Sidmouth Newsletter

Subject: Sidmouth Newsletter
From: GUEST,Beltaine
Date: 28 Feb 05 - 08:44 PM

The latest Sidmouth Folk Week newsletter includes Beltaine in its list of artistes.

Beltaine are NOT appearing at Sidmouth Folk Week in 2005.

Although our involvement was considered we are all students in places as far apart as Exeter and Newcastle now.

The only festival we MIGHT still perform together at is Larmer Tree.

We feel it is regrettable that the Sidmouth Folk Week people are listing bands who have NOT agreed to play at the Folk Week.

While we wish the new condensed Folk Week well we believe such listings are dishonest and misleading.

We hope whoever produces the newsletter will now amend it.

Thank you.

Subject: RE: Sidmouth Newsletter
From: fiddler
Date: 01 Mar 05 - 03:31 AM

Why the public airing of washing in this fashion!

This is not the first time I have seen bands in early literature that do not appear at a festival.

I doubt that it was done with any malice or forethought and if it was then it is up to the legal beagles in teh background to sort out any liabilities and compensations for it.

To air opinions in such a public forum as this is verging on liabelous. Lets let folk get on with organising a festival from nothing in less than a year and lets offer tham all the help we can, and if there are a couple of hiccups well it is expected.

Plans are I am told in place and I have met and discussed with a number of the organisors. Please can we play softball not rollerball with a stainless ball bearing!

Andy

Subject: RE: Sidmouth Newsletter
From: Manitas_at_home
Date: 01 Mar 05 - 03:31 AM

Have you contacted the organisers about this? No doubt they'll read it here but the direct approach is the best.

Subject: RE: Sidmouth Newsletter
From: MBSLynne
Date: 01 Mar 05 - 05:30 AM

It does seem rather strange to post something like this to an open forum rather than addressing it to the organisers. And as Andy said, most festival lists contain names of artists who, for one reason or another, never get confirmed, or back out. Dishonest Guest Beltaine? Hardly!

Subject: RE: Sidmouth Newsletter
From: Manitas_at_home
Date: 01 Mar 05 - 05:34 AM

Guest, Beltaine

Are you absolutely sure it was you who were booked. I can't find any reference to an English group of your name on the net but here are some links to some others. Perhaps one of them is booked?

http://www.beltainemusic.com/
http://www.beltaine.art.pl/glownaeng.htm
http://www.beltaine.net/
http://beltaine.free.fr/
http://www.fuzzlogic.com/flex/b/446.php

I also found this very interesting site.

http://www.flamesfirepit.org/teletubby_beltaine_ritual.htm

Subject: RE: Sidmouth Newsletter
From: MBSLynne
Date: 01 Mar 05 - 05:41 AM

And there's also Beltane Border Morris side who are usually at Sidmouth, though they are spelled differently.

Subject: RE: Sidmouth Newsletter
From: GUEST,Toogood
Date: 01 Mar 05 - 06:26 AM

Beltaine are a young band who go down a storm at the Larmer Tree Festival in Wiltshire every summer. I believe one is now a student in Exeter but the others are also students now scattered across the U.K. I thought the band had effectively split-up as they are all away from home studying.

I guess someone involved with the band may be sore about their name being listed for Sidmouth if they've told Larmer Tree they are no longer together.

Obviously I have no idea whether they have already voiced their disapproval to the Sidmouth organisers before posting here. Is it the band who have posted or their management / agent perhaps?

As someone with no axe to grind in the ongoing Sidmouth bunfight I am still surprised if bands are being named in a Sidmouth newsletter before they are confirmed.

What is the status of all the other band confirmations I wonder?

Subject: RE: Sidmouth Newsletter
From: IanC
Date: 01 Mar 05 - 06:44 AM

As somebody who is completely independent about Sidmouth - I've never been - I'm wondering why people keep signing in as GUESTS and starting threads which appear, at least, to be simply intended to undermine Sidmouth this year.

Seems very peculiar to me.

Subject: RE: Sidmouth Newsletter
From: fiddler
Date: 01 Mar 05 - 07:10 AM

Nice one IanC

Andy

Subject: RE: Sidmouth Newsletter
From: Andy Jackson
Date: 01 Mar 05 - 07:43 AM

Usually in the small print with most publicity there is a small rider that says words to the effect that the Artists and programme may change. When trying to put a guest list together it is a fine balance between getting publicity out and waiting for confirmation. This is not an exact science!!!
I do agree that this is not the place to start flaming poor old Sidmouth yet again, it is getting quite enougfh undeservred flack as it is.
As already pointed out there are indeed many variations on Beltaine some long gone. Misunderstandings and confusuion do arise but I do not for one moment believe that this was intended.
By the way, Tom Paxton, Ralph McTell, The Wilsons and Steeleye Span, unfortunately won't be able to make Miskin this year again!

Subject: RE: Sidmouth Newsletter
From: GUEST,Anon and proud of it!
Date: 01 Mar 05 - 08:18 AM

But Ralph McTell is appearing at the Gosport Easter Festival in Hampshire on Thursday 24 March according to their website http://www.gosportfestival.co.uk

I'm going to see him there before driving to Miskin on Friday.

Subject: RE: Sidmouth Newsletter
From: GUEST,Anon and proud of it
Date: 01 Mar 05 - 08:21 AM

Sorry. Should have added that my post above has nothing whatsover to do with the thread heading "Sidmouth newsletter". Blame Miskin Man. He went off thread first.

Anyway, far too much has already been said about Sidmouth. I'm bored with all the arguments there. Let's stick to more positive postings about the many great festivals elsewhere.

Subject: RE: Sidmouth Newsletter
From: Dave Earl
Date: 01 Mar 05 - 11:34 AM

"Usually in the small print with most publicity there is a small rider that says words to the effect that the Artists and programme may change."

Is what Miskin Man said.

I have looked at the newsletter and it says just that.But I expect every else has read the newsletter now.

Dave Earl

Subject: RE: Sidmouth Newsletter
From: Tradsinger
Date: 01 Mar 05 - 02:06 PM

The Sidmouth newsletter at
http://www.sidmouthfolkweek.co.uk/dance/index.html
makes no mention of Beltaine.

Where's this supposed newsletter?

Subject: RE: Sidmouth Newsletter
From: GUEST,Helpful
Date: 01 Mar 05 - 02:52 PM

"Where's this supposed newsletter?"

Answer: On the Sidmouth Folk week website.

http://www.sidmouthfolkweek.co.uk

Click on 'newsletter' at the top

Look at list of artists on newsletter

Beltaine are listed after Rhyzome

Subject: RE: Sidmouth Newsletter
From: GUEST,Morris On
Date: 01 Mar 05 - 02:59 PM

I've just done as suggested above and found the newsletter OK.

Not only are Beltaine listed but the main article text also refers to "vibrant young Dorset band Beltaine".

That certainly sounds like the band who play at the Larmer Tree Festival on the Dorset / Wiltshire border every year.

Someone above chastised whoever from Beltaine started this post.

What I find strange is that none of the Sidmouth Folk Week organisers have offered an explanation here as yet.

Now I've mentioned it someone will no doubt do so soon.

P.S. I'm looking forward to Sidmouth if only to see whether all the protagonists on this website come out fighting on the Prom with boxing gloves flying (and the lovely Lizzie as referee).

Dare I ask if the Prom is licensed for freestyle wrestling?

Subject: RE: Sidmouth Newsletter
From: MBSLynne
Date: 01 Mar 05 - 03:15 PM

I imagine the organisers are much too busy organising to get involved in these ridiculous squabbles. I think the question has already been answered...read the small print. If anyone wants to get in touch with the organisers direct they will probably get an answer. Would you answer something posted on a public forum which is nothing to do with the festival you are organising?

Subject: RE: Sidmouth Newsletter
From: Blowzabella
Date: 01 Mar 05 - 08:15 PM

My thoughts exactly Lynne! Why do people think that this forum is a sort of 'remote' FAQ section of the Sidmouth Folk Week website?

As I have said before - if people have questions to ask of the organisers, ask them! But please understand that they are probably very busy organising the Festival.

I've never been to Sidmouth myself - but I suspect that this year would be much more to my taste than the Sidmouth I've heard of in previous years, which sounded too big for me - personal taste only. I doubt I'll get to 2005 because too many other calls on my megre allowance of time off in this bicentenary of Trafalgar year - hope to get there someday, though, so wish all well in all endeavours.

Subject: RE: Sidmouth Newsletter
From: GUEST,MBSLynne
Date: 02 Mar 05 - 03:02 AM

I think you're right Blowzabella. This will be my 23rd Sidmouth and I've seen it grow and change incredibly over that time. A lot of the growth and changes haven't been to my personal taste either so I'm very hopeful that this year will see a return to a Sidmouth more like the one I loved in the early days. (Though I've changed too in those 23 years!) Like all things to do with 'folk', long running events evolve with the people who attend them and this is just one more phase of the evolution of Sidmouth Festival.

Love Lynne

Subject: RE: Sidmouth Newsletter
From: fiddler
Date: 02 Mar 05 - 03:23 AM

I think it looks like it has all been said now - Beltane - please talk to the organisors not this list.

Many are merely looking forward ot a good weeek with or without Beltane and or many other artists and friends

Andy

Subject: RE: Sidmouth Newsletter
From: Folkiedave
Date: 02 Mar 05 - 04:31 AM

An easy way around this problem is to head it "Artists invited...."

But unless you have a contract or verbal agreement which should be followed immediately by a contract anyway, it is a bit dodgy to put bands in publicity not knowing whether they are coming or not.

Dave Eyre

Subject: RE: Sidmouth Newsletter
From: steve_harris
Date: 02 Mar 05 - 12:38 PM

[begin quote]I'm wondering why people keep signing in as GUESTS [end quote]

Mudcat is moderatley broken. It's difficult to register and get the login working every time. There is nothing to stop someone malicious registering and posting as (say) steve_heap

Subject: RE: Sidmouth Newsletter
From: GUEST,John Taylor
Date: 03 Mar 05 - 04:37 AM

That's right Steve and many so-called guests are no doubt the same as me... individuals who enjoy browsing the forum and who sometimes reply on the spur of the moment but who can't be bothered with the hassle of registering, logging-in etc.

I also agree with folkiedave that artists names should not be included in publicity until contracts or at least verbal agreements are in place.

Otherwise what is to stop Sidmouth Folk Week announcing that Pete Seeger, Bob Dylan et al are appearing... with the rest of us rushing for tickets and handing over our money?

Having read all the postings about Sidmouth I'm waiting until I know for sure that artists and venues are confirmed and licensed before I buy tickets for anything this year.

Subject: RE: Sidmouth Newsletter
From: Sttaw Legend
Date: 03 Mar 05 - 04:42 AM

Just to make you all aware - harriWatts band are not at Sidmouth this year unfortunately, but you can see them @ The Lamp in Hull next Wednesday 9 March - have fun

Subject: RE: Sidmouth Newsletter
From: IanC
Date: 03 Mar 05 - 05:27 AM

Steve

Let's not quote selectively, shall we. What I said was (QUOTE) ...

As somebody who is completely independent about Sidmouth - I've never been - I'm wondering why people keep signing in as GUESTS and starting threads which appear, at least, to be simply intended to undermine Sidmouth this year.

:-)

Subject: RE: Sidmouth Newsletter
From: George Papavgeris
Date: 03 Mar 05 - 05:42 AM

I can only arrive at the same (obvious) conclusion that you have, IanC.

Subject: RE: Sidmouth Newsletter
From: GUEST,Beltaine Guest 2
Date: 08 Mar 05 - 06:49 AM

Hello,

although I do feel that I should adhere to the usual expected collective-responsibility, I was not aware that the original post was even here and it therefore does not reflect the group as a whole.

I appreciate that mistakes are made and after some sly detectiveness (contacting the festival as soon as I heard!) I have found that it was a confusion over myself playing at the festival (with a new band) and my being from Beltaine. Conclusions were jumped to/from.

I understand the difficulties of organising events on this scale, especially so given that this is the first/fifty-first festival since it has new organisers.

I assume that the original post was sent while still irritated, peeved, if you will, that the mistake had been made and think that this is what sparked the disparaging tone.

However, since this is forum for airing views I do not think that it is an entirely inappropriate place. I assume that the original post had the intention of reaching people that are going to the festival (you lovely lot!) not the organisers.

I look forward to seeing you all and having a fantastic week.

Kind regards,

Beltaine (A)x

Subject: RE: Sidmouth Newsletter
From: Dave Earl
Date: 08 Mar 05 - 07:01 AM

So what is happening?

Are you saying that you are a member of Beltaine appearing at Sidmouth with another band? If so which band is it)

Subject: RE: Sidmouth Newsletter
From: MBSLynne
Date: 08 Mar 05 - 07:24 AM

Thanks for clarifying that Beltaine 2. As Dave says...who are you so we can possibly come and see you?

Love Lynne