Sidmouth Folkweek 2015

Subject: RE: Sidmouth Folkweek 2015
From: the lemonade lady
Date: 07 Jul 15 - 03:23 PM

I'll be in the Kennoway Gardens (used to be Church House) by the triangle.

See you there?

Sal

Subject: RE: Sidmouth Folkweek 2015
From: GUEST
Date: 07 Jul 15 - 12:14 PM

Trying to understand the byzantine ticket structure:
1. The ticket that CJB refers to appears to include all concerts. There is a cheaper ticket that excludes the Ham events.
2. The all in one ticket suggests that it should include everything other entries on the same web page suggest that workshops are extra. Somebody with inside knowledge will have to say if that is the case or if it is just a bit of crap copy writing.
3. A season works out, pro rata, more expensive that Towersey but not by much. Day tickets are the same price for both.

I have heard from other sources that the social dance side is a shadow of what it used to be.

Prices aren't bargain basement but look reasonable if you are going to take full advantage of the ticketed events. If only part of the programme appeals then that is another matter. Not that it matters to me, Sidmouth isn't on my list of festivals this year.

Subject: RE: Sidmouth Folkweek 2015
From: GUEST,Yorkshireman
Date: 06 Jul 15 - 09:46 PM

Hate to disagree with you Derek but Sidmouth is quite definitely expensive for all sorts off reasons.

I would say that most folk festival goers are prepared to pay what ever the economics dictate in order to enjoy their particular hobby / interest but there are limits.

I have just attended the second Yorkshire Folk Dance Weekend and a couple of people who are obviously dance devotees felt that what is on offer at Sidmouth for serious dancers is certainly not good value. When I enquired in what way they both said that the current online programme seemed to indicate only one workshop and one dance a day that would interest them.

I pointed out to them that that was by no means the full programme and that a further investigation in a few weeks might be more revealing.

You (we) do your (our) bit but obviously the BIG names that cost the most are given the most puff.

Subject: RE: Sidmouth Folkweek 2015
From: Jim Martin
Date: 06 Jul 15 - 08:54 AM

I don't think he has!

Subject: RE: Sidmouth Folkweek 2015
From: GUEST,Derek Schofield
Date: 06 Jul 15 - 06:21 AM

CJB ... I think you've mis-interpreted the ticket structure ....
Derek

Subject: RE: Sidmouth Folkweek 2015
From: GUEST,blll mitchell
Date: 05 Jul 15 - 07:38 PM

I'm THESE DAYS very much a folkie,but I tell you nothing in your enclosed world will match me and my gang's experiences at Lord Montague's Bieulieu Jazz festivals in the 1950's/60's.
I do hope that he gets to read this and will accept our grateful thanks !

Subject: RE: Sidmouth Folkweek 2015
From: GUEST,big al whittle
Date: 05 Jul 15 - 01:26 PM

fifteen hundred - not bad between thirty of you.....

Subject: RE: Sidmouth Folkweek 2015
From: GUEST,CJB
Date: 05 Jul 15 - 09:12 AM

Once again priced well out of my pensioner's means. The prices are way too high probably because so many 'staff' and 'hangers-on' get cut-price or free tickets.

AND THERE ARE NO CONCESSIONS FOR THE OLDER THAN AVERAGE - AKA PENSIONERS.

And unlike in the 1970s/80s now-a-days a 'season ticket' only gets you into basic events. Concerts, LNE, and special events, etc., still have to forked out for at the astronomical rates of £25 per event!!!!!

Then there's the usual profiteering by b&bs who put a hefty festival surcharge onto all bookings.

And all this is to say nothing abut FGW's outrageous train fares from London.

My estimate is that the week - including food - would come to about £1,500+ !!!!!!

Subject: RE: Sidmouth Folkweek 2015
From: GUEST,George Frampton
Date: 02 Jul 15 - 10:41 AM

The 'Trad' sessions will be at lunchtimes in the public bar as usual, with more informal sessions in the evening in the saloon bar.

The 'pit bands' are on call to play music at the request of the MC interspersed with turns from members of the congregation AND invited festival guests. There will be storytelling and the occasional step dancing.

Muse on this: some clever bugger must have written even VERY trad songs. Even Pink Floyd renditions have been rendered in recent years! All welcome. Please leave ego at the door if you 'expect' to do a turn without alerting the MC, as a varied show is organised (however informal it might appear!)

There will also a be a collection on behalf of FolkWeek.

Subject: RE: Sidmouth Folkweek 2015
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 01 Jul 15 - 01:22 PM

Morti - very sorry to hear that, especially as there must be a potential Doom and Gloom song in there somewhere....

Kitty

Subject: RE: Sidmouth Folkweek 2015
From: Morticia
Date: 01 Jul 15 - 06:34 AM

Sad to say following the rugby club cutting canping spaces, we will not be there this year. I am sure we will miss it a lot.

Subject: RE: Sidmouth Folkweek 2015
From: Leadfingers
Date: 01 Jul 15 - 05:23 AM

Free Stuff in pubs etc

Unaccompanied song - The Middle Bar in the Anchor

'The Irish Tune' - Front bar of the Anchor

'The English Tune' - The Radway

Old Timey - The Bedford

Mixed songs and tunes - Main Bar in the Bedford

Mixed songs and tunes - The New Tavern

Singaround - The York and Faulkner

VERY Trad - The Volunteer

Not sure what happens in the Yacht Club these days OR at The Balfour
but that's most of the FREE stuff I can think of

Subject: RE: Sidmouth Folkweek 2015
From: Mr Red
Date: 01 Jul 15 - 03:09 AM

It's £292 a ticket!!!! Bloody 'ell, I could go to Cambridge AND Shrewsbury for that.

Yes, but is they Folk? And can they keep it up for 8 days?

Personally I would feel safer at Sidmouth, and my ticket didn't cost anywhere near that.

Subject: RE: Sidmouth Folkweek 2015
From: The Barden of England
Date: 01 Jul 15 - 02:44 AM

4ADiva - The Bedford Hotel also welcomes singers, and certainly the ones that Herga Kitty mentioned. Also 'The Swan' pub too. All told there are plenty of venues. Hope you enjoy it - I'll be there.
John Barden

Subject: RE: Sidmouth Folkweek 2015
From: freda underhill
Date: 01 Jul 15 - 01:36 AM

Yes, expensive for me too but I love it - Sidmouth over Florence for me,any day :-)

Subject: RE: Sidmouth Folkweek 2015
From: 4ADiva
Date: 26 Jun 15 - 01:49 AM

Oooooo...can't wait! Thank you very much; I could have wandered the many venues for a full week and never found what I seek, but with these notes in hand, I am ready to brave the festival!

Subject: RE: Sidmouth Folkweek 2015
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 25 Jun 15 - 08:38 PM

4ADiva: Sidmouth has so many facets, I'm sure you'll find what you are looking for, and Kitty has given you some very good pointers there.
We are going again and will no doubt enjoy it: makes a bit of a hole in the pocket since the in-laws passed away and we no longer have free accommodation, but my husband was born and bred in Sidmouth, and tho' he does not attend much of the festival (goes out with his old buddies instead) he loves to go back there, and puts up with me rolling in after late night sessions, etc!

Subject: RE: Sidmouth Folkweek 2015
From: Rumncoke
Date: 25 Jun 15 - 08:34 PM

For singing as well as the Anchor and Y & F there have been interesting themed sessions which tend to bring out some more unusual songs in order to keep on the subject for the day, and the ballad session.

The Rugby club and Woodland hotel, are the venues for those - and there is the added attraction of taking a shower at the Rugby club as a restorative either at the beginning or end of the evening, and the canteen there isn't bad.

Subject: RE: Sidmouth Folkweek 2015
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 25 Jun 15 - 06:54 PM

Diva - there will be lots of concerts, for which you'll need a ticket; if you want to hear singers performing mainly trad songs in a less formal setting try the Volunteer pub at lunchtime (but it gets very crowded). If you're an earlyish riser we'd love to welcome you to the song sessions in the Faulkner Bar of the Royal York and Faulkner hotel on the Esplanade, from 10.30 to 12.30 from Sunday through to Friday! There are also evening song sessions in the Faulkner, and of course the famed unaccompanied song sessions upstairs in the Anchor pub at lunchtimes and evenings.

Kitty

Subject: RE: Sidmouth Folkweek 2015
From: 4ADiva
Date: 25 Jun 15 - 03:49 PM

You folks think YOU'RE paying through the nose. I'm coming all the way from Western Canada to visit Sidmouth! Try those charges....
:-)

Seriously, it's part of a longer trip and I'm REALLY looking forward to all of it.

I'm a folk/trad singer (Vancouver Folk Song Society--yay!)and I'm interested in dropping in on sessions in Sidmouth, maybe to sing, but most certainly to listen. Any recommendations for a newby?
(No offence to the instrumental people, but SINGING is my thing and that's the kind of session I'm looking for.)

Subject: RE: Sidmouth Folkweek 2015
From: bubblyrat
Date: 25 Jun 15 - 01:37 PM

What about the Dartmoor Folk Festival at the end of Sidmouth week ?? Lovely location , nice "locals" in South Zeal , and I'll be serving beer at the centuries-old Oxenham Arms Hotel ( it's a long story !!).It makes a change from Sidmouth, anyway.

Subject: RE: Sidmouth Folkweek 2015
From: theleveller
Date: 25 Jun 15 - 12:26 PM

I'm not saying that it isn't worth the money, I'm saying that, for us, there are better ways to spend that kind of money. A 3-bedroom, 2-bathroom apartment for a week in the centre of Florence with a sitting room and kitchen and a roof terrace overlooking the Duomo, plus six flights, is just short of £2K. OK, there's the tourist tax and then food - but Florence is one of the less expensive cities to eat out in and, as we're just 5 minutes from the sensational Mercatore Centrale, we can buy the most amazing produce (fresh truffles anyone?) and cook wonderful meals ourselves.

And, of course, there's the 84 museums, Boboli Gardens, walks by the Arno and unrivalled atmosphere.

You pays yer money and you takes yer choice.

Subject: RE: Sidmouth Folkweek 2015
From: GUEST,Guest. Andy
Date: 25 Jun 15 - 11:42 AM

The cost of B and B with it's festival surcharge stopped us in our tracks and that was before adding Festival tickets x2, Bus Passes x 2 and Car Parking by the day. If they are finding takers at those prices good luck to them, we will be going to the wonderfull Whitby Folk Week again for a lot less money all round.

Subject: RE: Sidmouth Folkweek 2015
From: GUEST,Raggytash
Date: 25 Jun 15 - 08:11 AM

You could try Whitby instead, tickets are £186 for the week :-)

Subject: RE: Sidmouth Folkweek 2015
From: theleveller
Date: 25 Jun 15 - 04:09 AM

"Cambridge and Shrewsbury are two days each plus two evenings."

Cambridge: 30th July - 2nd August.
Shrewsbury: 28th - 31st August.

In this case your 2 + 2 = 8.

As it happens, I won't be going to any festivals this year. What with tickets, camping costs and travelling, it's just got too expensive - plus, I'm bored to death with hairy, pot-bellied whinging old folkies.

"Don't bother being logical, anybody who has run an event knows that folkies scream blue murder if they have to pay more than pennies regardless of quality."

Instead, I've taken an apartment in Florence for six of us for a week. Beautiful city, beautiful people, beautiful food, beautiful weather. Sounds logical to me.

Subject: RE: Sidmouth Folkweek 2015
From: GUEST
Date: 24 Jun 15 - 05:41 PM

Don't bother being logical, anybody who has run an event knows that folkies scream blue murder if they have to pay more than pennies regardless of quality.

Subject: RE: Sidmouth Folkweek 2015
From: GUEST,Marianne S
Date: 24 Jun 15 - 02:35 PM

Sidmouth lasts 7 days. Cambridge and Shrewsbury are two days each plus two evenings. Say 4.5 days. You'd need to go to another weekend festival as well to equal the length of Sidmouth.

Subject: RE: BS: who's going to Sidmouth this year?
From: theleveller
Date: 24 Jun 15 - 11:59 AM

It's £292 a ticket!!!! Bloody 'ell, I could go to Cambridge AND Shrewsbury for that.

Subject: RE: BS: who's going to Sidmouth this year?
From: GUEST
Date: 24 Jun 15 - 11:40 AM

Yawn! (Short) thread from last week:

Sidmouth 2015

Subject: BS: who's going to Sidmouth this year?
From: freda underhill
Date: 24 Jun 15 - 11:24 AM

..I am.. and will be camping with Jennyo and Quantock..
hope to see some of you there!

freda

Subject: RE: Sidmouth Folkweek 2015
From: Leadfingers
Date: 15 Jun 15 - 09:55 PM

Despite Carinas being a venue , I understand Gerry and I will be doing our thing in The Newt !

Subject: RE: Sidmouth Folkweek 2015
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 15 Jun 15 - 10:07 AM

See you in the Anchor, Dave - and hopefully the Royal York too!
Kitty

Subject: RE: Sidmouth Folkweek 2015
From: Mr Red
Date: 15 Jun 15 - 02:50 AM

got my ticket and will be at some of these ceilidhs at least (there may be more but I am not sure the information & schedule are fully programmed. But I may have a go at trawling for more today.

Subject: Folklore: Sidmouth Folkweek 2015
From: GUEST,Dave Earl ( on his smartphone and sans cooki
Date: 14 Jun 15 - 11:17 PM

Apart from me that is