Subject: Chaversham Hop Festival (3-5 Sept 2010) From: Richard Bridge Date: 19 Aug 10 - 04:36 PM Where will be the best sing and playarounds, bereft of intrusive self aggrandisement? If the Crown and Anchor is not suitable, will the Elephant perhaps oblige? |
Subject: RE: Chaversham Hop Festival (3-5 Sept 2010) From: Richard Bridge Date: 20 Aug 10 - 02:53 AM Refresh. |
Subject: RE: Chaversham Hop Festival (3-5 Sept 2010) From: GUEST,Ralphie Date: 20 Aug 10 - 03:04 AM Like the way you've re-named it. Hope it really hasn't sunk to such depths. |
Subject: RE: Chaversham Hop Festival (3-5 Sept 2010) From: banjoman Date: 20 Aug 10 - 06:26 AM so Richard Bridge wants to "Self Agrandisise" somewhere else this year. Glad I wont have to suffer it again |
Subject: RE: Chaversham Hop Festival (3-5 Sept 2010) From: Richard Bridge Date: 20 Aug 10 - 11:42 AM Noted, Graham. Ralphie, I did not coin "Chaversham". Others did. |
Subject: RE: Chaversham Hop Festival (3-5 Sept 2010) From: GUEST,Ralphie Date: 21 Aug 10 - 07:18 AM Will admit. Last time I was there (two or so years ago) The Chav ratio had taken an alarming upward curve...I blame that Wethespoons pub. Nonetheless, Hope it goes well! |
Subject: RE: Chaversham Hop Festival (3-5 Sept 2010) From: Kampervan Date: 23 Aug 10 - 06:01 AM But back to the original question. Singarounds seem to materialise at different pubs every year. Thre's not a lot in the way of pre-arranged sessions. I generally wander around until I (hopefully) find something, then stay until it finishes. The Crown & Anchor is normally a safe bet for the late session each day cos it's closest to the campsite. Have had some good singarounds there, but the atmosphere is heavily dependent on which members of various organisations happen to be trying to run the evening. Anyone hearing of any planned sessions, or anyone thinking of running one, please let us know. |
Subject: RE: Chaversham Hop Festival (3-5 Sept 2010) From: Richard Bridge Date: 29 Aug 10 - 04:40 AM According to metcheck, it's wet Friday night, and wet until late afternoon Saturday. I think that puts paid to ideas of the mandoplank-mandobassplank and pedals with which to annoy traditionalists, so it becomes more important to find a nice pub in which to play acoustic and get wet on the inside only. Incidentally, I noticed in the local papers just the other day that the Hop Fest has only ever had one noise complaint in its entire history, - and as a result the local council has made a noise control order requiring the monitoring of sound levels outside the complainant's house. This year however he is away on holiday for the duration and the house is empty - and the jobsworths STILL require the monitoring of the sound levels outside his house for the duration. |
Subject: RE: Chaversham Hop Festival (3-5 Sept 2010) From: Abdul The Bul Bul Date: 29 Aug 10 - 08:41 AM and at the Chimney Boy pub, just a few doors down from the miserable citizen, in the room where meets the Faversham Folk Club there is a noise limiter; fitted following the complaint. Al |
Subject: RE: Chaversham Hop Festival (3-5 Sept 2010) From: Richard Bridge Date: 30 Aug 10 - 08:39 AM Metcheck has changed its mind and is not now predicting rain. That would be nice. |
Subject: RE: Chaversham Hop Festival (3-5 Sept 2010) From: Kampervan Date: 30 Aug 10 - 12:20 PM The weather will be fine, 18 - 20C with a little bit of cloud. The seaweed, the pine cones and the old war wound are all saying the same thing. Only wish it was as easy to find a good session as it is to find good weather! K/van |
Subject: RE: Chaversham Hop Festival (3-5 Sept 2010) From: Essex Girl Date: 30 Aug 10 - 03:20 PM I'll also be looking for a session on Friday night, i we get a few more perhaps we can take over a corner somewhere. |
Subject: RE: Chaversham Hop Festival (3-5 Sept 2010) From: Richard Bridge Date: 31 Aug 10 - 04:11 AM Wevva, particularly for Saturday, starting to look quite promising. |
Subject: RE: Chaversham Hop Festival (3-5 Sept 2010) From: GUEST,MC Fat (at work) Date: 31 Aug 10 - 06:39 AM Wish I could get down to see my old mate Kampervan but unfortunately I need to recharge my batteries after Whitby and Shrewsbury but have a good un. |
Subject: RE: Chaversham Hop Festival (3-5 Sept 2010) From: Richard Bridge Date: 31 Aug 10 - 05:13 PM Met-check is alive again and is still promising good wevva. |
Subject: RE: Chaversham Hop Festival (3-5 Sept 2010) From: Richard Bridge Date: 01 Sep 10 - 03:31 AM Met-check now says some rain early Friday afternoon, and some Saturday morning. Met office says no rain but not that hot. |
Subject: RE: Chaversham Hop Festival (3-5 Sept 2010) From: Kampervan Date: 01 Sep 10 - 03:38 AM If the most interesting thing that we can think of to post about the Hop Festival is the weather then that's a pretty sorry state of affairs. (That wasn't a very elegant sentence,was it? Still I think that it conveys my sentiments!) There's a free-for-all instrumentally at the Bear, as usual. I wonder whether or not it might be viable to get some singing going in the garden at the Bull. It's been done in the past and I'm sure that there are enough people who would be interested; the difficulty is getting word around. k/van |
Subject: RE: Chaversham Hop Festival (3-5 Sept 2010) From: Kampervan Date: 01 Sep 10 - 03:41 AM P.S. There won't be ANY rain at all. K/van |
Subject: RE: Chaversham Hop Festival (3-5 Sept 2010) From: Richard Bridge Date: 01 Sep 10 - 04:33 AM I'm inclined to think that the Elephant might be good for evenings for those of us who do not want to be up the road in the Couronne and Onanist. Nice Beer. The Railway is also passable. I'd rather not be the wrong side of South Street. It's a shame that there is no list of pubs on the Hop Festival website. Was it the Hole in the Wall that was so crowded and noisy last year? How about the Chimney Boy - players could even go upstairs if so permitted? But surely there are some sessions that are already organised aren't there, rather than guerilla ones? |
Subject: RE: Chaversham Hop Festival (3-5 Sept 2010) From: Kampervan Date: 01 Sep 10 - 05:13 AM This covers the Sheps pubs, but there's no mention of organised singaround sessions. The organisers obviously can't be bothered and the landlords don't seem to have cottoned on to the potential! RAILWAY HOTEL Friday Evening 8.30 Ivan's Allstars Saturday 12.00 Jazz Police 1.00 Jam Sandwich 2.45 Chimney Boys 4.45 Sur Les Docks 6.45 Fat River Band 9.00 Goosebumps Sunday 12.00 Freeloaders 1.15 Sur Les Docks 2.35 Run VT 3.45 Hot Rats 5.00 Jumbo Gumbo THE SUN INN Friday Evening 8.00 Rockstox Saturday Afternoon Fabulous Fez Heads Sunday Afternoon (In the garden) Prince Valiants THE BEAR Saturday and Sunday Accoustic Sessions both days all day BREWERY STAGE COURT STREET Saturday 12.15 The Hot Rats 1.15 The Crossfire 2.15 Hullabaloo 3.15 Sneakin' Sally 4.15 Jam Sandwich Sunday 12.15 Byrne 1.15 The Chix 2.15 The Chimney Boys 3.15 The Fat River Band 4.15 Jam Sandwich THE CROWN & ANCHOR A friendly welcome awaits should you wish to call in for a glass or two of Shepherd Neame's Award Winning Ale! THE ALBION TAVERN Live music thoughout the Hop Festival Weekend. Food will be on sale from a marquee outside THE ANCHOR Saturday 1-3pm The Radlers 4-6pm Blues Bandits 7-9pm Trench City Sunday 1-3pm Genesis In The Cage 4-6pm The Leigh Highwood Band 7-9pm The Blue Devils THE BULL INN Escape the hustle of the festival for a pie and a pint and watch the Morris Sides perform! Special Hop Festival Menu! THE MECHANICS ARMS Sunday 3pm - 7pm Mike Kenton THE MARKET INN Friday Evening 8.30 Jail Bird Saturday 1.00 Mel Harris 60's Show 2.45 Hot Rats 4.45 Camine 6.45 Chimney Boys 9.00 Jumbo Gumbo Sunday 1.00 Pepper Set 3.00 Freeloader Retro Show 4.45 Goosebumps THE CHIMNEY BOY We are located opposite the Preston Street Stage where you can enjoy live music during the day on Saturday and Sunday THE THREE TUNS Saturday & Sunday Live Music over the Weekend and a Charity BBQ K/van |
Subject: RE: Chaversham Hop Festival (3-5 Sept 2010) From: Richard Bridge Date: 01 Sep 10 - 08:14 AM Hmm - not promising! |
Subject: RE: Chaversham Hop Festival (3-5 Sept 2010) From: Kampervan Date: 01 Sep 10 - 11:08 AM Just spoken to the Elephant, they've got someone booked for Friday night, but nothing else planned. So I guess that if people turned up there, bought a drink and began to entertain themselves with a few traditional vocals then Jim wouldn't object. Otherwise its the C & A just along the road. |
Subject: RE: Chaversham Hop Festival (3-5 Sept 2010) From: Richard Bridge Date: 01 Sep 10 - 11:09 AM Yes. A counsel of last resort I fear. |
Subject: RE: Chaversham Hop Festival (3-5 Sept 2010) From: Kampervan Date: 02 Sep 10 - 02:26 PM It all kicks off tomorrow. |
Subject: RE: Chaversham Hop Festival (3-5 Sept 2010) From: Kampervan Date: 02 Sep 10 - 02:28 PM Looks like tha Railway will be prepared, at any rate! http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thepublican.com%2Fstory.asp%3Fstorycode%3D67809&h=5451f |
Subject: RE: Chaversham Hop Festival (3-5 Sept 2010) From: Richard Bridge Date: 02 Sep 10 - 03:19 PM Well, it plans to be prepared to put on electric bands and serve chilled lagers to oafs, anyway. |
Subject: RE: Chaversham Hop Festival (3-5 Sept 2010) From: melodeonboy Date: 03 Sep 10 - 03:11 AM It also serves well-kept Master Brew to loud-shirted accordion players! :) |
Subject: RE: Chaversham Hop Festival (3-5 Sept 2010) From: Richard Bridge Date: 03 Sep 10 - 03:56 AM Earplugs and dark glasses please. |
Subject: RE: Chaversham Hop Festival (3-5 Sept 2010) From: GUEST,Gadaffi Date: 03 Sep 10 - 06:13 AM This seems as good a time to plug my new book 'Lenham Camp - Eighteenth Century Dance Music from Harrietsham' which the Faversham Society have kindly agreed to publish. Copies may be on sale at the Fleur de Lis Heritage Centre priced £4,95. (See Lenham Camp thread). PS Some great duet concertina tunes in it, I dare say! |
Subject: RE: Chaversham Hop Festival (3-5 Sept 2010) From: GUEST,Ralphie Date: 03 Sep 10 - 07:17 AM Hey Gadaffi....Put me down for one...!! Ralphie |
Subject: RE: Chaversham Hop Festival (3-5 Sept 2010) From: Dead Horse Date: 04 Sep 10 - 03:17 AM You want putting down Ralphie? OK. Here goes mate. Your ugly. Hows that? :-) (just my standard reaction to anyone who wants 'putting down' for anything. Heh heh) |
Subject: RE: Chaversham Hop Festival (3-5 Sept 2010) From: GUEST,Ralphie Date: 04 Sep 10 - 03:43 AM Very Droll Mr Horse (and very accurate too, sadly!) |
Subject: RE: Chaversham Hop Festival (3-5 Sept 2010) From: Richard Bridge Date: 05 Sep 10 - 01:50 PM Well, from a singer's point of view that was not a good Chaversham. There was a coterie of Englishmen pretending to be Irish playing Irish tunes (with the occasional hackneyed Irish song: I heard the Fields of Athenrae, Tell me Ma, and McAlpine's Fusiliers before I gave up and left) in the back bar of the Bear (where the beer was £3.30 a pint). There were two unofficial song/mixed sessions - the Friday and the Saturday nights - in the Crown and Anchor, dominated by the usual suspects. The beer was I think £3.40 a pint. As far as I know, that was it. Totally no other folk song or tune sessions at all. The electric bands outside the Shepherd Neame office, in the back garden of the Wine Vaults, and in the back yard of the Railway were so loud that any unamplified music in reasonable distance would have been impossible. Indeed the Railway stage could be heard from the campsite. NB - these are not stages run by the festival. I am told that on Saturday night the blood was running in the drains, with the Railway, the Albion, and the Phoenix all closed by the police. However the Mechanics Arms, Three Tuns and the other pub between them (name escapes my for the moment - might it be the Bull?) were quiet and peopled only by locals on Saturday night, I am told. The lavatories in the school did their usual - no wonder they call them "bogs". Police were on and off the campsite at the school pretty frequently, and I think had to remove some local yoof. Some local yoof (possibly other ones) were trying to intimidate female morris dancers and/or start fights with younger male morris dancers. However the Hells Grannies on the motorised shopping trolleys were sidesplitting, and the 9 ft tall aliens in what looked like carbon fibre exoskeletons were impressive too. |
Subject: RE: Chaversham Hop Festival (3-5 Sept 2010) From: GUEST,Mark Stevens Date: 05 Sep 10 - 02:32 PM I'm sorry to hear that, Richard. I haven't been there since the 1990's, ..and 2003. |
Subject: RE: Chaversham Hop Festival (3-5 Sept 2010) From: GUEST,Nualabs Date: 06 Sep 10 - 06:35 AM I find the comments very interesting, as the owner of The Old Wine Vaults and also a Special Constable in Faversham I feel you might want my point of view. Last year was our first after taking over a pub that was horrible, we worked hard to build it into a "grown up" pub, we have CAMRA LocALE and Cask Marque status. We are proud of our now great reputaton for great Ale and Cider, good food and a relaxed atmoosphere. Something that may not be reflected at Hop Fest! On the music line up we had, we started on Friday night with Labyrith, an accoustic band as it was inside. They played for no fee, we made a generous donation to their chosen charity (Fynvola-a local one) and they had collecting jars which visitors and locals alike gave to. They also host an accoustic session on the third Sunday of the month here, local musicians come along and play, very laid back and relaxed. Also new up and coming performers in the area get the chance to get public performance experience. Saturday, Get Carter, another local band, then Steve Bolton, local, then 4 Cohonies, local, Then Sur Le Docks, Belgian, punk folk. Get Carter, Terry Carter can't do enough for young, up and coming musicians. He even left his sound engineer there for a young local group to have a short set for experience. Steve Bolton, the people loved him. The 4 Cohonies, a local "middle aged" group who have reformed and were brilliant. Sur Le Docks, well no describing them! Brilliant muscicians who really got everyone going. These were inside and accoustic! Sunday Get Carter again then the Trouser Trumpets, both again were brilliant. We have to use amplified music in the garden, it's big. Last year we had drop in sessions hosted by Bob Kenward, a lovely man and great musician. However this cost us a considerable amount of money and did not return in sales. I have talked to Ernie who runs the Hop Fest and agreed that we need to let people know that we are willing to let musicians come and play informally. However I had none contact us before hand or I would have been more than willing to sort something out. Communication is a two way street and I am not knowledgable about the folk scene, Ernie helps me on this! If you want to set up in my pub and just have a sing along, ask me! Prices, I pay for my bands, I don't get any sponsonrship from the council, commitee funds, or Sheps (like the Elephant I don't and won' sell Sheps!). The plastic glasses are a considerable expense at £26 a box, I have to pay door staff, unlike other pubs that need them but are not forced to have them (hang over form the hole in the wall days), however for everyone's peace of mind I would have them so no one's night is ruied by idiots. Staff costing for the weekend is huge. Now, ulike other pubs I decided to round down, so my premium beers that are normally £3.10 a pint were £3, we had 8 cask ales on and 3 ciders. ext year I will have to charge more, I made a mistake, I did not take into account the plastic and more to the point the wastage that happens when serving at speed. I agree this is not your problem but we did not all just hike prices. However we are businesses, if we pubs closed as they are not making money what kind of Hop Fest would it be? A tent on the local rec? Last year we had music inside during the day (folk music) and the pub was noisey, this year it was in the garden and there was plenty of places that were quieter inside. Lastly the "blood running in the drains". There were problems at two pubs out of the town centre, neither of which I would hazard a guess HopFest visitors would be going to. The police informed us in the town centre, as the pubs shut as we would have a flood of people heading into the town. We need this kind on info to keep our venues and customers safe. I spoke to Chris from The Railway last night as my staff and his staff enjoyed a well deserved meal. He made the decision to close to prevent a good day being ruined. We immediately stopped entry to the pub but carried on serving existing customers and continued with the music. My thought is that it is better not to be gready and take "bad money" to prevent trouble, ensure safety and let everyoe leave with good time memories. We had NO trouble over the weekend and I know there were 5 arrests, all out of the town centre. The Licencing officer came in and congratulated us on our staffing, organisation and communication systems for the weekend. I am always more than willing to take on board advice for next year, but this must meet with the requirements of making money. Next year the Hop Fest is at risk, I and The Spice Lounge have already discussed how local businesses can help. We intend to attend committee meetings and have told them so. Hopefully more will be willing to help. I pay for my bands and will continue to do so, the music stages bands have to be paid for, so not sure how this will work next year. This is not just a business decision, I passionately believe Faversham is a great town and the Hop Festival is a great weekend. oldwinevaults@yahoo.co.uk for any suggestions on how we can improve. Thanks for your time. Nuala |
Subject: RE: Chaversham Hop Festival (3-5 Sept 2010) From: GUEST,FloraG Date: 06 Sep 10 - 09:18 AM We had a great Hop festival time. Since starting sessions in the Crown and Anchor the landlord and lady have always made us welcome. This year, the last hour of the Saturday evening session had a particular magic to it as we had a perfect blend of voices - no voice too loud or too nasal, and a good range on the harmonies. We had the best of Priory, Gundulf, Liberty and the Good Intent as well as the usual suspects from the Thames side mummers. We also had a pie for lunch from the pie stall in the middle of town. Yummy. There were fewer Morris sides this year but I suspect that was to do with the meet in London. I think the music stages were a bit too loud - it makes playing for the morris difficult and may put some morris sides off. Perhaps, Nuala, you could pass that on to the committee - a 20% reduction in volume. I thought the music stages were also less folky than in previous years - quite good bands from what we heard of them but not our taste. I think the town could get away with only having the market stage and using the second stage for children. Cambridge and Ely festivals both asked for a deposit for the plastic glasses this year. Is that a way forward to keep the beer prices down? The Punch and Judy show was well attended but there may be a case for providing something else for the children. I played for the childrens entertainer at Broadstairs this year, and he is an eceptionally good one. He gets the children to sing and dance, and they que up to feed the dragon money. A note in the pub window saying musicians welcome tends to encourage session musicians in. A willingness to swich off the internal music is a must. A jug of free beer once the session has started is a bonus. There are some people who are very good at attracting others to sessions and then running them, but it was not clear where any sessions would be welcome. I thought what was on where was poorly advertised. I was asked by several people where the sessions were and I was not able to tell them, except for our evening one. Information at the camp site on Friday night would be helpful. Nuala, I'm really glad you thought of using local bands and you want to be on the committee for next year as it would be a shame if the festival ceased. FloraG |
Subject: RE: Chaversham Hop Festival (3-5 Sept 2010) From: Richard Bridge Date: 06 Sep 10 - 09:39 AM Well, it's the first time I've ever heard of folkies being accused of being light drinkers. By "Loud" let me clarify. The Wine Vaults band that I particularly noticed was playing sort of US-blues-cock-rock and it was audible from the other side of the car park - probably about one-ish Saturday afternoon. You don't need that pressure in a pub garden. It invades the space in which acoustic and folk song can be sung. I've done LOUD with one of my PA rigs at the Command House at Chatham, and had sound complaints from the middle of Rochester but that was for metal bands. As I said, the Railway was audible from the campsite. What might work for you at the Wine Vaults and for the Railway would be starting the days with a folk session indoors, going over to rock later - and/or having a smaller rig somewhere so that a folk band could take a half hour slot while fully electric bands changed over (taking a fair bit of pressure off the soundmen too). That used to be done in the Venue in Gravesend (it's a plumbing and bathroom shop now alas). Indeed if the Railway tamed its sound engineers it could probably manage a sing in the front bar while still having electric music in the yard at the back - subject to morris drums outside the front windows (a problem you'd also have, as would the Chimney Boy if using the front bars for acoustic). The Chimney Boy could have folk upstairs in its folk club room - or if the building was safe, in the old stables where the folk club used to be. What I don't yet fully understand is the apparent pricing difficulty. Wetherspoons are selling good beer from all over the country down to £1.80 per pint (so I was told). When I have run folk sessions in local pubs they have sold beer profitably at £2.50 a pint. The Good Intent in Rochester sells good beer at £2.50 a pint (or thereabouts) with folk music. The Cadet force building seems to do nothing musical. There are one or two halls or rooms that seem to do nothing musical. I suppose the park is too far away for an "acoustic" stage (ie some PA) is it? This year the lager mentality got out of control, and the net result was trouble. |
Subject: RE: Chaversham Hop Festival (3-5 Sept 2010) From: GUEST Date: 06 Sep 10 - 11:52 AM Thanks for the suggestions FloraG, I have added them to my "2011 Hop Fest list" so I don't forget anything! have also posted this link to one of the organisersso they can see the comments. The program was in a new format this year and free. We certanly could have done a better advert and will next year. Not sure if I would have time to be on the comittee this year but will certainly help. Richard, didn't mean folkies were light drinkers, I might have worded that one better, in fact I am in awe of many! One of the things we had already discussed was the order of play, I think your suggestion is good and we may start with more folk, build to the blues/rock then wind back down to the folk. We don't want to go too late outside for obvious reasons. Pricing is simple Richard, I am limited to where I can buy my beers, and I certainly don't have the buying power of 'Spoons. They have a huge turnover that I don't. I can't buy for what they sell, I know people find that hard to see. There is a million blogs etc on various trade sites on the wholesale beer prices to tenanted/leased pubs so I won't add it to this one! I really like Flara's suggestion on deposits, we could do more rigid ones, more green and better to drink out of, deposit great idea! Maybe the others are Free Houses again they have a better buying power than I. I agree that utilising the rooms might work, the park area is a short walk, but stewarding would be a problem and it would detach it from the centre. Thanks for your comments. |
Subject: RE: Chaversham Hop Festival (3-5 Sept 2010) From: GUEST,Chris Maclean Date: 06 Sep 10 - 06:35 PM It would have been so much nicer if Richard Bridges had taken time to talk to the people concerned. My name is Chris Maclean and I am the licensee of the Railway. The Hop Festival is a tremendous part of Faversham's calendar and we are all proud to be part of it. But it isn't a folk festival. It isn't a beer festival. Indeed I heard it described, somewhat harshly, as "a flea market with pubs doing cheap music". But it is amazingly popular and tremendous fun. But no group can lay legitimate claim to all of it. In the four years we have run this pub we've never had to call the police. We've never had a problem. To suggest they "closed us down" is hurtful. We are, primarily, a business. What we provide delivers. To suggest we abandon this for some sing-alongs is economic lunacy. For the first two years I suffered Mark Lawson's Dead Horse Morris singing in the afternoons. Nothing drove people from my pub faster. (and I like Mark). There are pubs who embrace the folk tradition. The Crown and Anchor and Elephant have been mentioned. The Bear (and now the Chimney Boy under new (same) ownership). The Three Tuns and the Mechanics. The Phoenix. Richard, if you have the courage to do so, I'll gladly chat to you about it. But, in the mean time, I'd be happier if you didn't act so devisively. The Hop festival is in jeopardy ~ don't be the one to destroy it. Chris |
Subject: RE: Chaversham Hop Festival (3-5 Sept 2010) From: Richard Bridge Date: 07 Sep 10 - 02:48 AM Accurate reading would help. Get my name right. Bother to distinguish between what I said I saw (or heard) and what I said I was told. It has already been said above that you closed early to avoid trouble: but you stoked that trouble for yourself by the very marketing strategy that you claim "delivers" (I did read your article in "the Publican"). I did not find any folk song in the Mechanics Arms. I was told by locals that there was none in the Phoenix. I did not find any in the Three Tuns. I did not find any in the Elephant (I had been going to do some but the day was so dispiriting neither I nor any others (as far as I know) went. If you can establish otherwise, please do. The upshot is that far from the inclusiveness suggested by the words "no group can lay legitimate claim to all of it" in fact no singer or player of folk song is properly accommodated save for the limited class of players of Irish tunes. The group close to establishing claim to the turf is lager yoof. |
Subject: RE: Chaversham Hop Festival (3-5 Sept 2010) From: GUEST,Chris Maclean Date: 07 Sep 10 - 04:09 AM My apologies for not getting your name right. It was not intentional. I am a little confused. If your efforts to develop the folk aspect of the Hop Festival are sincere would it not be better if you approached the licensees directly rather than furtively posting malicious rants on social websites? That is what you want to achieve, isn't it? Licensees are here to listen. Talk to them. |
Subject: RE: Chaversham Hop Festival (3-5 Sept 2010) From: GUEST,FloraG Date: 07 Sep 10 - 04:28 AM Chris - you are right in that for the festival to survive it needs to be all encompasing - not just folk - so it gets the support of the whole town. However, it was started by a folkie. I like the way you have turned the pub around in the last 4 years. Its nice to see you bucking the trend. Your pub does not lend itself to unaccomanied singers - too big and thus too noisey. Broadstairs have moved away from this in the pubs and most pubs have bands with PA. I would have liked the pubs that offered entertainment to be themed - perhaps one could offer jazz, another blues etc. It seemed to be a bit random this year, so difficult as a potential customer to know where to go, when. Perhaps the publicans could have a pre planning meet to offer a wider range of better advertised music . I went back to the camp site on Saturday PM and did not hear your PA, but I could hear it from the station. I think your local school is an enterprise college so I am wondering if the students could be involved in running an event other than just providing the camping facility. I thought the TA very enterprising with their stall. I know the timing is poor for the school as they only return to school that week - but perhaps they could run the Hoppers ball - with profits going to the school. It would be nice to see any musical students actually playing with the band, while others ( dance GCSE ) could do an interval performance and others be involved in the publicity and selling refreshments. As a mimimum requirement Faversham need to encourage street entertainers to turn up - otherwise you need the much more expensive set stages. The Morris and the mummers are ideal for this so the town can not afford to antagonise them. Overloud PA music tends to do this. The camping facility, a few free beer tickets and a few tickets to the hoppers ball are all positive things - as is the welcome we get from the Crown and Anchor. Not all morris sides are folkies - and many are happy to go and listen to a wide range of music. Most are working during the day so a lunch time session is all they require for the musicians. A named pub for this to happen in would be good. I hope some of these ideas are helpful. FloraG |
Subject: RE: Chaversham Hop Festival (3-5 Sept 2010) From: GUEST,Chris Maclean Date: 07 Sep 10 - 05:20 AM I think you are right, FloraG. For me one of the highlights of my year, musically, is Oyster Morris singing carols here at Christmas. They have the whole space. However I suspect the popularity of the Hop Festival is creating its own casualties. I've heard it said that sides have difficulties finding spaces to dance; now I hear singers find themselves with fewer venues. I am not on the committee who organise all of this. (They have been heroes in the face of such difficulties.) My one suggestion I would make would be to abandon the Preston Street stage and give over the Market Place stage to other activities (Pearly Kings & Queens etc)leaving the other amplified music elsewhere. I believe that would create a better atmosphere for the folk folk! Part off the problem with this monster is that it seems so big we're running out of space. Maybe its time for another festival ~ maybe in the spring? |
Subject: RE: Chaversham Hop Festival (3-5 Sept 2010) From: GUEST,Ralphie Date: 07 Sep 10 - 05:31 AM When I used to live there, it was always billed as a "Town" festival. True, it's origins were based on folk sessions/Morris etc. But it has certainly changed over the years, with more diverse musics being included. I think that in reality it has outgrown the town. Most of the official gigs always used to finish by 6 o clock ish, and it seems that some of the pubs have expanded into the evening. Nothing wron with that, business is business, and good luck to the ones that are successful. But it seems to me that the "fringe" evening events tend to atract themore youthful end of things. Some of whom have probably been drinking all day anyway. But Richard, it was never a Folk Festival. It's a Town festival celebrating the Hop harvest. Nothing more nothing less. |
Subject: RE: Chaversham Hop Festival (3-5 Sept 2010) From: Kampervan Date: 07 Sep 10 - 06:32 AM I think that the constant references to "This is not a folk festival" rather miss the point. It was intended to be a celebration of the hop, held at hop harvest time. I was meant to include all aspects of hopping, from the Pearly Kngs and Queens, to the hopper steam train. Some may be true to life, some might be more fanciful. But folk singing was certainly a PART of the hopping tradition. No, the festival is not a folk festival, but it should include folk music in the same way that it includes all the other musical genre. It would be good to find somewhere where a folk singing session could be held, no performers need get paid, there are enough people interested in singing for the pure pleasure of it. But the venue needs to be advertised so that folk know that it's available. If, after that, there is insufficient support to make it viable for a landlord to give over a quiet area for the purpose then so be it. The singers have been given a chance and it ends there. If anyone can think of a potentially suitable space then it would be good to hear about it and the landlord could then be approached. |
Subject: RE: Chaversham Hop Festival (3-5 Sept 2010) From: Richard Bridge Date: 07 Sep 10 - 06:57 AM I have never said it was a folk festival. What I have said is that there is now no adequate and acceptable space for folk. If that flows from a conscious business strategy, well there it goes. Part of the festival is largely gone and what is left will come to be more and more like Saturday night (as I was told) was. Folkies have never asked for the whole town. Just enough space (physically and acoustically and fermentationally) for themselves and anyone who does want to listen to them. Folk song has been part of the beer and ale making tradition - and indeed harvest festivities generally - since before Shepherd Neame was founded in 1649. It is a shame if there is no more room for it. |
Subject: RE: Chaversham Hop Festival (3-5 Sept 2010) From: Kampervan Date: 07 Sep 10 - 07:00 AM I think that we're singing from the same Broadside Richard. K/van |
Subject: RE: Chaversham Hop Festival (3-5 Sept 2010) From: Abdul The Bul Bul Date: 07 Sep 10 - 07:02 AM Well I don't have much influence but I know the people who do and I'm sure next year will see singaround venues. Sounds like the Old Wine Vault may well be one. Anyway, lets hope there is an hop festival next year. Al |
Subject: RE: Chaversham Hop Festival (3-5 Sept 2010) From: synbyn Date: 07 Sep 10 - 07:52 AM Having run singarounds for several years at the festival, I'd come to the conclusion that the only way to ensure the publican and public got a good deal was to hire in additional musicians who could be relied upon to entertain the public- Skynflynt come to mind, as do others who assisted with sessions. Obviously this has a cost, and must bring in sales. If it results in a full pub with little beer being bought on the premises, I can't see that any of us can complain- we've all seen the tonic water and/or bottle in the boot.... and whisper it softly, some performers do us few favours- pub sessions are no place for lengthy bad salads, nor for indulgent pieces which don't connect. The place for such sessions imho is a little room somewhere else... which may happen next year. But don't expect the publicans, whose living is precarious, to subsidise folk art- that ain't going to happen. Sessions like the W |
Subject: RE: Chaversham Hop Festival (3-5 Sept 2010) From: synbyn Date: 07 Sep 10 - 08:00 AM Sorry unfamiliar machine- part 2! Woodshed depend on a group of musicians who don't mind the noise & atmospher of a live pub, and who take on the challenge by working from what is requested and maybe adding to the range. Imposing our taste is a sure recipe for brisk demise... rant over... thought the committee did a good job in difficult circumstances... all of the responsibility... and despite the rivers of blood etc, which I had no difficulty in fording, I had a good time and so di many others. And the reason I'm late on this thread, Richard, is that I |
Share Thread: |
Subject: | Help |
From: | |
Preview Automatic Linebreaks Make a link ("blue clicky") |