51st Sidmouth festival

Subject: RE: 51st Sidmouth festival
From: GUEST,Steve in Sidmouth
Date: 14 Aug 04 - 04:41 PM

Thank you for kind comments about www.seered.co.uk. I shall continue to endeavour to ensure it is up to date and reliable. You are right to be wary of Cllr Stuart 'lunatic' Hughes. There is more about him and his cowardly behaviour on the older pages of SeeRed - try the page on traffic signals.

I was always suspicious of the motives of sidmouthfestival.org.uk. In the latest Sidmouth Herald, Bill Lankester, President of the Friends of the Festival, warns against taking up the Hughes idea of lots of 'pop and rock' groups playing in the arena next year. This would be for the greater glory of Hughes - primarily. There are indeed issues relating to where tens of thousands of pounds go that are collected in cash in Sidmouth but this is not the place to pursue them.

In any case, it would take a professional lunatic to suggest concentrating events for 2005 in the very place most subject to wet weather - remember what brought the festival to its knees? Events in 2005 need to be as certain as possible and that probably means avoiding use of the Arena.

As far as folk related letters in the press etc go, I will publish updates on SeeRed as soon as I can (my antique computer permitting), perhaps by early next week.

In the meantime I am pursuing with EDDC whether they will give an early promise of some funding for infrastructure for 2005 - say a marquee on Church House Lawn for dancing and kids stuff, and underwrite the public liability insurance for the campsite - for example. It is all very well lots of people here and on eceilidh lists making plans to come to Sidmouth but without infrastructure and agreement of who uses what when, it will be a chaotic week that will do image no good at all.

If someone could copy this to the eceilidh list run by Steve Harris - if it is sufficiently 'on topic' - I would be grateful. I left the list to prevent my inbox overflowing!

Subject: RE: 51st Sidmouth festival
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 14 Aug 04 - 03:20 PM

Derek - thanks for the info. Stuart's website address was, of course, published in the Sidmouth Herald on 6 August.

Kitty

Subject: RE: 51st Sidmouth festival
From: Scooby Doo
Date: 14 Aug 04 - 02:50 PM

i believe your absolutely right on this issue.Its a insight on everything from litter pickings to how much goes people of Sidmouth detest the "invasion" of us folkies,who might have very respectable jobs in the City and beyond.

Subject: RE: 51st Sidmouth festival
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 14 Aug 04 - 02:35 PM

This one still seems to be the most reliable source of information about the state of play.

Subject: RE: 51st Sidmouth festival
From: GUEST,Derek
Date: 14 Aug 04 - 01:49 PM

www.sidmouthfestival.org.uk has been put up by Stuart Hughes who is a local councillor and currently organises the Caribbean Carnival on the Saturday the festival finishes using the infrastructure at the Arena. In turn this helps fund the Autumn and Christmas carnivals. It is rumoured that he earns part of his income from the Caribbean event. He has put in a bid to run Arena style events in 2005 - these would not necessarily be folk music based. This website has NOTHING to do with the current initiative to relaunch the festival in 2006 and NOTHING to do with the various fringe events planned for 2005.
Derek Schofield

Subject: RE: 51st Sidmouth festival
From: GUEST,jethro
Date: 11 Aug 04 - 08:09 AM

Hmmm - www.sidmouthfestivals.org.uk does a redirect to www.sidmouthfestivals.info/ - this worked yesterday - but today seems to want to bounce to something like www.devoncarnivals.com which can't be found. Someone out there not ensuring URL persistence :-)

Oh - and the book is fabulous and, to me, worth every penny.

Subject: RE: 51st Sidmouth festival
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 10 Aug 04 - 04:43 PM

I'm still finding it impossible to get that link http://www.sidmouthfestival.org.uk./, or for that matter http://www.sidmouthfestival.org.uk/, on either Firefox, Internet Explorer or Opera.

Subject: RE: 51st Sidmouth festival
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 09 Aug 04 - 03:54 PM

" if we spread our efforts then we may find that we are spread too thinly in both areas, ergo, Sidmouth must come first."

True enough, in the sense that Sidmouth matters (to me and a lot of people)in the way that a lot of others don't. But when it comes to national lobbying via MPs (rather than to the local councils), arguing for special help for Sidmouth is likely to backfire - "but if we have this kind of help for Sidmouth, everyone would be asking for it" is the inevitable response. So asking for something that would be less specifically aimed at Sidmouth, but which would help Sidmouth, makes sense.

Quite what that something would be I'm not too sure. But no doubt it'll emerge in the course of arguments.

My basic assumption is that societies need festivals and celebrations, and that relying on market forces to supply them is a surefire way of extinguishing and distorting them. And the same goes for having them organised and funded centrally.

Some kind of hands-off resources on which organisers can draw on in certain circumstances to protect events which are valued and popular and essentially viable, but under threat for peripheral reasons, that's what is needed. Maybe a chunk of lottery money could be set aside to be available for this kind of thing.

Subject: RE: 51st Sidmouth festival
From: fiddler
Date: 09 Aug 04 - 03:23 PM

So who's been reading the new book then Kitty *G*

Subject: RE: 51st Sidmouth festival
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 09 Aug 04 - 03:21 PM

Well, of course, this wasn't the 50th Sidmouth festival to the extent that it moved to Exmouth for 2 years in the early days. And came back, because Sidmouth is just a nicer, more intimate, place to have a festival!

Kitty

Subject: RE: 51st Sidmouth festival
From: fiddler
Date: 09 Aug 04 - 03:09 PM

McG I think this is a good idea BUT we should look at first getting Sidmouth back on the map and protected. Other festivals do have the same problems but if we spread our efforts then we may find that we are spread too thinly in both areas, ergo, Sidmouth must come first.

We must also guard against Heap focussing and criticism, the festival was saved by him and he more than ably fulfilled his brief from teh council to make the festival more commercial.

Focus should be on where we go now, but a charitable trust hiring (and Mrs Casey has been listed as a possiblity) a third party to stage the festival to their brief at a fee is not dissimilar (indeed exactly the same as the current situation!

All the pieces have been moved around on teh chess board and whilst there is no winner there is currently no looser but there is a year without a festival.

Andy

Subject: RE: 51st Sidmouth festival
From: The Shambles
Date: 09 Aug 04 - 02:37 PM

What about letters to the local press? The Sidmouth Herald, is it?

Subject: RE: 51st Sidmouth festival
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 09 Aug 04 - 02:33 PM

I agree with Steve about it being a mistake to try lobbying MPs along the lines suggested earlier in that press release Shambles quoted. Things have moved on.

There needs to be some system for protecting successful festivals from going under because of quirks in the way the local tax system works - as demonstrated in Sidmouth, where the viability of a festival bringing millions of pounds into the local economy has been threatened because of the need for a relatively small sum to cover against the vagaries of the weather.

Now we've got Edinburgh Festival apparently under threat for the same kind of reason - not the weather, but the fact that most of the money brought in by the festival never reaches anybody who has anything to do with running or financing the festival, so there's a shortfall. While it wouldn't worry me much if Edinburgh went belly-up, it's got a powerful lobby of supporters, and I think that could provide an opening for effective lobbying which could help protect Sidmouth, among others.

I'd like to see some serious proposals for a system of financial support that would protect important cultural events - and Sidmouth is definitely one such. And I think that if Edinburgh is under serious threat that could prove the catalyst to developing such a system.

Subject: RE: 51st Sidmouth festival
From: GUEST,Steve in Sidmouth
Date: 09 Aug 04 - 05:53 AM

On one of the mudcat threads (not this one) I posted comments about the much discussd crackdown on traders along the Esplanade during the 50th Sidmouth festival. In the event the crackdown was a damp squib - and probably for two reasons. First, part of the reason for having it was to try and show Steve Heap that some of his concerns were being taken seriously (for a change) but as the festival got under way a decision to exclude Mrs Casey's Music from future Sidmouth events had already probably been taken and secondly, it turned out that having a valid pedlars' licence overrides the council byelaws. What a hoot. Read all about it at http://www.seered.co.uk/folk28a.htm

I agree that any kind of a boycott of Sidmouth would be ineffective and maybe foolish. There were as many people on the beach and almost as many in the town during the weekend after folk week as there were during the week. Part of the reason is that many local people avoid the town altogether during folk week and make up for it immedaitely afterwards. It was standing room only in Waitrose on the Sunday.

Writing to MPs etc at the present time would be ineffective - they generally only take notice of dozens of letters on a topic and a coordinated effort to secure Arts Council funding for the new Trust set up to run the Festival (if that is what happens) might be a better use of lobbying effort.

For now, let the dust settle, let the meetings at EDDC in August/September take place and see how the land lies then.

Subject: RE: 51st Sidmouth festival
From: The Shambles
Date: 09 Aug 04 - 02:56 AM

Devon councils do seem to be putting their foot in it. See the following thread for the antics of those in North Devon.

The Dangerous Doo Dah Band

Subject: RE: 51st Sidmouth festival
From: The Shambles
Date: 09 Aug 04 - 01:50 AM

The following (from Steve's fine website) is probably the best action to ensure that the local council are aware of your feelings.

If you are a Festival-goer from out of town:

Write to EDDC (David Pagett, Head of Leisure, EDDC, The Knowle, Sidmouth. EX1O 8HL) telling them what you think of the Festival and their plans to have a 'down-sized' fringe festival next year.

Also write to Cllr Anne Liverton (Chairman) and Cllr Andrew Moulding (Portfolio holder for Leisure) at the same address.

Also tell them all how much you spend in the town during the Festival.

Make sure local shops know that you are a Festival visitor.

Write to your local MP

Write to Rt Hon Tessa Jowell, Secretary of State, Culture Media and Sport, 2-4 Cockspur St, London SW1Y 5DH.

(a Festival goer at 134 Gilbert Rd, Cambridge, CB4 3PB has started a petition and has a standard letter on which you can base your own letter).

Subject: RE: 51st Sidmouth festival
From: The Shambles
Date: 09 Aug 04 - 01:43 AM

I would hate to see Sidmouth deliberately avoided by folkies for a year but it might teach a few people a much needed lesson in nurturing what is most valuable.

The cutting off of one's nose to spite one's face is an option - but Sidmouth is a holiday resort town and will have visitors next year. Even if you somehow prevent any folkies from adding to this in 2005, it will be difficult to make such a gesture an effective one. Anyone is still as free to choose to enter Sidmouth as they were when Mrs Casey appeared to have preferred to have charged everyone for a festival ticket.

There are village festivals where it would be immediately apperent that folkies had made a concerted point of staying away, but this would never be the case in Sidmouth. However, no one is expecting big name bands and overseas dance troupes, so there will be considerable less folkies in the town anyway and the effect of this, will be felt and noticed.

But who would be most affected by such a gesture? The commercial organiers of the past festivals have gone and the council, if it has not yet felt the full force of the lesson they need to learn, will soon find out. But what is gone is gone, the future is what matters and finding a way that the Sidmouth tradition can always ontinue in the face of such incompetence on the part of the council and whoever - is what matters now.

Subject: RE: 51st Sidmouth festival
From: GUEST,Steve in Sidmouth
Date: 08 Aug 04 - 08:09 PM

For the benefit of people who did not attend Sidmouth 2004 I have loaded copies of some of the leaflets that were circulating. In particular I recommend everyone studies and contemplates www.seered.co.uk/folk26a.htm. It may be elsewhere on the web - I don't know. There are ten other new pages loaded tonight, mainly for historical record.

This may work if I do it right ...http://www.seered.co.uk/folk26a.htm

I would hate to see Sidmouth deliberately avoided by folkies for a year but it might teach a few people a much needed lesson in nurturing what is most valuable.

Subject: RE: 51st Sidmouth festival
From: GUEST,Anne Croucher
Date: 08 Aug 04 - 05:35 PM

The people at the Volunteer actually apologised that the lounge bar was too noisy to have singing in there when there was music in the other bar, and explained that they could not have any official events in the garden as the neighbours complained last year - but they did encourge unofficial playing and singing.

Even if folk is not their scene they do make an effort with the tents in the garden etc.

The motley morris should be happening on the promenade in front of The Marine as usual next year.

If some hotels want to discourage an event next year then I am sure there will be others which will take in those determined to carry on as long as folk people making bookings make it clear what they are coming to Sidmouth for.

Anne

Subject: RE: 51st Sidmouth festival
From: fiddler
Date: 08 Aug 04 - 05:24 PM

I thnk that many will suffer badly for the stupidity of the few

Subject: RE: 51st Sidmouth festival
From: The Barden of England
Date: 08 Aug 04 - 05:17 PM

I've already booked my hotel for next year, so I'm staying positive. but Colin at the Bedford must of course consider his options for next year. He has asked me to keep in touch as he, Bev and the staff at the Bedford look forward to festival week, and not only for the money it brings in as I know they thoroughly enjoy what we all do.

Subject: RE: 51st Sidmouth festival
From: fiddler
Date: 08 Aug 04 - 04:52 PM

Mc Grath, sometimes you wind me up a treat - but waht a bl**dy good Idea!

Sidders in Exile!

Now that has appeal.

In the midst of this no doubt there are faults on both sides of the council and Mrs C but it should never have come to this point and the council could have done a lot more to assist.

yes

brilliant

That would be positive

Andy

Subject: RE: 51st Sidmouth festival
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 08 Aug 04 - 04:38 PM

The current staff at the Volunteer hate folk music

God, it must have been hell for them last week... Though the bar takings would have gone a long way to reconcile the landlard to the suffering involved.

I don't think the term "fringe" is really the right term for the unticketed events. "Core" might be closer to the truth of it, especially when the unticketed dancing events are included.

"...the more who turn up the more the council will use it as political mileage. I take it that means that if a lot of people turn up to an Interrgregum Festival next year this would reduce the pressures on the council (East Devon Council that would be? Or Sidmouth Town Council?) - to pull out the stops the following year for a full-scale relaunch? With the implication being that going along next year would be sort of black-legging?

I'd like to see that notion discussed a bit, but I'd need some convincing, because I think it'd be more likely to work the other way round.

But if it better to stay away, maybe the way to go would be to try to organise a "Boycott Sidmouth till the Festival is back" campaign, perhaps with folk pickets throughout the season... And a Sidmouth in Exile somewhere else for Festival Week...

Subject: RE: 51st Sidmouth festival
From: The Shambles
Date: 08 Aug 04 - 03:48 PM

I think that being realistic is best. The best option is that all aspects of the festival could continue as before - that is not going to happen. But some form of festival is.....

If the same doom and gloom is carried on (with little true basis) what is going to happen will be less than it could be. These premises are commercial undertakings. If there are people to cater for and to take money from - they will not care if these people are folkies or martians. If they wish to have the official festival business again in 2006, they will not wish to give any of this custom to their rivals in 2005.

The first thing to try and ensure is that there is accomodation for folk and their cars. The next is that there is as much continuation of the fringe events as possible. I can't see that this presents huge difficulties, unless one is determined to find them.

If nothing else happens but the music and dancing on the seafront - it will be better than many organised festivals are. That is the special part of Sidmouth festivals and is the base from which everything else can be built on to.

Subject: RE: 51st Sidmouth festival
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 08 Aug 04 - 03:27 PM

Shambles

John Barden is being realistic. The hotels like the Bedford and the Royal York accommodate folkies and non-folkies, and have to consider what their residents are likely to want next August. The Bedford is more folk-friendly than the Royal York - Colin plays in the sessions, and festival events have been programmed in at the Bedford dining room, including the sublime Folk Quiz. If they have lots of residents who have come for folk music there may be sessions, but otherwise, probably not. The current staff at the Volunteer hate folk music and only tolerate it because of the extra income during the festival.

The fringe is not separate from the organised festival. All the really good fringe sessions - including the Middle Bar - have been augmented by contributions from booked guests, and the owners of the venues are aware of this, as are the participants.

Kitty

Subject: RE: 51st Sidmouth festival
From: Leadfingers
Date: 08 Aug 04 - 03:24 PM

Fiddler makes a good point re the fringe - It ONLY happens because the festival is there in the first place . BUT those of us who are heavily involved in the fringe are aware of this , and also feel that if there are NO Folk events at all next year , it will be even harder to make the 'Proper' Festival as good as it might be . As far as I am concerned , its a good place to meet people I dont meet any where else and it costs me money to go ,as a week NOT getting any pay is a major lump out of my income .

Subject: RE: 51st Sidmouth festival
From: fiddler
Date: 08 Aug 04 - 03:18 PM

Sorry I've never read such a load of old B*ll*x ion a long time!

Currently the festival is being put in to the hands of a few 'locals' with a good chunk of experience but who do not have the depth of knowledge at present. I have been approached and may or may not work for them.

The Council (and I met some of the great and the good at the official opening reception this year) are still spinning politics and it will get no easier for the new captains than the old.

As for next year I have not missed for atound 20 years next year will be the first the more who turn up the more the council will use it as political mileage. I Do NOT beleive that the fringe will ever out do the main festival the two have a symbiotic relationship which cannot be broken,

Other Thoughts,

Lets stay as 'punters' who get listened too, rather than behave as aggreived shareholders / owners, of what has been until now a great and good part of our national and international culture and heritage......

Any council which can allow such an event to reach the stage it has should be frankly horse whipped, I have been thinking - Is there a case for reporting as much fact as possible to the ombudsman just to ensure that there has been no foul play - I heard rumours!!!

Thats all and sorry all for the camp site showers this year we did all we could honist - I even ended up to my elbows in water with live 240V around - it had to be done.

Andy

Subject: RE: 51st Sidmouth festival
From: The Shambles
Date: 08 Aug 04 - 02:54 PM

Nothing like a bit of positive thinking - and this is nothing like positive thinking.

Why not find out the answers before speculating in this negative fashion?

Subject: RE: 51st Sidmouth festival
From: The Barden of England
Date: 08 Aug 04 - 02:15 PM

The Bedford may well be in limbo too. If there aren't many folkies staying upstairs then it's obvious that other hotel stayers won't want that music going on downstairs.

Subject: RE: 51st Sidmouth festival
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 08 Aug 04 - 01:07 PM

Lynne

Unlikely that the Volunteer will be at all folk-friendly next year.

Kitty

Subject: RE: 51st Sidmouth festival
From: treewind
Date: 08 Aug 04 - 12:32 PM

I know! Only wishful thinking and nostagia for my earlier years at Sidders when the Drill Hall ceilidhs were such a feature.

Anahata

Subject: RE: 51st Sidmouth festival
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 08 Aug 04 - 12:20 PM

And the Drill Hall has been condemned for public use because it's liable to fall down...

Subject: RE: 51st Sidmouth festival
From: MBSLynne
Date: 08 Aug 04 - 11:40 AM

Malcolm Burrows' site at Salcombe Regis will be operating and so will the bus that goes up there regularly. MBS are sorting it to make sure. He also has another site near Waitrose which started this year.
Yeah Drill Hall Ceilidhs would be great. So would Beach Store singarounds but that has gone. Can't go back I'm afraid

Love Lynne

Subject: RE: 51st Sidmouth festival
From: treewind
Date: 08 Aug 04 - 08:28 AM

Drill hall ceilidhs! we should have them back!

In 2005, who's going to set up a camp site? If there's isn't some camping on a reasonable scale, then hotels, B&B and camping further away are going to be the only accommodation, and that's going to seriously limit the number of participants.

And are there going to be any booked performers?

I'll be watching developments with interest, but my focus is really going to be on the other festivals next year.

Anahata

Subject: RE: 51st Sidmouth festival
From: MBSLynne
Date: 08 Aug 04 - 07:44 AM

Landlord willing we will be running the "Ashby de la Zouch Folk Club" in the Volunteer garden on the first Friday.

Love Lynne

Subject: RE: 51st Sidmouth festival
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 08 Aug 04 - 06:56 AM

Festivals up and down the country seem to be able to lay on camp facilities without that much difficulty. So long as there's a field available, and the people who own it are willing to make it available for a reasonable amount, I can't see that being a major difficulty.

"all the old venues - a bit of a problem with the Beach Store since they've built a hotel where it used to be. And so far as I could see, there's more music in the Blackmore Gardens in recent years than there ever used to be.

I would think there could be a realistic prospect of the people planning for 2006 helping in ensure some kinds of available facilities such as some marquees and backing for a children's festival and so forth. And perhaps the Connaught Gardens could make a come back as a venue.

Getting cranked up again for 2006, and winning back performers and punters. would be much harder if everything is allowed to lapse next year, and I doubt if that would be what they want to happen.

Subject: RE: 51st Sidmouth festival
From: The Shambles
Date: 08 Aug 04 - 06:01 AM

I think it would be a mistake to even think of trying to organise anything like past events for 2005. I would suggest that folk who are involved in events that they think they can continue to organise - without too much problem, just go ahead and do so. A central site where efforts could be recorded and offers of help focused - would be a good idea.

But a realistic approach about what is possible and what is not - should be the order of the day for 2005, from the start. Festvals are first about people. Accomodate them first, provide a few venues willing (and licensed) to enable some music making and dance - and see what happens.

http://www.sidmouthfestival.org.uk./

Subject: RE: 51st Sidmouth festival
From: Leadfingers
Date: 08 Aug 04 - 06:00 AM

So WHICH Fringe events are definately on for next year ?? Joe is all in favour of the New Tavern happening again and Gerry Milne and I are going for that , The Middle Bar is apparently a Go , What else is either a definate or is in the 'Possible' corner ??

Subject: RE: 51st Sidmouth festival
From: GUEST,Steve in Sidmouth
Date: 08 Aug 04 - 05:36 AM

Thank you McGrath of Harlow for mentioning my website (seered.co.uk) - certainly the internet will be useful to help coordinate 2005 but it would be helpful if we started with some organisation of who aims to do what and preferably without too much duplication. My website has a long history of documenting some of the 'local politics' of Sidmouth and I intend that it is kept up to date with all 'local news, politics and administration' matters relating to the 2005 festival. A lot of material from 2004 will be loaded in the next few days. SeeRed is also pretty high up the Google rankings because of its size and 'quality of text'.

However, I have little knowledge or inclination to get involved in organising who sings or dances what where and when, so maybe that side of things could become a strength of the new sidmouthfestival.org.uk site - I don't know who is behind it but the html coding is pretty slick.

Organising accommodation could be a real problem - who would take the risk of running a large campsite without public liability insurance? It is too soon to start to plan details - a few months need to elapse before we know what help if any is going to be available for 2005.

Also, someone needs to coordinate the stewards for 2005 - existing teams need to remain in contact so they can be reformed as necessary - again one central focus for this would be best.

Subject: RE: 51st Sidmouth festival
From: Phot
Date: 07 Aug 04 - 09:40 PM

Wouldn't it be great if the fringe outdid the festival, and in 2005, we had a return to the roots of the festival, the main focus of events being at Blackmoor Gardens, and all the old venues. Just a thought, or am I getting old?

Wassail!!

Chris

Subject: RE: 51st Sidmouth festival
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 07 Aug 04 - 09:04 PM

Here's another site about all this that would be worth keeping an eye on - lots of links, and copies of press releases and such - "This is part of Sidmouth's largest website. During the summer of 2004 its prime purpose is to help disseminate information on the crisis facing the Sidmouth Festival, and to solicit ideas and support so that (it is to be hoped) the festival may continue in substantially the same form.

Subject: RE: 51st Sidmouth festival
From: GUEST,Anne Croucher
Date: 07 Aug 04 - 08:48 PM

I do not go the Sidmouth to go to the Arena events - I found I needed to wear ear defenders, and the physical sensation of the sound hitting me is unpleasant even walking behind the stage.

I spend the first part of the day at the Pavilion singing in the cafe bar, at six thirty pm I try to be at the motley morris in front of The Marine, I then go to the Anchor and as long as no one is smoking I stay there all evening, or if I am forced out I go outside in the town or to the Volunteer garden.

I plan to find something similar to do next year - the Rugby Club chairman (I think he was) said that if there were people coming the parking would be available.

I found that I could have been going to workshops even though I did not have a season ticket - despite what it said in the program (Season Ticket Holders Only) I could have paid to go in. Maybe they didn't want my money - but that is not what they were saying.

From what I was told, the talks/workshops I would have liked to attend were not full, and there had been a change of policy but there was no announcement of that - how could it be announced - there is no notice board, central information point or the like. It surely can't be beyond the wit of man to set up a number of boards in suitable places - is there a local radio station? Perhaps it would oblige with some airtime for the festival and the wavelength and the times of interest could be put on a website beforehand?

Whatever happens the festival will change, but the first meeting of the revolutionary committee of the socialist republic of Sidmouth takes place in the Anchor Middle bar late in July next year.

Anne

Subject: RE: 51st Sidmouth festival
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 07 Aug 04 - 08:42 PM

Just back from Sidmouth, and it was magic this year. All the worries about its future made this more so, if anything. "Don't it always seem to go that you don't know what you've got till it's gone..."

Pretty obviously, there'll be stuff happening next year - a sort of Interregnum Festival. I wonder if it'll be counted as the 51st Festival? I think what happens next year will be very important in helping to keep whatever is proposed for 2006 on target, and maybe provide a chance for trying out fresh ideas, and marking the fact that the festival belongs to all of us.

It should be interesting anyway. No shortage of people coming along to make music and dance and sing, likely including some contingents from overseas - which is important, because that's been a thing that has marked out Sidmouth as different from the other festivals. And I'm sure there'll be plenty of places to welcome us too.

Coordinating things so that people don't get in each others way too much, and so that people know where to go to enjoy things, that's going to be a conmplicated process, and so is stuff like ensuring that there is stuff like a solid children's programme, which won't happen just by chance. And there's the new licencing laws hanging over us too...

I'd imagine the internet should play a central part in making it possible for those things to be sorted out. Acrually that link to http://www.sidmouthfestival.org.uk./ didn't work for me, but that's the kind of thing that'll get fixed soon enough. I suspect the Mudcat could be quite significant too...

Of course it's irritating the way this whole thing was played out as an exercise in brinkmanship. And I think the whole episode is something that indicates something pretty contemptible about the people in charge of things in Devon and in England generally, regardless of their political labels. But that's hardly news, and it's not worth focussing on at this time.

Subject: RE: 51st Sidmouth festival
From: The Shambles
Date: 07 Aug 04 - 07:56 PM

http://www.sidmouthfestival.org.uk./

This is what the site that Kitty gave the URL for, is currently saying:

SIDMOUTH FESTIVAL WILL BE BACK IN 2005

To misquote a Sidmouth Folk festival booklet from years ago:
Something will happen in Sidmouth on the first week in August 2005.
It may not be clear yet what will happen or on what scale. But one thing is certain - Sidmouth Festival is
NOT going to lie down and die!

The festival may be about to end in its present form and come back in 2006 - but what about next year? A number of people who feel passionately that this very special week in Sidmouth's calendar should continue have set up this website as a first step towards securing the 2005 Sidmouth Festival.

The organisers of the annual Caribbean Night have already applied to book the arena for the night of 6 August 2005 and there are more events and ideas in the pipeline. In the coming days and weeks, we want this website to be the meeting point for all who want to see a festival in Sidmouth next year.

This will be the place where you can read about latest developments.
See you next year!

Subject: RE: 51st Sidmouth festival
From: The Shambles
Date: 07 Aug 04 - 07:41 PM

Next year currently threatens to be a real shambles-

I did say I would be there.......But would finding venues for some of the join-in events really bo so difficult? If you build it - there are many who will be willing to come.

There does not seem to be much point in looking back to the many good things that Mrs Casey have done or encouraged in the past - as this is now very much in the past. We can hope that many will reappear in the promised 2006 event and do what we can to ensure they do but that does not mean that all the other good aspects, that do not need vast sums of underwtitten, need not to happen in 2005.

Subject: RE: 51st Sidmouth festival
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 07 Aug 04 - 02:33 PM

Next year currently threatens to be a real shambles because of the uncertainty about who will turn up when, and for how long. Or what venues will be available. Neither the Theatre Bar singaround or Rosy's sessions are likely to happen, although they were magic this year.

The future of the festival shouldn't be determined just by visitors. There are different agendas here, and Sidmouth for many years has been a different festival for different people, depending what their interests are.

Steve has been running the festival as one of national cultural importance, with a particular emphasis on youth events. The performances by people like Jim Causley (who's actually from a few miles up the road) and other Shooting Roots were wonderful. So were the Sidmouth Steppers and Great Western Morris. People who live locally need to feel that it's their local festival as well as being internationally famous.


Keep an eye on the festival website - www.sidmouthfestival.org.uk.

Kitty
Kitty

Subject: RE: 51st Sidmouth festival
From: The Shambles
Date: 07 Aug 04 - 01:49 PM

Anahata

I take your point but how long does it take to plan not to have any event at all? And is that really possible for these people to decide that a 2005 event will not happen in some form?

If the planning to hold some form of event had been started when Mrs Casey made the initial announcement, the time could have been well-used to make the necessary contacts that will help to make any full-scale 2006 event a success. I agree with the last post, in that whether any organisers are ready or not - some form of event will almost certainly happen next year in the town. This will be a good thing too, for the reasons stated and I will be there also.

Sidmouth is too important to leave only in the hands of commercial organisers and councils. And the size of any 2005 event will not be up to them to decide but those who visit Sidmouth next year to make some music and dance. If it works - the folk may not have to depend on organisers demanding vast amounts of money and can carry on without being held to ransom.

Subject: RE: 51st Sidmouth festival
From: MBSLynne
Date: 07 Aug 04 - 01:15 PM

Having just got back, a lot of people are saying that they will definitely be there next year, official festival or not. I think if as many Sidmouth lovers as possible turn up anyway it will help to save the festival from losing impetus over the gap-year. We could have a great fringe! I'll be there!

Love Lynne

Subject: RE: 51st Sidmouth festival
From: treewind
Date: 07 Aug 04 - 01:04 PM

Roger - The fact is, it takes 18 months to plan the Sidmouth festival, so anyone taking up the job or running Sidmouth 2005 in its present form would have to have started in March, which I think is before Mrs Casey even made their announcement.

Anyone taking over without all the necessary contacts and experience would likely take longer, or make a complete balls up of the 2005 festival, or at least have a very limited event.

It was expected (a few days ago) that next year's festival would consequently be very small. The difference now is that they've decided to go for full scale and use the extra time to make sure they get it right. That's the theory anyway...

Anahata

Subject: RE: 51st Sidmouth festival
From: The Shambles
Date: 07 Aug 04 - 11:03 AM

So despite the first post in this thread, there defintely is NOT going to be a festival next year......Or is there?

I can't help thinking that rather a lot of time has been wasted, since Mrs Casey's first announcement was made. Time that could have been better spent ensuring that some form of festival could take place in 2005.

As this appears to be what all parties want - it seems a little strange that 2005 will not see the 51st Sidmouth Festival. This appears to be the English way of doing things (or rather of not doing them).