51st Sidmouth festival

Subject: RE: 51st Sidmouth festival
From: steve_harris
Date: 31 Oct 04 - 09:00 AM

Stuart said: "Show of Hands are however confirmed and will be opening the Arena Concerts on Saturday 30th July. Strawbs are confirmed for Tuesday 2nd August and Battlefield Band Friday 5th August. The Family show on Monday 1st August also confirmed with The Wurzels"

Excellent post, Sir!

Specific events, with details is the way to go! Ok, they are not to my particular taste but for many people, this is SO much more useful than the vagueness, "being positive", slamming "negativity" etc. we've seen here recently.

Subject: RE: 51st Sidmouth festival
From: steve_harris
Date: 31 Oct 04 - 08:52 AM

Edward said: "Have a year with no Festival in 2005 and local businesses will soon realise what a huge hole there is in their income. It's the only hope for persuading them to put their money where their mouths are"

I'm sure that 99% of Sidmouth businesses have already worked out the affect of no festival in 2005. Each one will come up with a different answer depending on the sort of business they are. Sure, just a FEW of them will havew a big shock if they actually experience the lack of a festival.

Subject: RE: 51st Sidmouth festival
From: steve_harris
Date: 31 Oct 04 - 08:33 AM

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A fair enough point but as the organisers of 2005 events realise, it's not a normal year. People need to know that they can have the particular sort of Sidmouth 05 that they personally can enjoy SOON. Or you'll loose some of them.

I applaud Stuart Hughes and Ray Goodswen announcing events this early and with as much detail as possible. It's the way forward.

Subject: RE: 51st Sidmouth festival
From: GUEST,The Burnley Cloggies
Date: 31 Oct 04 - 08:21 AM

Our family have spent the morning reading all the posts on this site and many others. How depressing. We had hoped to read about people working together to keep the Sidmouth Festival going. Instead we read about councillors, residents, traders and others all arguing among themselves like a bunch of spoilt schoolchildren. With this kind of bickering going on it appears to us that any festival in 2005 cannot possibly be as enjoyable as those we have attended for ten years and more. It is therefore with heavy hearts that we have decided today not to think about returning to Sidmouth in 2005. We will go elsewhere.

Subject: RE: 51st Sidmouth festival
From: GUEST,Another Sidmouth resident
Date: 31 Oct 04 - 08:07 AM

Oh dear Stuart. Please don't start knocking Tony Blair on this website. We don't need you bringing your political beliefs into the debate on our Festival. All we want is constructive debate about how we retain a Festival that is loved by many. There is no place for politics in this. You do your cause a disservice by suggesting that Tony Blair and the Labour Government are somehow to blame for your Council withdrawing funding for the Sidmouth Festival. I know you well Stuart, I'm sure that in your councillor role you would not have engineered a situation where your Council withdrew funding from the Festival, causing Steve Heap to quit, leaving the field clear for you to step in, knight-in-shining armour, to save the day. You wouldn't do that would you Stuart. Of course you wouldn't.

Subject: RE: 51st Sidmouth festival
From: GUEST,Lizzie......in Sidmouth
Date: 31 Oct 04 - 07:47 AM

Yey! You tell 'em Stuart! We're behind you and Chris and ALL the other POSITIVE people concerned! Thanks for the hard work! Don't let them grind you down!!

Lizzie :-)

Subject: RE: 51st Sidmouth festival
From: GUEST,Stuart Hughes
Date: 30 Oct 04 - 07:53 PM

As the person who appears to be the one under attack for trying (along with Chris Wale)and a host of other people who want to see something happen in Sidmouth in 2005, which in turn will provide the launch pad for 2006, may I say that I am not the person who does anything half baked. I can assure those who it seems just want to keep knocking that the Arena events programme will be of a very high standard. I am also not involved as a Councillor and so STOP referring to me as Cllr Hughes. I am involved with Chris Wale as the organisers of Sidmouth Carnival.....lETS ASK THESE KNOCKERS:- HAVE YOU EVER TRIED PUTTING A CARNIVAL PROCESSION TOGETHER?.....HAVE YOU EVER PUT ON A CARIBBEAN NIGHT EVENT?.......HAVE YOU EVER BUILT A CARNIVAL FLOAT?....WELL WE HAVE. In fact I and Chris have organised a total of TWENTY SIX processions in Sidmouth, THIRTEEN CARIBBEAN NIGHTS and have been involved in building TWELVE CARNIVAL FLOATS. All these events require the knowledge and expertise of Health and Safety and a host of other areas of legislation with which I am now well on top of. SO IF YOUR NOT AWARE OF THE FACTS KEEP YOUR MOUTHS SHUT OR CALL ME. Both Chris and myself are running just one small piece of the 2005 Sidmouth Folk Festival, but we are willing to offer the experience we have gained over the years to those running other events....THIS IS CALLED TEAM WORK and we are TEAM PLAYERS.
Finally there has been a lot of play on EDDC withdrawing the £60,000. EDDC hasn't ever put anything towards the Caribbean Night which has seen its costs spiral over the years. This year it cost £35,000 to stage and we covered it making a small profit. The Carnivals cost £5,000 to stage once again without any EDDC input. So you can't rely on EDDC funding their budgets are being squeezed by the Labour Government so if you want to knock someone Tony Blair's the man.

Subject: RE: 51st Sidmouth festival
From: GUEST,Lizzie.......... also in Sidmouth!
Date: 30 Oct 04 - 04:51 PM

So, Steve at See Red, See Red, See Red, See Red! How are things going then?

Have you attended the meetings yet?
Or offered help?
Or written lots of positive letters to the Herald which are NOT about how popular your See Red site is and how it is visited by even people from the BBC?
Have you been able to help Tony Reed with trying to raise the £50,000 for a professional Fund Raiser?
Maybe you're willing to knock on people's doors and ask them to donate money?

It takes an AWFUL lot to make me lose my temper as I'm normally a quiet, placid, EXTREMELY happy Show of Hands fan....BUT....Stephen See Red....YOU have managed to make SMOKE come out of my ears!

If you have a personal ISSUE with Stuart Hughes, then take it up with him PERSONALLY, right away from Mudcat!! Right away from The Sidmouth Festival!

I think that to risk damaging this wonderful Festival with a personal vendetta is Absolutely Deplorable! If all you are hoping for in 2005 is that The Sidmouth Folk Festival falls flat on its' face then you should not be in the Folk World at all IMO!! You should be ashamed of yourself!


All I see on this thread is people being told to visit See Red...Page 32, See Red Page 46, See Red...See Red... OVER and OVER again and THEN I have to read yet ANOTHER of your letters in the Herald boasting about how many 'hits' your site has had!

Now I thought, perhaps naively, as I am the first to admit that I am 'nice but dim!' that the Folk World was a warm, friendly, incrediibly helpful community, full of vastly talented and kind people! That image is being horribly damaged on this thread! When I sit in The Arena in 2005 I would love to see people enjoying themselves and not a Civil War breaking out!

There are a lot of people who are going to be working REALLY hard next year to make 2005 work! Don't make it EVEN harder!


Why don't you change Seered to SeeGood! It will be much better for your blood pressure and mine! And FAR FAR BETTER for The Sidmouth Folk Festival 2005!! Once again, in Dougie MacLean's words...All Together, All As One!!

And I'll leave you with a quote from Disney's BAMBI........from Thumper the Rabbit!...."If you can't say ANYTHING NICE then don't
say ANYTHING AT ALL!



Lizzie (Ooh! I'm just soooooo..........!!!!!!!!!) :-0 :-0

PS The note above was from me too, but I forgot to put my name in the box! Sorry!! All this negativity....can't think straight!!

Subject: RE: 51st Sidmouth festival
From: GUEST
Date: 30 Oct 04 - 04:09 PM

To 'Another Festival Organiser'

Ummm.....Hello, whoever you are! Come on don't be shy! If you look back at what I said, you'll find that I was jumping up and down about Show of Hands because they HAD been confirmed! I asked THE QUESTION...that's what ?????....means, ABOUT each of the other artists.

i.e. ARE Spiers and Boden coming too? And The Oysterband? And Fairport? There, you see.....Questions NOT confirmations!!

They all happen to be artists which I love and I would love to see one or all of them in 2005!!!

I could have also asked about Kate Rusby, Eliza Carthy, John McCusker, Dougie MacLean, Martyn Joseph, Deb Sandland, Seth Lakeman, Equation, Tiger Moth, Robb Johnson, Waterson/Carthy, Bellowhead, Whapweazel, Shooglenifty, Dervish, Danu, Capercaille, Cara Dillon, June Tabor, Jim Moray and so many, many more! But Hey! I thought you might get a little fed up listening to me!


PLEASE, PLEASE DON'T deliberately misquote, misunderstand or misrepresent things. How big IS your wooden spoon? Why not use it to make sure that the 'mixture' for Sidmouth 2005 is as SMOOTH as possible! Don't just use it to STIR THINGS UP!

Positivity CAN make things happen! Negativity just ensures they don't! We all know that without Steve Heap, it's going to be a long, hard slog.....he warned everyone and no-one listened, but at least people ARE trying, we have to go forward without him now, however tricky that may be......unless Steve would consider coming back of course, but that is just a PERSONAL hope and is not to be twisted or used in a negative way either!

A very disgruntled Lizzie!!

Subject: RE: 51st Sidmouth festival
From: buttonbox
Date: 30 Oct 04 - 01:53 PM

reading through this thread it would seem that there are several keen and dedicated people who are trying to put something - or is it several independant somethings - together for 2005.

there are also one hell of a lot of whingers & moaners, most of whom would probably not dream of doing anything constuctive about anything

ignoring the latter group is it not time that representatives of the local council , even if that only consists of Mr hughes, local business and resident pro festival people and individuals and organisations within the national and international folk fraternity cut the crap and got on with things in the friendly, non adversarial spirit that binds us together.United they may just about stand - divided they are almost certain to fall.

Subject: RE: 51st Sidmouth festival
From: Tony Day
Date: 30 Oct 04 - 12:25 PM

Coo - what a lot of hot air!! It's funny how malicious rumour can so quickly take on the mantle of (erroneousartificial) fact.

The truth is that Stuart Hughes is one of two dozen people who spent an amicable, enthusuastic and hard working three and a half hours on the 23rd, putting together the bones of what is going to be a very enjoyable festival. The team includes people who have considerable experience as senior organisers of most aspects of the Sidmouth Festival, as well as running other festivals. It also has a strong core of Sidmouth and nearby residents.

There will be a press release any moment now, and a flier before Christmas. The full programme will take shape in an orderly way over the next few months. Stuart's arena events will be an important part of Sidmouth Folk Week 2005, but there will also be many other concerts, ceilidhs, dances, singarounds, sessions and workshops. Much, much more than a fringe!

Those who love Sidmouth will keep July 29th - August 5th clear in their diaries, the rest will carry on carping here on mudcat to their hearts' content.

Tony

Subject: RE: 51st Sidmouth festival
From: GUEST,Edward (Sidmouth resident)
Date: 30 Oct 04 - 11:13 AM

No need to be so abusive Rhyzla! For your information, I am a local shopkeeper who has (unlike most) contributed to Sidmouth Festival coffers over many years. I can tell you that some shops and pubs (especially pubs) make so much money in Festival week that it really does see us through the rest of the year. Just ask the publican who stayed long enough to make his annual profit at this year's Festival then, knowing what winter would be like, upped and left two weeks later! As for your comments about SHOW OF HANDS, read my previous e-mail again! I did not call any artistes 'half-baked' or 'poor quality substitute', I described Councillor Hughes' proposed event as 'half-baked' and a 'poor quality substitute' for what we have had in the past. I don't want to see top-quality artistes like SHOW OF HANDS turn-up and be let-down. Agreed the Festival needs the support of local residents as well as local businesses but it also needs the support of the local council and it needs someone better than Councillor Hughes to organise it.

Subject: RE: 51st Sidmouth festival
From: rhyzla
Date: 30 Oct 04 - 10:29 AM

Edward (Sidmouth resident),

I'm not sure how SHOW OF HANDS and the other artists hoping to play next year will feel about being called 'Half-baked' and 'poor quality substitute' - maybe this is just your opinion!

Also, can anyone tell me how a business can possibly make a mint in one week of the year, and survive the other 51? Cuckoo-land and clouds are involved in the phrase I'm thinking of!

A 'proper' festival needs more than just support from local business, it also needs support from local residents - like you!!

I propose you go back and read cats message (about 9 up ^) and perhaps you will be kind enough to tell us about your positive contribution to 2005?

Subject: RE: 51st Sidmouth festival
From: GUEST,The Devonian
Date: 30 Oct 04 - 10:23 AM

Pleased to see I'm not the only local who feels we need a year's break to make the town wake-up and realise how much it needs the Festival. Cynics who believe in the conspiracy theory might ponder on whether Cllr. Hughes is just trying to divert attention from his own Council's decision to stop funding the Festival. Don't help him get away with it!

Subject: RE: 51st Sidmouth festival
From: GUEST,Edward (Sidmouth Resident)
Date: 30 Oct 04 - 10:11 AM

As one who always enjoyed the Arena concerts I well recall the BBC giving substantial support to the Sidmouth Festival in recent years. I fear they will not give Councillor Hughes the same support. In answer to Rhyzla (above) there are some who would argue that the best way of ensuring the return of a proper Folk Festival in 2006 is by preventing Councillor Hughes from promoting a half-baked, poor quality substitute in 2005. If all the businesses in Sidmouth who make money from the Festival find they can continue to do so without giving anything back then we will never get a Festival with the funding it needs and deserves from the local business community. Have a year with no Festival in 2005 and local businesses will soon realise what a huge hole there is in their income. It's the only hope for persuading them to put their money where their mouths are. Sidmouth needs a proper Folk Festival and the Festival needs proper funding support from those businesses who have made a mint over the years.

Subject: RE: 51st Sidmouth festival
From: Pete_Standing
Date: 30 Oct 04 - 09:22 AM

Thanks for putting me right there Adrian, but the BBC made a big thing about sponsoring Cambridge when Charles Wells pulled out. I'm not saying that the BBC shouldn't cover Cambridge either, but, I think the BBC got its priorities wrong in respect of its sponsorship and coverage. I also agree that the BBC cannot shoulder the blame for what has happened, but had the BBC raised its profile, then that might have been the catalyst for keeping Sidmouth alive. The BBC put huge aounts of media coverage behind Cambridge. In contrast, Sidmouth got one (excellent) hour on BBC4, recorded by BBC Wales, one hour from the Mike Harding Show, which did not really cover Sidmouth, it was just a programme presented from Sidmouth with a four man/woman team and a DAT recorder, and finally, an interesting feature presented on R2 by Ralph McTell. Admittedly, BBC Wales recorded 10 hours, but I wonder how many hours were taped at Cambridge.

By the way, I would not advocate the BBC's inolvement if I thought it would devalue or debase what happens at Sidmouth. The quality of the Mike Harding show is determined by the production company, Smooth Operations. I would hope that the composition at Sidmouth would still be under the control of the outgoing artistic directors.

Subject: RE: 51st Sidmouth festival
From: Adrianl
Date: 30 Oct 04 - 08:41 AM

I hardly think the BBC can be blamed for Sidmouth's problems. The BBC's job is not to bail out every event which has financial/organisational problems. They have enough pressure maintaining quality programming across a wide front to sponsor everything.

They did sponsor Sidmouth Festival - look and the old Sidmouth website which is still running.http://www.sidmouthfestival.com/. Various programmes have been broadcast from Sidmouth this year and in the past.

Adrian

Subject: RE: 51st Sidmouth festival
From: rhyzla
Date: 30 Oct 04 - 08:41 AM

Wow - you are implying that the BBC wouldn't want to change Sidmouth into a MOR alt country festival!
How would that be any better than what Stuart Hughes is trying to do!

If we are not careful, Stuart and his colleagues will simply walk away, and then there will be nothing left to whinge about!!

Subject: RE: 51st Sidmouth festival
From: Pete_Standing
Date: 30 Oct 04 - 08:23 AM

Thinking of Cambridge, I think the BBC should not have sponsored this festival but had adopted Sidmouth instead. Cambridge will survive, it has the support of the local authority, it is the only "folk" festival that is covered by the mainstream media and thus has no problem attracting customers and I daresay, sponsors will follow too. Sidmouth was arguably the most important of the folk festivals and for the BBC to give it scant coverage and support compared to Cambridge is a travesty. Had the BBC thrown its weight behind Sidmouth, maybe the situation might be different now, who knows, the council and residents may have even been more positive with the status that would naturally be afforded by the BBC being involved.

Subject: RE: 51st Sidmouth festival
From: Pete_Standing
Date: 30 Oct 04 - 08:01 AM

Cambridge? A folk festival? I'd sooner head for the "City of Dreaming Spires" next May.

Subject: RE: 51st Sidmouth festival
From: GUEST,Bev Salmon
Date: 30 Oct 04 - 06:50 AM

I think Mr. Dancer has a valid point in questioning whether those planning Sidmouth 2005 have the necessary professional qualifications and expertise to do the job properly. Organising a major week-long international festival with camping is very different to putting-on a Caribbean Night. I wouldn't want the thousands who have many happy memories of Sidmouth over the years to come back one more time and find.... nothing except for a few concerts in a scaled-down arena and a handful of workshops in church halls on the outskirts of town. The 'magic' has gone, it can never be the same again, let's remember it for what it was and be grateful for what we had.

Subject: RE: 51st Sidmouth festival
From: GUEST,Morris B Dancer
Date: 30 Oct 04 - 06:33 AM

The Barden of England argues his case well but the problem is that many of us who have enjoyed Sidmouth over the years fear that half a festival in 2005 could mean no festival at all thereafter. Consider this. If Sidmouth as we know it couldn't survive financially even with a £60,000 annual grant from EDDC, what chance of prospering with no grant at all from EDDC? The fact that EDDC has withdrawn all funding from both 2005 and 2006 suggests either that the Council has no confidence in its own Councillor Hughes to organise the event properly or else feels the event will be so poor compared to previous festivals that it will not be worthy of funding anyway. My fear is that many people will still visit Sidmouth in 2005 but when they see that the event is a very poor shadow of what they have come to expect and enjoy will vote with their feet and not return in 2006 or thereafter. After all there are many other fine folk festivals to attract us these days - Cambridge, Towersey, Broadstairs, Chippenham, Gosport, Whitby, Beverley, Warwick, Bromyard, Bridgnorth, Fylde and more, all run by people with many years of experience in the folk scene, experience which Councillor Hughes, however well-meaning, cannot gain overnight. P.S. Remember also that it wasn't just the lack of cash that forced Mrs. Casey Music to withdraw from running Sidmouth, it was also the ever-increasing licensing restrictions imposed by the District Council. If Councillor Hughes runs Sidmouth 2005 presumably he too will have to find the cash for a full-time Health & Safety Officer, Noise Management Consultant, £15 million Public Liability Insurance etc. etc. etc. And do it without the £60,000 EDDC funding!

Subject: RE: 51st Sidmouth festival
From: The Barden of England
Date: 30 Oct 04 - 06:10 AM

Well said Cats.

To those who keep going on about no invites to the 23rd. October meeting I'd just like to point out that Herga Kitty posted something to this very thread as follows:-

Subject: RE: 51st Sidmouth festival
From: Herga Kitty - PM
Date: 19 Sep 04 - 12:28 PM

Jim Martin
There's a meeting on 23 October,in Sidmouth,to plan next year's festival. If anyone wants to contribute to arranging an interim festival next year, please contact [e-mail].
Kitty

So did you do that? If so where were you, as I managed to get to it from here in darkest Kent? I went not as an organiser but as a person who enjoys Sidmouth as a place as well as just for the festival. I thought the group that were there, including the much maligned Stuart Hughes, were working towards the continuation of the festival in the best way they know how. In my recollection Mrs. Caseys website for Sidmouth never showed who was going to be on next year at this time the previous year so why all the mud slinging? Give them a chance, and instead of being harbingers of doom and gloom, get positive and join in what could be a great new beginning. By the way these people are trying to do this without monetary help from EDDC who have withdrawn the 60,000 ponds for 2005, and also for 2006. That should at the very least please those of you who live in East Devon as there is an immediate saving of 120,000 pounds. I'm sure that very soon there will be some sort of press release about what has happened so far, so I won't go on here as I might well get it wrong and give you all wrong advice. Suffice to say that I'm sure you can all help by joining in rather than knocking. It's a human trait I know- kick someone while they're down, but is that in the best interest of the festival? I for one hope not.

Subject: RE: 51st Sidmouth festival
From: Cats
Date: 29 Oct 04 - 05:34 PM

I'm getting the feeling that some folkies actually do not want a Sidmouth to happen next year. It's almost as if they are doing and saying everything to put obstacles in its way. Some people are really trying to make a fringe festival happen next year and are putting their own money up front, and taking the risks of it all falling flat and ending up with a loss of revenue, out of their own pockets. Coupled with this is the promise that any profits made will go to a Sidmouth 2006 Festival.

If the amount of effort that has gone into knocking people and their contributions to Sidmouth 2005 were put into making it succeed we'd all be a lot further down the road than we are at the moment. And, of course, if there isn't a Sidmouth 2005 or if it all falls flat, these same people will take great delight in being the first to say, 'I told you so'. So, rather than winge, try getting involved and make it happen.

Subject: RE: 51st Sidmouth festival
From: GUEST,Stuart Hughes
Date: 29 Oct 04 - 05:19 PM

In reply to organiser of another festival, I haven't mentioned the Oyster Band and neither Fairport Convention (although third party contact has been made with their management re:possible date).
Show of Hands are however confirmed and will be opening the Arena Concerts on Saturday 30th July. Strawbs are confirmed for Tuesday 2nd August and Battlefield Band Friday 5th August. The Family show on Monday 1st August also confirmed with The Wurzels.
I must say I do find your comments insulting and so get your facts right before putting anymore verbal d'''''' on Mudcat.

Subject: RE: 51st Sidmouth festival
From: GUEST,Another Festival Organiser
Date: 29 Oct 04 - 04:31 PM

Fairport Convention? Oysterband? Show of Hands? All names being mentioned repeatedly by Mr. Hughes as playing at the 2005 Sidmouth Festival... much to the delight of people like Lizzie (above).

Oh that it was true!

Sadly the agents / bookers for all the above artistes have no knowledge of their acts even being approached for Sidmouth 2005, let alone booked, indeed, they are extremely angry that Mr. Hughes is giving the false impression that they will be playing at Sidmouth next year (especially as one, possibly two, of the acts mentioned won't even be in the country at the time!).

It makes one wonder whether anyone can trust anything that Mr. Hughes says about Sidmouth 2005. Have a look at the websites for all the artistes whose names Mr. Hughes keeps mentioning. You won't find a single one stating that they are playing at Sidmouth 2005 and if you contact their agents / bookers / management / the artistes themselves you will find some very fed-up folkies who deeply dislike Mr. Hughes using their names without their permission.

Subject: RE: 51st Sidmouth festival
From: GUEST,Steve in Sidmouth
Date: 29 Oct 04 - 03:44 PM

I am not sure who fiddler (Andy) is getting at over underlining!

However if it is me (and relating to page folk51 of SeeRed) I take the point about producing a pure text version for printing. The following instructions (which take only a few seconds to implement) will be added to the "textsizes.htm" page as soon as a certain server in California gets its act together. It has been upgraded and you know what that means - it no longer works properly.

"For printing, one recommended procedure is to download the required page as an htm file, then open it using WORD or OFFICE or a similar word processor, then save it again but this time as a .doc file. This can then be reformatted to set margins and font types and sizes. Retaining the arial font is recommended for greatest clarity. However, browsers and computers vary, so take these ideas as a guide only!

To print in black only, simply select the whole page (edit/select all) and set font size and colour. To remove the underlining of words that were hyperlinks simply underline and then de-underline the whole selected text.

To print just part of a page, try selecting the text and copy to clipboard (edit/copy). Then open Notepad or another text editor and paste the text into a new file. Then print as normal. You may lose some formatting and colour but this is often unimportant. Notepad files are 'text only' and cannot carry macro-viruses that can be associated with WORD files."

I hope that is helpful.

Subject: RE: 51st Sidmouth festival
From: fiddler
Date: 29 Oct 04 - 08:31 AM

Please can you take the underlining out of the page?

Whilst it may appear to emphasise it has been or is about to be removed form html script generally as a tool.

It confused me in to looking for a link - generally underlined so v confusing!

Andy

Subject: RE: 51st Sidmouth festival
From: GUEST,Steve in Sidmouth
Date: 29 Oct 04 - 07:50 AM

Nothing much in the Sidmouth Herald this week about the folk festival. We were all expecting a big announcement. There is a letter from Birmingham praising the SeeRed website for its coverage of the background issues - which may have got a little up the nose of some of those organising the "Hughes Fest", as the 2005 fringe is now called amongst some local folkies. You can view this by clicking on the link below and then on 'letters' on the left hand side. I tried to make a direct link but it didn't work.

Some locals are not buying the dance tickets because the decision was taken to hold them in a number of village halls scattered around and far from the town centre - where the dancing and music should (in our opinion) be concentrated. Amazingly, the dance coordinator apparently was not a member of the inner circle planning the 2005 fringe but was invited belatedly to the 23 October coven - which he couldn't make anyway. Some of us are seething about the lack of proper local consultation - but are we surprised?? This is Sidmouth after all.

On the bright side (depending on your point of view) the headlines in the Herald were of a £31,000 haul of cannabis. Also the recent storms made the seafront look like mid-winter. I am asking the Herald if I can have one of their photos for SeeRed. Read these stories too on the link below.

From 1 November there is a new website run by the Sidmouth Herald group and called www.devon24.co.uk. You could try this if you're interested in local news, also try www.sidmouthherald.co.uk for local news stories but few pictures. http://www.sidmouthherald.co.uk

Subject: RE: 51st Sidmouth festival
From: GUEST,Stuart Hughes
Date: 27 Oct 04 - 06:29 AM

Can confirm that the website to be set up and adopted by the meeting last Saturday is http;//www.sidmouthfolkweek.org.uk. This website is now being built.

Subject: RE: 51st Sidmouth festival
From: GUEST,Mr Red who has never been to Sidmouth FF
Date: 27 Oct 04 - 05:25 AM

I was always put off by the business model of previous organisers (what committee?) and the length and the cost (financial &/or stewarding cost) I am considering next year but the news seems to have died on e-ceilidh and it was not as boyant as I would hope.

Now how do other festivals survive on grants much less than 60,000 and ticket prices per day a lot lower? - the time put in by the festival director usually.

I trust Steve Heap has paid-of his mortgage taken-out to underwrite the annus mudlarkus

Subject: RE: 51st Sidmouth festival
From: GUEST,Gadaffi
Date: 27 Oct 04 - 05:16 AM

My 17 year old daughter is quite keen to see the Wurzels. They are quite a 'cult' band in her peer group, as they were in my day when Adge Cutler was waving his blackthorn stick. I still feel there is a need to add more 'cutting edge' performers to any proposed (Arena)events though to continue the Sidmouth 'spirit'.

Subject: RE: 51st Sidmouth festival
From: GUEST
Date: 27 Oct 04 - 04:03 AM

An announcement is promised soon, but there is a long way to go yet. There have been statements of intent before......

The Q&A page of SeeRed aims to keep people up to date, http://www.seered.co.uk/folk51.htm

The Wurzels should be a sell out for the farming community of East Devon - and for many of the locals in Sidmouth.

Subject: RE: 51st Sidmouth festival
From: GUEST,Gadaffi
Date: 27 Oct 04 - 03:50 AM

I've heard rumours about the breadth of 'the Fringe' and the proposed LNE-type events on the old Third site that are planned. Can anybody who attended last Saturday's meeting fill me in on a few facts?

Subject: RE: 51st Sidmouth festival
From: steve_harris
Date: 26 Oct 04 - 05:54 PM

I think 2005 is going to be GREAT!!!! And The Strawbs as well!
Book me my tickets for the Arena PLEASE>

Don't forget those folk megastars, the "Worzels". Do you want a ticket for them too? :-)

Subject: RE: 51st Sidmouth festival
From: GUEST,Lizzie, again! In Sidmouth
Date: 24 Oct 04 - 04:53 PM

I forgot to say this!

Show of Hands! Show of Hands! Show of Hands! WOW! WOW! WOW!
I think 2005 is going to be GREAT!!!! And The Strawbs as well!
Book me my tickets for the Arena PLEASE!

Oh! Show of Hands in Sidmouth Arena 2005, just at the end of my road!
How lucky can you get!! Why aren't you all smiling as widely and as deeply as I am!!

Are Spiers & Boden coming too? And The Oysterband? And Fairport Convention?

Roll on Sidmouth 2005!   It's going to be BRILLIANT!

Lizzie :-)

Subject: RE: 51st Sidmouth festival
From: GUEST,Lizzie in Sidmouth
Date: 24 Oct 04 - 04:01 PM

Oh Squeezy! You write as beautifully as you play! Well done you!

Lizzie :-)

Subject: RE: 51st Sidmouth festival
From: GUEST,Lizzie inSidmouth
Date: 24 Oct 04 - 03:37 PM

Gosh! What's all this going on then? I thought it had gone EXTREMEly quiet over on Radio 2!!

Just to say that I think Stuart Hughes, whom I have not met, and Chris Wale, whom I have, (Hi Chris!) strike me as two people, among many others, who are working extremely hard to help this Festival continue!

They come from Sidmouth and are two of a VERY few people from this town who are willing to help. Yes, they do Caribbean Night and they do it very well, they put themselves at personal financial risk for something they believe in, not a lot of people would be willing to do that! They are NOT trying to take over the Festival or use it for their own personal ends so maybe, just maybe, you should all work WITH them and not against them!

And as for Dr. Wozniak, well, Steven you never did reply to my e mail over on Radio 2 did you! Is this thread really about The Sidmouth International Folk Festival or about a website called SeeRed? Having read some of the above, I seem to be a little confused.

We are in grave danger of losing this National Treasure of a Folk Festival. Maybe, just maybe Dr. Wozniak would like to help in the raising of the £50,000 needed for a Professional Fundraiser, as Tony Reed, Town Council Chairman, has had very very few replies, so I understand. There seems to be a huge amount of energy being wasted here, which should be going into The Sidmouth Festival. This Festival is not about ANY individuals, egos or websites. It is about all of us, our heritage, our history, our children. So just stop the arguing and the endless ramblings of Seered. and get on with the important job that needs doing!!

If Stuart Hughes is as decent,honest, kind and as caring a man as I know Chris Wale to be, and I am sure he is, then the Arena is in safe hands!

So Stuart and Chris, I wish you both luck, I trust you both and thanks for all your hard work!

And as for everyone else, Shame on You.
All together, All as One!!

Lizzie
Resident of Sidmouth!

Sorry to sound Grumpy, but I'm beginning to See Red myself!

Subject: RE: 51st Sidmouth festival
From: GUEST,Stuart Hughes and Chris Wale
Date: 24 Oct 04 - 03:00 PM

I applaude the last two guests comments, we would welcome Stephen Wozniak's input into helping co-ordinate the arena programme and working with us to ensure 2005 is a sucess. As there is no public (tax payers)money (and hasn't been for the Caribbean Night in the past) being put into helping stage the events at the Arena, there is no requirement to publicize our accounts.However as far as transparency is concerned we shall be only too pleased to publicize them.

(Stuart Hughes and Chris Wale)

Subject: RE: 51st Sidmouth festival
From: GUEST,Contrary Mary
Date: 24 Oct 04 - 02:40 PM

I agree with Fiddler. Boys will be boys but we've had enough bickering. For Heaven's sake, offer this Dr Wozniak a place on your committee. Get him to oversee the accounts if it makes him happy (they're probably as boring as he sounds anyway) and you never know he might turn out to be a postive asset as he clearly loves the festival. And while you're about it, when can the rest of we local folkies get involved?

"Two things are always the same the dance and war. One might say anything is the same but the dance and war are particularly the same because one can see them. That is what they are for."

(Gertrude Stein, Everybody's autobiography.)

Subject: RE: 51st Sidmouth festival
From: fiddler
Date: 23 Oct 04 - 06:27 PM

Most of you know my views on 2005 and beyond, I've even doubted both Steve and EDDC in the past so developing this further could they please please do their bikerring in Sidmouth in the correct, if you will excuse the pun, arena and leave our threads to promote what is being attempted without a great deal of assistance form EDDC and the rest.

It surely is this sort of small minded petty stupidity that got us here in the first place - has anyone learned anything?

Sorry if this is a bit confrontational but lets not do a military political two step for the next two years - Tony and others are working very hard - help them and get down off your own personal soap box challenges.

To finish....

Friends, folkies and Devonians
Lend me your town,
We come most years to benefit you
Not to kill you
The evil that men do lives after them
The good is oft interred in their bones
Let not this be with Sidmouth (festival)
For Sidmouth was a great event -
So were they all all great events.

Subject: RE: 51st Sidmouth festival
From: GUEST,Stuart Hughes
Date: 23 Oct 04 - 06:01 PM

In reply to Stephen Wozniak, may I assure him that we will indeed have audited accounts and will be using the same accountant that audits our carnival accounts and also carries out work on the accounts of an organisation that Stephen Wozniak is involved in.
If Stephen (Sidmouth's genuine folkie) would like an input into what happens at the Arena in 2005 then why not come and speak to us. We are already seeking advice from many active people in the folk world who want to see 2005 be a success which in turn will provide a spring board for 2006.
Come on Stephen stop criticizing and start helping by being positive for once.

Subject: RE: 51st Sidmouth festival
From: GUEST,Steve in Sidmouth
Date: 22 Oct 04 - 06:11 PM

My reply to Councillor Hughes is in part as published on the latest pages of my website (51 and onwards). These were prepared before I saw his comments on mudcat.org but we seem to be thinking along similar lines.

I remain willing to help any aspect of the main fringe festival but am unlikely to wish to get involved with Hughes et al in the arena 'goings-on' - whatever they turn out to be. There is (arguably) sufficient discussion already on my website about differences of opinion between Cllr Hughes and myself. However, if the exhortation from Cllr Hughes to 'join in' is a formal invitation to become a member of the group organising the 2005 festival, then I accept. This could be not only as a 'resident of Sidmouth' but as an active member of local folk dance clubs and attendee of the Festival. To date, insufficient local consultation has taken place - for example, no-one has asked local folk dancers if we would prefer to be 'out in the sticks' or in Blackmore Gardens. Yet a prime stated objective following the June meeting was to involve local people more!

In particular, I would be willing to help audit and publish accounts for all the fringe activities, including the arena. If a set of proper accounts is to be produced (and I think they should be for all the reasons stated on my website) some element of independent scrutiny is essential. One of the problems that has led to suspicion about the folk festival in Sidmouth (as it was run by Steve Heap) is the lack of detailed published accounts - fair enough as he ran the whole event superbly and as a business combined with many other folk interests. He had no particular reason to separate out Sidmouth in his formal accounts.

I have many times asked EDDC when the 'supportive' people of Sidmouth could become involved - and that does not mean supportive of the changes in the arena. To date we have been denied an opportunity despite a promise in June that a meeting would be held at an early stage. If we had been involved I like to think the whole festival week might have remained under the control of 'folkies' and including the arena. This is discussed on page 51 of my website (at the bottom) and was loaded some days ago.

I have asked both EDDC and the fringe organisers if I could attend the meeting on 23 October in Sidmouth and have been told it is 'only for performers/groups etc to organise who does what where and when, not for wider issues' so I am excluded. I have had no reply to an email forwarded to Tony Day by Bill Lankester. In any case, it is too late now significantly to influence what goes on in the arena which will inevitably help to define the character of the whole week.

I concur with the views expressed on the Mudcat site that a change in the character of the folk festival (international festival) could render it ineligible for Arts Council funding - and this was (is??) still a best hope for long term survival of an internationally significant event. Otherwise it may degrade into just a local 'music/fairground/carnival' event that may be of little interest to folkies or anyone else in the wider world - by that I mean outside of East Devon and its environs. The relevant discussion is in various 'answers' on the Q&A page folk51.htm. This reflects deep concern, at least in parts of the folk world.

In the view of many of the people I talk to, the festival we knew is already finished. I hope they are wrong but if it is ever to be again what it was, control must once again become vested in the hands of people who appreciate the folk arts world and are genuinely immersed in it. A renowned international event cannot successfully be maintained by amateurs (and including elected amateurs) who just happen to live in the small town that was fortunate enough to have been where the festival grew and matured. The truth of this may become increasingly apparent.

Dr Stephen J Wozniak
Sidmouth 22 October 2004

Subject: RE: 51st Sidmouth festival
From: GUEST,Chris Wale and Stuart Hughes
Date: 21 Oct 04 - 05:23 PM

Just to confirm that the 2005 Fringe Folk Festival at the arena show ground will be purely Folk, just to dismiss any misconceptions on certain websites which includes Steve's from Sidmouth!!!!

We look forward to a great 2005 Festival that will offer acts such as Show of Hands, Worzels and the Strawbs to name but a few....

Subject: RE: 51st Sidmouth festival
From: GUEST,Stuart Hughes and Chris Wale
Date: 21 Oct 04 - 04:08 PM

In reply to Guest? I don't believe that the Caribbean Night event makes any difference to the festivals ability to apply for arts grants. The Caribbean Night is a stand alone event which follows on from the Festival. What it has been able to do in recent years is help with some of the transport costs as by hiring on PA and LX equipment used by the festival it then fell to Caribbean Night to pay for its transport up the M5.
The Caribbean Night has been running for 22 years and didn't prevent the previous Festival Director from securing funding.
The Caribbean Night is the only fund raising event for the Sidmouth Carnival and we can assure you that there was a lot of hard work put into running this years event for a very small return no more than £500 profit. This poor return was mainly due to the cost of the star band ASWAD who didn't attract as many as we thought they would. The late Edwin Starr and Buster Bloodvessel had far greater pulling power.
We do not expect to be lambasted or critized on certain websites and can someone please explain what a true folkie is. Living in Sidmouth as we do and having opened our doors to visitors who run folk clubs around the country, artistes appearing at past festivals including Dougie Mclean and Kieran Halpin I would have thought that we were true folkies.
As far as the Arena is concerned if Steve Wozniak would like to take it on then just let us know, as we are not prepared to take anymore criticism. We want Sidmouth 2005 to be a success.

Subject: RE: 51st Sidmouth festival
From: John J
Date: 21 Oct 04 - 12:31 PM

Guest?

Subject: RE: 51st Sidmouth festival
From: GUEST
Date: 21 Oct 04 - 10:16 AM

Dear Stuart Hughes and Chris Wale
I applaud your efforts and I am aware of some of the suspicions that inevietably flow when discussions about the continuation of the festival abound. I raise a couple of points here not to confuse issues just simply seeking some clarification.
The caribean night is a profit making event as you have rightly declared very openly in the past. I understand that without the infrastructure of the arena events in the past the caribean night possibly would not be able to either take and/or raise a profit.
One of the ways forward for the festival, I believe, is to apply for arts grants but in the past this has not been possible because of the involvlement of a profit making organisation (mrs casey music) not the umbrella organisation of Sidmouth international festival.

With the Caribean night piggy backing off the folk arena events it might preclude the access to the large government regional grants that might be available purley because of it being a profit making event. I do believe that in previous years it made very good sense to use the arena site for the Caribean Night however if - and I do say if -it could block fund raising avenues that need to be explored for the continuation of the festival this could be an issue which will provoke much comment.

I welcome very much the news that a late night extra event is being planned and look forward to seeing more details again Your efforts are being appreciated.

Subject: RE: 51st Sidmouth festival
From: rhyzla
Date: 21 Oct 04 - 05:32 AM

It's a fair proposition Steve, you are always asking for transparency, here is your opportunity - will you be willing to make your response publicly here?

Subject: RE: 51st Sidmouth festival
From: GUEST,Stuart Hughes and Chris Wale
Date: 21 Oct 04 - 04:26 AM

What a sad state of affairs we have, no wonder Steve Heap chucked the towel in. We and other LOCAL residents and businesses wanted to see a festival continuing in Sidmouth in 2005. All we now have is Doctor Stephen Wozniak of Sidford's nature reserve knocking our efforts. Why doesn't he as a local resident stop his bickering and come and give us a hand. We have already pledged that any profits made in the Arena during 2005 (excluding Caribbean Night) will go towards the 2006 event. By helping us he will also be able to see exactly where this money is going. Come on Dr Wozniak (Steve) we await your call.

Breaking News!! There will also be a late night extra event adjacent to the Thorn Golf Campsite this will be served by regular buses from the Core Hill campsite and will pick up from the Arena.

Subject: RE: 51st Sidmouth festival
From: GUEST,Steve in Sidmouth
Date: 15 Oct 04 - 10:15 AM

Latest from local press here http://www.seered.co.uk/folk50.htm

Sidmouth Town Council wants to raise £50,000 to employ a fundraiser.

Don't ask me, I just live here.