Sparkling Sidmouth!! :0)

Subject: RE: Sparkling Sidmouth!! :0)
From: MBSLynne
Date: 18 Aug 06 - 01:19 PM

Hmmm...time to leave this thread. Now that Countess R has joined it it will become increasingly unpleasant, vitriolic and downright nasty. No more constructive comment will be possible.

Subject: RE: Sparkling Sidmouth!! :0)
From: The Borchester Echo
Date: 18 Aug 06 - 01:06 PM

I'm not a bloke. See Child #68.

The family a safe and secure unit? Ever listened to Lucy Wan, Fair Annie, Prince Heathen, Two Sisters, The Brown Girl . . . and innumerable other tales of incest, rape, murder and any other form of repression and abuse you can imagine so prevalent in 'families' through the ages.

Are you related to 'lizziecornish'? She has highly distorted and unrealistic views on this subject too.

Subject: RE: Sparkling Sidmouth!! :0)
From: GUEST,Let's hear it for the family!
Date: 18 Aug 06 - 12:56 PM

Hello there

I loved every minute of Sidmouth as did my family and friends. I agree totally with the poster above about the folk world having much to offer society in general, with its caring and supportive outlook.

I also agree that political songs are important.

I totally disagree with the obnoxious comments about families from that 'richard' bloke who obviously doesn't know his ARSS from his elbow when it comes to knowing what's important in life. Obviously he must have come from a very unhappy family or had some terrible experience to sound so bitter.

Many of the problems in this country might not be there if the family unit was supported and respected. Children need families, but of course, families are strong units, and far more difficult for the ones who want to control the populatin to infiltrate.

Sidmouth is very much about families and long may it continue. A lovely festival all round.

Subject: RE: Sparkling Sidmouth!! :0)
From: GUEST,soc worker
Date: 18 Aug 06 - 12:49 PM

can I just put up my hand and say that i am the person who was selling socialist worker before the chumbawumba concert...the band were wonderful...one of the best I have seen at Sidmouth in my 12 years of attending.
You can't keep politics out of music ...if we did there would be no songs by Ewan McColl , no early Bob Dylan ,no Pete Seeger and no Paul Robeson.Without the politics of life the guts would be torn out of our music!
I also spent a lot of time in the theatre bar where the singing and the atmosphere was fantastic....and I managed a song myself ,the first time I have ever sung at Sidmouth.
Great week!!
soc worker

Subject: RE: Sparkling Sidmouth!! :0)
From: The Borchester Echo
Date: 18 Aug 06 - 12:49 PM

No, I didn't mention party politics, Giok did. I didn't mention the Socialist Worker first, somebody else did (though they seemed to think it was a person not a newspaper). Mike, of course you can join in since you are the only reasonable and sensible member of the AHEM party I've ever come across . . .

Subject: RE: Sparkling Sidmouth!! :0)
From: GUEST,Ed from Essex
Date: 18 Aug 06 - 12:36 PM

Back to the music!

I only got to Sidmouth for the last three days as I spent the first weekend at the Wickham Festival in Hampshire (and what a wonderful Festival that was - Seth Lakeman, Shooglenifty, Spiers & Boden, Richard Thompson, Oysterband, Steeleye Span and so many more, all in a very safe and friendly setting, maybe more relaxed than Sidmouth where the late-night lager louts in the town centre can be intimidating).

Sidmouth has obviously changed from the Mrs. Casey days. Personally I miss the International Arena shows but the sessions scene seems to be thriving - The Bedford seemed even more packed than usual (if that's possible!) and some of the Ham concerts were very good indeed.

A few old regulars seemed to be missing from Sidmouth this year (I ran into some familiar faces at Wickham) but many others were in their usual places (Hello John B!) and I found the atmosphere in the bars and on the Prom to be as good as ever, in fact, I think many of the sessions are better now than they were in days gone by.

I'll always have a soft spot for Sidmouth - I've been attending for over 20 years - and while I fully intend to return to Wickham over the first weekend of August next year I'll probably then head straight along the coast to Sidmouth - it's only a couple of hours drive between the two and I'd rather enjoy two excellent Festivals instead of just one.

Congratulations to everyone involved in keeping Sidmouth going.

You've done a great job.

Ed

Subject: RE: Sparkling Sidmouth!! :0)
From: Dave Earl
Date: 18 Aug 06 - 12:30 PM

No Mike we dont need any more verbosity!!!

Dave

But we can't stop you can we?

Subject: RE: Sparkling Sidmouth!! :0)
From: Cllr
Date: 18 Aug 06 - 12:28 PM

*raises hand* ooh ohh politics can I join in, can I pleeease oohh.

*Sigh* Cllr

Subject: RE: Sparkling Sidmouth!! :0)
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 18 Aug 06 - 12:22 PM

Subject: RE: Sparkling Sidmouth!! :0)
From: countess richard - PM
Date: 18 Aug 06 - 04:30 AM

what the world of folk should be about - continuity and family

Yeuk.

Some actual reading of the Socialist Worker (and Friedrich Engels) and listening to what Roy Bailey actually has to say wouldn't go amiss here. Followed by agitation for political, economic, social and personal change to dispel such vile, reactionary Thatcherite complacency. Preferably not accompanied by wishy-washy, wannabe-mainstream pop though possibly with bells on.

Subject: RE: Sparkling Sidmouth!! :0)
From: The Borchester Echo
Date: 18 Aug 06 - 11:14 AM

So why did you mention 'party' politics? Nobody else did.

Subject: RE: Sparkling Sidmouth!! :0)
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 18 Aug 06 - 11:03 AM

Well CR that's only if you define politics in the broadest possible terms, and the upshot of going down that road is that even a fart could be deemed as a political act.
I mean of course Party Politics, which is why I mentioned political parties.
Where the poltics of farting leaves Spaw I can't imagine, but no doubt we shall find out in the fullness of time.
Giok

Subject: RE: Sparkling Sidmouth!! :0)
From: fiddler
Date: 18 Aug 06 - 10:43 AM

Sorry

http://www.devon-cornwall.police.uk/v3/news/latest/pressrelease.cfm?id=605

Subject: RE: Sparkling Sidmouth!! :0)
From: The Borchester Echo
Date: 18 Aug 06 - 10:43 AM

keep politics out of folk

That's as nonsensical as trying to argue that the personal isn't political.

My objection was to the unacceptable and preposterous tenet that people should go to festivals to wallow in a blinkered cocoon of laissez-faire complacency. Trad music chronicles the economic power struggles of the workplace as well as those pertaining to all social relationships, including the family. If exposure to the stories of those who have gone before fail to inspire you not necessarily how to place your vote (though it may have an influence) but to live your own life more humanely and strive for equality, I'd say you were missing the point entirely.

Subject: RE: Sparkling Sidmouth!! :0)
From: fiddler
Date: 18 Aug 06 - 10:42 AM

In the midst of all this Doom Gloom and Despondency, whilst no one can be complacent about any aspect of the festival you may like to read this: -

< href="http://www.devon-cornwall.police.uk/v3/news/latest/pressrelease.cfm?id=605 ">http://www.devon-cornwall.police.uk/v3/news/latest/pressrelease.cfm?id=605

Sorry if it means or looks like bowing before the autocratic authorities who run this country - or was it the democratically elected government - or really just getting on with it and trying to do a good job!

Andy

Subject: RE: Sparkling Sidmouth!! :0)
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 18 Aug 06 - 10:08 AM

I certainly disapprove of politics and folk as a mixture.
I don't want to know how you vote, or to be lectured on how I should vote, when I go to a musical performance. That's OK for Red Wedge, but it has a self selecting audience, and it carries a label saying what it is. No sneaking in under the wire for them, Roy Bailey likewise, that's why I will never go to a Roy Bailey performance, the agenda is not solely musical.
While most folkies are apparently left wing politically, we also have Tories, and Scottish Nationalists among our ranks, I've even heard a rumour that there is at least one LibDem voter! So let's keep politics out of folk.
Giok

Subject: RE: Sparkling Sidmouth!! :0)
From: Dave Earl
Date: 18 Aug 06 - 09:56 AM

Well John if thats where you spent your festival (as did I) then we are probably on the same wavelength.

Dave

Subject: RE: Sparkling Sidmouth!! :0)
From: John J
Date: 18 Aug 06 - 06:54 AM

Laughing, drinking and singing just about sums it up for me.

John

Subject: RE: Sparkling Sidmouth!! :0)
From: Dave Earl
Date: 18 Aug 06 - 06:10 AM

"Could it be that some of you are seeking to dumb it down"

Not in my case. What I want is week of the sort of Folkie stuf that I enjoy. I hope that is what other people want too.

Subject: RE: Sparkling Sidmouth!! :0)
From: The Borchester Echo
Date: 18 Aug 06 - 05:57 AM

just so many Buzz Words

As are 'continuity' and 'family'. But not so 'Buzzy'.
Though it appears to be what someone imagines the newfangled 'folkweek/festival' should be about.
Could it be that some of you are seeking to dumb it down into a nuclear-family-friendly, holiday-camp-stylee jolly singalong with reality firmly excluded?

Subject: RE: Sparkling Sidmouth!! :0)
From: GUEST
Date: 18 Aug 06 - 05:37 AM

"Followed by agitation for political, economic, social and personal change to dispel such vile, reactionary Thatcherite complacency. Preferably not accompanied by wishy-washy, wannabe-mainstream pop though possibly with bells on."

All that is just so many Buzz Words.

We'm discussing a festival not your political point of view (to which you are entitled).

To sum up my thoughts on Folk Week 2006 I would say that not everything went as well as it could but you have to bear in mind that we are still in the early days under the current organisers.

Derek Schofield said in one of the Festival Newsletters that "The Festival didn't come with an Instruction Manual" - They are still very much on a learning curve and I wouldn't be surprised if there were changes made for next years fesival.

Dave

Subject: RE: Sparkling Sidmouth!! :0)
From: Mr Red
Date: 18 Aug 06 - 05:26 AM

Ooooooooooooooooooooooer

Politics and the plight of the common man has ever been a strong thread holding the world of FOLK together - but so has Drinking, Bonking and Family Loyalties. And humour. Lighten up some of you.

We are not dogmatic narrow minded people - that is what I love about Folk - it tolerates even a shy modest poser in Red

I was told to find a camp site with shower queues less than 5 minutes and what I got in return was no seagulls and quiet. And a journey time quicker than the bus.

Subject: RE: Sparkling Sidmouth!! :0)
From: The Borchester Echo
Date: 18 Aug 06 - 04:30 AM

what the world of folk should be about - continuity and family

Yeuk.

Some actual reading of the Socialist Worker (and Friedrich Engels) and listening to what Roy Bailey actually has to say wouldn't go amiss here. Followed by agitation for political, economic, social and personal change to dispel such vile, reactionary Thatcherite complacency. Preferably not accompanied by wishy-washy, wannabe-mainstream pop though possibly with bells on.

Subject: RE: Sparkling Sidmouth!! :0)
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 18 Aug 06 - 03:03 AM

Thanks to those who enjoyed the Theatre Bar singarounds - please tell the management, so we have a better chance of being able to continue next year!

Kitty

Subject: RE: Sparkling Sidmouth!! :0)
From: Chris Cole
Date: 17 Aug 06 - 06:51 PM

Ohhh stop moaning.
Let's have some positives.
Seth.... what a gem of a concert and an opportunity to test the heavy handed stewarding. Didn't Oliver Cromwell try to ban dancing? How unnatural to remain seated through that performance. Go Seth go and bring some people into our world.
Roy Bailey and Chumbawamba.. great to see the Socialist Worker selling his wares and then taking his seat. Roy was just so happy to be there, I thought he would kiss John and Martin. The beautiful simplicity of Chumbawamba..no analysing there.. but a lasting memory of OS maps as porn!!!
Those fireworks... what a spectacle and fitting end to the week. That "fan" just before the end.. stunning. Loved the people who had set up a table on the road outside the Bedford to watch the parade. How civilised.
The lovely atmosphere in the Blackmore Gardens.. the chap singing "There was an old lady who swallowed a fly".. the kids were enraptured. That is what the world of folk should be about - continuity and family. Thanks to Phillipa for all her hard work for the children's festival - NOONE ever mentions the hard work done there, invlolving the kids...and why no Chipolatas for the last couple of years...join in now.. ONE BALL ON THE FLOOR, ONE BALL ON THE FLOOR...

Norma and Mike Waterson's session in the Bedford..what an opportunity to gain an insight into their early days.

The "tea time" slots in the war memorial club.. for all who were not there, you missed some gems.

Strolling along the prom and enjoying the stalls... do you make the effort to talk to none folkies visiting the town for the day who are amazed how safe the environment felt? How their perception of folk had changed from their experience that day? Can't see how that would happen at Cambridge.

Taking a stroll along the Byes on the first Friday (what a beautiful aspect of Sidmouth) and seeing the people who had set deckchairs in the ford, were playing tunes and having a BBQ...what a way to start the week.

Great food at Chez Nous.. thanks...lovely crab sandwiches from the fish place... Georgies pies as good as ever, although they had obviously not understood the previous owner when he told them they would be quite busy folk week - they quickly learnt when their shelves were full on Sunday and the sign said open till midnight. A fantastic lunch at The Secret Garden and great mussels at both Dukes and Clovelly House. (The food options have definitely improved in the last 12 months).

And the lemonade... I'd kill for that recipe!!

Great Western Morris on Thursday evening.. so many good dancers when so many sides struggle to make the numbers. Which links me to the great bar staff at the lastminuuteceilidhs..thanks folks.

How often do you see a miserable ceilidh dancer? Some people just spend the whole week dancing, never missing a dance and never stopping smiling. What energy and what an array of footwear chosen specifically for dancing.


Can't wait for next year..

Subject: RE: Sparkling Sidmouth!! :0)
From: GUEST,HUGO
Date: 17 Aug 06 - 06:38 PM

Yeah, the Theatre Bar singing was great and well done to all who participated
hugo

Subject: RE: Sparkling Sidmouth!! :0)
From: mikefromdorch
Date: 17 Aug 06 - 06:22 PM

I don't know about Rosie's singarounds as I didn't go to them, but if we are praising her, let's also put on record how well organised,fair and thoroughly enjoyable Kitty and Tim's sessions in the Theatre Bar were,too. Their ability to remember people's names was pretty impressive, too.
MuddleC - I had the same problem with the Gregorian Chant workshop and didn't go back after the first day, but in fairness it must be very difficult to predict how many copies of the music will be needed.

Subject: RE: Sparkling Sidmouth!! :0)
From: GUEST,Dan ABN
Date: 17 Aug 06 - 02:43 PM

>"a very fair, even handed critique on his website"

>" The campsite was full of drunken morons who had no regard for those us trying to sleep."

I love the combination of those two phrases. Thanks for the laugh Chucky.

On a more serious note, Steve's website is full of inaccuracies and associated knee-jerk conclusions. The sound levels across the whole site are going down, not up (more health and safety legislation and licensing conditions at work). The Anchor security were employed directly by the Anchor themselves not the festival, and their presence (the presence of SIA trained security) is a legal requirement now.

The management at the festival did a good job, and will do a better job again next year. It was my 24th festival (I'm 25 years old) and it was good to be back.

Subject: RE: Sparkling Sidmouth!! :0)
From: MBSLynne
Date: 17 Aug 06 - 02:07 PM

We WERE advising people about the quieter, noisier and very noisy bits of the campsite, certainly up until I finished manning the gate on Friday afternoon. It's always been one of the things we've told campers. I agree with Colin that going to sleep to the sound of live music and conversation is really rather nice, and i don't think telling people to be quiet when they are having a good session is part of the folk festival ethos. I do think the people who were shouting, screaming and 'whooping'...making gratuitous noise apparently for the sake of it should have been asked, politely to keep it down.

Love Lynne

Subject: RE: Sparkling Sidmouth!! :0)
From: John J
Date: 17 Aug 06 - 11:05 AM

In my opinion: Steve is a scientist and as such is more likely than most to report accurately from his observations.

I enjoyed Sidmouth hugely, I couldn't afford season tickets so spent most of my time at fringe events (mainly singing in the Middle Bar in excellent company) apart from buying tickets for a couple of very good concerts.

There is little doubt that the festival is different to what it was 10 years ago when I last went, but that was it, it was different.

I will certainly be back next year both for the Middle Bar Re-union and the festival itself.

John

Subject: RE: Sparkling Sidmouth!! :0)
From: Ruth Archer
Date: 17 Aug 06 - 10:14 AM

I too conversed very happily with lots of people in the LNEs.

I loved Sidmouth. I'd been put off going for years because of reports of crowds, queues etc. I can't comment on Old Sidmouth, but several people I know who are old hands have said how enjoyable last year and this have been, even in comparison to Sidmouth Mk I.

I went to 5 folk festivals this summer of varying size and profile; Sidmouth was the best of the lot.

Subject: RE: Sparkling Sidmouth!! :0)
From: AlexB
Date: 17 Aug 06 - 09:09 AM

I think Steve and Chucky are just old codgers.

As far as "even handed" is concerned, I feel Steve's critique can be pretty much summed up as "I want Steve Heap's Sidmouth back, I'm not going to give the new management much chance to find their feet". Either that or he is going for the tough love method "this was utter shite, do better or fail".

On discussion of ceilidhs. I went to the LNE almost every night. I did not dance (no one would dance with me) I did manage to converse perfectly happily with my friends, for the most part without raised voices. "For the people who sat out some or all of ceilidh dances, conversation was virtually impossible." is therefore innaccurate. Consider this a constructive criticism of your critique Steve.

Subject: RE: Sparkling Sidmouth!! :0)
From: melodeonboy
Date: 17 Aug 06 - 08:25 AM

On the subject of people not being given a chance to sing at singarounds/sessions (I'm never sure what to call them!), I think praise is due to Rosie (that is her name, isn't it?), who ran the sessions at the York and Faulkner. She was very organised and scrupulously fair. Add to that a wide variety of music, an attentive audience, excellent beer and a view of moonlight shining on the sea (ooh, what an old romantic I am!) and you can see why I made a point of spending a couple of hours there every evening that I was there.

Subject: RE: Sparkling Sidmouth!! :0)
From: Cat in Plymouth
Date: 17 Aug 06 - 07:39 AM

i was very near the group of "rock-music-loving youths" (i quite liked their 'gnome-on-garden-arch' artwork) in field one... i have to say that I had no problems with excess noise whatsoever and we were turning in at around 1am and i didn't get woken at all the entire time we were there.

i do feel for those who did suffer, having experienced a problem or two at cambridge (strangely not with other campers but with the orange t-shirted stewards/security types) but i felt i should air my opinions, I loved camping at Bulverton - I will definitely be back next year!

Cat
x

Subject: RE: Sparkling Sidmouth!! :0)
From: Mr Red
Date: 17 Aug 06 - 07:31 AM

Well I wrote and thanked John Golightly before the festival was over.

We camped 7 miles out and it was superb, quiet & only the narrow lane was in any way difficult - but that was why it was quiet. AND NO SEAGULLS either.

Subject: RE: Sparkling Sidmouth!! :0)
From: chucky
Date: 17 Aug 06 - 07:29 AM

Steve in Sidmouth is running a very fair, even handed critique on his website. Too bad if you cannot handle any critism of this years event. The campsite was full of drunken morons who had no regard for those us trying to sleep. Having been to Sidmouth five years running, this is my last.

Subject: RE: Sparkling Sidmouth!! :0)
From: Ruth Archer
Date: 17 Aug 06 - 07:18 AM

folkiedave said:

"Many years ago in the mid-sixties at Sidmouth, the "Sheffield Contingent " were particularly noisy,"


Plus ca change... ;-)

Being new to Sidmouth and its campsite, I blithely pitched my tent about as close as it was possible to be to the late-night revelry. Realising this at about 2am after that night's LNE, I quickly acknowledged to myself that it was most unlikely I'd get much sleep, and instead fetched out the bottle of sloe gin that was gently maturing in my tent, and joined them.

I hasten to add that there were some killer sessions taking place in that little marquee, at times comprising some of the most exciting young musicians this country currently boasts. There were also some great singarounds. I felt priveleged to be in such fine company. There were avcouple of groups of noisy tossers who were not remotely interested in the music, I grant you, but the majority of those present were young folkies.

The security was, for the most part, gentle and understated, and as a result people stopped playing at the requested time. Though most nights they stayed up chatting and I did watch the sun come up a few times.

While i understand that it's not the most conducive atmosphere to a good night's sleep, it was, for me, a highlight of the festival. Perhaps the "noisy" pitches should be somehow marked as such. or people advised as they're arriving where the quieter parts of the site are. Me, I'll be trying for the exact same pitch next year...

Subject: RE: Sparkling Sidmouth!! :0)
From: fiddler
Date: 17 Aug 06 - 05:12 AM

To reiterate,

Constructive comment sent directly to me I shall take on board and will be passed on to the festival organisers.

As Lynne said this is a new festival, year one of new management!

A steep learning curve, damm hard work and enjoyable, we can't get it right unless we receive constructive criticism, which includes what we got right as well as wrong - otherwise we may inadvertently change that too!

Any comments that come to me directly (I have a number from the festival and now some after) will be incorporated in my report to the festival and whilst they may not be incorporated in to next year will have been fully considered.

Andy

Subject: RE: Sparkling Sidmouth!! :0)
From: Cllr
Date: 16 Aug 06 - 05:22 PM

no need to shout 8-(
Cllr
PS HI skiptomylou, yes i remember you *-) glad you enjoyed the festival

Subject: RE: Sparkling Sidmouth!! :0)
From: Steve in Sidmouth
Date: 16 Aug 06 - 05:05 PM

Reply as sent by email to 'fiddler' regarding webpage constructive discussion!

I do not say workshops were held at the Ham. The first para relates to an incident at Bulverton but it is mentioned in the Ham section because of the emphasis there on H&S. I may reorder it later - I do say at the top that the whole page is a draft.

If you have any sensible comments about matters that you feel are addressed incorrectly or inadequately I shall be pleased to consider these alongside many others observations.

I seem to recall from last year that you have a management role at the campsite? Regards.

Subject: RE: Sparkling Sidmouth!! :0)
From: GUEST,folkiedave (cookieless)
Date: 16 Aug 06 - 03:32 PM

Many years ago in the mid-sixties at Sidmouth, the "Sheffield Contingent " were particularly noisy, especially a certain Mr. Gerry Bates.

Bill Rutter was called at 3.00 am in his pyjamas and asked for the fire to be put out and the noise to be kept down.

And as an aside to the aforementioned Gerry Bates said "Don't worry Gerry, we'll move them in the morning". "Them" being the complainants of course.

Subject: RE: Sparkling Sidmouth!! :0)
From: the lemonade lady
Date: 16 Aug 06 - 01:47 PM

my tent was pitched on the Wed previous to the fest and i really didn't know that i'd be in a noisy part then. I had no time or energy to move it when I found out about the noise. Most definately next year I shall be 5 miles away.

Agree about the blasted dogs. Why oh why do people take them to fests when they can't get them into venues anyway?

Thanks for the compliments about my drink. Good to meet you.

x sal

Subject: RE: Sparkling Sidmouth!! :0)
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 16 Aug 06 - 01:20 PM

Very few of the venues were disabled accessible, by which I mostly mean wheelchairs. Even the disabled toilet in the public toilet complex in the centre of town was locked. The whole town seems to be wheelchair unfriendly really.
Giok

Subject: RE: Sparkling Sidmouth!! :0)
From: MBSLynne
Date: 16 Aug 06 - 12:46 PM

I do hope that people who have CONSTRUCTIVE criticism to offer will write to the festival organisers directly. They are on a learning curve...this is a new Sidmouth, not the same old festival and if they don't know that something is wrong or doesn't work they can't put it right. I expect they'd also like to hear what WAS right too...

Love Lynne

Subject: RE: Sparkling Sidmouth!! :0)
From: Mr Red
Date: 16 Aug 06 - 12:44 PM

well there are a Heap of reasons I have not been till this year.

I enjoyed it as much as I expected and more. Joy was wanting to forego a workaholic ethic and stay longer than 2 days - only aged parents and a wobbly dog disauded her from extending by half a day.

Believe me - it takes a really good event to do that! As long as the organisers are comfortable with the way things went then they have my support -

It is the first year I have advertised it on my website.
(someting to do with entertainment visa vis Folk - I am a folkie, that's why)

Subject: RE: Sparkling Sidmouth!! :0)
From: fiddler
Date: 16 Aug 06 - 08:10 AM

Hi guys Just checked Steve in sidmouth web pages and emailed him this!

**********************************************

Just checked it and the Ham page is singularly inaccurate especially as no workshops were held there this year!

Other inaccuracies I can't be bothered with, if you can't get your fact right then the whole premise of your site becomes debateable rather than the issues it attempts to address!

**********************************************

Some of the comments are correct and are being addressed or were addressed during the week!

I am not open to discussion but am open to constructive feedback from anyone who went to the Ham this year.

Andy

Subject: RE: Sparkling Sidmouth!! :0)
From: GUEST,Dazbo
Date: 16 Aug 06 - 05:15 AM

I enjoyed it, but not as much as two years ago. There was some late night noise in the part of the campsite where I camped but I always use earplugs when camping so it doesn't usually disturb me.

It's the second time I've seen the Peatbog Fairies and to be honest (and sounding like my father) it all sounded the same after a few minutes. I'm sure the each time the piper played a solo it was the same bit of music as the previous solo.

I really enjoyed Spiers and Boden, Van Eyken, Faustus, Crucible and Andy Cutting, Rob Harbron, Becky Price and Jon Swayne in the Manor Pavillion.    I also really enjoyed Mawkin after the power failure and the Anchor Scratch Band after Tickled Pink were cancelled due to the rain. I only made it to a few sessions but didn't get to play (too many ceilidhs).

The bouncers did seem to be a bit over enthusiastic at The Anchor and they certainly let in less people than they let in two years ago.

Subject: RE: Sparkling Sidmouth!! :0)
From: Bonecruncher
Date: 15 Aug 06 - 07:34 PM

Regarding noise on the Bulverton campsite, I was pitched almost as close as it was possible to be to the gate and, therefore, the noise from the catering area.
Occasionally I was awakened by particularly noisy laughter or singing.
On one occasion I was awakened at 03.30 by what sounded like an elephant with toothache! Then I remembered having seen someone carrying a tuba towards the catering area! Obviously someone with no knowledge of how to play it had been trying to get a tune from the tuba! So, turn over and go back to sleep!
Generally I thought rather nice to have been lulled to sleep by so many people innocently enjoying themselves.
The gate stewards did try to keep the noise down but I am sure most campers will understand that enforcement in such a situation is nearly impossible without appearing to be a wet blanket.
Many people, too shy to stand up in a singaround, will "cut their teeth" singing in public in a group such as the laate sessions at the camp site.
A couple of years ago I would have been part of that crowd. Not as a young man but near pensionable age! If things go well for me in my future operation I hope to be part of that same noisy crowd again next year!
Colyn.

Subject: RE: Sparkling Sidmouth!! :0)
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 15 Aug 06 - 06:03 PM

Guest Annie - Oh well, I tried explaining why getting early to the Volunteer (rather than the Theatre Bar) wasn't a guarantee of getting to sing, but I seem to have failed.

Kitty

Subject: RE: Sparkling Sidmouth!! :0)
From: GUEST,Annie
Date: 15 Aug 06 - 05:49 PM

Mr Bean - about the Volunteer hear hear!

Gadaffi - There is no guarantee that being there before 12 and being on the list gets a person to sing and that still sounds rather like 'songs for the boys'!

Mrs. Lemon - agree with you about the noise as folk need some sleep - historically the night stewards have politely asked the noisy late night revellers to finish at about 2am with no problems so don't know why this noise is going on so long now.

Subject: RE: Sparkling Sidmouth!! :0)
From: AlexB
Date: 15 Aug 06 - 03:41 PM

I didn't actually mind the noise (those nights when I actually went to bed). I found that there was a steady stream of it, and that made it easy to ignore after a while. Had it been sporadic I would have agreed.

It was my first real Sidmouth.. and to be honest, I don't know what to make of it, though I think somehow I committed myself to next year (and even if I didn't, I just know Alan will sucker me into it).