Priddy Folk Festival (UK)

Subject: Priddy Folk Festival (UK)
From: Marje
Date: 07 Jun 06 - 09:05 AM

Anyone going to Priddy Festival (Somerset) next month? More to the point, anyone been before and got anything useful to say about it? Their website has some info about concerts etc, but not much about the camping - is it close to the events or some distance away? And what about informal sessions/pubs etc? What are its strong points - song, dance, music, concerts...? And are there any weak points we should know about?

Any advice, info or opinions would be appreciated.

Marje

Subject: RE: Priddy Folk Festival (UK)
From: The Shambles
Date: 07 Jun 06 - 11:30 AM

http://www.priddyfolk.org/

There are fine pubs with sessions and the events now all on the together on the green outside. Plenty of car parking and on a fine sunny day I can think of few better places to be.

Not being a camper, I can't say much about the camping.

Subject: RE: Priddy Folk Festival (UK)
From: Polly Squeezebox
Date: 07 Jun 06 - 12:51 PM

We were hoping to get to Priddy Festival this year, then to our disappointment discovered they don't allow dogs either on the green or on the campsite. Definitely a weak point as far as we're concerned and means we won't be able to attend.

Polly

Subject: RE: Priddy Folk Festival (UK)
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 29 Jun 06 - 07:24 PM

probably be there

Subject: RE: Priddy Folk Festival (UK)
From: Anne Lister
Date: 30 Jun 06 - 10:58 AM

Will be performing there ...any Mudcatters, please come up and introduce yourselves!

Anne (Lister)

Subject: RE: Priddy Folk Festival (UK)
From: GUEST,Tom Bliss
Date: 30 Jun 06 - 11:39 AM

Ditto

Subject: RE: Priddy Folk Festival (UK)
From: Mo the caller
Date: 30 Jun 06 - 02:15 PM

Subject: RE: Priddy Folk Festival (UK)
From: BB
Date: 02 Jul 06 - 12:16 PM

Ditto. As are Quicksilver and Ryan & Harris, amongst others. Should be a good weekend!

Barbara

Subject: RE: Priddy Folk Festival (UK)
From: Leraud
Date: 02 Jul 06 - 03:32 PM

Ditto again. We areally enjoyed it last year.

Lynne

Subject: RE: Priddy Folk Festival (UK)
From: The Shambles
Date: 02 Jul 06 - 03:39 PM

Is Ditto performing yet again this year?

Subject: RE: Priddy Folk Festival (UK)
From: Trevor
Date: 03 Jul 06 - 03:54 AM

I'm going for the first time. I don't particularly want to stay on the festival campsite. Any recommendations?

Subject: RE: Priddy Folk Festival (UK)
From: GUEST
Date: 03 Jul 06 - 05:05 AM

The weather was that fine, and I had had so much beer, that I just slept out last time. I wouldn't recommend it, though. I woke up when a cow stepped on my sleeping bag.

Subject: RE: Priddy Folk Festival (UK)
From: GUEST
Date: 03 Jul 06 - 06:25 AM

The campsite is within walking distance of the festival site and with the usual offices in the sports clubhouse. There's often a walk organised by the local archeological society on the Saturday: last year it was down, up, down and up again both sides of the Ebbw Gorge; a good idea if you get folked-out sometimes. If you drive there - and public transport isn't easy (minimal buses from Bristol Temple Meads), Cheddar Gorge is about five miles away and very much worthwhile a visit.

Quite a lot of local people go there so there's a good interesting mix.

Fee x

Subject: RE: Priddy Folk Festival (UK)
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 06 Jul 06 - 03:03 PM

yes I'll be there tomorrow! Hooray!

Subject: RE: Priddy Folk Festival (UK)
From: ConcertinaChap
Date: 07 Jul 06 - 08:24 AM

>And what about informal sessions/pubs etc?

A few of us are going to meet at the Queen Victoria for an English music session around 12 am tomorrow (Saturday). We've checked with the organisers and there's nothing formal scheduled for that time. Anyone else who wants to join in is more than welcome.

Chris

Subject: RE: Priddy Folk Festival (UK)
From: SussexCarole
Date: 09 Jul 06 - 05:46 PM

Well just got back. It was a very well organised festival...BUT nowt for those who like singarounds unless you want to fight for a space in one of the two very crowded & noisy pubs - and the musicians were looking for spaces as well!. We gave up! Lots of loud open mic type music & concerts..... but precious few really trad artists booked....although the few who were booked were very well chosen & were brilliant. Not for us next year

Subject: RE: Priddy Folk Festival (UK)
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 10 Jul 06 - 03:28 AM

nice location though. Food was decent for change - most festivals seem to hand the food contracts over to the local poisoner/extortionist. I saw some ladies having to queue for the toilet. They need more toilet facilities than men. they had the same.

it was quite weird, there did seem to be a lot of singers (some of them pro) kicking round looking for something to do. there were easily enough singers around to support another club tent. As you say, a more 'turn up and sing' sort of thing.

I think they were trying hard. I saw some great singers and dancers and I take your point about the trad thing. But I think this is in someway a reflection of how the folk revival is going. Some very strong artists are emerging with a decidedly contemporary feel - like No Fixed Abode, and Kirsty McGee and Matt Martin. And it is good that they used their strong local artists - like Kevin Brown and Pete Quin.

Not all the artists were to my taste, but they were all enthusiastically received by the audience, and you can't argue with success. sometimes you feel like it.

Beautiful weather - they could have done with a professional ice cream van.

Subject: RE: Priddy Folk Festival (UK)
From: GUEST,Tom Bliss
Date: 10 Jul 06 - 03:49 AM

We thought the whole event was utterly charming. The organisation was spot on, the location simply magic, and there was an excellent list of events with a healthy balance of styles. Btw the pros were not kicking around looking for something to do - Priddy is so pleasant that artists have taken to staying on there (I think the modern phrase is 'chillin'); a rare chance to to catch up with friends - as mostly we only wave at eachother on the motorway!

Subject: RE: Priddy Folk Festival (UK)
From: GUEST,bristol_girl
Date: 10 Jul 06 - 05:01 AM

went there friday night, it was so funny. had a great time!

Subject: RE: Priddy Folk Festival (UK)
From: The Shambles
Date: 10 Jul 06 - 07:40 AM

I was there Saturday until late afternoon and had a fine time.

I spent most of my time playing in the pub. Where there was a remarkable range of talents and styles on show.

Subject: RE: Priddy Folk Festival (UK)
From: BB
Date: 10 Jul 06 - 02:29 PM

I agree with Carole - it would have been better with a few informal but programmed singaround-style events. But I also agree with Tom - the organisation was brilliant, and all the staff, stewards, etc. seemed to be unfailingly helpful and cheerful. I quite liked the fact that there was a huge range of styles, whatever my personal tastes - and lots of young and relatively new folkies, all enthusiastic about what was going on. There did seem to be rather too many guest artists, some only there to do a 45 min. spot in the whole weekend, but it was good to have time to socialise as well as work.

Barbara

Subject: RE: Priddy Folk Festival (UK)
From: Crane Driver
Date: 10 Jul 06 - 04:16 PM

I'm sure the experience was very different for the booked acts than for those who pay for their tickets, but still like to sing or play themselves, since this is a festival that seems to be going firmly down the "only professionals are fit to listen to" route (rather like Towersey without the barn).

I don't know about 45 minute spots, there seemed to be booked guests on every 20 minutes or so at the club tent - and some of them, who could only be classed as 'folk' on the grounds that they probably weren't horses, really gave themselves airs (and the stewards a hard time) by wanting to be treated as superstars because of their 20 minute spot. Not like the "real" performers in the main tents, who were friendly and relaxed about the whole thing.

The publicity material said there would be "sessions and singarounds in various venues", which did happen, although without any support or organisation from the festival committee, but there were too few "various venues" for the many different groups of people wanting different things - tune sessions, loud 'thrashing' sessions of pub songs and quieter singarounds. A fight nearly started in the New Inn Saturday night because of one person who apparently thought he was the only one good enough to sing there, and couldn't understand that other people wanted to sing too. A singaround in the Victoria had to be abandoned when a tune session moved in from the courtyard - it seems they were driven in by a group competing to see who could break the most guitar strings doing The Dubliners' Greatest Hits. Nothing against either group, but things would be improved greatly by having enough places for everyone without cramping other people's enjoyment.

To the brashest and proudest, and those who shout loudest,
It appears that the power has been given,
To berate us, deride us, separate and divide us,
In hopes of their version of heaven.
(Sean Mone, Lovers and Friends)

There were many good things about Priddy - the campsite was one of the best organised we have seen at any festival - and for those who want to sit and listen to an eclectic mix of music in beautiful surroundings, it would be an excellent choice. It's not, however, what we would look for in a festival.

Andrew

Subject: RE: Priddy Folk Festival (UK)
From: Anne Lister
Date: 10 Jul 06 - 06:39 PM

Unlike Tom, I was indeed wandering around with no fixed abode between my official concert spots, and if there'd been a singaround happening I'd probably have gone to sit in there to hear some other people have some fun (and quite possibly contributed a song or two myself, if asked).   I was impressed as a performer that there was a hospitality tent for performers (offering brilliant cakes and tea, and a place to sit) and that's a great thing to offer.

But certainly brilliantly organised by some extraordinarily friendly and helpful people - it was a good weekend.

Anne (Lister)

Subject: RE: Priddy Folk Festival (UK)
From: Leraud
Date: 10 Jul 06 - 07:12 PM

Pat and I had a great time. Friendly, well-organised and, as Barbara said, time to socialise as well. There was an excellent variety of music and song, thanks to the artistic director, Peter Arnold.

Lynne

Subject: RE: Priddy Folk Festival (UK)
From: GUEST
Date: 11 Jul 06 - 05:24 AM

Just out of interest, what did anyone think of The James Warner Prophecies. I've heard them several times but never thought of them playing at a folk festival (until last year obviously!)