End of Wimborne Folk Festival

Subject: END OF WIMBORNE FOLK FESTIVAL
From: Capo da Monty
Date: 20 Aug 12 - 01:06 PM

Very sad day for the UK folk scene as another long standing and popular festival is no more. Due in no small measure to a lack of support from local enterprises it appears.
Having stewarded there for many years We have seen the tremendous efforts made by unpaid organisers and volunteers.
Our personal thanks go Brian and Maria Bisp and Les and Linda Wild as principle organisers.

Malcolm and Sam   



http://www.wimbornefolkfestival.co.uk/

Subject: RE: END OF WIMBORNE FOLK FESTIVAL
From: Elmore
Date: 20 Aug 12 - 01:31 PM

Sorry.

Subject: RE: END OF WIMBORNE FOLK FESTIVAL
From: ian1943
Date: 20 Aug 12 - 02:20 PM

My commiserations! But look at what can be achieved in sdversity. Durham City Folk Festival lost sponsorship in 1990 after 18 glorious years. From the ashes sprang the Durham Folk Party, that right old song and dance, which will be 24 years old next year.

Subject: RE: End of Wimborne Folk Festival
From: SteveMansfield
Date: 20 Aug 12 - 03:47 PM

That's a real shame - played Wimborne with two morris sides down the years and always found it a great, really well run festival with a good mix of concerts and dance stuff. Sorry to see it go.

Subject: RE: End of Wimborne Folk Festival
From: GUEST,Chris
Date: 21 Aug 12 - 04:01 AM

This event brings in so many people and promotes not only Wimborne but Dorset too. Many people who visit for the festival return again and support our tourism industries. What a shame the people that are elected to serve the community can't get off their backsides and help the hard-working devoted individuals that have made this event happen over the last 32 years. Well done one and all for all your hard work and effort and good luck for the future and any other events that you may become involved with.

Subject: RE: End of Wimborne Folk Festival
From: GUEST,FloraG
Date: 21 Aug 12 - 04:34 AM

A few years ago I wrote to the local theatre - a treasure of a building - saying why are they not contributing to the folk festival by putting something folky on - and got the usual platitude of an answer. Some towns do not deserve their festivals.
FloraG

Subject: RE: End of Wimborne Folk Festival
From: bubblyrat
Date: 21 Aug 12 - 05:45 AM

I've been many times , and never really liked it ; far too many piss-taking drunken "yoofs" from the surrounding area milling about everywhere, necessitating an unduly large Police presence,restrictions on taking drinks outside from pubs, alcohol searches etc .As for the theatre ; well, I used to work in the Regent Centre theatre in Christchurch, and they never exhibited much interest in Folk in that town either, so nothing unusual about Wimborne's attitude !

Subject: RE: End of Wimborne Folk Festival
From: Capo da Monty
Date: 21 Aug 12 - 06:09 AM

FloraG. They have recently put on folky acts over the weekend of the festival without apparently offering any contribution.
2011 it was Judy Collins on the friday and this year Richard Digance on the saturday.
I understand the theatre manager had said to the organisers he thought it would help the festival. Hmmm.....

I hear there is a campaign by people not connected to the festival on Facebook to see if there is any way to encourage local business' to help-out.
CdM

Subject: RE: End of Wimborne Folk Festival
From: GUEST,Betsy
Date: 21 Aug 12 - 06:52 AM

Try to get the Town or Parish Council, Local Arts Councils etc involved also.
Convince them that vistors bring money and atmosphere to the town.
It's important also to have a Festival where the local pubs etc are involved for music sessions / Singarounds. God knows the Pubs need money at the rate they are closing!!! - so THEY will support you - surely. Forgive me if I misunderstand / I don't know how the Festival was set up, but solely theatre venues is a no-no, as the demography ( us of a "mature" age group ), are evermore requiring events where they can join in with singing or instruments.
Hope I've been of some assistance.

Subject: RE: End of Wimborne Folk Festival
From: GUEST,FloraG
Date: 21 Aug 12 - 07:22 AM

Capo
Maybe my letter had some effect - at least it was a try.
FloraG

Subject: RE: End of Wimborne Folk Festival
From: GUEST,Cllr
Date: 21 Aug 12 - 11:45 AM

@guest Chris
its not local government that is the problem it is local businesses according to Wimborne's own website

"There are several issues that make it difficult to continue but the main reason is the lack of financial support from those people and businesses that make a lot of money on the back of our year round hours of voluntary hard work but give nothing in return. We are convinced this is the right time before it all gets too frustrating and we stop enjoying it.

We would like to thank all those who have made a contribution to the festival expenses over the years and, obviously, our main supporters EDDC, Wimborne Town Council, Mankiewicz UK, Travis Perkins, EuroPower Groundworks plus also this year JD Wetherspoon and Andrew David Associates without whom we would not have been able to survive this long.

Subject: RE: End of Wimborne Folk Festival
From: GUEST,Tigsthecat
Date: 21 Aug 12 - 12:01 PM

Speaking as a resident of Wimborne, I'm sorry to say I'm delighted.

No more bringing into the house all the window boxes, plant containers etc, in fact anything that could be moved/removed from outside the house.

And no more lying awake as if under siege, listening to drunken kids running up and down the road from mid evening till dawn.

Sorry Folk Festival - loved the music and what happened during the day.
Hated and feared what happened at night.

Subject: RE: End of Wimborne Folk Festival
From: Capo da Monty
Date: 21 Aug 12 - 01:04 PM

Oh dear! I fear your delight may be short lived Tigsthecat!
I imagine the "Party in the Paddock" and the town centre pubs are likely to continue their money-spinning ventures in the future and attract the "drunken kids". In fact I have seen youths drunk as early as 8pm in Wimborne square on other weekends in past years.
Do you really believe it was the folk fesival go-ers that threatened your flower displays?

CdM

Subject: RE: End of Wimborne Folk Festival
From: SunrayFC
Date: 21 Aug 12 - 03:00 PM

The festival should have dealt with or engaged in the fringe stuff. The pubs who used to a part of it moved away and made far more money by doing so. The festival missed an opportunity.

All the festival guests should have had spots at the pubs. Once those pubs did their own thing, there was no going back.