Sidmouth Sunshine and Sparkles!

Subject: RE: Sidmouth Sunshine and Sparkles!
From: Sorcha
Date: 22 Mar 05 - 04:41 PM

Now, now, Countess, calm down, put on your little lacy negligee, have a nice cuppa and pet the cat. It will be all right as soon as your meds kick in.

Subject: RE: Sidmouth Sunshine and Sparkles!
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 22 Mar 05 - 06:25 PM

Well, the Countess is right to point out that the international teams were what made Sidmouth so distinctive as a festival. Even when the Ukrainian dancers came from Manchester, the Polish dancers from Southampton, the Punjabi dancers from Wolverhampton and the Irish dancers from Yetminster! It's just that the Arena isn't financially viable as a venue.

Kitty

Subject: RE: Sidmouth Sunshine and Sparkles!
From: Sorcha
Date: 22 Mar 05 - 08:35 PM

Cute and funny PM, Countess. Hugs to you too! I think I shall save it just for the laff value, and to prove how funny Mudcat can be.

Subject: RE: Sidmouth Sunshine and Sparkles!
From: The Borchester Echo
Date: 23 Mar 05 - 04:02 AM

I'm really looking forward to the publication of Sorcha's erudite assessment of the UK music scene based on vast personal experience, co-authored with Ms Lizzie who really knows how to analyse dispassionately. Should win quite a few awards in the fiction category and an arrest warrant for excessive use of the !!! key.

Subject: RE: Sidmouth Sunshine and Sparkles!
From: Cllr
Date: 23 Mar 05 - 04:58 AM

Lizzie I so dont do quickies
Terry pratchet says over use of the ! is the sign of an insane mind, (Masquarade)

I think he is completly wrong!!!!

Mwaaa Haaa Haa Mwaaaaaaaaa !!!!!!!!!!

PS I dont ever want to be dispassionate about folk music. Judging by this thread nobody else wants to be either now KIss and Make up every body. (if you want to, that is, you might be having fun)

Subject: RE: Sidmouth Sunshine and Sparkles!
From: GUEST,Thomas Yorke
Date: 23 Mar 05 - 07:51 AM

What a very silly post from Herga Kitty above and how typical of the cheap jibes and sniping from those involved with this year's Folk Week who think they know sooooo much better than those who organised the Sidmouth International Festival in times past.

Most of the international dance sides did come from abroad and it was their colour and style that made Sidmouth so unique.

Sure you can take out the 'international' element and scrap all the arena shows etc.

Indeed the organisers of Folk week 2005 have done just that.

Now Folk Week is just another very average event in an already crowded calendar with nothing that marks it out as special or unique.

Those who still attend will enjoy singing in the pubs and dancing in church halls just like they enjoy such things wherever they live.

But nobody can deny that this year's Folk Week is a very pale shadow of its former self.

Subject: RE: Sidmouth Sunshine and Sparkles!
From: RobbieWilson
Date: 23 Mar 05 - 07:59 AM

I wouldn't know. I was never tempted to go before. I am looking forward to going this year though because of the ennthusiasm of people who have said they will be there.

In these days of global comercialism getting to see colour from all over the world is not rare. Participating is.

Subject: RE: Sidmouth Sunshine and Sparkles!
From: MBSLynne
Date: 23 Mar 05 - 07:59 AM

Nobody is actually trying to deny it. Steve Heap pulled out of Sidmouth last year, leaving us with 12 months to organise something which has been taking him two years to do. ( and that's with everytning ready and in place for organising it too) On top of that we have little or no funding. So no, Sidmouth is not going to be like it was, and none of us has ever said so, or in any way expects it to be. On the other hand, the thing that will make this festival unique and special is actually the same thing that has always mde it unique and special...WE will all be there. We will be singing, dancing, playing and drinking with our friends, as we always have. We will be watching concerts and thoroughly enjoying ourselves. Which is what makes it special...and what makes all the other festivals in the country special too..

And by the way...if our conversation irritates you so much, why are you listening to it in the first place? Go away and be sad while we have fun.

Love Lynne

Subject: RE: Sidmouth Sunshine and Sparkles!
From: Malc R
Date: 23 Mar 05 - 09:32 AM

I never cease to be amazed at the petty, narrow mindedness of some of my fellow human beings, so wrapped up in there own little worlds that when something comes along that is different to the norm all they can do is criticise those trying there best to at least arrange something at short notice and bemoan the loss of something that they hitherto have taken for granted.

If Sidmouth Folk Week of the past has been so great, why has Mr Heap gone to ply his trade elsewhere and why has EDDC withdrawn all funding from what must surely have been such a lucrative enterprise.

My thanks go out to those few who are trying their hardest to put on a festival this year under difficult conditions, without whom there would be no Sidmouth Festival 2005 and probably no 2006 onward either.

Those detractors out there who wish to go to commercial festivals elsewhere, please do, those who are staying away because of a couple of argumentative postings on this site (how shallow is that for an excuse) the ones putting the 'spoke in' won't be there anyway so you wouldn't meet them in any case. Those being positive about a different Sidmouth this year I hope to meet as many of you as possible in August.

Subject: RE: Sidmouth Sunshine and Sparkles!
From: MBSLynne
Date: 23 Mar 05 - 09:57 AM

yes..I'm really looking forward to that too Big Mal...to add new friends to the multitude of special friends that Sidmouth has already given me...

Love Lynne

Subject: RE: Sidmouth Sunshine and Sparkles!
From: Dave Earl
Date: 23 Mar 05 - 10:12 AM

Yes indeed!

Sidmouth will be different but it will be just what is wanted by those on this (and other) threads are looking forward to.

A suggestion!

The next time we get a whinge, why not give them a silent raspberry,ignore their post and carry on with "in favour" voting as we have been doing.

Having said that I know I have fed the trolls in the past myself because I allowed myself get p****d off with what had been said.

Dave Earl

Subject: RE: Sidmouth Sunshine and Sparkles!
From: GUEST,MBS
Date: 23 Mar 05 - 10:12 AM

Mal

As reported many times on this board and elsewhere:

i) Steve Heap quit out of sheer frustration with the lack of support from the local council and traders coupled with the ever-increasing problems with licensing and health & safety issues and the fact he couldn't afford to take the financial risk of staging the Festival if weather or anything else hammered ticket sales

ii) Anyone with an ounce of decency should applaud the small group of enthusiastic amateurs who are struggling to keep folk music and dance alive in Sidmouth.

iii) Those amateur organisers still face the same problems as Steve Heap and his professional team faced

iv) The problems are worse as EDDC has cut its £60,000 funding to zero

v) The likely outcome after all the verbals on this board is that:

       (a) the song sessions in the bars and the seafront dance
       dance displays will be as good as ever (maybe better) but

       (b) there will be few if any 'big-name' concerts and no
       international events in the arena (I know, I know, there ARE
      some 'big-name' artistes booked to appear but the planned
      venue for their concerts is not yet licensed by EDDC and
      may never be so).

Come to Sidmouth anyway, the scenery is fab, there will be plenty of sessions and even if the Ham marquee gets cancelled and the 'big-name' artistes don't appear who cares? We'll all be too busy singing our hearts out in The Anchor and won't miss Show of Hands and the rest one little bit.

Subject: RE: Sidmouth Sunshine and Sparkles!
From: Malc R
Date: 23 Mar 05 - 11:37 AM

Hey MBS, re-read my post - I'm one of the good guys (I think)and I will definitley be there

>:o) Big Mal

Subject: RE: Sidmouth Sunshine and Sparkles!
From: Don(Wyziwyg)T
Date: 23 Mar 05 - 12:11 PM

Hey Mal,

Of course you're one of the good guys, and have been all along. Do drop in at the Bedford and the Swan as well, and I'll be brushing up on my few unaccompanied songs and visiting the middle bar. I shall have my guitar with me (nowhere to park it), but only as a footrest.

Don T.

Subject: RE: Sidmouth Sunshine and Sparkles!
From: GUEST
Date: 23 Mar 05 - 12:21 PM

Guitars in boxes or as footrest are permitted in the Middle Bar.

Have you ever heard of the famous Middle Bar Melodian jam sessions?

You bring the melodian we'll bring the jam!:-)

Dave

Subject: RE: Sidmouth Sunshine and Sparkles!
From: Dave Earl
Date: 23 Mar 05 - 12:24 PM

Sorry that was me

lost me cookie somehow. Now found it again

Dave

Subject: RE: Sidmouth Sunshine and Sparkles!
From: Don(Wyziwyg)T
Date: 23 Mar 05 - 01:03 PM

Never was no good on anything with keys or buttons, except computers and phones.

At the Bedford we all join in on the tune sets, and it's improved my guitar playing.......A lot!

Don T.

Subject: RE: Sidmouth Sunshine and Sparkles!
From: Malc R
Date: 23 Mar 05 - 01:28 PM

I've never had mine out in public, only been playing wiv it for about a year, I'm a very, very late starter and don't relish showing myself up in public, so I'll pass if that's OK wiv you guys.

Mal >:o)

Subject: RE: Sidmouth Sunshine and Sparkles!
From: GUEST,Red Leicester
Date: 23 Mar 05 - 03:13 PM

Today I finally found this Mudcat. I've seen references to it on the BBC board and other places and didn't think it could be as bad as people said, but its worse!! I had been thinking about giving the "new" Sidmouth another try but now I've dipped into this "conversation" I'm totally dissuaded. The amusing Biff cartoon in Froots didn't put me off, but the woman ranting on about it certainly did. I don't want to run the risk of encountering some of these people, not even in broad daylight! Blimey, with "friends" like these, Sidmouth certainly don't need any enemies!

Subject: RE: Sidmouth Sunshine and Sparkles!
From: rhyzla
Date: 23 Mar 05 - 03:23 PM

Thats the thin end of the wedge, Red Leicester!

Introduce the words 'Irony' and 'Sarcasm' into your mind when you're reading some of the outrageous stuff, and you might be mildly entertained, but to use this thread as a reason to not attend a festival seems pretty weak.

As has been said elsewhere, if you don't wanna come, don't!!

P.S. Don't believe everything the BBC and froots say, they have their own agendas!!

Subject: RE: Sidmouth Sunshine and Sparkles!
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 23 Mar 05 - 06:50 PM

Thomas Yorke

You obviously don't know much about past Sidmouth Folk festivals, before Steve Heap dropped the word "folk" from the title. The international element began in 1963 with the Rory O'Connor Dancers, followed in 1964 by a team from Israel, long before there were any displays in the Arena. It became an international festival in 1968, with dance teams from Bavaria and Holland, and Polish dancers from Southampton. There were 6 international dance groups in 1969, including Orlyk, the Ukrainian dancers from Manchester. The Punjab Bhangra dancers from Wolverhampton arrived in 1970, which was the first year of displays at the Knowle Arena.

Yes, it got bigger and better, but it was Steve Heap who decided the Arena wasn't financially viable, before the 2005 organisers came to the same conclusion. The people now organising Sidmouth Folk Week 2005 did in fact run the festival before Steve Heap, so they know how to run a festival without the Knowle Arena.

Kitty

Subject: RE: Sidmouth Sunshine and Sparkles!
From: Lizzie in beautiful Sidmouth
Date: 23 Mar 05 - 06:54 PM

Actually Barry....it seems to me that all the people who ARE coming to Sidmouth are really happy and looking forward to it and 'all' the 'people' who AREN'T coming are erm....well...not happy anyway....so therefore that must mean that Sidmouth's going to be buzzing with happy people this year!! ;0)

Or am I missing something? ;0)

With 'friends like these' 'Cheesy Person' above, Sidmouth will be loved for many, many years to come. The only 'enemies' it has are all those grumpy people on this thread who are so miffed that it is happening. I'd go and read your fRoots and go to one of Alan Whicker's festivals if I were you 'Cheesy' ;0)

Does anyone know if Alan Whicker has contacted the Health And Safety people about his festival? Perhaps we should send out Stevie Scarlett....he knows ALL about festivals! ;0) I didn't realise that Alan Whicker had become a festival organiser! Isn't it amazing the things you find out in your life? I wonder if his company is called Whicker's Festivals.

Hmmm....sending out Stevie Scarlett to help Alan Whicker could actually solve A LOT of problems guys!   Why didn't I think of that before! I wonder where Alan is holding it? Perhaps I should ring Ian Anderson and find out? Now there's a thought! ;0)

I used to like Alan! How old is he now? He was old when I was young?
So that MUST mean that he could be one of the oldest festival organisers in the WHOLE world!! Gosh! Hope he's not putting any tents up on his own! I wonder if he'll come to Sidmouth?

Oh! I've just had another thought!! Does anyone remember Monty Python doing that Whicker's Island sketch....where there were 5 Alan Whicker's all dressed exactly the same and also Father Pierre? Oh dear me...I'm off and running again now!! Giggle...do you think that's where his Festival is? Whicker's Island Festival! I wonder if fRoots are sponsoring him?........THAT'S what it is! fROOTS are sponsoring Whicker's Island Festival! THAT explains the cartoon! Doh! Why has it taken me so long to work that out?

5 Alan Whickers all on the same Island at the same Festival! My Lord the Health and Safety Officer won't know what's hit him and neither will Stevie Scarlett! What if all The Alan's are putting 5 tents up in five different places between them? That could mean 5 Festivals all taking place on one island! Ye Gods and Little Fishes!!! Ian Anderson might have signed himself up to sponsor 5 Whicker Festivals!!

Does he know?......Probably not!

Should we tell him?....DEFINITELY NOT! ;0)

He SO should have come to Sidmouth!!! Ian....WHAT have you done???

I have even MORE good news about Sidmouth tomorrow. I have to pass out now as my eyes are crossing....its 11.55pm! Too late for me now!

See you all in the morning!

Lizzie ;0)

Subject: RE: Sidmouth Sunshine and Sparkles!
From: Snuffy
Date: 24 Mar 05 - 08:14 AM

Would the Brit Ekland (dance) display team come to the Whicker Man's festival?

Subject: RE: Sidmouth Sunshine and Sparkles!
From: Lizzie in beautiful Sidmouth
Date: 24 Mar 05 - 09:17 AM

Now then Snuffy....you're losing it even more than me...Watch out! ;0)

The Good News!!

Have you looked at the Sidmouth Folkk Week website recently? The Duncan McFarlane Band are coming! I am SO pleased about this....it was only a few weeks back that I was having an absolute rave on the Radio 2 board about The DMcF Band and now they're coming to Sidmouth!!

I am SUCH a Happy Bunny today!

Have you heard their version of 'Canadee-i-o'? It's just Brilliant!! It's on their 'Woodshed Boys' CD Listen....if you fancy 'A Boogie in The Marquee' then Duncan's Band is the one! I'm going to be jumping up and down...which, OK, I admit might actually CLEAR the marquee completely! But....well....sorry guys....I am SO going to 'let myself go a bit' this year!

Do you know...I have to say that I've never looked forward SO much to a Festival as I'm starting to with Sidmouth this year. And The DMcF Band are supporting The Battlefield Band on the Friday night in The Ham Marquee and I've NEVER seen The Battlefield Band either, but have always wanted to!

I'm telling you by the time Duncan's band have finished with 'Bring 'em Down', 'Benjamim Bowmaneer' or 'The Woodshed Boys'
amongst others, followed by The Battlefield Band...I shall probably have to be taken to Exeter A&E! And if they play 'Canadee-i-o' as well....just tell the St. John's Ambulance Man to let me die 'with a smile on my face!'

That's if I've managed to live through Show of Hands the day before of course, which is always touch and go! ;0) ;0)

And I haven't even dared to think about BELLOWhead yet!!! Or Whapweazel!

I tell you what...I've got Duncan McFarlane's 'Bed of Straw' solo CD as well. Now then...'Bed of Straw' would be fantastic to sing in The Anchor! He wrote it himself and it's all about the pressgangs and what happened to two young lads who were forced into it. It's a true story as well. We'll have to round him up and take him to The Anchor! I'll get Lynne on the job! ;0)

And there's still Les Chauffers a Pieds to tell you about. They're coming too. Four young lads all the way from Quebec...am listening to them right now through their website connection to the Sidmouth Folk Week 'artists' section. Gosh! They're really good! All singing in French....who said we didn't have any International Flavour this year....go and listen and while you're there....listen to The DMcF Band as well. Alistair Hulett, Alistair Russell and Maggie Boyle play on their CD as well. Ali Hulett is sharing the singing on '
Canadee-i-o'. Ohhhh! Alistair Hulett!! Wow! ;0)vAnd SO don't get me started on Geoff Taylor's guitar playing....he wins The !!!!! Award hands down! Wheeeee! Bouncy Smiley! :0) :0)

Well I'm off to listen to some more of those young French-Canadian lads and then I'm away to dress all in blue and find me a Bold Captain heading for Canadee-i-o, who will buy me Silks and Satins!!   Think I'll take a walk down to Sidmouth Seafront and see if there are any about today. ;0) Whoooooo! ;0)

Take care everyone and REMEMBER....ONLY 128 DAYS TO GO TO (((HUGS!)))

Lizzie :0)

Subject: RE: Sidmouth Sunshine and Sparkles!
From: Cllr
Date: 24 Mar 05 - 12:00 PM

lizzie please post more often I really enjoy reading your posts

It is making me lok forward even more to sidmouth and I am going to bring a few newbiews with me as well cllr!!!!!!

Subject: RE: Sidmouth Sunshine and Sparkles!
From: EagleWing
Date: 24 Mar 05 - 12:16 PM

With 'friends like these' 'Cheesy Person' above, Sidmouth will be loved for many, many years to come. The only 'enemies' it has are all those grumpy people on this thread who are so miffed that it is happening. I'd go and read your fRoots and go to one of Alan Whicker's festivals if I were you 'Cheesy' ;0)

Lizzie, please don't be angry with Red Leicester. As he says, he has only just discovered us and doesn't realise that the very people who are putting him off are the ones who will not be there.

Red Leicester, please do not let anything you read on this, or any other thread, put you off going to Sidmouth. There are, unfortunately, a small number determined, for reasons of their own, to destroy the hard work of those who are endeavouring to make a difficult situation work. If you allow those people to put you off, they have succeeded.

The only way to decide about Sidmouth is to look at the event list. Find out about these sessions like "the middle bar" as well as who the concert guests will be. Decide from that information whether it's the right sort of festival for you and take no notice of the negative posts that inundate any thread bearing the word "Sidmouth" and that come from people who will not be going anyway.

I haven't yet made up my mind but it will not be made up by the anti-Sidmouth brigade (or even by promises of hugs) but by finding out whether the combination of concerts and sessions really sounds like my thing or not.

Frank L.

Subject: RE: Sidmouth Sunshine and Sparkles!
From: GUEST,Red Leicester
Date: 24 Mar 05 - 04:34 PM

Eagle Wing said "Red Leicester, please do not let anything you read on this, or any other thread, put you off going to Sidmouth. There are, unfortunately, a small number determined, for reasons of their own, to destroy the hard work of those who are endeavouring to make a difficult situation work. If you allow those people to put you off, they have succeeded."

Thanks for assuming I'm a "he". 48/52 chance of being right, but unfortunately wrong.

I don't think my previous entry can have made it clear. I'm afraid it's some of the people "for" the new Sidmouth who have actually put me off. Without wishing to be rude, some sound quite ..... odd. I'm perfectly capable of judging the quality of the bill from the add in FRoots compared with last year which I really enjoyed, and it looks OK but not much different to a lot of other festivals this year. I liked Sidmouth when I was there before, especially all the people my age at the Dance House. I can only afford a couple of festivals in the summer as I have to work in the holidays, and I think I'm going to pick Towersea and Womad. Sorry.

Subject: RE: Sidmouth Sunshine and Sparkles!
From: EagleWing
Date: 24 Mar 05 - 06:37 PM

That's OK, Red Leicester. Obviously you are the sort of person who will get upset at my not being able to guess from your post that you are female so it's not surprising that you are put off by nice people who occasionally feel the need to defend themselves from nasty attacks.

Enjoy which ever festivals you go to - I'm sure you'll meet quite odd people at all of them as well as those who are normal by your own standards. I haven't met Lizzie but I can assure you that Lynne is no more odd than most folkies.

Frank L.

Subject: RE: Sidmouth Sunshine and Sparkles!
From: Lizzie in beautiful Sidmouth
Date: 25 Mar 05 - 06:05 AM

Ahh! Frank...I'm not odd...I just have a VERY whacky sense of humour. I also have a feeling who 'Red Leicester' might be! ;0)....but I take your point and will try not to send too many of the detractors over to Whicker's Island OR offer too many more hugs!    ;0)

Lizzie :0)



PS.....Hello Cllr!! Wavey Smiley!

Subject: RE: Sidmouth Sunshine and Sparkles!
From: EagleWing
Date: 25 Mar 05 - 06:16 AM

Ahh! Frank...I'm not odd...I just have a VERY whacky sense of humour. I also have a feeling who 'Red Leicester' might be! ;0)....but I take your point and will try not to send too many of the detractors over to Whicker's Island OR offer too many more hugs!    ;0)

Hey Lizzie, hug who you like including me if I finally get there. I only said that I wouldn't allow the offer of hugs to influence my decision.

Frank L.

Subject: RE: Sidmouth Sunshine and Sparkles!
From: Lizzie in beautiful Sidmouth
Date: 25 Mar 05 - 08:17 AM

Now then....where was I?...Ah yes!....Book of Hugs....Page 32....Fabian...Fenton...Fernando...Finian....Floyd...Flynn...FRANK!

Put you in there now Frank....JUST in case! ;0)

Lizzie :0)

Subject: RE: Sidmouth Sunshine and Sparkles!
From: Lizzie in beautiful Sidmouth
Date: 19 Apr 05 - 04:58 PM

Thought I'd refresh this thread to give the 'Sidmouth Closed' Mizzies one more title to worry about!

Just feeling a little mischievious! ;0)

Lizzie :0)