the locals don't want it, never did"??? The locals helped to run it for many years, and were certainly still doing so when I was last there about 10 years ago. It has provided funds for the village in the past, and the locals that I spoke to in all the time I was going to the festival were very involved with it. I believe it has become a great deal bigger than it was when I last went, so have no idea whether there have been changes to that ethos since then.

Subject: RE: Towersey to move to Thame
From: GUEST
Date: 27 Jul 14 - 06:01 PM

Off to Thame Fair?
Fol de rol de riddledy day!

Subject: RE: Towersey to move to Thame
From: GUEST,Peter
Date: 28 Jul 14 - 02:50 AM

Well the only mention of this supposed move that I can find on Google is this thread.

Subject: RE: Towersey to move to Thame
From: GUEST,whippet
Date: 28 Jul 14 - 07:03 AM

we Surrey singer I can only speak as I find..Towersey a few years ago was nice and friendly I agree, but a year ago I was treat appallingly by pig ignorant Mockney yobs posing as legitamite concession stall holderds.

Inflated prices to what amounted to small portions off crap.When we complained it was the sneering "take it or leave it "attitude.

An attitude, that is prelevant it has to be said in   Camerons equal societuy

On the festival camp site itself our cheery "Good mornings" was treat with at the best grunts but more likely ignored.
The only singaround we could find was so crony oriantated it was embarresing.

Not for me I am afraid

Subject: RE: Towersey to move to Thame
From: bubblyrat
Date: 28 Jul 14 - 07:32 AM

After being an Event Manager there (with Wild Flying Dove) I can only say that I thought that the whole festival was for the benefit of hordes of badly-behaved school-holidaying children. Anything like a proper Folk Festival it is NOT !!!!Thame would be ill-advised to allow it on THEIR showground .

Subject: RE: Towersey to move to Thame
From: GUEST,whippet
Date: 28 Jul 14 - 10:07 AM

thanks for that bubblyrat..of course I had forgotten about the spoilt spawn of the whelk eating homineds.

Subject: RE: Towersey to move to Thame
From: Mr Red
Date: 28 Jul 14 - 12:56 PM

Concessions are there for commercial reasons. And are a very mixed bunch. I would not dare to defend those I don't know but I laugh and joke with Towersey stall holders, and rarely buy. Especially food, since the fashion is for heavy flavours and fashion never paid any lip service to functionality, especially vegie options where flavours get heavier still. Ever tried eating FOOD? Flavours is to hide taste!
As for the yoof, I find them pleasant and delightful, but then I go out of my way to joke with them and banter. Meet them halfway. Weren't we obnoxious to the old fogies in our day? No? Oh the joys of old age and the onset of pre-dementia - it allows us to forget ourselves! People (and yoof is people) treat you as you treat them, by and large. Give or take a pint. (But see below)

If you want to criticize "Cambridge mentality" without going there - try on a Bank Holiday (I dare you) & visit Shrewsbury - You'll really love having something genuine to complain about. But do take earplugs - and wellingtons just in case it rains - That showground is a flood plain. Try complaining to the organisers (either) - mouthfull would not begin to describe it. & there aint' near as much dancing, but then that is Towersey's forte. So is safety - by design!

All festivals have their foibles, and their stewards, who bless 'em are only human! Maybe I am just laid back and only react to institutionalised top-down cynicism. (See above)

AND ANOTHER THING....................

Subject: RE: Towersey to move to Thame
From: The Sandman
Date: 28 Jul 14 - 06:05 PM

it is of no interest to me whatsoever.

Subject: RE: Towersey to move to Thame
From: RTim
Date: 28 Jul 14 - 07:37 PM

If it is of no interest - then Don't read the thread!!

Tim Radford

Subject: RE: Towersey to move to Thame
From: GUEST,whippett
Date: 29 Jul 14 - 05:05 PM

?

Subject: RE: Towersey to move to Thame
From: GUEST
Date: 30 Jul 14 - 07:14 AM

From: GUEST,whippet
Date: 27 Jul 14 - 04:49 PM

IMHO..should be the THAMES.. Towersey has to be the second most unfriendly festival in the country it has been my displeasure to attend, Cambridge being the first...

Even the locals don't want it..never did.

North south divide at its worst..

............................

what bollocks ! best folk festival I've been to by miles. you don't know what you're talking about

Subject: RE: Towersey to move to Thame
From: Bonnie Shaljean
Date: 30 Jul 14 - 08:19 AM

So does anyone know if the story of this proposed move is actually true or not?

I can't understand why they'd want to leave the present location - is it no longer big enough?

Agree, it's a fantastic festival - or at least it always was when I went there (which hasn't been for years, I admit). I have many a fond memory, but don't know what it's like these days.

Subject: RE: Towersey to move to Thame
From: GUEST,Peter
Date: 30 Jul 14 - 08:20 AM

Different people like different things. If your idea of a brilliant festival is Sidmouth or Whitby then a field based one like Towersey or Cambridge may not appeal.

I have hated events that other people have loved, other people have hated events that I have loved.

From the comments Towersey is starting to sound like the festival version of Marmite!

Subject: RE: Towersey to move to Thame
From: GUEST,nickp cookieless
Date: 30 Jul 14 - 08:23 AM

It is true, the latest festival update has an explanatory video

Subject: RE: Towersey to move to Thame
From: Bonnie Shaljean
Date: 30 Jul 14 - 08:28 AM

Thanks!

http://www.towerseyfestival.com/news

Subject: RE: Towersey to move to Thame
From: GUEST,Peter
Date: 30 Jul 14 - 10:46 AM

Well my guess was correct. Now I am wondering what is taking out 70% of the old site.

Subject: RE: Towersey to move to Thame
From: GUEST
Date: 30 Jul 14 - 10:55 AM

Did you bother reading the page that Bonnie linked to???

David White of Cotmore Wells Farm who has provided us with acres of fields for many years, now needs his fields back for his ever changing farm business.

Subject: RE: Towersey to move to Thame
From: GUEST,Peter
Date: 30 Jul 14 - 11:42 AM

Well I didn't see the 70% figure on this site.

Your quote could mean anything from Mr White simply getting pissed off with the festival to putting a massive indoor dairy unit on the fields.

Subject: RE: Towersey to move to Thame
From: Mr Red
Date: 30 Jul 14 - 12:50 PM

Personally I think the comparison with Marmite is in bad taste! The Marmite is anyway!

But yes, if you are a dancer or a lantern builder you will be disappointed with other festivals. I don't know of any festivals that has a party atmosphere as good as Towersey with the stalls and the free shows - maybe Upton upon Severn but that is a smaller festival. And being on a bedrock of chalk the mud will dry out quicker than any festival field I know of.

And when did you last see THE festival director chipping in when needed and directing punter traffic at other festivals? Yes I have seen it at Towersey and not at Shrewsbury. Steve Heap was a morris dancer, others are business peeps with an eye to profit at Shrewsbury. Their Folk credibility stretches to having been to a folk club years before. Integrity sells in Rouge Towers

Warwick FF has just finished, another fantastic festival. Festival director goes to folk clubs and session during the year, he is also a businessman. And I have never found him other than fair and approachable. It is part of the attraction, by comparison a cynical organiser kills a lot of the appeal.

Subject: RE: Towersey to move to Thame
From: GUEST,Derek Schofield
Date: 30 Jul 14 - 02:13 PM

The festival has enjoyed excellent relationships with all the local farmers in Towersey, and David White in particular. His fields used for sites 2 and 3 have had sheep on them. Now he needs to change them to arable. The fields have not been ploughed for several years and as a result drainage is poor...
I read all this in a book about Towersey festival (just published) ... :-)

Derek

Subject: RE: Towersey to move to Thame
From: GUEST,nickp (cookieless)
Date: 31 Jul 14 - 05:23 AM

A book Derek....? Well, I shall have to invest in a copy

(Chuckle)

Subject: RE: Towersey to move to Thame
From: GUEST,Alan Surtees
Date: 31 Jul 14 - 05:44 AM

I rarely make comment when I see Mr Red's attacks on Shrewsbury Folk Festival, no one seems to agree and it's a free country, if you don't like something you have the right to say so. However I feel the personal attacks are not acceptable. Mr Red knows very little about me and hasn't been to Shrewsbury Folk Festival for many years and therefore knows very little about the festival. To infer that I'm mendacious, cynical and only interested in profit is insulting and untrue.
I love folk music and have made an honest attempt to promote it professionally, I think I have done more to do that than Mr Red will ever do with his attention seeking "look at me I'm all dressed in Red" antics.
So what do I know about Mr Red, not a lot really. I know when he stewarded at Shrewsbury none of the team leaders wanted him in their team and described him as idle. I know he has a website that appears to have assembled with the cyber equivalent of a John Bull set. I know he likes to let the world know he is a clever fellow and an authority on all that is folkie…….and he is a qualified engineer and therefore knows all about sound production…..and just about everything else. I know most organisers see him as a buffoon.
The great thing is that folk festivals come in all shapes and sizes, we all have our favourites. If I don't like a festival I don't go; end of story. And even if I don't like a festival I can usually see the organisers are trying to get it right. The folk world is a small one, seeking to damage a festival is an attempt to make it even smaller. I have always wanted to share my enjoyment of folk world in the most open and inclusive way possible. I don't want any part in the small minded, clique ridden private club atmosphere promoted by Mr Red. I have no idea why Mr Red has spent so many years attacking me and Shrewsbury festival. I can only assume he needs even more attention.

Subject: RE: Towersey to move to Thame
From: GUEST,MC Fat
Date: 31 Jul 14 - 10:35 AM

I haven't been to Towersey for over 20 years but I did enjoy it a move to Thame would be a little sad as it did start off as a village festival with some folk music.
With regard to Mr Red's attacks. I worked at Shrewsbury for a number of years and have the highest regard for Alan and Sandra and the team. It is well run and hospitable festival. So leave it alone

Subject: RE: Towersey to move to Thame
From: Noreen
Date: 31 Jul 14 - 05:40 PM

I've thoroughly enjoyed Towersey on the occasions I've been, and wish it very well in its new incarnation.

(Alan, despite the provocation, descending to mud-slinging and personal attacks does not make your case more appealing; quite the opposite.)

Subject: RE: Towersey to move to Thame
From: selby
Date: 31 Jul 14 - 05:56 PM

(Alan, despite the provocation, descending to mud-slinging and personal attacks does not make your case more appealing; quite the opposite.) I Agree totally Noreen. Alan having met you last year and swapped E mails I find you a good guy. My own stance is I would not run a festival for a pension nor would I steward
Keith

Subject: RE: Towersey to move to Thame
From: Leadfingers
Date: 01 Aug 14 - 04:39 AM

Is there a venue on the 'new' site to compare with the acoustics in the pub barn ? Or will the move mean a LONG Walk back to the village for the singaround ?

Subject: RE: Towersey to move to Thame
From: GUEST,Peter
Date: 01 Aug 14 - 08:09 AM

Looking at the arial view on Google the showground is just a field.

The only nearby building is the rugby club which may or may not want to be involved.

Subject: RE: Towersey to move to Thame
From: Hesk
Date: 02 Aug 14 - 05:05 AM

Although having purchased a two day ticket for Towersey this year, the main appeal for us has always been the singarounds in the barn.
However,one of the drawbacks, is the lack of choice, when it comes to pubs. One of our favourite festivals was Bridgnorth, because of the wonderful town and its inns, it was never the same when it moved to Shrewsbury.
If Towersey is to move even further from the "Three Horseshoes" and the village hall, I can foresee problems. One solution would be to involve Thame in providing venues, as the town seems disinterested at the present time.

Subject: RE: Towersey to move to Thame
From: GUEST,whippet
Date: 02 Aug 14 - 05:56 AM

Dont forget yer knitting needles when you go to't singaround leady; last time I was at it there was a cackelllng harriden with a laugh that would freeze yer blood,
knitting all the way through.

Subject: RE: Towersey to move to Thame
From: GUEST
Date: 02 Aug 14 - 06:39 AM

That side of Thame is mostly modern housing but there are pubs nearer than Towrsey village (just!). If you want an off site singaround you will need somebody localish do a recce of likely pubs during the summer.

Subject: RE: Towersey to move to Thame
From: Steve in Sidmouth
Date: 31 Oct 14 - 06:27 AM

There is an article in the latest "Set and Turn Single" folk dance magazine about this move. It also mentions a certain book, copies of which are now available.....(but not "freely" available)

I missed Towersey this year - maybe I'll try the new venue in 2015!

An article in the Thame Gazette apparently stated the festival contributed £275,000 to local projects over 50 years, and concluded that Towersey "will be poorer for the move in every way".

I hope the superb ceilidh tent dance floor will be at Thame in 2015.