Review: Lymm Festival 2011 - Folk Events

Subject: Review: Lymm Festival 2011 - Folk Events
From: Bernard
Date: 20 Jun 11 - 05:48 PM

Lymm Festival is almost upon us!!

Folk Events:

Thursday June 23rd at the Spread Eagle: Stanley Accrington from 8.30pm

Friday June 24th at the Spread Eagle: Residents' Charity Extravaganza from 8.30pm

Saturday June 25th:
Noon - Breakfast with Marmalade at the Spread Eagle
2.00pm - Open Mic at the Rugby Club
8.00pm - DOUBLE BILL - Geoff Higginbottom and The Time Bandits Mic at the Rugby Club

Sunday June 26th:
3.00pm - Songwriting Competition at the Rugby Club
8.30pm - Pete Coe at the Rugby Club

Monday June 27th at the Spread Eagle: Festival Singers Night from 8.30pm

Tuesday June 28th (no event)

Wednesday June 29th at the Rugby Club: Jaywalkers from 8.30pm

Thursday June 30th at the Spread Eagle: Peter & Barbara Snape from 8.30pm

Friday July 1st at Lymm Methodist Church Hall: Festival Ceilidh with Marmalade (caller Rob Philips) from 7.30pm

Subject: RE: Review: Lymm Festival 2011 - Folk Events
From: Bernard
Date: 20 Jun 11 - 05:54 PM

Lymm is a picturesque village in Lymm, Cheshire, UK, for those who don't know!

Subject: RE: Review: Lymm Festival 2011 - Folk Events
From: John J
Date: 20 Jun 11 - 06:05 PM

Lymm Festival's a cracking event - there's loads going on.

As Bernard quite rightly says - Lymm is a picturesque village in, er, Lymm. The beer's rather good too.

I shall be there for a sing, a play...and a few beers!

JJ

Subject: RE: Review: Lymm Festival 2011 - Folk Events
From: Brakn
Date: 20 Jun 11 - 06:21 PM

Stanley Accrington on Thursday - must make an effort to see him - wonderful chap that he is.

Lymm is just outside Partington.

Subject: RE: Review: Lymm Festival 2011 - Folk Events
From: Bernard
Date: 20 Jun 11 - 06:23 PM

Fortunately!!

Subject: RE: Review: Lymm Festival 2011 - Folk Events
From: Brakn
Date: 20 Jun 11 - 06:30 PM

lol

Subject: RE: Review: Lymm Festival 2011 - Folk Events
From: Bernard
Date: 21 Jun 11 - 05:18 AM

Ticket ordering form available on the website - please note that tickets booked in advance can be collected on the door, but you still only pay the cheaper advanced booking rate.

If you wish to pay by bank transfer, that's okay - just email me to arrange it.

Subject: RE: Review: Lymm Festival 2011 - Folk Events
From: GUEST,AlanG at work
Date: 21 Jun 11 - 07:36 AM

I'll be there, save me a ticket or two Bernard. Don't let JJ sing all my songs or drink all the beer.

There's also a West Gallery Workshop and Concert on the Saturday (2nd July). Not part of the folk events but closely related music. I'll post a separate thread on that.

Alan

Subject: RE: Review: Lymm Festival 2011 - Folk Events
From: Bernard
Date: 21 Jun 11 - 06:20 PM

Okay, Al, will see to it!

The Grey Starlings will be West Gallery-ing - make sure you don't miss out!

STOP PRESS!
People have been asking me about children's ticket prices... I'm sorry, but there aren't any... however, children who are fifteen or under will be admitted free if with a responsible adult.

Subject: RE: Review: Lymm Festival 2011 - Folk Events
From: Bernard
Date: 23 Jun 11 - 07:58 PM

A belting evening's entertainment courtesy of Stanley Accrington! A good sized crowd, a third of whom were Stanley Virgins!

Up next - Residents' Charity night at the Spread...

Subject: RE: Review: Lymm Festival 2011 - Folk Events
From: GUEST
Date: 25 Jun 11 - 06:20 AM

A really enjoyable night with Stanley on Thursday, couldn't make last night due to babysitting duties.

Looking forward to Geoff Higinbottom and The time Bandits tonight. Two tickets please Bernard.

Subject: RE: Review: Lymm Festival 2011 - Folk Events
From: Arcane Lag
Date: 25 Jun 11 - 06:28 AM

Sorry, Guest was me with a missing cookie.

Subject: RE: Review: Lymm Festival 2011 - Folk Events
From: John J
Date: 25 Jun 11 - 11:05 AM

Geoff Higginbottom and The Time Bandits tonight, Pete Coe tomorrow night - and I can't get to either!

Bugger.

JJ

Subject: RE: Review: Lymm Festival 2011 - Folk Events
From: Arcane Lag
Date: 25 Jun 11 - 07:56 PM

What a great night,you missed a real treat John. Geoff was on good form and the Time Bandits were brilliant. Can't wait for tomorrow (oops it's tonight now) and Pete Coe.
See you at the singers night on Monday then?

Subject: RE: Review: Lymm Festival 2011 - Folk Events
From: John J
Date: 26 Jun 11 - 04:38 PM

'fraid not - I'm playing for Bollin Morris tomorrow.

At least I'll be at the ceilidh on Friday - I'm in the band!

JJ

Subject: RE: Review: Lymm Festival 2011 - Folk Events
From: Bernard
Date: 26 Jun 11 - 07:52 PM

Pete Coe was on top form - and Kerry Smith won the song competition (Pete was one of the judges).

Jaywalkers at the Rugby Club on Wednesday are well worth a visit - see this clip on YouTube if you need convincing!

Subject: RE: Review: Lymm Festival 2011 - Folk Events
From: Arcane Lag
Date: 27 Jun 11 - 08:53 AM

If after the ceilidh on Friday you still want more, there's a West Gallery workshop and concert on Saturday 2nd July. See this thered murdered anthems and improper psalms

Subject: RE: Review: Lymm Festival 2011 - Folk Events
From: Bernard
Date: 28 Jun 11 - 08:23 PM

Jaywalkers at Lymm Rugby Club (Crouchley Lane, WA13 0AT) this evening (Wednesday), 8.30pm start... we still have a few tickets left, so don't miss out on this up-and-coming young band - they're brilliant!

See them here at a recent gig at Westhoughton Golf Club!

Bluegrass is only one of the many styles they play, and their musicianship is incredible!

Subject: RE: Review: Lymm Festival 2011 - Folk Events
From: Bernard
Date: 29 Jun 11 - 06:41 AM

Interesting that some festival threads have people jumping up and down frantic because the festival may have to end... I'm underwriting the Lymm Folk Club from my own pocket. No grants, no other means of support... and numbers are definitely down this year, so I'll be out of pocket.

This year's line-up has been excellent - a wide variety to suit most tastes, inculding four free events... I even offered season tickets and only had two takers.

If things don't pick up before the end of the week I may have to reconsider my options for next year...

Perhaps someone could offer advice as to where we went wrong?

Subject: RE: Review: Lymm Festival 2011 - Folk Events
From: Arcane Lag
Date: 29 Jun 11 - 08:44 AM

I don't think that you are doing anything wrong Bernard. We have been to four folk events (only one of them free) and have really enjoyed them. We particularly enjoyed the Saturday concert with Geoff Higgingbottom and the Time Bandits. We'll be coming to the Thursday concert as well.
Instead of complaining people should come along and support the events.

Subject: RE: Review: Lymm Festival 2011 - Folk Events
From: Bernard
Date: 29 Jun 11 - 08:08 PM

Jaywalkers went down a storm at the Rugby Club - you could hear people's jaws hitting the floor at their incredible musicianship!

A shame a few more people didn't turn up, though it was a good turn-out compared with other concerts during the festival period.

Peter and Barbara Snape at the Spread Eagle tonight (Thursday) - a lovely couple who play and sing some excellent music.

Subject: RE: Review: Lymm Festival 2011 - Folk Events
From: Bernard
Date: 30 Jun 11 - 07:49 PM

Tonight (Friday 1st July) sees the last folk club event of Lymm Festival - the Ceilidh with the Marmalade Band, caller Rob Philips.

We still have tickets available, so you will be able to pay on the door if you haven't yet bought your ticket.

PLEASE NOTE: we start at 7.30pm!

As this is being held in the Methodist Church Hall, alcohol must not be consumed on the premises. However, I have confirmed that we can still include an unopened bottle of wine in the raffle - as long as it stays unopened until after you've left the hall and its environs!

Subject: RE: Review: Lymm Festival 2011 - Folk Events
From: Bernard
Date: 30 Jun 11 - 08:00 PM

Now we're nearing the end, we don't seem to have made quite as heavy a loss as I'd first feared.

However, some of our club regulars have let us down badly... whilst I wouldn't expect them all to support every event (though I did sell two season tickets), some people have been conspicuous by their absence over the whole period - even the Thursdays, which is the normal club night.

I'm aware of one person, for example, who booked a ticket then cancelled (on the day!) because they'd decided to go to a rival event on the same evening... only 400 yards away. Another booked a ticket and simply did not turn up.

Well, they will not be allowed to pre-book tickets without paying for them in the future (our pre-booked price is less than the door price).

Sorry about the ranting... I'm slightly miffed!! ;o)

Subject: RE: Review: Lymm Festival 2011 - Folk Events
From: Ian Hendrie
Date: 01 Jul 11 - 03:23 AM

Quite rightly so Bernard. Even in these 'hard times' the price of a concert ticket or two isn't going to put you in the Poor House. Folkies should support their clubs and events.

Subject: RE: Review: Lymm Festival 2011 - Folk Events
From: GUEST,Banjiman
Date: 01 Jul 11 - 06:26 AM

Sorry to hear your numbers are suffering Bernard. People reserving tickets and not turning up are the bane of any organiser's life.

Sounds like a great artistic success though. (if that's any consolation!)

Paul

Subject: RE: Review: Lymm Festival 2011 - Folk Events
From: Bernard
Date: 01 Jul 11 - 12:16 PM

Thanks, Paul!

It's been worthwhile even though we stand to have lost around £500.00 overall...

I'm setting off for the ceilidh in a few minutes...

Subject: RE: Review: Lymm Festival 2011 - Folk Events
From: Bernard
Date: 02 Jul 11 - 01:32 PM

Well, another heavy loss on the ceilidh - which should have been better attended and normally covers its costs... this time, though, the blame lies squarely on the Festival Box Office - they had sold their allocation of 24 tickets, didn't contact me or update their website appropriately, nett result people thought we had sold out, and we only had 49 punters instead of the 70 plus we needed.

I found out the day before and hurriedly went around the village putting up posters telling people they could pay on the door, but it was probably too late - people would have made other arrangements.

The annoying thing is I'd told the Festival Committee I didn't want to sell tickets through their box office/website to avoid confusion... they persuaded me otherwise, but I was right. Odd, really - they only shifted about 5 tickets for each of the other concerts, and didn't even have the courtesy to advise me of any ticket sales... I had to wait and see what was presented at the door...

Things will have to be said.