The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #145278   Message #3360866
Posted By: GUEST,Silas
08-Jun-12 - 06:55 AM
Thread Name: Review: Jools Holland at Southwell Festival
Subject: RE: Review: Jools Holland at Southwell Festival
Well excuse me, but when I buy a ticket for a folk festival, in this case Southwell at £100.00 each, I expect to hear Folk Music, I don't expect the concert I am listening to in another marquee to be overpowered by the noise coming from another marquee, particularly when the other marquee is not providing folk music. I am indifferent about Jools Holland and his orchestra, I can take it or leave it really, but a folk festival is not really the place for it. OK, it paid for the big marquee that we had the use of for the rest of the weekend, but did we need such a huge tent. Frankly no, we didn't. It was like a barn for the audience and performer alike, it was freezing cold – probably because it was impossible to fill with it being a 2000 seater.

Why do organisers think it appropriate to book non-folk artists at folk festivals? Are they using the Cambridge model? If so I don't think they will last long because they are pleasing no-one, Folk people don't want Pop and Pop people do not want folk.

I really enjoyed the folk performances, The Wilsons (with fingers well into their earholes) Jed Grimes, Sean Lakeman and Katherine Roberts, Morris on etc. I missed Brass Monkey as it was too bloody cold to go and see them; the workshops I went to were also very good. This was my first visit to Southwell and it will certainly not be my last, it's a lovely festival, well organised and very friendly.