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05 Oct 14 - 02:47 AM (#3666147) Subject: Cheltenham Folkfest 'makeover' From: Tradsinger The Cheltenham Folk Festival as we know it, usually the first one of the UK festival year, is no more. Please see this article http://www.soglos.com/music/37552/Cheltenham-Folk-Festival-undergoes-exciting-makeover. The "exciting makeover" and "remodelling" means that the festival has been stripped down to 3 evening concerts only. This means no Morris dancing in the streets, no workshops, no singarounds or music sessions, no ceilidhs and no instrument or CD stalls. However, (and this is supposed to be the good news), there is "DJ entertainment" between the acts. The organiser is Gary Nejrup (gary.nejrup@cheltenham.gov.uk), who according to Google "bought a lot of experience from spending the last ten years working as cruise director for P&O Cruises and Island Cruises, Gary has gained extensive knowledge of the theatre and cabaret world which is really helping us in its continuing success." I have seen many comments in the local media about this revamp, all of it negative. What do Mudcatters think? I'm sure Mr Nejrup would welcome your views on his exciting plan. Tradsinger |
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05 Oct 14 - 03:22 AM (#3666155) Subject: RE: Cheltenham Folkfest 'makeover' From: GUEST, topsie Sorry to disappoint you (and him) but words fail me. |
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05 Oct 14 - 03:48 AM (#3666159) Subject: RE: Cheltenham Folkfest 'makeover' From: Bonnie Shaljean ". . . with more emphasis being placed on headline acts, and a contemporary dimension being introduced" says it all. Just what we need. More work and exposure for them as already Has. to balance the traditional festival with some modernity. Yeah. You sure wouldn't find THAT anywhere else. organisers [are] placing more focus on the nights, as the evening concerts are the most popular part of the weekend. Spoken like a true "business and entertainment manager". You can leave a comment on their page and voice your reactions directly if you care to. Be sure to un-tick the pre-selected Post On Facebook box unless you want it seen by all and sundry there. They don't miss a PR trick, do they? There isn't one positive reaction, I notice (so far, anyway). |
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05 Oct 14 - 04:13 AM (#3666168) Subject: RE: Cheltenham Folkfest 'makeover' From: Mr Red it ain't a festival - it is called "Folk Three" well if it ain't a festival should it appear on cresby.com > Folk Festival page? This poses a dilemma because I genuinely want to support Folk, and it would irk me if I fell into the trap of the time honoured trait of "well I don't like the stuff therefore it ain't Folk". Mr Red is in a quandary. And if there is no ceilidh there is no flash of red FWIW my self imposed remit is to publicise the events I am likely (or want to given the time) go to. And for practical reasons I don't normally publicise concerts. They practically never get in touch anyway. I can't see Mr Nejrup doing anything to improve the Xmas Barn Dance and if the Town Hall are wise they won't mess with that event. (If thinking of going buy ticket in advance - it can and has been known to sell out!) |
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05 Oct 14 - 04:18 AM (#3666170) Subject: RE: Cheltenham Folkfest 'makeover' From: Bounty Hound DJ Dolphin Boy sounds nicely folky to me! |
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05 Oct 14 - 04:29 AM (#3666173) Subject: RE: Cheltenham Folkfest 'makeover' From: Jim Carroll "DJ Dolphin Boy sounds nicely folky to me!" Have you actually listened to what he does John? If you have, I think this is why we don't agree elsewhere and will never agree The popifying of folk music at its very worst Good luch with trying to pull the festival out of the hole Tradsinger Jim Carroll |
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05 Oct 14 - 05:26 AM (#3666195) Subject: RE: Cheltenham Folkfest 'makeover' From: GUEST,PeterC I have finally been able to fix a meeting with Mr Nejrup on behalf of Glosfolk, and will try to clarify their exact plans, and pass on the many comments from Glosfolk members and others. |
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05 Oct 14 - 05:28 AM (#3666197) Subject: RE: Cheltenham Folkfest 'makeover' From: Leadfingers Three concerts over a weekend to NOT constitute a Festival . and since when has a Disoo had anything to do with 'Folk' ? |
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05 Oct 14 - 05:30 AM (#3666198) Subject: RE: Cheltenham Folkfest 'makeover' From: Bonnie Shaljean Oh dear, "finally been able to" doesn't sound too encouraging. Hope he listens to you. Maybe the "folk" in your organisation's name scared him off. |
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05 Oct 14 - 05:31 AM (#3666200) Subject: RE: Cheltenham Folkfest 'makeover' From: Bounty Hound Jim, the joys of the written word, I have listened, and was being sarcastic, and I think we may well be in complete agreement on this one! John |
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05 Oct 14 - 06:20 AM (#3666208) Subject: RE: Cheltenham Folkfest 'makeover' From: GUEST This is what you get from putting a Business Manager into the EFDSS. Katy Spicer has the same type of profile, no folk experience before joining them, which is why you had a fucking "Folk Fayre" this weekend. Is the EFDSS still sponsoring this, I wonder? |
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05 Oct 14 - 06:27 AM (#3666211) Subject: RE: Cheltenham Folkfest 'makeover' From: GUEST,Peter Laban 'since when has a Disoo had anything to do with 'Folk'' In fairness 'trad discos' were all the rage and apparently immensely popular at festivals in Ireland during the last decade after initially starting at the Ennis trad fest. |
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05 Oct 14 - 06:57 AM (#3666219) Subject: RE: Cheltenham Folkfest 'makeover' From: Bonnie Shaljean A lot of the "trad" music here isn't very traddy, though. Plenty of pop influences these days. |
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05 Oct 14 - 08:14 AM (#3666240) Subject: RE: Cheltenham Folkfest 'makeover' From: Vic Smith This is what you get from putting a Business Manager into the EFDSS. Katy Spicer has the same type of profile, no folk experience before joining them, which is why you had a fucking "Folk Fayre" this weekend. Is the EFDSS still sponsoring this, I wonder? Is anyone surprised that this inane comment comes from someone who makes their comments under the anonymous GUEST cloak? First of all, the Folk Fayre. It was not some sort of glorified jumble sale as the post seems to imply. It was a one day festival that mixed some well known names to attract a crowd with some interesting newcomers that are all well worth a listening. The lineup for the day included Melrose Quartet, Lady Maisery, Greg Russell and Ciaran Algar, Vannan James, Caz Forbes and Ste Moncrieff, Long Lankin, David Gibb & Elly Lucas, Said The Maiden, Granny's Attic and Órlaith and Brogan McAuliffe. Now, that seems like thoughtful and skilful programming to me and if Katy is responsible for it she deserves praise. Katy Spicer - yes she came to the EFDSS as an outsider without a folk music background. She did however have a hugely successful background in other performing arts and she brought a wide range of organisational skills with her. I must admit that I had misgivings about a non-folkie being appointed but the energy with which she tackled the steep learning curve with which she tackled learning all there was to be known about the nature, performance, background etc. of our traditional culture was amazing. The nature of her meetings, phone calls etc. impressed many people, self included. What we have now is one of the better funded branches of the arts in the UK and that is only one aspect where she has made a very strong impression. It is proving to be a very successful appointment. Oh and Cheltenham? Very, very disappointing indeed. |
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05 Oct 14 - 08:41 AM (#3666249) Subject: RE: Cheltenham Folkfest 'makeover' From: Jim Carroll "I have listened, and was being sarcastic, " Sorry John - missed the sarcasm - late night slaving over 'The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel' I'm afraid Jim Carroll |
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05 Oct 14 - 08:48 AM (#3666250) Subject: RE: Cheltenham Folkfest 'makeover' From: GUEST "Folk Three will take place on Friday 13 to Sunday 15 February 2015 at Cheltenham Town Hall with organisers placing more focus on the nights, as the evening concerts are the most popular part of the weekend. "Confirmed acts for Folk Three include Martin and Eliza Carthy, Seth Lakeman, Shooglenifty, Chris Wood, Blair Dunlop, Rory McCleod, and DJ Dolphin Boy." For McCleod, read McLeod. I'm very sorry to learn that Cheltenham Folk Festival has come to an end. It was an excellent festival, well organised and with better facilities than most. Were the numbers really declining so badly? I don't think Folk Three and DJ Dolphin Boy will attract me back to Cheltenham. |
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05 Oct 14 - 08:54 AM (#3666251) Subject: RE: Cheltenham Folkfest 'makeover' From: Bonnie Shaljean Friday the 13th. Hmmmmmm... |
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05 Oct 14 - 09:09 AM (#3666257) Subject: RE: Cheltenham Folkfest 'makeover' From: Brian Peters Very sad to hear this. John Shorter and his team had created a really strong event outside of festival high season. Having played the Sunday afternoon concert with 'Liberty to Choose' this year, I certainly didn't notice the daytime slot being thinly attended. |
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05 Oct 14 - 01:27 PM (#3666325) Subject: RE: Cheltenham Folkfest 'makeover' From: GUEST [quote] This is what you get from putting a Business Manager into the EFDSS. Katy Spicer has the same type of profile, no folk experience before joining them, which is why you had a fucking "Folk Fayre" this weekend. Is the EFDSS still sponsoring this, I wonder? [/quote] Outside hires have been running at CSH for decades before Katy was recruited. She was no more responsible for that particular hiring than she is for Sharps Folk Club or the Knees Up Ceilidhs. |
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05 Oct 14 - 01:55 PM (#3666344) Subject: RE: Cheltenham Folkfest 'makeover' From: Howard Jones My first reaction to this was the rather depressing one that this might actually be successful in its own terms. However I wonder if that is true. Is there really a demand in Cheltenham for three folk concerts on consecutive nights? Since they have excluded the visitors who used to travel from all over the country for the original festival, they are going to have to attract the locals. A considerable number of people on the folk scene aren't very interested in big concerts and prefer a more intimate atmosphere. The cost of tickets may also be a factor - festival tickets are expensive but you get a lot more for your money. And whereas at a festival you can simply ignore the acts you don't like, with individual concerts you have to decide which ones to shell out for. My guess is that many will choose to go to only one, or perhaps two. Of course Mr Nejrup's remit is not to run a folk festival or even to put on folk concerts, it is to run a venue and to put on a wide range of entertainment. Whether or not individual events are financially successful doesn't matter as long as the year's budget is met. No doubt this will achieve his targets while at the same time being a lot less work for him and his staff. |
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05 Oct 14 - 07:23 PM (#3666451) Subject: RE: Cheltenham Folkfest 'makeover' From: GUEST,Sue the Borderer currently cookieless I'm another Cheltenham FF regular who wont be going this year. The Cheltenham Town Hall web-site currently still has all the 2014 details displayed even though the 'soglos' article, which Tradsinger gives a link to in his initial post was written in September. If you're not familiar with Cheltenham FF you might like to look up this link to see just what sort of festival has been destroyed. Info re Cheltenham 2014 for comparison (Presumably they will get round to changing this soon if they want to sell any tickets!) With heavy heart I'm about to write to cancel my B&B which I booked before I left Cheltenham last year. Finally, though, a HUGE THANK YOU to John Shorter & all the volunteers who have made it such a special event - I think this would have been my 10th year. I will miss it enormously! |
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06 Oct 14 - 03:46 AM (#3666507) Subject: RE: Cheltenham Folkfest 'makeover' From: GUEST,FloraG My mother in law - aged 90 - kept the articles for us. As a Cheltenham resident she was not overly impressed. You can see the three headliners anywhere in the country - why travel to Cheltenham? Oh well - 2 fewer room bookings for the Holiday Express and a saving on meals in Yates wine bar + car parking. Shame about the music. FloraG. |
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06 Oct 14 - 06:24 AM (#3666543) Subject: RE: Cheltenham Folkfest 'makeover' From: bubblyrat Is this Gary guy married to a Philipina nurse at Cheltenham Hospital ? If so, I may have just met him on a cruise-ship ; If so, he is a very pleasant chap, and his wife is delightful !! But it's a shame about Cheltenham FF ; they should move it to Winchcombe, or, better still, Tewkesbury !!! |
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06 Oct 14 - 07:26 AM (#3666559) Subject: RE: Cheltenham Folkfest 'makeover' From: GUEST,Fyldeplayer I heard about this from our other band members in Stroud - nice to get to play this year and aghast something so great has been dumped. Always thought of Cheltenham as a town of culture, what is going on?? Move it where is appreciated. A BIG THANK YOU to John Shorter & all the volunteers ( a welcome cuppa and a smile so nice after a rushed journey). |
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06 Oct 14 - 07:33 AM (#3666562) Subject: RE: Cheltenham Folkfest 'makeover' From: Mr Red Er.... second Fri in Feb. Cheltenham Folk Club normally do not run during the Folk Festival. Indeed they still don't have that date listed, though the webmeister will be updating other data soon (won't I?). If I was running the FC (heaven forefend), a singers' night would be the minimum I would now designate. At the end of the day, the venue has to make a profit (small but enough to justify its existense) and subsidies from the town coffers are not the way to go. But on current showing the way I go is definitely not to a "Not Folk Festival". They gamble, we vote with our feet (ref ceilidh). |
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07 Oct 14 - 03:55 AM (#3666829) Subject: RE: Cheltenham Folkfest 'makeover' From: GUEST,FloraG I can't see how the festival failed to make money. The place was always buzzing. Did someone in accounts get the sums wrong or were they just charging too much for the use of the facilities? They own the town hall anyway - so you only really have to count the cost of additional consumables. Extra loo paper etc. They may have spent too much on headliners. I always thought there were too few local ( thus less expensive ) performers. We all know of bands in our own area that don't travel much but are well liked and draw a good local adience. ( And fewer folk miles for the environment) Has anyone calculated the benefit to the local economy - people like myself who come from out of the area and spend the best part of c£200 over the weekend - not including tickets. Cheltenham has been very inventive in the past - apart from the racing its been developing its festivals that attract locals as well as tourists eg science;literary + the commercial events at the racecourse. The Council now have plenty of experience accomodating such events. Its cultural events + town planning - reducing the boy racers - is making the place a very attractive place to live. Shame about the folk. FloraG. |
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07 Oct 14 - 06:13 AM (#3666855) Subject: RE: Cheltenham Folkfest 'makeover' From: GUEST,Jon Dudley I can only echo Vic's comments re. Katy Spicer…she's brought a great deal of professionalism to EFDSS and it's a pleasure to deal with her. With her you get an ability to listen and to get immediate decisions on projects. She also happens to be a nice person. |
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13 Oct 14 - 05:57 PM (#3668800) Subject: RE: Cheltenham Folkfest 'makeover' From: GUEST,henryp "We are proud to announce that on the 1st October 2014, Cheltenham Town Hall & Pittville Pump Room, The Wilson, Leisure at Cheltenham, the Sport & Play Team and The Tourist Information Centre joined forces and left Cheltenham Borough Council to create a brand new and exciting charitable organisation called 'The Cheltenham Trust'." |
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13 Oct 14 - 06:31 PM (#3668807) Subject: RE: Cheltenham Folkfest 'makeover' From: Jack Campin archive.org's last snapshot, July 2014 I see what you mean. |
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21 Feb 15 - 03:15 PM (#3688570) Subject: RE: Cheltenham Folkfest 'makeover' From: GUEST,Big Al Whittle (19 Feb 15) well as i remember - you've got a another three rooms at least at the town hall. why not put a few supplementary bits and pieces in the other rooms. sessions. wannabe concerts. club pros etc. a craft fair - then you've got a festival. |
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21 Feb 15 - 03:16 PM (#3688571) Subject: RE: Cheltenham Folkfest 'makeover' From: GUEST,breezy (19 Feb 2015) Just as I was planning on going after what I'ld heard about it all from friends who've gone there regularly over the years gone by , ah well , never mind . I've seen all these artistes anyway and concerts are for me a chance to sit and relax after taking in all the other facets of a folk fest. Its sad when certain changes take place .but I guess nothing stays the same for ever congrats to those who made such a success of the now 'Used-to-be and is now no longer the world reknowned C F F' I wont be visiting the sushi bar |