UK folkies - Sidmouth Festival?

Subject: UK folkies - Sidmouth Festival?
From: KingBrilliant
Date: 15 Jun 99 - 07:47 AM

We are going to the above this year for the first time. Camping + staying on for the eclipse (they are keeping the site open). Is anyone going, or has anyone been before that could tell me what it's like? Eg. How close are the venues to the camp site, & are there shops etc nearby, & most importantly what it the atmosphere like?

Kris

Subject: RE: UK folkies - Sidmouth Festival?
From: Jane Bird
Date: 15 Jun 99 - 09:08 AM

Sidmouth, in short, is brilliant! The atmosphere is great. It's a pretty big festival, so there's something there for everyone. Lots of concerts, ceilidhs, more specialised dances, song and music sessions, workshops, and great big shows in the open air Arena Theatre. The latter consist of international dance shows (lots of different teams from all over the world) and sometimes concerts. In previous years Oysterband, Natalie McMaster and Stockton's Wing have done evening concerts there.

The camp site is about 15-20 mintues walk from the sea front. The Arena Theatre and showground, the Concert Marquee and most of the small workshop and session venues are in town. All of these are at most within 10 minustes ealking distance of each other. However, two of the major venues: the Bowd and Bulverton Marquees are out of town. The Bulverton (where a lot of the workshops and ceilidhs happen) is next to the camp site, a few mintues away. The Bowd is about 20 minutes walk from the camp site. But fear not, there's a frequent bus service available.

There are lots of shops in town, but there are also food stalls near all of the major venues and lots of stall at the Arena Showground.

I've been going for the last five years and it's great fun!

Hope you enjoy it.
Jane

Subject: RE: UK folkies - Sidmouth Festival?
From: The Shambles
Date: 15 Jun 99 - 01:45 PM

All of the above is true......But if it rains?

The best bit of Sidmouth for me and it is free, is the sea front. In a walk along there, you will experience just about every type of music, musician and instrument....It is worth the trip alone.

Subject: RE: UK folkies - Sidmouth Festival?
From: Jo Taylor
Date: 15 Jun 99 - 07:14 PM

Oh I wish...used to go every year, but I have a B&B to run in France and we're much too busy in the first week of August... I used to work as a steward - 2-3 hours work a day in return for a free season ticket. I love the variety - the day trippers see the Arena shows but there is so much more that goes on under the surface - for interminable Irish sessions (N.O.I. - that's what I play at the moment!) go to the Anchor, for more eclectic sessions the Radway Inn - Kris (or anyone), say hello to my friend Nigel - an excellent melodeon player who's always to be found there in the evenings - a creature of habit so I reckon he'll still be there for dinner at 7.30ish (or later on if there's a good concert!) Fond memories, and some not so fond, such as attempting a saxophone workshop at 9am after being up until 5am drinking whiskey (think it was the sort with an 'e' in it...) I could go on...
Jo

Subject: RE: UK folkies - Sidmouth Festival?
From: Jo Taylor
Date: 15 Jun 99 - 08:02 PM

I think my French friend Christian will be going - he was going to England in August anyway and I told him all about it, he was determined to attend last time I spoke to him - say hello to him too! He's the fiddler in the Mudcat photo album, with me on the big yellow stage... despite being a big festival it's amazing who you keep meeting!
On the weekend immediately following Sidmouth there's the Dartmoor Folk Festival - a tiny one in comparison - no 'big names' but a really good atmosphere.
Jo

Subject: RE: UK folkies - Sidmouth Festival?
From: KingBrilliant
Date: 16 Jun 99 - 04:16 AM

Yipeee. It is going to be as good as it sounds then! We will be slightly encumbered by deaf dog, but apparantly lots of people take dogs & it just restricts a few places. Anyone staying on for the eclipse afterwards?? I really look forward to the beach. Jane & Shambles, are you there this year & if so - any distinguishing features? We can be be most easily identified by said hound - wheat coloured Rhodesian Ridgeback bitch (oldish & rather stout [well, they say dogs resemble the owner....]).

Kris

Subject: RE: UK folkies - Sidmouth Festival?
From: Chris Seymour
Date: 16 Jun 99 - 11:49 PM

A wonderful festival -- I'm getting green thinking about it, since I live in New York City and won't be able to go back any time soon. If you buy a season ticket, there's "late night extra" dances to go to. ONe of my favorite memories is walking along a lane from the campground to the dance when people around me started singing "Ilkley Moor" with lots of commentary woven in -- hilarious.

I MUST (and will) get back some time. Enjoy!

Subject: RE: UK folkies - Sidmouth Festival?
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 17 Jun 99 - 12:13 PM

My wife says the Bedford Hotel is the best session. I might go myself this year.

Subject: RE: UK folkies - Sidmouth Festival?
From: Doctor John
Date: 17 Jun 99 - 05:18 PM

Just to say that the Dartmoor Festival is the weekend after the Sidmouth one, a smaller but friendlier one that retains the real folk flavour! And dogs can come too which is more than can be said for Sidmouth beach!

Subject: RE: UK folkies - Sidmouth Festival?
From: Jo Taylor
Date: 17 Jun 99 - 07:50 PM

I already said that, DJ! Wish I could come...
Jo

Subject: RE: UK folkies - Sidmouth Festival?
From: KingBrilliant
Date: 18 Jun 99 - 06:57 AM

Where can I find out more about the Dartmoor festival - I can't seem to find any details....

Kris

Subject: RE: UK folkies - Sidmouth Festival?
From: Doctor John
Date: 18 Jun 99 - 01:49 PM

As soon as we have a contact address and list of performers (Cyril Tawney and Sara Gray were there last year but many excellent others too) we'll post them.

Subject: RE: UK folkies - Sidmouth Festival?
From: Doctor John
Date: 20 Jun 99 - 04:07 PM

Dartmoor Folk Festival, South Zeal, Okehampton, Devon. August 6-8. Details from: Mrs Jane White, Sunnyhill, South Zeal etc EX20 2JL. Tel: [phone]; Fax: [phone].

Subject: RE: UK folkies - Sidmouth Festival?
From: Jane Bird
Date: 28 Jun 99 - 06:22 AM

Dear Kris,

I'm short with long brown hair in a plait, I usually wear a hat of some discrption, and this year I shall be working the Town Box Office.

Dogs are fine at most sites as long as they are well behaved. The District Council ban them from the beach and the Arena, however. But there is a place where you can leave your dog at the Arena.

Hope you have a good time.

Cheers,
Jane

Subject: RE: UK folkies - Sidmouth Festival?
From: Pete (inactive)
Date: 28 Jun 99 - 05:57 PM

Ah Sidmouth,

We'll be their and if it's as good as usual it will be far more fun than the eclipse - I'll wait for the next one to come to the UK:-). Prepare for long days and early mornings - you may find yourself getting up before you go to bed!

Finally I've never met anyone who has been there that didn't enjoy it - whether playing or listening. The Areana is one of me favourite haunts - all those instruments etc.... plus a beer tent.

Have a good time, and if your still around in Sept. why not pop into the Fylde Folk Festival. at Fleetwood Lancashire. that's fun too (and the only dark skys you'll see there is if it rains!!!!!)

Take care and sing well

Pete