Sidmouth - was it good for you?

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: GUEST,Peter
Date: 18 Aug 07 - 09:33 AM

I've been to the festival website so I can leave some feedback and I can't find any where to leave feedback!
How do you mail the organsisers?

Peter

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: mattkeen
Date: 18 Aug 07 - 09:59 AM

I know what you mean about the Ham queue,

But later on the week got more relaxed about it and starting turning up 20 mins before the concert start and got in fine though obviously had less choice of where to sit.


I though van Eyken, Yves Lambert, Devils Interval and the Spookies were all great.

Whalley & Fletcher were brill too at the Manor as was Lester Simpson

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: fiddler
Date: 18 Aug 07 - 12:48 PM

Peter, and everyone else

You seem to be right!

Or if it is there it is well hidden.

I have emailed those who need to know and suggested it be rectified.

In the meantime and feedback sent to me by pm will be passed on to the appropriate people.

That is a cast iron guarantee.

This festival means a lot to a lot of people and we need to get it right.

Andy

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: Dazbo
Date: 18 Aug 07 - 01:12 PM

I've added some clips from Sidmouth to youtube now. If you search on sidmouth folkweek 2007 you should find them. Clips include The Askew Sisters and Glorystokes.

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: GUEST, Topsie
Date: 18 Aug 07 - 05:20 PM

I once made it on foot from the Ham to standing in the bar at the Bowd (LNE) with a drink in my hand, in 35 minutes - a friend happened to be buying a round as I walked in, which was great (and I was a lot younger then).

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: fiddler
Date: 19 Aug 07 - 01:32 PM

Further to my last post: -

There is a pdf feedback form on the Sidmouth website at http://www.sidmouthfolkweek.co.uk/pdfs/2007-questionnaire.pdf

This is the same as the one which went out in hardcopy at the Festival and was included in the final Newsletter.

Some people are pasting it into word and emailing to [e-mail] which is fine.

Others are printing it out, filling it in and sending it to the address at the bottom of the feedback form – also fine.

Andy

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: Steve in Sidmouth
Date: 19 Aug 07 - 06:53 PM

Some collated comments together with copies of early local newspaper reports are here:

Sidmouth folk week 2007


I will be updating in the next few days, in the meantime any (sensible and considered) comments welcome via the email address on the webpage.

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 20 Aug 07 - 03:17 AM

Almost nothing about the music or the fringe - the two bits that would interest me if I were to go.

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: GUEST,bobcat
Date: 20 Aug 07 - 09:14 AM

The festival was good good good for me!! I had a great time.
Great workshops with Matt Norman for the mandolin..I managed better than last year! Great workshop with Nick and Mary Barber..loved being in the Ceildh band. Went to some excellent concerts. Saw my long term favourite, Martyn Wynnham-Read..Whalley and Fletcher, Mary Humphries and Anahata..Eliza and the ratcatchers...and an amazing 11year old fiddler, Kieran at the family concert and th fddle-fest who played with real feeling. One of the highlights for me was Cockersdale's presentation of Picking Sooty Blackberries.
Could do with more venues to reduce the feeling of being a sardine in a tin!! The Balfour should be back in the programme....huge space up there, not too far from the campe site and on a bus route( 20mins walk)There were a couple of fringe events there but few trekked up to see/take part..and good food there, not to mention near my lovely B&B!!

Suggestions for next year..how about getting Eric Bogle? Damian Barber and his latest Roadshow, which was tops at Dartmoor this year

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: GUEST, Topsie
Date: 20 Aug 07 - 01:57 PM

Sidmouth enthusiasts may be interested in this

ebay site that includes a Victorian watercolour of Sidmouth


it is the view looking west from Jacob's Ladder, towards Budleigh Salterton, as it was nearly 120 years ago - interesting to look at even if you are not planning to buy the picture.

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: GUEST,Crazy Man Michael
Date: 20 Aug 07 - 05:41 PM

"hasn't the faintest notion of what Sidmouth is"


a festival that's way passed it's sell by date.

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: Don(Wyziwyg)T
Date: 20 Aug 07 - 08:01 PM

Keep saying it Guest. One day you may even believe it yourself.

Prat.
Don T.

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: GUEST,Gadaffi
Date: 21 Aug 07 - 04:03 AM

Ten days later, I get round to reading the Sidmouth Herald! The story of the week was missing.

Anyone know what happened to the looney Pole who (allegedly) drew a knife on Steve Lea at The Volunteer, and precipitated a mass police raid with Devon's finest resplendent in body armour and weaponry on Monday night? Last I heard he was banged up in Exeter nick, but you know how these stories escalate from fact into fable!

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: GUEST,Crazy Man Michael
Date: 21 Aug 07 - 12:01 PM

name calling the best you can do is it? *LOL*
and I do firmly believe it....

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: Kev The Clogs
Date: 21 Aug 07 - 03:09 PM

Now now people - all of this bitching is loosing the point of the thread!!! Sidmouth = was it good for you?

I had a fantastic time!! It's my sixth Sidmouth, so I'm new to it compared to a lot of you. All festivals have their good points and their bad points - so what!!! As long as a good time (in the main) was had, then surely, it must have been good!!!

I was Stewarding for the first time this year - and I loved every minute of it!! I was in the Pavillion/Arts Centre - great team - look forward to doing it in the future.

Went to some great concerts - Show of Hands, Spookey Men, Eliza an The Rat Catchers, Altan to name but a few - superb!!

Good variety of beer in the various pubs. Good selection of food for "on the move". My B&B was good, situated between town and campsite - so car was left in Rugby club during the day acting as a wardrobe, taken to digs at teatime, then bus to Bulverton in the evening.

Spent a fair amount of time drumming for Herbascious Border. Did a few sessions - what more could you ask for!!!

THEN - left Sidmouth at 11.45pm on the Friday and drove to Broadstairs for a workshop on the Saturday morning for another week of it!!

For me, Sidmouth is one of the jewels of the season. I'll be back year after year!   Hope this gets the thread back onto a positive note??!!!!

Hope to bump into some of you in Faversham and, certainly, Knockholt!!

Happy Folking pepes :-)

Kev

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: bfdk
Date: 21 Aug 07 - 03:43 PM

Were you part of this lot then, Kev?

Best wishes,

Bente

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 21 Aug 07 - 05:08 PM

See the git with the grey top hat and the big (errm) drum? He's the reason they call them f**k festivals.

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: Rumncoke
Date: 21 Aug 07 - 05:44 PM

Ah - the Hosepipe Banned - with the front bit of the Napoli being towed away in the background.

That would have been Wednesday - I think - or Thursday maybe - the days get a bit blurred after the weekend.

I was always trying to be in two places at the same time, what with drumming with Herbaceous and singing/playing in different places around the town.

I don't know how many times I have been to Sidmouth - I do try to get there for the full week now, but in the past usually managed to visit for a day or two. I bought a tee shirt at the 25th I recall.

I don't buy a ticket, as I am not really interested in the concerts. I think I was almost entirely 'fringe' this year now they have displaced the singing from the Theatre bar. I always have a great time and need a week to recover, and I even lose weight as I don't have enough time to eat.

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: GUEST,Ralphie
Date: 22 Aug 07 - 03:37 AM

Have to agree with Kev the Clog.
Sidmouth evolves and changes as the years go by.
It's a very different festival from the one I first went to in the seventies, but, the town is the same, the sea is still the same, and I had a lovely time.
Congratulations to all the people running it.
I know how much work it takes to organise an event like that.
More power to them, and hopefully I will be back next year.
Ralph

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: Kev The Clogs
Date: 22 Aug 07 - 09:57 AM

Me again.

Yes Bente, I am the one in the grey top hat, green and yellow tatters and drum. Hoffmeister (Richard B) you are going to get me a bad reputation - I behaved myself for the whole week in Sidmouth!!!

Rumncoke, are you the snare drummer or BIG bodrahn player for Herbascious? By the tee shirt that I was wearing in the photo that Bente posted, I think it was Wednesday evening (just confirmed, as I have a copy of the photo, and it has the time that it was taken and printed on the back!.

Well done Ralphie, more positive comments!!

Kev

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: GUEST,Crazy Man Michael
Date: 22 Aug 07 - 02:03 PM

"Well done Ralphie, more positive comments!!
Kev"

this lad really tries hard doesn't he..? but opinion won't change.*LOL*

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: The Barden of England
Date: 22 Aug 07 - 04:55 PM

Where were you the GUEST, Crazy Man Michael? If not there, then where?
John Barden

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: Kev The Clogs
Date: 22 Aug 07 - 05:35 PM

Hey John,

the post above from Guest - don't even give him time!!! We had a great time and we will continue to do so. See you in Faversham, Knockholt and Deal.

Kev

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: bfdk
Date: 22 Aug 07 - 05:40 PM

Kev, here's one for your scrapbook, in case you haven't seen it yet. Looks like great fun, pity I had to leave before then..

Best wishes,

Bente

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: JennyO
Date: 23 Aug 07 - 09:44 AM

Well I just watched that, and I have to say -

YOU GUYS ARE ALL MAD!!!

What fun! Makes me want to go. Unfortunately that might be a little difficult seeing as I am in Oz. I did go once, in 2001, with the Solidarity Choir, but somehow I missed that event.

Well, you never know, if I save some pennies...

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 23 Aug 07 - 01:52 PM

I have given Jack to Severn for onward transportation to Wareham, gawd 'elp him, he has a bottle of Jim Beam Black Label, and Jack knows we didn't finish it all. He drank my Jim Beam too.
G.

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 23 Aug 07 - 02:46 PM

I enjoyed it very much, met some nice folks, glad I didn't meet some of the people who have bitched on here though.
Sal [nice to meet you at last] was right, the smell was because the tents and ground sheets were put up on wet grass, and basically the smell was silage in the making. never could understand why cows ate the smelly stuff!
The bus service is good, and CHEAP, stop moaning about the cost!
I have booked my camp site for next year, [King's Down Tail] where the owners are friendly, the showers work, and the noise is minimal.
Giok

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: John J
Date: 23 Aug 07 - 07:18 PM

Excellent video clip! Well done to whoever filmed it.

John

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 23 Aug 07 - 07:40 PM

Not quite such a good one quality-wise, as done on my wee pocket-size 4mp camera, but still fun!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WyINHzR146U

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: Rumncoke
Date: 23 Aug 07 - 07:47 PM

yes, great video, and I recognise some of the usual suspects from the Hosepipe Banned at the ford - unfortunatly I had to be elsewhere at three o'clock - but there seemed to be sufficient percusion at the riverside.

I'm the drummer of the female persuasion, with the red drum. I sing a bit so can't get to all the Herbaceous Border sessions, however, I turn up whenever I can, for as long as I can.

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: MBSLynne
Date: 24 Aug 07 - 04:37 AM

Giok, good silage with the right bacteria smells like rich fruit cake and actually makes my mouth water. It's the stuff with the wrong sort of bacteria that stinks. (You might have known I'd pop up when you mentioned cows!)

Someone told me that Malcolm Burrows campsite on the golf course at Salcombe is closed. That's where we used to go and it was great and not very expensive. Anyone know if it's true?

Love Lynne

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: DG&D Dave
Date: 24 Aug 07 - 07:50 AM

Gutted!
Change of bird, at my age! They can break your arm, you know.
Who won the DG&D?
Will I be seeing any of you at Bromyard.
Still Gutted!
"She'd a voice like a Nightingale skin like a Dove..."

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: DG&D Dave
Date: 24 Aug 07 - 07:52 AM

P.S.
When's the MBS Reunion?
Dave B.

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: MBSLynne
Date: 24 Aug 07 - 08:16 AM

I believe Idris won DG&D with Kitty second, but I'm sure she'll post with the details before long.

I wore my metaphysical Dove T-shirt. It seemed appropriate.

Love Lynne

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 24 Aug 07 - 09:53 AM

'Sright, and a young lad got third with "Paddy's Sick Note": these 3 were the only ones who really got the black humour idea.
For my sins of last year I put in the coffin a black sack containing a miniature scroll with the words of the "Sack 'em Up Boys" song about Burke and Hare, the Edinburgh body-snatchers, suitably tied with BLACK watch tartan ribbon.

THE SACK 'EM UP BOYS
Chorus
Up the Close and doon the stair,
But and ben wi' Burke and hare,
Burke's the butcher, Hare's the thief,
Knox the boy who buys the beef.

Hurry doon the Castle Wynd,
Look before and look behind,
There they wait tae tak yer life
And sell ye fur the surgeon's knife….

Auld or young or dark or fair,
It maks na mind tae Burke and Hare,
While Dr Knox peys oot the tin,
They'll sack 'em up and bring them in…

Reekie's rows are dark and drear,
Reekie's vennels reek wi' fear,
Mind yersel gaun doon the stair,
Fur fear ye meet wi' Burke and Hare…

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 24 Aug 07 - 10:01 AM

Reunion weekend is 22nd-24th Feb: sorry can't make it: will be supporting Scotland v Ireland in Dublin: we did beat 'em on the glorious 11th too!
Here's a clip of the Exmouth Shantymen in the Middle Bar, verse 394 of Bold Riley, I believe!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kcGJq1VSk1s

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: Bob TB
Date: 25 Aug 07 - 04:38 AM

Dave - Lynne is correct. Idris won DGD. Given the number of winners who have sadly passed away over the years I'm not sure a second win is a good thing. Kitty close behind with a song about the death of your beloved bird.

We were a little concerned that people are taking DGD too seriously. The spirit of the event is perhaps summed up by the memory of Lynne's brother singing a very depressing song about traffic lights and having the audience struggling to suppress laughter and retain their composure. It was a depressing song though.

(For those not in the know, Doom Gloom and Despondency is a fringe event started by the late Alan Bond almost 20 years old. There's a lovely prize for most depressing song. Anyone not behaving with suitable decorum, e.g. smiling, will be evicted. )

Bob

P.S. There are other pubs in Sidmouth, you know.

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 25 Aug 07 - 12:12 PM

Idris won the DG&D with a song about a most unfortunate person, and scored 109 points. Mine was second with 102 points. Stephen Snow came third with the Sick Note. No-one came up with a song about the Napoli or the floods.

One contestant was given nul points by one of the new judges because he declaimed a story instead of singing a song. The rules will need to be clarified and more clearly publicised in advance next year - I don't think Alan Bond would have insisted that the entry be sung rather than declaimed.

Kitty

PS My song was about displacement and absent friends:-

I went to the Theatre Bar, last year it was heaving
Every singer was a star, but they forced us to go

Now I'm in the Faulkner Bar, but my heart is still grieving
To the fringe cast afar, with no ticket to show

And the Doveites lament for the pub that is gone
They sit outside the Anchor, so sad and forlorn
And where in the wide world is a pub to compare
With the metaphysical concept on the t-shirts they wear

Broken-hearted I'll wander, broken-hearted I'll remain
For the loss of my true Dove, I'll never drink in again

When the DGD is over, oh, where will we go
To dry up our salt tears for an hour or so
When the points are all counted, and we know who has won
Will we seek consolation in a room of the Swan…?

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: GUEST
Date: 25 Aug 07 - 06:34 PM

Nice lyrics, Kitty. Although I was so shocked to find the Theatre Bar singrounds missing from the Working Programme I nearly didn't come to the Festival, in the end I thought the Faulkener was a more than adequate alternative. Thanks for keeping them going even though you weren't given a ticket. Let's hope our lobbying restores your official status next year.

I did miss being able to have my lunch at the same time - the home-cooked meals in the TB used to be very good. Was it because not many people ordered food and drink that the sessions were evicted?

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: GUEST,Gardener
Date: 30 Aug 07 - 08:30 AM

'ere, who killed all the grass in Blackmore Gardens? Where you parked the craft tent is a sea of brown earth with not a blade of grass to see even now. Next year can you please use something that doesn't kill the lawn.

Ta

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: GUEST,ms lemon
Date: 30 Aug 07 - 08:37 AM

Gardener: that's very interesting about the grass being dead. The smell coming from under that carpet was not nice! Now we know what was happening maybe?

Sal

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: GUEST,ms lemon
Date: 30 Aug 07 - 08:39 AM

Btw...
The organisers of Sidmouth could really do with contacting Allan and Sandra Surtees with regards to setting out a campsite. shrewsbury Festival's site was wonderful.

sal

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 30 Aug 07 - 04:50 PM

Come to the Wareham Wail again Sal, and you can tell them in person!

Kitty

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: GUEST,Alice Bluegown
Date: 31 Aug 07 - 04:49 PM

Yes, it was great. And Sid's Mouth is just the best!!

A.B.

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: bfdk
Date: 21 Sep 07 - 09:55 AM

At long last I got my photos sorted and made ready to go online. Sorry about the delay but here are my photos from this year's Sidmouth.

There are a good many people for whom I don't know the names, any additional naming of the various "suspects" will be added as I get the time.

Best wishes,

Bente

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 21 Sep 07 - 11:51 AM

Great stuff, Bente: you had me right back there for a while! And now I know who YOU are !
However, it's not Drumshanty in pic m 167, but me, Tattie Bogle! Drumshanty has never been to Sidmouth. Maybe Giok got us mixed up as we were going to go the Scottish Mudcatters' gathering together (now regret we can't).
Hope to see you again next year.

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: bfdk
Date: 21 Sep 07 - 12:22 PM

Ooops, sorry about that, it's hopefully been corrected by now (I tried, at any rate). I got the name from someone, obviously, but I think I'd better have the guts to say "any mistakes are on me", hadn't I? ;-)

For that particular photo I had "doomesdaylady" as working title, so now you can see which one you prefer :o))

Yes, I definitely hope I'll get the chance to go back there next year, I had a great time. And we could do with a bit of that sunny weather around here at present, the weather's turned downright nasty..

Best wishes,

Bente

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 21 Sep 07 - 12:29 PM

mea culpa

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: Susan B
Date: 21 Sep 07 - 02:14 PM

Didn't get round to posting on this when it was more active, but thought I would add a few comments on things that haven't been discussed before (unless I have missed them). There have been so many comments on the things that I *did* enjoy at the festival that I'm not going to repeat them. So don't take it that I am knocking the festival as a whole when I give more negative thoughts.

Re noisy field v. quiet field. We were definitely told that the left hand field as you came in was supposed to be the quiet field and, as such, thought it might be worth the organisers putting the tent used as a late night session tent in the other one! Ear plugs are wonderful things though.

Facilities for disabled people - the organisers seem not to know that under the Disability Discrimination Act they have a duty to take practical and reasonable steps to overcome discrimination. There seemed to be an assumption that disabled people will be elderly, not want to join in with any dancing, and won't mind if they can only access a few venues. This could then become a self-fulfilling prophecy! Info on venues in the programme was very hit and miss. We emailed the Festival as soon as we found that our daughter was going to need to use a wheelchair, but never had any reply to our queries and only had a very dismissive response (from the Tourist info office?) when we phoned the info line. In the actual week we reached someone much more helpful, but it was rather late to put some things in place.

Needing disabled access we hadn't much choice about where we could camp and the area reserved for "disabled" was almost the most sloping and uneven that there was! We moved to the caravan row, but it was still not as level as the areas along the top edge of the field, which were all taken. And, disabled people do need to wash sometime during the week! Particularly young, sweaty campers! The disabled toilet had no washing facilities in it. Luckily we could get my daughter up into the showers as she can still walk a bit, but next year maybe not. And it would have been a fairly simple task to provide a ramp to one of the shower units.

The buses were great - they are the only reason why we continue to camp on the Festival site. They allow freedom for everyone in the family to get around independently and all get back for supper together. They must reduce congestion in the town considerably and I, for one, am happy to pay my £20 a week. Using the car would be a lot less convenient and more expensive in parking fees. And a big thank-you to the bloke who removed the wheelchair-and-pushchair-obstructing-bar in the middle of the doorway!

I notice in the comments about younger folkies and older ones that no-one has mentioned the age segregation that appears to be encouraged by the "Bulverton only" tickets (which were the only student concession tickets, I think). My daughter (the mad one with pink hair and a wheelchair) and a friend were just under the 18 years age limit this year, so were able to go to anything that appealed, but said that there was no way that they want the "Bulverton only" option next year. They found the Bulverton events in the evenings boring because they were disco type things, and some others they spoke to said that they were only hanging out there because they couldn't afford the Gold tickets.

RE amplified music on the prom - did anyone else notice that the music of the panpipe "player" didn't always stop when he took his mouth away from the pan pipes! And people were still giving him money! It would be much better for the festival if the police did enforce the "no amplified music" bit. I was playing happily on the front one day and then got drowned out by an amplified group that set up really close. And most of the amplified lot couldn't care two hoots for the festival; it's just seen as a cash opportunity - they migrate to anywhere there will be a lot of people and they are crowding out the folk musicians.

Andy says to send comments to Sidmouth, which I did, but it would be nice if our comments were acknowledged in some way. I went to the link provided further up, but couldn't see any of my comments represented. As it is, sadly, I don't even know if my comments have got through to those who need to read them. We want to come next year, but need to know if we will be able to manage, without making my daughter feel like a second class citizen.

And, lastly, I have offered to help if the organisation needs any advice on reasonable, practical solutions to disability access. So, I'm not being negative without offering to do something about it!

Susan B

Subject: RE: Sidmouth - was it good for you?
From: Surreysinger
Date: 21 Sep 07 - 02:48 PM

Thanks for posting the photos bfdk. Sadly, as I don't have broadband yet, it takes too long for them to load to look at many, but I've had a chance to dip, and to find faces for some names!! Even found one event that I'd been to, as well :-)