Cambridge FF tickets

Subject: RE: Cambridge FF tickets
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 17 May 09 - 07:30 PM

Richard - it would be great to see/hear you in Sidders!

Kitty

Subject: RE: Cambridge FF tickets
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 17 May 09 - 04:17 PM

There seems to be a somewhat more folk flavour this year which is nice, but no, I won't be going. I might try for a flying visit to the opening weekend of Sidders in stead.

Subject: RE: Cambridge FF tickets
From: Declan
Date: 17 May 09 - 04:25 AM

I notice I was really impressed with having booked my tickets within 45 minutes last year. This year I had the whole thing done and the confirmation email received by 9:12.

This is how web booking is supposed to work.

Now lets see if the tickets arrive in the post.

Subject: RE: Cambridge FF tickets
From: Grab
Date: 13 May 08 - 11:22 AM

Jorrox, can you imagine many musicians telling the truth, knowing that they'd then be ruled out of future lucrative bookings there? or worse, getting a reputation as being "difficult" and having trouble getting bookings anywhere significant?

Or maybe it really is a good gig for the performers. It's just that the audience get the shitty end of the stick.

Graham.

Subject: RE: Cambridge FF tickets
From: GUEST,Jorrox
Date: 13 May 08 - 04:21 AM

Yes Cambridge FF is hellish. All that hassle with tickets, chairs and folk who don't like folk music.

Isn't it weird that so many booked musicians say that it is one of the best gigs that they could ever play?

Subject: RE: Cambridge FF tickets
From: GUEST
Date: 13 May 08 - 03:35 AM

Ooops! iam old salty. X

Subject: RE: Cambridge FF tickets
From: GUEST
Date: 13 May 08 - 03:34 AM

See you at Pickering, Mr Token.Great line up.Just hope the weather holds up here.Its a bit drab up here at the mo.We used to baking weather at Cambridge. X

Subject: RE: Cambridge FF tickets
From: glueman
Date: 13 May 08 - 02:42 AM

Eric Bibb is on in Holmfirth next month. No pushing, no crushing, no hanging on the telephone.

Subject: RE: Cambridge FF tickets
From: GUEST,The Beer Token
Date: 13 May 08 - 02:05 AM

And what's wrong with having folk music on TV? We've been whining for years that it's not covered seriously by the media and now that it is........ There's no pleasing some people. Long live Cambridge Folk Festival!

I'm still going to Pickering though.

Subject: RE: Cambridge FF tickets
From: Ruth Archer
Date: 12 May 08 - 02:12 PM

Actually, the BBC's sponsorship finished last year.

Subject: RE: Cambridge FF tickets
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 12 May 08 - 02:02 PM

I wonder if the "Roman Empire" effect will set in, and Cambridge fest will disappear up its own orifice? That might be a good thing in that it might rid the folk world of the distortion of the BBC vested interest, but on the other hand it might turn out that Cambridge was a "sink" and it happily siphoned off those who had no interest in folk. If so they will reappear and damage other festivals, when Cambridge goes.

Subject: RE: Cambridge FF tickets
From: Grab
Date: 12 May 08 - 01:23 PM

If it's a "he", probably Eric Bibb...?

I'd go to see Joan Armatrading, but then I saw her already last year in a fantastic performance at Cambridge Corn Exchange. I can't imagine a half-hour set in a muddy tent is going to better that. And although some of the other acts are very good, I'm not playing the ticket game.

To be honest, it's par for the course with the Corn Exchange. They're a small provincial box office, catering for small provincial events. They may be trying hard to do this, but they simply don't have the staff, premises, skills or experience to handle a large event.

Graham.

Subject: RE: Cambridge FF tickets
From: Mr Red
Date: 12 May 08 - 07:57 AM

The only time I was tempted to go to Cambridge they had Sonny Terry headlining.

Too big for my tastes now, and what I see on telly doesn't attract.

But obviously ticket sales are not affected by the economic climate.
Glastonbry apparently was easier to get tickets for this year (cf previous years).

Subject: RE: Cambridge FF tickets
From: Silas
Date: 11 May 08 - 01:39 PM

I can't imagine just why anyone who is interested in folk music would want to go to cambridge 'ff' - go to a proper one instead.

Subject: RE: Cambridge FF tickets
From: GUEST,TEE
Date: 11 May 08 - 01:09 PM

Can't get through to Cambridge? Come to Pickering instead. Excellent line-up, potentially excellent atmosphere and CHEAPER!

www.pickeringfolkfestival.com

Subject: RE: Cambridge FF tickets
From: s&r
Date: 11 May 08 - 05:36 AM

We were bumped to the back of the online queue three times... The online booking works for some it seems but not for us.

Stu

Subject: RE: Cambridge FF tickets
From: Rasener
Date: 11 May 08 - 05:21 AM

Is it Vin Garbutt Ian? :-)

Subject: RE: Cambridge FF tickets
From: Declan
Date: 11 May 08 - 04:53 AM

A major improvement in the on-line booking system this year. There is a proper queuing system - all done and dusted in under 45 minutes.

If you want to go I'd advise getting inthere as soon as possible. I went on-line at exactly 9:00 which is when booking opened and was number One thousand 7 hundred and something in the queue. I imagine it will be a sell out by tomorrow.

Subject: RE: Cambridge FF tickets
From: GUEST,Ian cookieless
Date: 09 May 07 - 11:54 AM

It's not Joan Baez. You can keeping guessing if you like!

Subject: RE: Cambridge FF tickets
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 08 May 07 - 04:58 PM

PS, I just checked the site and there is absolutely no-one I would cross the road to see. I had to listen to a Baez album (an early Newport one) the other day so my daughter could learn some words to a couple of Baez performances, and I was shocked just how bad Baez was. My memory had played me false, and I had remembered her as a force, whereas my late wife's singing and playing of one of the songs in point was considerably better. As for the other (not a Baez song) frankly the Searchers did it better.

Subject: RE: Cambridge FF tickets
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 08 May 07 - 04:52 PM

Good God! I am forced to agree with the Countess - although my first Cambridge was not that early.

Go to a folk festival instead.

Subject: RE: Cambridge FF tickets
From: GUEST,Ian cookieless
Date: 08 May 07 - 12:19 PM

I have never really thought Cambridge is a folk festival. What folk festival would book Bill Wyman (as they did a few years back), etc.?! The reason for me going is to see a real hero, who doesn't visit these shores very often. Wish he was appearing at a *real* folk festival.

Subject: RE: Cambridge FF tickets
From: GUEST,Ronnie Abrahams
Date: 07 May 07 - 10:32 PM

Simple indeed.

You're lucky you're able to post flyers. Clearly the organisers haven't seen you. I was stopped from doing so last year and warned I'd be removed from the site if seen doing so again.

Which is why I won't be going to Cambridge this year.

It's not really a folk festival.

Subject: RE: Cambridge FF tickets
From: s&r
Date: 07 May 07 - 06:14 PM

We post fliers with no problem. Sessions happen as much as ever where we are camping on the site.

Tickets are a problem; they've really tried this year. The tickets that should be limited are the day/concert tickets - the influx of 'day trippers really does cause overcrowding.

We go because we like the festival and meet a lot of old friends. There are festivals we don't like much, so we don't go twice. Seems simple really.

Stu

Subject: RE: Cambridge FF tickets
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 07 May 07 - 05:09 PM

I've never been to Cambridge, because I never thought it was a folk festival. At least not the sort of folk festival that encouraged people to get involved in doing rather than being audience.

Subject: RE: Cambridge FF tickets
From: GUEST,Fiddler Joe
Date: 07 May 07 - 01:44 PM

I went last year and was saddened to see how commercial Cambridge now is. Sessions seemed to be discouraged and security not only stopped me putting a poster for my folk club on a fence but tore down other posters "because the organiser has told us nobody else is to advertise their own events".

The atmosphere was far less welcoming that at most festivals and I'm amazed how many people were allowed on such a small site.

If Cambridge is the best folk festival as it claims then heaven help us all.

Subject: RE: Cambridge FF tickets
From: Mrs_Annie
Date: 07 May 07 - 01:36 PM

oops sorry, grammar police! I'm sure you got the meaning though......

Subject: RE: Cambridge FF tickets
From: The Borchester Echo
Date: 07 May 07 - 01:31 PM

"literally"

Unfortunately not.
Though I don't think Ken Woollard would have bothered to turn out with his fire engine if it had been.
"Literally smoking" I mean.
I went to the first 10 Cambridges and most of the 2nd 10.
Haven't been back apart from a couple of forays for one concert only in recent years.
Really can't see the point.

Subject: RE: Cambridge FF tickets
From: treewind
Date: 07 May 07 - 01:13 PM

"I pointed them in the direction of the BBC message board, which was literally smoking"

I don't think you meant "literally".

Anahata

Subject: RE: Cambridge FF tickets
From: Mrs_Annie
Date: 07 May 07 - 10:26 AM

The ticketing is run by Cambridge Corn Exchange box office. After last year, I pointed them in the direction of the BBC message board, which was literally smoking, and I got a reply from the manager, who admitted it was 'chastening reading'. They have really put in a lot of measures this year to try and improve the situation, but always some people will be disappointed. So don't slag them off, they have really tried but the situation is caused by mass panic.

In my opinion, this is solely due to the involvement of Radio 2. Before they took over as sponsors, there was none of this hype, and you could buy your tickets normally like you do for any other festival. Now the panic gets worse every year. The festival has not changed in any way, the guests booked are not any better, it's just that more people want to go because they think it's somehow better than all the others.

If I didn't live only 15 miles away I wouldn't make so much effort to go every year. I certainly wouldn't sit glued to a phone for 2 days, there are plenty of other festivals just as good. But we got up at 4 to get in the queue, and got our tickets. There were people there who had come from Hastings, Yorkshire, etc and stayed in a B&B overnight so they could have a better chance of getting tickets. It all depends how much you want them...

Subject: RE: Cambridge FF tickets
From: GUEST,Disgusted
Date: 07 May 07 - 10:18 AM

It's never been the same since Ken Woollard died.

Now it's just a money-making machine for Cambridge City Council.

If you'd spoken to the current organiser Eddie Barcan as I have you'd know he just isn't interested in his audience. He knows he'll sell out come what may. Neither he or his employers care about the people who keep them in a job.

Cambridge FF has lost the plot. As others have said, there are many better festivals that are more in tune with the folk scene.

Save your money and your time. Don't pursue tickets that aren't worth buying anyway. Avoid the cramped site and sky-high food and drink prices. Enjoy instead some of the festivals that still have values we should all subscribe to - Chippenham, Beverley, Broadstairs, Wickham, Bromyard and many more that give better value for money and treat their audiences with respect.

Subject: RE: Cambridge FF tickets
From: GUEST,Oh dear...
Date: 07 May 07 - 10:05 AM

I naievely thought I was actually applying if I bought them tomorrow. Oh dear...

Subject: RE: Cambridge FF tickets
From: GUEST,Ian cookieless
Date: 07 May 07 - 07:54 AM

GUEST,BobStin: "Stop winging! We missed out on tickets last year. Accept there are not enough tickets to go round." So you think 6 1/2 hours on the phone for me and no tickets for you is a *good* way to run a festival? Remind me never to go to one you organise! A simple bit of good management would resolve the problem.

You remind me of ...

Yeh, an wen ah wer a lad, we lived in a gutter, and wen ar dad cum one e'd KILL us! Twice!

Yer think YOU ad it ard?! We ... etc. etc.

Subject: RE: Cambridge FF tickets
From: GUEST,Bruce Michael Baillie
Date: 07 May 07 - 01:32 AM

...Ah, I haven't been to Cambridge Folk Festival since 1987, I only missed one between 1975 and 87, it seems it's a lot different now, from what I've seen of it on TV recently I don't think I'd enjoy it anymore, seems like it's just a big commercialised event.
The last few times I went I even got FREE tickets for performing in the club tent!
Quite honestly I couldn't be arsed with all the hassle of getting tickets these days!
I remember it when it was a great festival when Ken Woollard was in charge! ...them were the days!

Subject: RE: Cambridge FF tickets
From: GUEST,BobStin
Date: 06 May 07 - 05:30 PM

Stop winging! We missed out on tickets last year. Accept there are not enough tickets to go round.

There are plenty of other festivals, or if you are really keen to go there is always ebay.

Bstin

Subject: RE: Cambridge FF tickets
From: GUEST,Ian cookieless
Date: 06 May 07 - 01:17 PM

After 6 hours and 25 minutes, my friend, who I was also buying a ticket for, got through and bought for us after a mere 4 hours so saved me the trouble of trying even longer. Buying tickets should not be a lottery like this.

This is absolutely *%$£"! ridiculous. Were it not for one artist who visits these shores infrequently and who I absolutely don't want to miss, I wouldn't have wasted even more of my life on the end of an unanswered phone line. Ruth, if people took days to get through last year that is even morer ridiculouserer!

My questions are:

1. Who is in charge of this ticket farce? Cambridge FF? The BBC? Some subcontracted agency? Whoever it is, they should be ashamed, sacked, or both.

2. Is this deliberate? There is more clamour for something the rarer or more difficult to obtain it is. Is this part of some deliberate ticket hype?

3. Err, that's it.

Subject: RE: Cambridge FF tickets
From: The Borchester Echo
Date: 06 May 07 - 01:12 PM

I'd go to Dulverton instead if I were you.

Subject: RE: Cambridge FF tickets
From: GUEST,Chris Murray
Date: 06 May 07 - 01:06 PM

It's even more confusing if you try to book on line. There are so many problems that a lot of people (me included) don't know whether we've got tickets or not!

Subject: RE: Cambridge FF tickets
From: Ruth Archer
Date: 06 May 07 - 12:32 PM

5 hours and you're complaining? It took some people days last year.

Subject: RE: Cambridge FF tickets
From: Declan
Date: 06 May 07 - 10:25 AM

Don't be put off by the Sold Out message. I've been trying on-line all day and at various times, I've been told they're sold out, later they have become available again. There is a quota of tickets that can be sold on line, and I suspect there are still tickets available by phone or in person, and on-line.

The problem with the on-line booking is that their merchant for accepting the payments doesn't appear to be able to cope with the Volume of demand. The site brings you to the point of completing the purchase and then (really helpfully tells you "An error has ocurred Please try again". I've sent the site an eMail asking for assistance and got a holding reply saying someone will be in touch within 24 hours by which time (no doubt) the Box Office will be closed and the tickets will actually have sold out.

Subject: RE: Cambridge FF tickets
From: GUEST,Ian cookieless
Date: 06 May 07 - 10:15 AM

After 2 hours of phoning I tried buying online but they were already sold out. I've now been phoning constantly for 5 1/4 hours and STILL I haven't got through. AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Subject: RE: Cambridge FF tickets
From: treewind
Date: 06 May 07 - 10:07 AM

According to a posting on uk.music.folk they sold out in 20 minutes.

Anahata

Subject: RE: Cambridge FF tickets
From: Rasener
Date: 06 May 07 - 09:33 AM

oops didn't see Declans post

Subject: RE: Cambridge FF tickets
From: Rasener
Date: 06 May 07 - 09:32 AM

You could try booking online. A little bit of extra cost for the facilty, but probably much easier.

Here is the link

http://merchant.secureaccount.net/CambridgeFolkFestival/index.htm;jsessionid=58F1029CECBFD5A7CDEEDDCB324CD084

Subject: RE: Cambridge FF tickets
From: Declan
Date: 06 May 07 - 09:31 AM

Ian Join the club. Attempts to buy on-line have been equally frystrating so far. There is a long discussion on the BBC (Festival Sponsors) Folk & Acoustic message Board - Pointed to from the Cambridge website.

Subject: Cambridge FF tickets
From: GUEST,Ian cookieless
Date: 06 May 07 - 09:03 AM

At the time of typing I have been ringing the Cambridge Folk Fest line for tickets for literally FOUR HOURS! I have done this over and over and over, even while making and eating dinner, going to the loo, etc. I have yet to get through. I am still dialling with one hand while typing this with the other.

Is this normal for Cambridge FF? Why on Earth don't they have more lines or operators?!