51st Sidmouth festival

Subject: RE: 51st Sidmouth festival
From: GUEST
Date: 13 Oct 04 - 11:04 PM

Subject: RE: 51st Sidmouth festival
From: Dave Bryant
Date: 13 Oct 04 - 10:21 AM

OK we've managed to book onto the (Caravan Club CL) site at the Little Bowd Farm. See you all next year.

Subject: RE: 51st Sidmouth festival
From: GUEST,Steve in Sidmouth
Date: 13 Oct 04 - 08:15 AM

Do we have to maintain two threads? Do I have to post everything twice?

Lots more information on latest pages of www.seered.co.uk including details of dance tickets (only 300 available at £90), camping (looks like it may be a shambles) and discussion of where the arena profits will go. I think the steering group have missed a key opportunity.

If you have already read folk 45 then start at folk 46 and on to folk49. Any comments welcome but please read and digest before rushing to criticise!
http://www.seered.co.uk/folk46.htm


Does anyone have a person to person email link I could add to page folk46 please?

Subject: RE: 51st Sidmouth festival
From: John Golightly
Date: 13 Oct 04 - 05:54 AM

Those dates are correct - it's generally the week containing the first Monday in August.

Subject: RE: 51st Sidmouth festival
From: Dave Bryant
Date: 12 Oct 04 - 09:23 AM

Do we know the "official" dates for the "unofficial" festival - will they be 29/07/05 - 05/08/05. If we're planning to go, we'll need to book somewhere for our caravan soon - especially if the usual campsite may not be available.

Subject: RE: 51st Sidmouth festival
From: GUEST,Steve in Sidmouth
Date: 06 Oct 04 - 08:35 AM

What was wrong with this thread that we needed (?) a new one?

Gloomy Press report here http://www.seered.co.uk/folk45.htm

Subject: RE: 51st Sidmouth festival
From: GUEST,Gaddafi
Date: 23 Sep 04 - 11:24 AM

I'm trying to rustle up interest in keeping the lunchtime Volunteer 'In the Tradition' session going for 2005 (if John and Dan aren't around). Any takers?

Subject: RE: 51st Sidmouth festival
From: GUEST,Steve in Sidmouth
Date: 20 Sep 04 - 05:51 PM

This memo appeared on the Cropredy thread.

"Fairport should get in touch with Steve Heap, Sidmouth with Chris Pegg."

By chance, I listened to the recent R4 programme discussing Fairport Convention and their following over generations at Cropredy. The relevant features of the festival seem to be that the whole community locally grew up with it and feel it is 'theirs' - something that Sidmouth may never manage to achieve because of where it is and who lives hereabouts.

I was struck however by the fact that the Cropredy festival is now in doubt primarily because one person is 'moving on'. Festivals cannot (or should not) be organised to be so dependent on either one person or a few people. That being said, unless there was an autocrat like Steve Heap in charge of something as large and complex as Sidmouth, nothing would get done. Problem is, when the autocrat leaves or is run over by a bus, what then?

Subject: RE: 51st Sidmouth festival
From: GUEST,Steve in Sidmouth
Date: 20 Sep 04 - 05:33 PM

......."is there a covenant on field 1 of the camp site relating to its use by the festival? If it is not used next year will this be broken (if it exists) and will some developer manage to build houses on it?"

Reply to the above:

Covenants are usually restrictive and placed on land by an owner before he sells to prevent a new owner doing A, B or C (keeping a caravan, putting out washing, keeping pigs, etc), and are distinct from restrictions under planning legislation. Positive covenants (thou shalt do X or Y on pain of Z) are rare and generally unenforceable if applied to land - if you own the land you cannot generally be forced to do anything (but see the discussion on Section 215 of the T&CPA on my website for what councils can try to force you to do!). http://www.seered.co.uk/sec215.htm

I believe the field is owned by a man who lives in Bickwell Valley in Sidmouth - and I doubt he would get planning consent even if he applied for it. A covenant on land to prevent building usually has no influence on whether or not planning permission is granted - anyone with an interest can seek to enforce the covenant but it is not a part of planning - it is a civil matter to be pursued via the courts. Anyone can apply at any time for planning permission in respect of any piece of land - you don't have to own it, just pay the relevant fee to the Planning Dept. Of course, consent to build on land is not much use if you don't own it! Sometimes builders apply for permission then make the owner of the land an offer he cannot refuse.

##################################################

A more serious concern for the main campsite is the increasing emphasis on health and safety. Some years ago I highlighted to EDDC and the festival organisers the inherent danger of having old caravans with dubious brakes (and pitched by incompetent owners) on a slope above rows of tents. This would never be allowed on any 'official' or permanent campsite. I will load some of the material on my website in the next few weeks but for 2006 there may need to be a rethink of the layout and use of these fields.

###################################################

"Who (if anyone) actually 'owns' the title 'Sidmouth International Festival'?"

This point was raised at the June 2004 meeting in Sidmouth (see www.seered.co.uk/folk18.htm) but not answered conclusively. There is bound to be a list of registered names, products etc on the Internet or in a decent reference library.

I hope that helps for now.

####################################################

In reply to the last post:

In respect of news from EDDC, it has gone very quiet. There was a meeting last Wednesday involving Wren Trust et al (so I believe) but the public were not able to attend. Fair enough if it's confidential but it is now three months since the 14 June meeting in Sidmouth and no-one outside the the inner loop has heard anything.

Steve in Sidmouth
http://www.seered.co.uk

Subject: RE: 51st Sidmouth festival
From: Herga Kitty
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

Subject: RE: 51st Sidmouth festival
From: GUEST,MBS
Date: 19 Sep 04 - 10:26 AM

Try one of the above websites,i think the one on the 14/8/04 might help you out.

Subject: RE: 51st Sidmouth festival
From: GUEST,Jim Martin
Date: 19 Sep 04 - 10:22 AM

I sent an email to East Devon District Council to find out what's happened about the Autumn meeting that was supposed to be taking place but, so far, I've heard nothing.

Does anybody else know what's going on?

Subject: RE: 51st Sidmouth festival
From: GUEST,An Interested Party
Date: 13 Sep 04 - 08:57 AM

Just been looking at Steve form Sidmouths Web site!

Two questions - I have a sinister brain!

1)Somewhere in the depths of my brain it registers that there is a covenant on field 1 of the camp site relating to its use by the festival. If it is not used next year will this be broken (if it exists) and will some developer manage to build houses on it at a substantial profit?

Steve, our man on the spot, would be the man to check this out.

2) Who actually 'owns' the title 'Sidmouth International Festival', along with all the goodwill etc. that goes with it - 50 years of trading during the first week in August, now documented in a book, would stand up in court very easily if any claim were (quite rightly) put in.

As I said above I have a sinister brain and sadly must remain anonymous at this time!

Subject: RE: 51st Sidmouth festival
From: GUEST,Jim Martin
Date: 13 Sep 04 - 08:10 AM

COPY OF EMAIL SENT 30/8/04 TO ORGANISERS OF 50TH SIDMOUTH FOLK FESTIVAL:



















Just a short note to say how much I enjoyed the Festival this year. Everyone seemed to pull out all the stops with it being the 50th and the uncertainty of the future gave everything a very special significance.

I also enjoyed seeing highlights on BBC4 TV 2 nights ago, in fact, I am going to ask them to show more as I know from talking to the TV crew, that they recorded a huge amount, probably at least 10 times the one hour that was actually screened! They also said that they are going to keep everything and that they do respond to viewers reactions, so please pass on the word so that we can see more. There has been precious little traditional music, singing, dancing, storytelling etc. on TV, so we all need to encourage them in order to eliminate the hoary old chestnut that it is a minority interest! If more people are made aware of the diversity of the folk scene, then it would be much more popular and should therefore earn a fairer representation within the media. I did not get involved in the folk "scene" until 1985 when I was 38 - a late developer, but I just could not believe what was "out there" to choose from, it must have been one of the world's best kept secrets and I think, to a certain extent, it still is!

I wish you and everybody concerned, including the new trust to be set up, the very best wishes for the future security of the Festival. It is very unique, the special atmosphere could not be re-created anywhere else, the way ALL family members have been very well looked after over the years and the way it is regarded by many people (including myself) as an ideal situation for meeting up with old friends on a regular basis is of special value and why I have been coming back for 16 years (even though I have been living in Ireland for the past 3 years and it therefore costs me a lot more time, effort and money to get to)! Also, the highlights of the Festival for me are the opportunities to meet the international dance groups, one just cannot put a high enough value on this, the goodwill created is absolutely tremendous and is sensed by all those who participate, I have never experienced this as much as I have at Sidmouth. Lose this and the world for me (and I am sure lots of other people) would be a much poorer place!

Hopefully, a lot of the infrastructure (including people), built up over the last 50 years will be retained as it could be virtually impossible to replace.

Please feel free, if you so wish, to pass on my comments to anyone who you might consider would appreciate them as I am sure most Festival attendees feel the same way as myself and as the MP's always reckon, for every one letter they get from a constituent regarding a particular topic, there's probably another 1,000 or more feeling the same way but who have not bothered to write! I'm not sure of the 1,000 figure, but you get my drift!

Once again, the very best wishes - LONG LIVE THE SIDMOUTH FOLK FESTIVAL!





Jim Martin

Subject: RE: 51st Sidmouth festival
From: GUEST,Jim Martin
Date: 13 Sep 04 - 07:28 AM

Just to add to previous comments:

Please see this copy of email sent to organisers of this years' Fest.

Subject: RE: 51st Sidmouth festival
From: GUEST,Steve in Sidmouth
Date: 11 Sep 04 - 08:00 AM

About time there was some proper discussion here...

The SeeRed website has been updated with more information on 2005/2006. The relevant pages run from folk40 through to folk44, so you can start here http://www.seered.co.uk/folk40.htm and work through or go to the most 'interesting' new page to start and go back via the top of section page.

http://www.seered.co.uk/folk44.htm discusses the confusion surrounding the several websites and persons involved in organising possibly conflicting events during 2005. East Devon District Council have also added links to their site and these are given - but read the cautionary notes first.

For persons new to this saga, start at http://www.seered.co.uk/folk38.htm and work through to page folk44.

Maybe we can look forward to some (polite) feedback?

Subject: RE: 51st Sidmouth festival
From: Merina
Date: 10 Sep 04 - 09:02 AM

S & F words? Sidmouth & Folk?

Subject: RE: 51st Sidmouth festival
From: GUEST,Dave of mawkin
Date: 10 Sep 04 - 07:21 AM

ahhhh.Thats better, im glad we sorted that out fiddler, I dont like argueing on the internet its like ringing up someone just to annoy them (and ive experienced that through girlfriends and its not nice), hmmm.....anyway, something about sidmouth?

Subject: RE: 51st Sidmouth festival
From: Cllr
Date: 10 Sep 04 - 05:32 AM

some politicians do care about Folk Music. Cllr (problem is, it is just a few)

Subject: RE: 51st Sidmouth festival
From: GUEST
Date: 10 Sep 04 - 04:06 AM

What has the last two posts got to do with Sidmouth festival!!!!!!!.

Subject: RE: 51st Sidmouth festival
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 09 Sep 04 - 08:25 PM

So why do you pick a name like that? There is a wealth of language in the vocabulary there for the using without resorting to what is generally regarded as profanity. That's not to say I've never used the S or F words myself!

Subject: RE: 51st Sidmouth festival
From: fiddler
Date: 09 Sep 04 - 03:43 PM

Grand * Dave of * * for once you make me Grin - Well done LOL even!!!!

Andy

Subject: RE: 51st Sidmouth festival
From: GUEST,*ck*ng Dave of P*ss*ng Mawkin
Date: 09 Sep 04 - 01:49 PM

I think what I was meaning to say, was sorry, I didnt mean to cause offence by my profanity and assure you that Iam not always that crass with my words.I just enjoy swearing sometimes?!

Subject: RE: 51st Sidmouth festival
From: GUEST,*ck*ng Dave of P*ss*ng Mawkin
Date: 09 Sep 04 - 08:23 AM

Hehehe!

Fiddler, I think you need to calm down its a free world and im entitled to say what I like.The only reason why I swore so much in the message is because I get frustrated by the way people tend to moan about something and never are willing to sort the problem themselves.Just because my post had swearing in it, doesnt make it less of a opinion, maybe I dont have the schooling, socio-economic background but Im still entitled to my opinion.

I do happen to know Jacki,Jon and Laurel very well, and appreciate the hardwork that they put into the folk scene, which is why they asked me to join the shooting roots team.

Thanks for my new name though, its got a certain ring to it...

Subject: RE: 51st Sidmouth festival
From: Folkiedave
Date: 08 Sep 04 - 07:21 PM

More power to Squeezy's elbows.

A perfect summation of it and I just wish a few politicians could see the effect that (some) music has on (some) people's lives. It happens to be the music I love.

Perhaps then they might encourage it with cash.

And to those younger people who wish to organise a festival - go out and do it......there are dozens of people who can give you as much expertise as you might ever wish to tap into without interfering with your own ideas. Ask them.

Dave

Subject: RE: 51st Sidmouth festival
From: GUEST,Jood
Date: 08 Sep 04 - 07:15 PM

Well I did know about the other festivals, and more. We have a large contingent here of ex-patriot British folkies. There are four Morris sides in the Vancouver area, three in Victoria, many in the US. We have a rapper side, an English clogging group, many traditional singers, and some of those people put on a Traditional English Christmas revue full of rapper, Molly dancing, Mumming play, and traditional village carols. Many of these people regularly visit the UK and go to various festivals, including Broadstairs and Whitby. But Sidmouth remains the festival par excellence. And for us, if you are going to spend a few thousand dollars on plane tickets and a weekend pass and accomodation and all your annual vacation, you go to the best. I would love to go to the other festivals, and I'm going to, as soon as I win the lottery.

I hear that some people think that losing Sidmouth won't be the end of the world, (It won't) That there are other festivals, other ways of encouraging young talent in the traditions of England. But why re-invent the wheel? You have it now, in the form that works, why let it die? It seems such a waste.

Anyway, cheers, from the colonies

Jood

Subject: RE: 51st Sidmouth festival
From: GUEST,Jood
Date: 08 Sep 04 - 06:55 PM

Subject: RE: 51st Sidmouth festival
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 08 Sep 04 - 06:36 PM

Squeezy is absolutely right. I was 17 when I went to my first Sidmouth festival, first heard Tony Rose, June Tabor, Pete Coe and Chris Richards, Yetties, Carthy Swarbrick, Valley Folk (including Steve Heap). First saw Morris dancers and was hooked on the folk scene in perpetuity, even before I discovered Heritage (and Squeezy's parents)in Oxford.

Kitty

Subject: RE: 51st Sidmouth festival
From: fiddler
Date: 08 Sep 04 - 04:59 PM

Well I'm an old fogie and I live in the middle bar and the FDH alot of the time! Taht lets me out of some of the suggestions above!

I'm sorry that F*ck*ng Dave of P*ss*ng Mawkin sees the need to use such sh*t* bad F*ck*ng language but also that Squeezy can sum it all up so succinctly and so well. I'm pretty certain a festival will be back - we all hear rumours - personally I may give it all a miss next year other than MBS reunion in February.

Fortunately shooting roots are branching out and soon will be sapling trees or bedding plants! *GRIN* Jackie Oates, John Brenner, Laurel Swift and heaps of others who's names I don't know but who always talk to me (and who don't see the need to use such bad language either) They do get off their backsides and are making lots of things happen. Nothing is going to stop as I see it other than Sidmouth as we know it which after 50 years is a legend lets not loose track of that lets all, young and old, bask in the memories of what we have had, what we have gained and look forward to how we can use that to its and our best advantage be it personal pleasure - performance - teaching or just stewarding and enjoying the craic!

It was Great and it may be again!

Andy

Subject: RE: 51st Sidmouth festival
From: vectis
Date: 08 Sep 04 - 04:51 PM

I was not saying that other festivals were better than Sidmouth. I was trying to point out that there ARE OTHER FESTIVALS that last a week. They have a different ethos to Sidmouth but they do exist. I try and do all three and enjoy doing different things with different people in the three towns.
Jood did not appear to know that the others even existed.
Sidmouth is certainly the major base for nurturing youth talent which desparately needs a new home during the summer holidays (so their parents and siblings can get them there and care for them while they enjoy themselves). To let it wither on the vine is a potential disaster.
Sidmouth also books the largest number of big, expensive acts and has the biggest social dance programme.
It will be a sad loss to the folk world but it will not mean the extinction of folk music in England as a few posts seem to imply.

Subject: RE: 51st Sidmouth festival
From: GUEST,Jood
Date: 08 Sep 04 - 04:41 PM

It's true,I haven't been to any other really big festivals in the UK, and I am glad that Broadstairs and Whitby are as inclusive and participatory because it means we'll have somewhere else to go if Sidmouth dies. But it won't be the same, and perhaps that's age speaking. Although I love the west coast here, and have been here for 38 years, I sometimes wish that I could spend just one year in the UK (my birthplace) and take in all these marvellous festivals that you lucky people seem to have every weekend, somewhere. Is anyone interested over there in getting secured gov't funding for Sidmouth? You all know your gov't much better than I do, and god knows the Canadian government wouldn't fork out a bent nickel for a folk festival, especially if it, god forbid, had any true Canadian content, let alone Canadian traditions (Yes, we have many) Is the Blair gov't the same when it comes to the arts and English heritage?

Please, some of you, get more positive. I've seen amazing things happen when enough people write letters, go to meetings, protest, come up with viable solutions. I'm sure that's happening about Sidmouth already, and more people are probably needed.

I just want to comment about the geography of Sidmouth. I agree that it is difficult to get from one event to another, and last time we went we came home with sore feet and hips due to all the unaccustomed pavement pounding we were doing. But I loved that we were in a town and not a farmer's field or an impersonal exhibition ground somewhere. It meant I didn't have to camp, I could eat at a nice restaurant if I got fed up with the food at the arena, I could go back to my B&B and listen to the Kate Rusby concert from the open window, or I could just wander along the prom or sit on the beach or go for a walk on the cliffs. For us, of course, being "furriners", this was all gravy. Perhaps others who are used to little Devon seaside resorts don't feel the same way. I like Sidmouth, and I was grateful that the townspeople allowed the festival to disrupt their lives for a week. I am sorry to hear that some of them resented us.

Subject: RE: 51st Sidmouth festival
From: GUEST,Henry
Date: 08 Sep 04 - 03:45 PM

"Stop letting other people do the hardwork, get off your arses and try to make folk music better in your area."

Absolutely!

Maybe somebody is doing that already. I've seen rumours (maybe it was on the eceilidh list) that there are plans afoot to start a new festival next year aimed at hanging on to the young crowd who go to the Dance House and LNE - ie a centred on English ceilidh & Shooting Roots type event, somewhere in the south, end of June when exams finish. That'll be good with no real Sidmouth next year, and still good even if the old one ever comes back. Anybody heard anything about this?

Subject: RE: 51st Sidmouth festival
From: GUEST,Dave of Mawkin
Date: 08 Sep 04 - 09:48 AM

I personally have never been to Sidmouth and therefore dont really feel like Ive lost anything, however as I'm a Shooting Roots tutor I understand the enormous amount of fun it was, its a real shame that Shooting Roots is going to lose its home, but I think this gives us young people the opportunity to express the dire situation that folk music opportunities are in, if young people have to travel fucking miles to a folk festival to meet fellow young folkies to jam with and go out with then something has to be done, we have to start getting rid of the shit stereotypes of folk music and make folk music more accessible to young people in our local communities.I hope that Folk Arts England sees this and discusses what to do....afterall, why do you think I help organise my local folk festival? because Im pissed off with the M25.

Stop letting other people do the hardwork, get off your arses and try to make folk music better in your area.

Subject: RE: 51st Sidmouth festival
From: GUEST
Date: 08 Sep 04 - 08:00 AM

I went to Sidmouth for the first time this year, and I totally agree that's it's welcoming and encouraging to the youth generation in a way that most other festivals fall short of.

However, I found the geographics of the town awkward and detrimental to seeing everything I wanted to - the distance you have to cover to move between events in different locations means that you miss a lot (and I'm a reasonbly fit 20 something).

I also went to Towersey for the first time this year. Shorter festival, I was a steward so theoretically should have had less free time - and I saw three times as much. The reason is simple - everything's within a few minutes' walk.

I'm not comparing the two festivals at all - as I've only been to both of them once it's not my place to pass judgement - but I couldn't help thinking that a few well placed farmer's fields would go a long way towards relocationg what was Sidmouth if that's what's needed. And would help out our agricultural industry financially - let's give the venue rental money to them rather than to a council who appears not to care about a major cultural event that has put their town of the map.

BFB xxx

Subject: RE: 51st Sidmouth festival
From: MBSLynne
Date: 08 Sep 04 - 07:08 AM

But Sidmouth will be there! And so will my kids...singing and hopefully playing as they have always done

Love Lynne

Subject: RE: 51st Sidmouth festival
From: JMo
Date: 08 Sep 04 - 03:57 AM

I agree with your last point - that it will take a while for the youth folk movement to find anywhere as welcoming, but I'm kind of glad that the change is being forced. Maybe the lack of places to go and suitable things to do will spur on some people to be new organisers etc and get a proper youth folk movement going.

While sidmouth was/(is?) very good for young people, it was always a little bit too "childminderish" to my mind, and the one thing that has never been nurtured is any initiative or drive to make events happen where they weren't happening before.

Maybe next summer they'll be a few more new festivals run by, and for, all the younger people that have a hole in their lives because Sidmouth isn't there. I really hope so.

Subject: RE: 51st Sidmouth festival
From: squeezyjohn
Date: 07 Sep 04 - 08:27 PM

I think I have now been to every major festival in the UK calendar, whether as punter, market trader or performer.

Nothing tops Sidmouth - sorry! While I appreciate the differences between festivals and I like nearly all of them for their strengths, I think that nothing compares to Sidmouth for my generation in terms of a place where we feel as included as the older generation do. There is nothing which compares to the Shooting Roots venture amongst other major festival organisers. Fortunately Mrs. Casey still run the Towersey Festival where SR can continue their great work. However I fear that the youth movement in the British folk scene will take some years to find a home as compelling as Sidmouth run by Mrs. Casey.

It's a great shame. I wouldn't take it on given the bureacracy of the local council in Sidmouth - and I reckon no good businessman would if they knew the crap they were up against. You can all try to keep it alive with your goodwill but I reckon it's going to die whatever. The majority of the residents in Sidmouth deserve it to die - when a great deal of the shops/businisses go under due to the demise of the festival as we know it - the town will become a ghost town with nothing more than a post office. Then they'll complain - and it will be too late!

The locals who oppose the festival will complain to the same E. Devon council when the town goes under. They will not be concerned for the loss of a major part of many young folkies lives which cannot be replaced by any other UK festival. I cry at the fact that I won't be back at Sidmouth for the festival as I know it.

But we'll be back somewhere - even thought this setback will set the youth English folk movement back a few years - we'll be back - somewhere. And I hope the town has tumbleweeds blowing through the empty businesses as the majority of the population has voted for - it's all they deserve.

It's not to do with who's the best festival! It's just that Sidmouth was more welcoming to the youth element than all the others - and it was always more vibrant for it. Any offers?

Cheers
Squeezy

Subject: RE: 51st Sidmouth festival
From: fiddler
Date: 07 Sep 04 - 07:03 PM

Please Pleased can we get ove the my festival is better than your syndrome - Sidmouth was 50 this year has a special place in thousands or more hearts that others will aspire to in time.....

All festivals have their good and bad points - I've worked for Sidmouth for more years than I care to mention in various capacities - I've been to Broadstairs and enjoyed it - never Whitby even though I was brought up on tesside - so am I missing something in my life - Yes Sidmouth - a world renowned fetival which the others aren't yet but may become in time!

Lets focus on the way forward - Jood should have helped us short sighted small minded Brits to focus on the problems and the way forward not start another petty discussion! NOt my fetival is better than yours!!

Look forward and see the way - follow the yellow brick road and see if there is a holy grail at the end of it Brian!

*GRIN* I should be more serious!!!

Andy

Subject: RE: 51st Sidmouth festival
From: vectis
Date: 07 Sep 04 - 03:58 PM

Jood obviously hasn't been to either of the week-long festivals which follow Sidmouth i.e. Broadstairs and then Whitby. Both are as good as, if not better than, Sidmouth for participation; especially Whitby.
Both festivals also have a wealth of performances by folk artists from around the globe but with the emphasis on British artists.
Sidmouth may be Mecca but the other two are Bethlehem and Nirvana.

Subject: RE: 51st Sidmouth festival
From: GUEST,Jood
Date: 06 Sep 04 - 07:45 PM

I'm writing from Vancouver, Canada and I've read this thread and the one before it. My husband and I are folk dancers, musicians and singers in the traditions of England. We have been to Sidmouth twice in the last ten years, and we would go every year if we could afford it. For many of us folkies over here, Sidmouth is like Mecca is to Muslims, or the Vatican to Catholics. Going there is like a personal musical pilgrimage, and requires as much sacrifice, especially if you're not wealthy. I am horrified that the British government isn't funding this National Treasure that is Sidmouth. There is no other festival like it. All the others are performance festivals. At Sidmouth, you share and learn and participate. And the focus on youth has been brilliant. Every time we have gone to Sidmouth, we have returned home with armfuls of new tunes, dances, songs, contacts, CD's, information, skills, and a renewed enthusiasm that lasts for years. The British government under the auspices of the Dept of Culture, Media and Sport, needs to be nurturing this unique festival, and guaranteeing it's continuing existence. I know that there are lots of arguments against getting government funding, but I think you could consider it. My cousin is spearheading a letter-writing campaign to Tessa Jowell, and I am using the net to alert the folkies over here, who don't already know, that Sidmouth is in peril, and asking them to write to Ms Jowell and to the other political bodies involved. Please know, all of you, that although we are too far away to help on a practical level, Sidmouth is very important to us in the wilds of the colonies, and we want it to continue. In fact, we can't imagine it not being there. When I told a young folkie friend of mine that it was threatened, he said he was very disheartened, as he had always planned to go there one day. See what I mean? If anyone has any other ideas how we over here can help, please let me know, I will follow this thread discussion avidly.

Jooood

Subject: RE: 51st Sidmouth festival
From: GUEST,Stuart
Date: 27 Aug 04 - 05:49 PM

One thing I forgot to mention.
We have offered our website to Bill Lankaster as a way of conveying the message to everyone in the folk fraternity re Sidmouth Fringe 05 and this has been accepted. Sidmouth will pull together to make it happen. Goto
www.sidmouthfestival.org.uk

Subject: RE: 51st Sidmouth festival
From: GUEST,Stuart
Date: 27 Aug 04 - 05:43 PM

Lets set the record straight regarding Sidmouth 2005 and beyond.
As Chairman of Caribbean Night I earn nothing from the event, it is purely run as a way of raising funding to stage the town's two carnival processions.
Derek should get all his facts right.
The Caribbean Night has run for 22 years and is a well established event. We as a small committee have worked in partnership with Steve Heap paying for ALL the equipment that we require to run the event. This also has helped the Festival organisers as we pay a considerable amount towards transporting the equipment brought in for the festival away from the Arena.
This year we also made a four figured contribution towards the provision of the portable roadway through the arena and sponsored the Yetties. WE ARE COMMITTED TO SEEING A FESTIVAL CONTINUE IN SIDMOUTH and are indeed working towards this goal.
We have put our money where our mouths are and have put in a submission to East Devon District Council for the use of the Arena in 2005 to stage a series of Folk concerts including hopefully Show Of Hands, Kieran Halpin (who last appeared in Sidmouth in the late 80's) The Strawbs who have local connections. The Battlefield Band to name just a few of the artistes.
The Caribbean Night would take place on the Saturday following the Festival.
Any profit made will go towards the carnivals,local organisations that help at the Arena during the week and towards staging the 2006 event.
This hopefully has put the record straight.

Stuart Hughes

Subject: RE: 51st Sidmouth festival
From: GUEST
Date: 27 Aug 04 - 05:24 PM

Subject: RE: 51st Sidmouth festival
From: GUEST,Another Festival Organiser
Date: 25 Aug 04 - 11:01 PM

As someone who organises festivals elsewhere in the UK and has often attended the Sidmouth Festival, I've read all the threads above with interest.

I very much hope the Festival continues in 2005 as experience elsewhere in the UK suggests that if there is a 'gap' year then it can often prove fatal - sponsors, helpers, suppliers, traders and audiences all discover attractions elsewhere and never return in such great numbers again.

That said, I would echo the comment from Steve Harris:

"Could anyone make it work as well or better than Steve Heap and his experienced team?"

No other experienced Festival organiser that I know of will touch it. We all believe that if Steve Heap can't make it work, nobody can.

To those who think otherwise, I wish you well but I fear from reading the threads above that many simply have no idea just how great the costs of staging even a reduced-size Sidmouth will be... how much time it will take to organise... or how stringent the rules relating to Health & Safety, Insurance and Licensing now are.

Any event will require a Public Entertainment Licence and, before granting the Licence, the Council will require at least £10 million Public Liability Insurance, full Risk Assessments for all venues (and campsites), the appointment of qualified Safety Officers, a Noise Management Plan, Event Management Plan, proven knowledge of the Event Safety Guide etc. etc. etc.

The days when you could just turn-up and dance on the Prom are long gone.

Even if someone can provide all the above there is still the little matter of needing sufficient funding to cover all costs, including a 'reserve' of around £250,000 in case of bad weather, the very issue that has forced Steve Heap to withdraw in the first place.

I hope the Festival survives for it is far too good to lose, but I hope anyone thinking of organising it knows just what they are taking on.

Subject: RE: 51st Sidmouth festival
From: GUEST,Scumalash a celtic band from Canada
Date: 23 Aug 04 - 08:26 PM

We had a great tme at the Sidmouth festival...we were treated very well. The town and festival grounds were kept so clean. The esplanade was busy with happy people. We will never forget our experience. Our music was much appreciated.. Well done, Sidmouth,especially Alan Bearman and all the other people who made this festival so successful. Hopefully the festival will not die at this stage....carry on!

Subject: RE: 51st Sidmouth festival
From: fiddler
Date: 16 Aug 04 - 03:53 PM

So there is a venue - there are acts that folk (sorry about the pun) want to see there is a 200K profit = Mrs Casey then MUST have been getting it wrong!!!

Is this profit after all the stewards have been paid, the health and safety and fire precautions attended too - oops forgot temporary electrics and insurance - possibly a bar licence and staff to run it plus advertising to ensure there is a full house every night - where will all these people stay?

Oh yes and will it fall under the Pop festival and similar gatherings Act which dictates many more aspects that need to be attended too beyond those listed above - Disaster planning, first aid cover - the list is endless -

However I am sure you all know exactly what is involved.

There is a publicly declared no festival in 2005 by the council and a consortium examining a plan from there forwards. Perhaps it is not I'd need to be convinced by the proposal of a tent in Blackmore Gardens!

Subject: RE: 51st Sidmouth festival
From: steve_harris
Date: 16 Aug 04 - 01:28 PM


Problem is, could anyone make it work as well or better than Steve Heap and his experienced team? >

I teally think you have to look wider than that. One of the problems is that the festival was offering less and less to the ordinaty people of Sidmouth and the traders. A friend of mine talked to people in the town last week and they were extremely relieved that the festival was over. Many of the usual shop customers keep out of Sidmouth during folk week. The pleas to join the patrons scheme were extremely badly received.

There is no way that EDDC are going to sign a cheque and retire to a comfy chair.

Those who want to see the festival proseper need to give serious attention to how to make the whole proposition more attractive to the town. No, buying the occasional pint at a town pub isn't enough!

And why not send morris sides and other entertainers round to every rest home as I believe happened years ago? Those people hove votes!

Subject: RE: 51st Sidmouth festival
From: GUEST,Steve in Sidmouth
Date: 16 Aug 04 - 09:44 AM

Fiddler asked : This site (SeeRed) seems too good to be true and if so, how come he did not inform us all of what was going on a lot earlier?

Reply: The first public announcement was the press release of May 2004 from Mrs Casey Music. Councillors knew what was likely to happen back in February 2004, because Steve Heap had told them then. The Peter Mason report was commissioned even earlier (if you believe some dates), as early as Autumn 2003.

Until May 2004 and the subsequent Town Meeting in June there was no perceived reason to extend my website to cover the 'folk festival' issue. When the need did arise this was done and the first 20 or so pages were loaded within a few days. It will be kept up to date usually with a delay of only a few days. It already contains a full range of views about the festival and will continue to do so.

The SeeRed site is about far more than the Festival - the latest addition is an article on recycling I wrote for a local environmental charity. Comments welcome. You will find the link on the index page or try this http://www.seered.co.uk/recycling.htm


There is concern that the festival image should not be sullied by whatever happens in 2005. The potential income from a week of concerts in the Arena (which I think is a not a particularly good idea for reasons already stated) is around £250,000. Any net profits (maybe as high as £200,000 if the venue is made available by EDDC for free and if the weather stays fine all week?) should be invested for the good of future folk festivals and all monies taken etc should be totally under the independent control of people not connected with any particular councillor or other individual. If such an 'arena centred' event had been held this week it would have been a wash-out.

A few more pages have been added to the folk section of SeeRed - nothing very exciting but starting here ...http://www.seered.co.uk/folk36.htm

I said some time ago the dust needed to settle now. My own view is in the long term it should be folk people who run the festival not EDDC. EDDC should simply give some money (or free venues) and watch it happen.

Problem is, could anyone make it work as well or better than Steve Heap and his experienced team?

Subject: RE: 51st Sidmouth festival
From: fiddler
Date: 15 Aug 04 - 06:46 PM

Taking things a littel sceptically, slowly and taking a step back form the front line - I would reccomend we all sit back and examine the fact that Steve from Sidmouth on his seered site seems to be the worlds leading expert on absolutely everything - as the web site shows - makes the young Tony Benn look like a a loud mouthed Red Tory rather than a what he was!

That being said - he does seem to keep his web site fairly current BUT can he / will he guarantee us he will publish both for and against views - rather than only those which serve his particular angle, which appears to be criticism of the Local Council at all oportunities - which could make him a very inefective local ally?

I am being very circumspect here and not intending to 'throw muck' around Steve = This site seems to good to bew true and if so how come he did not inform us all of what was going on a lot earlier.....

I think you all know I am on old sceptic - thats all....

Subject: RE: 51st Sidmouth festival
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 14 Aug 04 - 08:08 PM

"...say a marquee on Church House Lawn for dancing and kids stuff"

If there's only one marquee I think the place that should be would be in the Blackmore Gardens, which is a lot safer for kids, and has room for outside stuff as well. I think having a safe kids scheme is an important element in allowing lots of other things to happen, such as sessions.