Glasson Maritime Weekend - Easter 08

Subject: RE: Glasson Maritime Weekend - Easter 08
From: The Sandman
Date: 06 Jun 08 - 03:57 AM

will there be another Glasson?

Subject: RE: Glasson Maritime Weekend - Easter 08
From: GUEST,spb-cooperator
Date: 05 Jun 08 - 02:39 PM

Searching through a pile of folkmagazine thgat were languishing at the back of the bottom draw of my filing cabinet, I found a historical document.

Printed on two sheets of double-sided A4, and folded and stapled to make an A5 'booklet'.......

The programme for the first ever lancaster Maritime Festival!

Even in 1989 viositors were warned to beware of the press gang.

I can't remember if we stayed overnight and went home the next morening, or if it was a day trip, but we did two half-hour and one fifteen minute set on Good Friday,the first ever song of the festival at 11:30 am in the museum.

Does anyone know of the subsequent fortunes of Messrs Charlie Gillow, Jeremy Craven, Larry Harrison, John Parkinson, Pat Gallagher, Ted Thompson and Cameron & Duncan Leckie?


Ahoj


Steve (ex Shanty Crew)

Subject: RE: Glasson Maritime Weekend - Easter 08
From: kerry and Mandy
Date: 05 Apr 08 - 04:50 AM

sorry guys the last post from guest was us, ?????
dont know why

Subject: RE: Glasson Maritime Weekend - Easter 08
From: GUEST
Date: 04 Apr 08 - 08:59 PM

Back to the music of the weekend! Apart from our personal favourites (and you know who you are!!)I think Andy Kenna's medley was totally outstanding and brilliant fun. Another fabulous weekend, well done guys, cany wait till next years (fingers and everything else crossed!)

Subject: RE: Glasson Maritime Weekend - Easter 08
From: The Sandman
Date: 02 Apr 08 - 06:39 PM

In my opinion,Glasson 2008 was an improvement on 2007.
From a performers point of view the Village hall was a good venue,the function room at the Stork inn was also good,I played two concerts there which were well attended.,and enjoyable.
The Village hall could be improved by providing more comfortable chairs.
marquees/tents are in my opinion never enjoyable be they at Towersey/ Bromyard or Glasson,.
on one or two occasions[for different reasons] I have not enjoyed the noisy pubs in Lancaster either.
It is very difficult for organisers to get everything right about a festival,and at every festival there will always be some venues that are preferable to others,and providing that performers get a fair share of the good venues as well as the not so good,we have to take the rough with the smooth.
I am sure that if the organisers had better alternatives to the marquees they would be used.
I would like to thank the organisers for running this years festival and wish them every success if they continue to run this festival.http://www.dickmiles.com

Subject: RE: Glasson Maritime Weekend - Easter 08
From: Tyke
Date: 01 Apr 08 - 08:15 PM

Getting back to Chantying on this trip as usual Johnny Collins was our honoured Cook and Captain Ken Stocks at the wheel. When most of these Photographs were taken.

The Foretop Men on board the Julia AF Faarborg. Songs South Austrialia and Bullyin the Alley

Subject: RE: Glasson Maritime Weekend - Easter 08
From: Tyke
Date: 01 Apr 08 - 07:51 PM

Derek Gifford - Sailing By

Subject: RE: Glasson Maritime Weekend - Easter 08
From: Charmain
Date: 01 Apr 08 - 05:56 PM

Thankyou Mr Wright - thats most helpful...

Subject: RE: Glasson Maritime Weekend - Easter 08
From: GUEST,Mr. Wright
Date: 01 Apr 08 - 01:04 PM

It might sound obvious Charmain, but Mr. Gifford seems to be a good starting point, in your quest for the aforesaid lyrics - but then you would have to reveal your true identity. Therefore, an alternative would be to listen to a recorded version. Derek's diction is sufficiently clear,I think, for you to be able to pick out all the words by this method. You will also be able to retain your charmingly infuriating, enigmatic persona.

Subject: RE: Glasson Maritime Weekend - Easter 08
From: Charmain
Date: 01 Apr 08 - 11:29 AM

That little smattering of sarcasm was obviously not in response to GUEST,spb-cooperator's post...

Subject: RE: Glasson Maritime Weekend - Easter 08
From: Charmain
Date: 01 Apr 08 - 11:27 AM

Ooooh - Hello Kettle, I'm Pot - you're black!!


but not to be accused of going off topic or promoting someone else's event through this thread or bickering to no purpose...

Does anyone have the lyrics to Derek Gifford's "Kent and Keer and Lune" another beautiful song sung over the Easter weekend which I would love to learn!

Subject: RE: Glasson Maritime Weekend - Easter 08
From: GUEST,spb-cooperator
Date: 01 Apr 08 - 11:26 AM

I was hoping to do a day trip but the weather conditions put me off the 500 mile round trip. I miss the camarady of the festival, for 18 years it was almost like a home from home.

It is a pity that such a internationally renowned event is subject to local political whims, and maybe the festival, and other festivals should start to promote its national significance.

Subject: RE: Glasson Maritime Weekend - Easter 08
From: Tyke
Date: 01 Apr 08 - 11:12 AM

The igloo that blighted my life anyone got the words for it?

Subject: RE: Glasson Maritime Weekend - Easter 08
From: Mr Happy
Date: 01 Apr 08 - 08:24 AM

Tyke,

Meself & the Fiends were most glad've your attendance along with Dozy Rozy & chum.

All've you made a splendid addition to our Peak District do & particularly memorable for your rendition of the Bullfighter song, & Rozy's 'John Ball'.

No probs camping either - if you didn't get stuck in a snowdrift!

Subject: RE: Glasson Maritime Weekend - Easter 08
From: Black belt caterpillar wrestler
Date: 01 Apr 08 - 07:45 AM

Not just to put the cat amongst the pigeons, but Ron Baxter's performance in the last sing-around of his hilarious song about Morecambe set to the tune of "The band played Waltzing Matilda".
It did seem to ring true about certain Morecambe residents.

Subject: RE: Glasson Maritime Weekend - Easter 08
From: GUEST,Paul Sirman
Date: 01 Apr 08 - 06:42 AM

Thanks Charmain for that, very kind of you. I did get rather emotional during that song. I always think the lyric's are appropriate regarding the festival.

Subject: RE: Glasson Maritime Weekend - Easter 08
From: Ross Campbell
Date: 31 Mar 08 - 10:31 PM

"Venezuela" from Trim Rig and a Doxy. Which led me to Youtube looking for shanties (to counter the post-festival withdrawal symptoms) where I found the original version from
John Jacob Niles
a true original himself.

Ross

Subject: RE: Glasson Maritime Weekend - Easter 08
From: Charmain
Date: 31 Mar 08 - 09:07 PM

Phew...

that was a bit odd...

anyhooo - where were we ---- oh yes the council are going to kill this MUSIC festival unless its supporters put pen to paper etc...

but for those of you who were there - any favourite songs/singers/moments?

Of a weekend full of beautiful song I think mine has to be Paul Sirman singing "The Mary Ellen Carter" at the Last Night Do!!!

Subject: RE: Glasson Maritime Weekend - Easter 08
From: Tyke
Date: 31 Mar 08 - 01:13 PM

Correction I have just received a PM from Charman. As a result I have checked my sent messages and it would appear that the Message I did send to him or her has not been archived. I did however send Charman a message however due to the possible failure in transmission I am prepared to apologise to him her who ever she or he is? Publicly as requested sorry.

Subject: RE: Glasson Maritime Weekend - Easter 08
From: Tyke
Date: 31 Mar 08 - 12:59 PM

My dear Guest, Killer Whale, you are a guest you should be a little politer to the Mudcat membership and that includes myself.

I am on the mailing list I did receive a mailing as I said just 4 days before the festival and I did visit the festival website. The information that I required was not included.

Please note that this part of the Mudcat is about Music and the promotion of if you want a discussion start a new thread using BS. You are pushing other festivals and music promoter's wishing to advertise their events for free! Out!

The Mudcat is free to join although there are many good Mudcatters who. Hold events and raise funds to help with its costs. The use of this site by Guests is allowed however Guests are expected to meet certain standards.

Presumably you want people to come to the Lancaster Maritime Festival in 2009 I think most people will be put off coming along to it with all this bickering. My advice is to take it elsewhere. If you truly are a supporter to what I have been told by my many friends is a brilliant festival. My only complaint about the festival the year I did attend was that the Pub ran out of Beer!

Join the Mudcat and tell us about yourself if you are open, honest and fair-minded. Stay as a Guest if you want write poison pen additions few of the Mudcat Community will take any notice of your words. If Charman who is already suffering from multiple personalities has run out of fake email address she/he is could now be you!

Oh and some Mudcatters wonder why Max saves all PM's (Personal Messages) sent to other Mudcatters by Other Mudcatters. But save them he dose I will make the PM that I sent to Charman (The one he or she denies receiving) public if you wish. However Guest Killer Whale I will give you the benefit of the doubt and put it down to your hormones during your pregnancy. Confused? Look up the name for a Pregnant Fish.

Subject: RE: Glasson Maritime Weekend - Easter 08
From: GUEST,killer whale
Date: 31 Mar 08 - 07:55 AM

Dear Tyke , don't take yourself and the world so seriously and please don't try and tell other people what comments they can or can't make about politicians, local or international, on media like mudcat - its only an electronic chat forum, for christsake.
If you had been on the mailing list like me, or googled and visited shanty.co.uk, like I also did, you would have known what was going on in sufficient time to sort out a visit, should you have chosen to be there. I presume that you weren't and therefore missed a treat. Join the merry band of festival supporters trying to ensure that this festival survives. And sorry, I believe that what the Informer says is true.Uncomfortable, but true.

To the Chairman/Charmain, don't be scared off by the unpleasant outburst from Tyke, we'd like to hear your continuing thougths on this subject, be you man, woman or member of the press gang.

Subject: RE: Glasson Maritime Weekend - Easter 08
From: Tyke
Date: 31 Mar 08 - 06:26 AM

Good! Lets get this back to promoting Music. If you want a discussion on any other subject start a chat room or a new thread using BS that is what it's there for.

Subject: RE: Glasson Maritime Weekend - Easter 08
From: Charmain
Date: 31 Mar 08 - 05:49 AM

Replying to Tyke - Ouch!

I have one and only one alias and this is it - and its Charmain not Chairman - I'm a lady you know - I have never recieved a PM from you Tyke - if I had I would have replied to the best of my ability.

As for camping - I've never known there be a camping facility attached to the Maritime Festival - other noticing that The Dalton Arms had some campervans in their car-park this year - possibly you are confusing it with the Glasson Folk Festival which has run in the summer over the past couple of years.

You may be right though that this thread has moved away from music and towards something else - which I took to be the future (or not) of the festival...

"Knocking the local politicians on an international level is ridiculous" - in the context of this festival you are right - it would be - but I don't think I have done that have I?

Anyway - after such a unfounded and confused attack I think I shall retire from this thread - I just hope that there are enough people out there who have the desire and the will to put pen to paper and help to try and secure this festival for future years.

Subject: RE: Glasson Maritime Weekend - Easter 08
From: Ross Campbell
Date: 30 Mar 08 - 11:16 PM

A boring ship's surgeon? Puts a (w)hole new light on
"One night I was trepanned, by the Press Gang on the strand".

Ross

Subject: RE: Glasson Maritime Weekend - Easter 08
From: Tyke
Date: 30 Mar 08 - 09:16 PM

Well I did not end attend this year's festival having received late and little or no information regarding Camping,

I did receive the brochure for the event by post out by Lancaster just 4 day's before the Easter Weekend. This is typical waste of community resources a posh brochure costing a large amount of money that looks good but serves little purpose. This should have been mailed out at least a month before. Why do councils do that?

I have to say that is now taking place on the Mudcat is doing little to promote or encourage this event ether. It's my view that the politics of funding and Local Government are a local matter. Knocking the local politicians on an international level is ridiculous. It has nothing to do with Music and as such should be moved else ware on the Mudcat.

As for the Chairman who now appears to think it funny to hide his identity with multiple aliases and thinks it amusing, I had put down his failure to response to my PM asking for information, before the start of the festival as an over sight due to the pressures of work, I now discover it was nothing to do with that at all. This person who whilst posing as a friend and oracle of all knowledge with the best interests of The Lancaster Maritime Festival at heart seems to be giving himself delusions of grandeur to reach as much havoc as he can!

You will note that none of the Artists have contributed anything but a positive image of this festival. To them and the genuine organizers I say well-done keep up the good work. You obviously had a difficult wet and windy weekend and I may make another attempt to get to your festival next year 2009.

Subject: RE: Glasson Maritime Weekend - Easter 08
From: Charmain
Date: 30 Mar 08 - 08:10 PM

Alas - I am undone.... or am I?

Despite the nastertiums cast in the direction of my true identity I have to plead with everyone who might read this thread to listen and take heed of the previous post.

There are people who want this event dead and buried - and they don't care how or where and the only reason for this is pure local political jealousy. The only way to save it is to campaign - write, write and write again...

Alas as Ship's Sturgeon, Fathom is ill-equipped for the task possessing only fins and not 'aving 'ad much of han heducation in the way of letters...

Subject: RE: Glasson Maritime Weekend - Easter 08
From: GUEST,The Informer
Date: 30 Mar 08 - 07:11 AM

The definitive position is this, believe me. The festival would not exist if it was not primarily undertaken as a tourism promotion, bringing substantial economomic benefit to the North Lancashire economy. Lancaster City Council does/will not allocate the significant funds needed to run such a major festival, just for the sake of promoting the arts or providing a platform for local 'folk' musicians. However, the main vision in establishing the festival was to develop and celebrate the area's inherent maritime resources, particularly the cultural heritage.

Thus it was possible, quite legitimately, for sea song and shanty performances to be made a prime attraction in the procedings.Lancaster's maritime festival was created by the Council's then Tourism Development Officer, now Senior Festivals & Events Officer, who still directs all aspects of the festival with the help of a highly motivated, hard working production team, which has come together to keep the festival afloat, through stormy weather, rough seas and periods of being becalmed. The great body of festival supporters, especially the Shipmates and local voluntary helpers from Glasson, have provided inspiration that has kept the team motivated through very difficult times in recent years.

It needs to be made clear that all the uncertainty and rumours of problems, which have accompanied the festival over the last four or five years are nothing at all to do with any shortcomings or failings.In fact the opposite is the case. They result from it being an acclaimed award-winning success, which combines the nation's premier showcase of traditonal maritime music, with a programme of entertaining and more thoughtful, maritime themed events and activities - and almost free of charge. It has been a guiding principle that no one should be left out, because they could not afford to attend and many 'non folkie' visitors have been introduced, not just to sea songs and shanties, but to traditional and other 'folk' music. Most of these people are now confirmed addicts and regular attenders, not having the hang-ups of a few local folk- scene people, who don't seem to support the festival,or criticise it, mainly it seems, because it doesn't provide them with a stage and spotlight to perform their own ( non maritime )music - though of course, everyone is welcome to attend the singarounds and join in choruses.

No, the problem is not with any failure, but with the envy and jealousy of a few key individuals who have managed to disrupt preparations and create an ongoing situation of underfunding, negativity and uncertainty. Sadly, it is essentially a local political matter.

All those who love this festival, who feel a part of it and who cannot bear to see it dissapear for the wrong reasons, must stand up and be counted. Otherwise, without doubt, the 2008 Glasson Maritime Weekend will be the last.

Festival Supporters might wish to circulate this information beyond the readership of Mudcat. By the way, I thought everyone knew that Charmain was one of the many alias's of Fathom, the boring ship's surgeon in the festival's Press Gang.

Subject: RE: Glasson Maritime Weekend - Easter 08
From: GUEST,Chilly Fingers
Date: 30 Mar 08 - 05:52 AM

I started the post festival debate on this thread and as there is a little negativity creeping in I think there is need to call a halt to that direction.
Whatever the Victoria decided to do is their decision.
The situation with the local radio can always be addressed if the festival continues.
It is time now to give those closest to the event the time to reflect on its successes/failures as they see it. If there is a desire to continue then there should be a calling for all the positives to be aired, not only on the partially enclosed world of mudcat but in the wider press and media.
There were many locals who did voice their opinion to us in a positive way, so they are the voices that would have to be asked to help also.
The energy and desire to reach the 21st event needs to be there though, heads on brick walls can only go on for so long!!!

Subject: RE: Glasson Maritime Weekend - Easter 08
From: Ross Campbell
Date: 29 Mar 08 - 09:06 PM

The Monday night session is an informal affair run, as I said, by local singers and musicians, The fact that they use the Victoria Hotel is coincidental, the Victoria presumably allows them the use of the space in the absence of any other commercial opportunity on a Monday night (Glasson Dock is a very small village). Like all such pubs nowadays, the Victoria relies on serving food rather than drink for its living. The Dalton Arms didn't have to give up any of their tables to accommodate the festival, that's what the marquee was for. The Stork (half-a-mile away in Conder Green) had a bit more space available indoors, so were able to host singaround sessions and concerts. The festival of its nature is a largely free event as far as both visitors and locals are concerned. There are a couple of concerts for which a reasonable fee is charged. Aside from local authority funding, the festival depends on the generosity of private sponsors. It is not unusual to expect commercial premises to contribute to be part of such an event, the usual expectation being that they will more than cover their outlay through increased custom linked to the festival. Presumably the Victoria made a commercial decision based on their own assessment. It's a shame the festival didn't get them on board. No doubt they benefitted from the extra numbers of visitors over the weekend, but then so did the Lock-keepers Rest, and Lantern o'er the Lune cafes and the (at risk) village post office and shop.

Ross

Subject: RE: Glasson Maritime Weekend - Easter 08
From: Barry Finn
Date: 29 Mar 08 - 07:30 PM

My 2 cents from afar. If the Monday evening sessions were a local event hosted weekly then it seems to me that they should've been invited into the festival "free of charge" as an honory musical host of the local talent thay they support all yr round. When trying to bring in the tourists & others from far away, it would behove the oginizers to include those that are the all year round attraction & not ask them to "pay up" for an inclusion to what they are already an indigious part of.
You don't set up tent next to the tribe then ask the tribe to pay to be a part of their own cultural experience.

Just my take from afar

Barry

Subject: RE: Glasson Maritime Weekend - Easter 08
From: GUEST
Date: 29 Mar 08 - 06:13 PM

refresh

Subject: RE: Glasson Maritime Weekend - Easter 08
From: kerry and Mandy
Date: 29 Mar 08 - 03:31 AM

eeeeeeeeeeeee you bugger , come on tell us????????
linda's sat here going mad now.

Subject: RE: Glasson Maritime Weekend - Easter 08
From: Charmain
Date: 28 Mar 08 - 09:58 PM

Special message for Kerry, Mandy, Paul and Linda - who am I? what am I? heeheehee!!!

Subject: RE: Glasson Maritime Weekend - Easter 08
From: Charmain
Date: 28 Mar 08 - 09:08 AM

You're right black belt - the hurdy-gurdy fest did have money from the "Festival Innovations Fund" last year and I think they got some this year too - thing is that the council can't apply to themselves through this scheme to fund the Easter Maritime Festival - If I am as reliably infornmed as I think I am, the EMF costs about 30K+ to stage and the vast majority (at least two thirds) of that comes from sponsorship.
The main reason that the EMF is so well organised and run is because the council department responsible employ skilled people to work on the festival - now I'm not saying that the gurdyfest wasn't well done last year and I'm sure it will be a success this year too but to sustain excellence on this scale over a number if years takes more than a few helpful volunteers types willing to work all the hours God sends for seven days on the trot recieving only thanks and a free ticket to some workshops in exchange.
If the EMF were to be run by anyone other than the Council it would lose one of its most important aspects - it would inevitably have to become a paying festival which would then nessecitate a total restructuring of the way the festival presents itself - there would be an end to music played for free in the pubs, an end to the free street theatre and Punch and Judy shows etc etc - in effect it would no longer the Festival that so many people know and love.

Subject: RE: Glasson Maritime Weekend - Easter 08
From: Ross Campbell
Date: 28 Mar 08 - 09:08 AM

Pint & Dale are the only Maritime/Hurdy-Gurdy connection I can think of so far. Although I recall seeing an Italian band at one of the Liverpool Shanty fests who I'm nearly sure had a hurdy-gurdy in the line-up.

I seem to remember a hurdy-gurdy event in Lancaster many years (20?) ago, held in the Georgian Club. Could have been part of the Clocks-Back Festival (yet another of Lancaster's secret treasures).

Ross

Subject: RE: Glasson Maritime Weekend - Easter 08
From: Black belt caterpillar wrestler
Date: 28 Mar 08 - 08:28 AM

Someone has found their way through to the grant information Ross, I'm fairly sure that's how the Lancaster International Hurdy-Gurdy festival got started last year.
The next one's 25th-27th April, clashing with playing for John o' Gaunt morris men and Wrigley Head at Horwich on the Saturday, but I should managed to get to some of it.
Can anyone think of Maritime/Hurdy-Gurdy connections that might lead to mutual promotion?

Subject: RE: Glasson Maritime Weekend - Easter 08
From: Charmain
Date: 28 Mar 08 - 05:08 AM

Ah well thats not quite as cheeky of them them as I initially thought (quietly gets down off high horse) ... Although (re-mounts high horse with impressive leap) they did have Bay Radio promoting them as if they were part of the festival over the weekend - I find it rather odd that they chose to hang onto the festival's coatails rather than paying a few squid and being a real part of it - I assumed it was because they don't like folkie-folk - but if they have a music session there on Monday's every week it makes it seem even more odd that they didn't want to join in like everybody else...?

Subject: RE: Glasson Maritime Weekend - Easter 08
From: Ross Campbell
Date: 27 Mar 08 - 10:33 PM

As I understand it the Monday night session is a weekly event run by locals, no connection to the festival.

Ross

Subject: RE: Glasson Maritime Weekend - Easter 08
From: Charmain
Date: 27 Mar 08 - 06:20 PM

hoho - my thunder stolen again!!

Subject: RE: Glasson Maritime Weekend - Easter 08
From: Charmain
Date: 27 Mar 08 - 06:20 PM

The Monday night session in the Victoria was not part of the festival - The Victoria pub were asked if they would like to be a part of the Maritime Weekend but balked at paying whatever the going rate was for a spot in the programme. They tagged themselves onto the festival by inviting the Bay Radio to come down over the weekend and (as I see here) by having a Monday night session - I know for a fact that the other businesses at Glasson (especially the very supportive Dalton Arms and Stork Hotel) were extremely angry about their behaviour which was seen by many as being underhand and unfair.

The lack of posters locally was a result of the organisers being given direct instruction NOT to promote the festival in the last few weeks running up to Easter and having been refused permission to spend any of their budget on local advertising.

Subject: RE: Glasson Maritime Weekend - Easter 08
From: GUEST,Glasson attender
Date: 27 Mar 08 - 06:17 PM

First I have heard of a session in the Victoria on the Monday, but it doesn't surprise me one jot - freeloaders. Wouldn't be involved as an official venue, because that would have meant making a small financial contribution to the Festival - sent the organisers who wanted to involve them away with a flea in their ear - but then paid Bay Radio to come down and broadcast from there on Easter Saturday, as part of the Maritime Festival and wanted the organisers and artists to go in there to do interviews and sing etc. They aren't popular in Glasson at all. Happy to take all the benefits but won't contribute to it. Even if the organisers had known it was on, why would they have wanted to promote it? It wasn't part of the Festival.

Subject: RE: Glasson Maritime Weekend - Easter 08
From: Ross Campbell
Date: 27 Mar 08 - 05:40 PM

I met a local resident (CT) who mentioned the Victoria Monday night session while we were discussing concertinas after Dick Miles' Saturday Dalton Arms and Frozen Fingers set. Hope to get there someday (couldn't go on Easter Monday because I went to the final bash in the village hall).

I've been attending the festival since it started, both as a punter and as a performer when the occasion offered. The organisers have consistently brought the best available talent in the field of sea songs and shanties to Lancaster through the years, and there can be no doubting the high regard accorded to David, Val and the rest of the team by anyone who has been the least bit aware of their work. Aside from the Maritime Festival, they were responsible for the Old Calendar Walks program which ran for many years, introducing locals and visitors alike to some of the more esoteric aspects of Lancaster's streets and their history. The Georgian Festival, Jacobite Festival, Guy Fawkes night, Fish and Chips Festival in Morecambe and other events (all now abandoned) brought people out in their thousands.

Unfortunately, as Council employees their remit has changed as departments get shuffled from one budgetary column to another to match changing targets. And despite the council's own website offering grant assistance to any proposed festival that targets tourism (it's hard to find your way to it, but it's there!), there seems to be no local recognition of the multiplier effect that local authority spending on such a festival as this generates - Blackpool and Lancashire Tourism reckoned that last year's Maritime Festival brought in excess of £250,000 spending to the area.

For the past few years the organisers have been bashing their heads against a brick wall.
When you realise that there is someone on the other side of the wall with a demolition ball, you have to admire their persistence, but I worry for their continued health and welfare.

Ross

Subject: RE: Glasson Maritime Weekend - Easter 08
From: Black belt caterpillar wrestler
Date: 27 Mar 08 - 04:41 PM

As I said I'm just putting forward what I have picked up as local perceptions.
I knew that the festival was on OK. I saw it in the local press, on the internet in several places, and heard about it on at least three radio programs, however, I still ran into local folkies who were not sure if it was on, or had forgotten about it.
The most often heard remark was that they hadn't seen any posters.
Now I haven't been in the area for that many years but I have been told that there have never been any posters up locally. This fits in with the emphasis on advertising in a way to get "outsiders" to come to the festival, but even for them it must be a bit disquieting to not find any local advertising.
Perhaps some of those AA signs that you see for events would be appropriate; It's not just vehicle owners that take note of them.

Yes, we have a fair number of prima-donna types around in the Lancaster area I'm afraid, but then we do have a lot of musicians so I expect the ratio is fairly normal:)
How many festival attendees knew that there was a session in the Victoria on Monday night, by the way?

Subject: RE: Glasson Maritime Weekend - Easter 08
From: Charmain
Date: 27 Mar 08 - 09:03 AM

Ouch I had my first 100 pinched from under my very nose!!

Subject: RE: Glasson Maritime Weekend - Easter 08
From: Charmain
Date: 27 Mar 08 - 09:02 AM

I think you possibly have at least one valid point there "black belt" - but I don't think that people from out side the area should feel that they can't appeal to the council on the festivals behalf - if enough non-locals did so then surely it would show that the event was acheiving what it set out to acheive in the first place (get tourists into the area). If enough people wrote and said how much they loved it and how much money they spent and let slip that they had stayed in Morecambe rather than Lancaster it might have an effect on some of the festivals detractors in the council...

There are lots of people who enjoy the festival who are from the local area - not to mention the local businesses who have benefitted from it over the years - it always amazed me that the management team of the Maritime Museum did not put up more of a fight to keep the festival on the Quayside - their visitor numbers must have plummeted since the event moved to Glasson. I think there are enough supporters for there to be a sizable effort made to persuade the council - it is just a matter of doing it!

But as for local people not knowing that it is on - it has been going for twenty years and is in every local paper and on the local radio stations - so I'm not sure there is much of an excuse... alas having been involved in small scale events in my home village I realise that even if you put a flyer through every single door there will still be people who had no clue anything was happening.

I think the most classic example of this was when a couple of years ago at the Maritime Festival I heard someone exclaim in a slightly cross manner that if they hadn't have heard about the festival on Radio Lancashire the day before they would have had no idea it was happening....hmmmmmmm....

Local musicians prefer to perform rather than listen? Isn't that a little prima donna-ish?

There were three hour-and three quarter singarounds over the weekend...

And non of the performers object to people joining in with the singing...

but I digress - the point is anyone who loves or benfits from the event should feel entitled to write to the papers, the council, the Prince of Wales (a supporter of the festival apparantly) whoever...

It would be nice to see it rise from the ashes in style for its 21st Birthday in April 2009.

Subject: RE: Glasson Maritime Weekend - Easter 08
From: Leadfingers
Date: 27 Mar 08 - 08:53 AM

100

Subject: RE: Glasson Maritime Weekend - Easter 08
From: GUEST,The black belt caterpillar wrestler
Date: 27 Mar 08 - 08:33 AM

One of the problems with the maritime festival is that is has always been run with a "tourist" slant to it rather than a "folky" slant. As such, it has hoped to bring in people from outside the area.
And those people have come.
And they have enjoyed it.
And as "outsiders" they are disenfranchised from getting back at certain council representatives who don't wish to see the festival continue.
The locals, who do have the power, have not had the same targeted encouragement to attend the festival, and many don't even realise that it is on.
In my experience the local musicians and singers are also keen to perfom rather than listen and the format of the festival has always been low on sing-arounds etc.

Hoping that this explanation of how a local perceives the festival will shed light on the situation.

Subject: RE: Glasson Maritime Weekend - Easter 08
From: Charmain
Date: 27 Mar 08 - 07:24 AM

Well said Lancastrian!

Subject: RE: Glasson Maritime Weekend - Easter 08
From: GUEST,Lancastrian at Glasson
Date: 27 Mar 08 - 06:02 AM

I feel sorry for Red Rose Blue Nose - what an uncompromising, miserable, self-centered individual. Their argument seems to be with the weather not the organisation, but uses the excuse of the unseasonal elements to slag off the organisational team, who I know are held in the greatest esteem by the artists and and the great body of visiting public. Yes,I did see the two marquees, but the truth is that they merely had one panel open for access(no doubt a health and safety regulation)rather than being open-sided, as the miserable, moaning blue nose exagerates. Also, I didn't need to make a special effort to keep warm, as common sense told me to dress appropriately for the weather. Blue nose claims knowledge of the local political situation, but then shows a complete ignorance of the matter. There is strong political support from most of the council for the festival to continue. Also, there is no major festival like this in the country, much of it held in the open with popular appeal (not just for us folkies)that can be funded by 'the attenders themselves'. Why doesn't blue nose do something positive like start campaigning for the local council to properly fund the festival and be proud of it. Or would they prefer that 2008 was the last ?

Subject: RE: Glasson Maritime Weekend - Easter 08
From: GUEST,Red Rose, Blue Nose
Date: 26 Mar 08 - 09:29 PM

As I said, the performers and MC's worked very hard in difficult circumstances. Perhaps some of you like to suffer to hear your music but I don't. Sorry that I don't sing from the approved hymn book; I was just explaining why the numbers will be further depleted next year (by at least 3 of us...). Frankly, life's too short and there are other good music festivals on at Easter.

The poster, Lancastrian at Glasson, who didn't see an open-sided marquee obviously didn't stumble as far as the Dalton car park. Perhaps he/she was too busy trying to keep warm elsewhere or perhaps the sleet impeded his/her view.

I live locally and am aware of the tawdry politics surrounding the festival. But if there is no political will to have it and attenders are not willing to fund it themselves then a rethink is required. Moreover if the residents and businesses of Glasson village can't be persuaded to offer up suitable venues (rather than expecting visitors to sit under an awning in a pub car park in a March blizzard) then it's time to call it a day.

I don't doubt the sincerity of the tiny organisational team but I think that failings ought to be recognised and learned from.