Sparkling Sidmouth!! :0)

Subject: RE: Sparkling Sidmouth!! :0)
From: The Borchester Echo
Date: 29 Jun 06 - 03:59 AM

LC has, of course, quite a history of pretending that people she doesn't know and therefore wouldn't recognise were in Sidmouth last year when they weren't. She publicly accused Ian Anderson of lurking in the Connaught Gardens when he and I (+ 100s of other people) know that we were both at WOMAD. There are doubtless photogaphs that would confirm this, for anyone who could be arsed to look. LC harps on about her fantasies about those (meaning I think friends of fRoots who are an inexplicable red rag to a bull to her) who are 'plotting to wreck Sidmouth'. The truth is (speaking for myself and I think Ian as he has said as much publicly), there is no ill will whatsoever and indeed a lot of admiration for the various motley committees who struggled to pull something off and did produce some sort of festival last year. But it wasn't 'Sidmouth'.

Subject: RE: Sparkling Sidmouth!! :0)
From: Lizzie Cornish
Date: 29 Jun 06 - 06:09 AM

Don't worry John....I'll give you an extra big hug to make up for all this! ;0)

Nooooo! Ian Anderson wasn't in Blackmore Gardens. BUT....that 6ft Elf down on the sea front, with Size 12 feet looked *awfully* familiar! ;0)

Right! That's it!! Forget Lyme Regis! Forget Jeremy Irons! Forget Death By Sharks and Seagulls! That is all *way too good* a way for you to end your days!!

....YOU are now going into Room 101, otherwise known as CARINA'S NIGHTCLUB!

Yes! I thought that would have you shivering in your shoes!

.....AND it gets worse (or better depending on which side of the trebuchet you're on!)...because not ONLY are you going to be spending the ENTIRE first week of August in there....BUT you have to be in there, chained to The Grumpy Elf himself! Yes!! I KNEW that would get to you!! AND....it gets even worse/better than that!....because I've chosen the music for you both to dance to....and it will be played non-stop 24 hours...round and round and round.....incessantly!

So...THIS is now YOUR 'Musical Soundtrack' for the First Week In August!


1. The Birdie Song - The Tweets
2. Teletubbies Say Eh-Oh - The Teletubbies
3. Barbie Girl - Aqua
4. Agadoo - Black Lace
5. I Should Be So Lucky - Kylie Minogue
6. We're Going To Ibiza - Vengaboys
7. Grandma We Love You - St Winifred's School Choir
8. Shaddap Your Face - Joe Dolce
9. Achy Breaky Heart - Billy Ray Cyrus
10. Lady In Red - Chris De Burgh



Because no-one....NO-ONE (!!!) gets away with referring to my Three Gallant Musketeers as "those boring old CBS blokes" !!!!!!!!!!!


Meanwhile....*I* shall be locked away in The Ham Marquee with Porthos, Aramis and Athos......(Heavenly Sighs Smiley!);0)

"One for all..and all for one"

Altogether now....

"She's like a swallow that flies so high. She's like a river that never runs dry. She's like the sunshine on the lee shore. She's lost her love and she'll love no more...." Ohhhh!

Right...I'm just off to turn The Trusty Trebuchet around now. Oh! And as you can see below, it's creating HUGE local interest..and when I explained why I was building it, *so many* volunteers came forward!

http://home.actlab.utexas.edu/~dnazar/trebuchet.jpg



Lizzie :0)


PS MAX!! We SO need Smilies on this board!!! Oh please Max..PLEASE!! (Desperate Girlie Smilie!) ;0)

Subject: RE: Sparkling Sidmouth!! :0)
From: Lizzie Cornish
Date: 29 Jun 06 - 06:13 AM

And....I'd just like to mention that we're seeing D'Artagnan at Otterton Mill on July 6th! ;0)

SO....we get to see all four of those Magical Musketeers shortly....right...back to the Trebuchet Turning!

Subject: RE: Sparkling Sidmouth!! :0)
From: GUEST,wage slave
Date: 29 Jun 06 - 06:16 AM

What is the point of this thread please? It doesn't seem to have anything to do with the festival so should it be in this section?

Subject: RE: Sparkling Sidmouth!! :0)
From: Lizzie Cornish
Date: 29 Jun 06 - 06:29 AM

Well....we're all talking about Siddy, from all sorts of different angles....seems the only one NOT mentioning it is er...you 'wage slave'

Please feel free to actually put down your thoughts about Sidmouth though, rather than having a moan. ;0)

Subject: RE: Sparkling Sidmouth!! :0)
From: GUEST,Rob P
Date: 29 Jun 06 - 06:44 AM

Can we find out which internet provider Lizzie is with and get her connection cut off. She's doing exactly the same thing on here as she did on the BBC!!!

I shall be at Sidmouth and would be interested to meet her, can she be as irritating in real life? I hope not.

Subject: RE: Sparkling Sidmouth!! :0)
From: Lizzie Cornish
Date: 29 Jun 06 - 07:26 AM

Ahh! But Rob...the question is not that at all.

The question is:

"Can the 'usual suspects' BBC Radio 2 posters REALLY be as incredibly boring, narrow minded, pompous, uncaring and utterly humourless as we think they all are?"

And the answer is...

YES!!!!!!!

That's why I shall be keeping a very long distance away from all of them, apart from the truly lovely people from over there, who I've made friends with....some of whom I'll be romping around Siddy with!

And we shall be having a glorious time in my sun-kissed town!


Now then, let me see....I'm just running my eye down my list of 'People To Hug At Siddy 2006'......L,M,N,O,P,Q....*R*.....

Aha! Here we are...*R*.....Ralph, Richard, Rick....

Nope! Not a *Rob* in sight I'm afraid....

Hey ho!

Lizzie ;0)

Subject: RE: Sparkling Sidmouth!! :0)
From: GUEST,Rob P
Date: 29 Jun 06 - 08:21 AM

Phew!! :)

Subject: RE: Sparkling Sidmouth!! :0)
From: GUEST,Ralph
Date: 29 Jun 06 - 08:26 AM

Don't include me

Subject: RE: Sparkling Sidmouth!! :0)
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 29 Jun 06 - 08:28 AM

To quote your own quote Lizzie, you certainly are like a river that never runs dry.
STOP BABBLING you're not a brook!
Giok

Subject: RE: Sparkling Sidmouth!! :0)
From: Lizzie Cornish
Date: 29 Jun 06 - 08:31 AM

Er....no....Ralph is definitely NOT Ralphie....in case you were panicking there. Have no fear! ;0)

John...please see the Abbotsbury thread for my reply to your last rude comment to me.

Thanks!



And now....back to Sparkling Sidmouth....Hey Puddy...are you 'out there'....I think we could do with a darn site more Sparklers in this thread!

:0)

Subject: RE: Sparkling Sidmouth!! :0)
From: Steve in Sidmouth
Date: 29 Jun 06 - 09:41 AM

"It surpasses anything I'd ever thought of for Stevie Scarlett!"

So what did you have in mind Lizzie? Did I see you at Bicton recently during the open-day, or was that delicate ethereal image a mirage?

Subject: RE: Sparkling Sidmouth!! :0)
From: Lizzie Cornish
Date: 29 Jun 06 - 11:00 AM

(((((!!STEVIE SCARLETT)))))

I was wondering when you'd come to add some of your er...Sparkle!

You *ARE* going to Sparkle...aren't you Stevie????

You should be living down nearer town you know....I can see the sun sparkling on the water from my windows! 'Tis luvverly!

Lizzie ;0)

Subject: RE: Sparkling Sidmouth!! :0)
From: GUEST,Guest
Date: 29 Jun 06 - 12:22 PM

Ok ... Countess Richard ... whoever you are!! I have only just picked this thread up so bear with me! Why so many festivals are now having to 'bus in - bus out' musicians is in some way caused by the MU. Many so called headline acts are now imposing such hugh fees that often they can longer be sustained for longer than a single gig or 2 at best. Acts are costing rediculous sums of money (including massive agency fees of course) eg £2,500 for a 45 mins spot and also imposing other clauses such as minimum hotel standards, the type of flowers they want in their dressing rooms, the right 'type' of water, free meals, transport etc. You wouldn't believe what certain solo acts charge for fees. Sidmouth and others have had to move on from the 'village fair' approach when acts used to want to spend the week contributing to other elements of the festival. The argument that you use for slagging off the Acoustic Cafe ... professsional MU standards etc etc is the very same argument that has turned so called 'stars' into mercenaries. Many top names just don't want to make a contribution anymore for the fun of it.

Subject: RE: Sparkling Sidmouth!! :0)
From: Lizzie Cornish
Date: 29 Jun 06 - 12:42 PM

Dear Guest above. Countess Richard is 'Diane Easby' from the Radio 2 Folk & Acoustic board.

There is NO argument over the Acoustic Cafe, as it's merely a 'once a month, book in and play, free session' which takes place within Dukes Hotel in Sidmouth. The public isn't charged, the performers aren't charged and don't charge. It is ALL entirely free and done purely to encourage young people, and older ones too, to 'have a go'. I KNOW because as I stated above, my husband is one of the sound engineers.

Diane and I have been er...disagreeing for a very long time elsewhere and this was purely done to wind me up and take yet another swipe at Sidmouth and it's Folk Week, to which she IS coming, whilst trying to, as always, undermine or 'slag' it and everything else off at every turn.

Just felt I should explain that bit to you at least...I'll leave you to 'discuss' the other parts with her....but I warn you...you'll not get far!

Lizzie :0)

Subject: RE: Sparkling Sidmouth!! :0)
From: The Borchester Echo
Date: 29 Jun 06 - 01:01 PM

OK . . . GUEST.Guest Festival Organiser . . . whoever you are (you're not the one who wanted to book some African artists and pay them as little as possible, are you?) Yes I know what fee some 'so-called' headline acts ask for and as often as not don't get. I also recognise, as you clearly don't, that their one-off performance usually involves driving from crack of dawn and often back the same night, a 16-20 hour day which works out at an hourly rate often well below the minumum wage when petrol and food are taken into account. Performers are professionals who deserve a living wage and some respect for their art and for themselves as people. That is why the MU exists: to uphold standards and protect musicians from those who would treat them as commodities. Who's the mercenary?

Subject: RE: Sparkling Sidmouth!! :0)
From: GUEST,South Devon Music Maid
Date: 29 Jun 06 - 01:02 PM

Regarding how much acts are paid

They are only paid that much because people are daft enough to pay that much. If venues and promoters refused to then perhaps artists would reconsider.

SDMM

Subject: RE: Sparkling Sidmouth!! :0)
From: The Borchester Echo
Date: 29 Jun 06 - 01:20 PM

SDMM

You go to work I suppose?
What if your employer announced that henceforth your salary was halved or quartered or you weren't going to be paid at all?
I think you'd be reconsidering where you wanted to sell your labour, wouldn't you?
Performers are treated like shit by many (though not all) UK organisers and promoters.
Ever stopped to wonder why so many artists are touring mainland Europe instead?

LC

I'm asking you kindly to shut the fuck up. Why should anyone care what your husband does? I have an ex who is a UN interpreter. That's not going to make me diplomatic where exploitation of artists is concerned.

Subject: RE: Sparkling Sidmouth!! :0)
From: Lizzie Cornish
Date: 29 Jun 06 - 01:33 PM

Diane....YOU accused the Acoustic Cafe, of charging. You were completely and utterly wrong. As I know the exact details because of my husband, I am free to put your twisted record straight.

Now, I realise that the prospect of a whole week of dancing with Grumpy Ed, in Carina's to The Birdie Song is probably upsetting you somewhat....

However, I think it would be better for all concerned if you were able to control your er....sweet personality a little more.

Irritating isn't it Sweetums!! Me being over where I've the freedom to answer you back!

I'd also like to congratulate your UN Interpreter husband for becoming an 'Ex'.....what a wise man!!! ;0)

Oh....and haven't you always said that people should sing purely for the honour of it!

Haven't you slagged off more artists than ex-husbands for 'exploiting' the sacred tradition?

Haven't I started threads over on the Radio 2 board, stating that musicians shouldn't be made to feel guilty over being paid decent money by er...people like you and your little gang?

Funny how you accuse some artists of commercial exploitation, whilst champion others!

I'd look up the word HYPOCRITE in the dictionary if I were you Sweetums....you may learn a lot...


But..then again......


:0)

Subject: RE: Sparkling Sidmouth!! :0)
From: The Borchester Echo
Date: 29 Jun 06 - 01:37 PM

. . . oh, and whaddya mean, LC, announcing to the world that I'll be in Sidmouth this year? You're not my agent.

Subject: RE: Sparkling Sidmouth!! :0)
From: The Borchester Echo
Date: 29 Jun 06 - 01:48 PM

YOU accused the Acoustic Cafe, of charging

No I didn't. Some Guest 28 Jun 06 - 10:40 AM said that. I've only just found out that this dubious venue is at the Marlborough and I haven't a clue what they're up to. Never been and never will.

Haven't I started threads over on the Radio 2 board, stating that musicians shouldn't be made to feel guilty over being paid decent money by er...people like you and your little gang?

I'll probably regret asking this, but just who do you imagine 'me and my little gang' are?

Subject: RE: Sparkling Sidmouth!! :0)
From: Lizzie Cornish
Date: 29 Jun 06 - 02:09 PM

I'm looking fowards to seeing Lunasa, as well as CB&S and the DMcF Band, but then...there's Flook, the Warsaw Village Band, George Papavgeris...Roy Bailey....Blue Murder...Witches of Elswick...Les Barker..Dulaman, Nancy Kerr & James Fagan...Julie Fowlis.....

Blimey!! WHO *do* you choose?

Oh...decisions...decisions!

And in between all that there's the Middle Bar Singers and all the dancers, the jugglers, the fire-eaters, the story-tellers....Chumbawamba, John Kirkpatrick....Oh...and I hope the Shropshire Bedlams are going to be on the seafront again....

Heck! It's enough to send you batty! ;0)

Subject: RE: Sparkling Sidmouth!! :0)
From: GUEST
Date: 29 Jun 06 - 02:10 PM

I AM an agent and promoter, I KNOW what i am talking about Diane, shame you dont.

SDMM

Subject: RE: Sparkling Sidmouth!! :0)
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 29 Jun 06 - 02:22 PM

This is getting a bit too personal even for me.
All I can say about the calculations about hourly rates for expensive folk acts is.... If they are having to travel all those miles for 1 gig then their agent is not doing his job, an old friend of mine, an agent for some big names in his day, and now alas dead: said..... "The secret is not to book then into Newcastle one night and The Troubador in London the next, followed by a gig in Scotland."
If you choose the highest paying gigs without regard to their geographical location you are an eedjit!
Giok

Subject: RE: Sparkling Sidmouth!! :0)
From: The Borchester Echo
Date: 29 Jun 06 - 02:25 PM

Oh I know what I'm talking about, SDMM. I'm just very unlikely ever to see it from your grasping, exploitative point of view. You really ought to say who you are so that artists could avoid being stuffed.

Subject: RE: Sparkling Sidmouth!! :0)
From: BB
Date: 29 Jun 06 - 02:26 PM

I think it unfair to blame the MU - members' minimum fees are way below what many 'top acts' are charging festivals - and the additional requirements are certainly nothing to do with the MU!

Subject: RE: Sparkling Sidmouth!! :0)
From: GUEST
Date: 29 Jun 06 - 03:04 PM

I dont stuff my artists, they have plenty of gigs as they are not greedy and are very well known. They agree with me.

Also if the public refused to buy the tickets then it would all resolve itself.

I also dont like the way you have a go at Lizzie, on this board, as you did on the other. You are a bully.

I dont need to prove myself as already have done so "Countess Richard"

Subject: RE: Sparkling Sidmouth!! :0)
From: Chris Cole
Date: 29 Jun 06 - 03:32 PM

Well said Guest. Why can't the bullies let Lizzie have her Sidmouth wallow? Why can she not have one thread SOMEWHERE to wax lyrical and paint the Sidmouth picture for us all? The like minded can join in and the usual suspects can let us all get on with it. The thread started so upbeat and has, as usual, descended into the usual bun fight. I admire Lizzie's determined spirit and I don't give a hoot if Diane and her gang ignore or insult me. Sidmouth is a joy and a treasure. Let's look forward without mud slinging and naval gazing.

Subject: RE: Sparkling Sidmouth!! :0)
From: The Borchester Echo
Date: 29 Jun 06 - 03:41 PM

SDMM Guest

So, you refuse to reveal who you are, other than being a 'friend' of LC the random spam generator who is allied in some way with some open mic knob twiddler. This is not even faintly related to the price of cheese (or even more pertinently, to what performers need to earn to cover their basic day-to-day basic living expenses, not to mention some profit to put towards the day when they can no longer tour). As Barbara Brown indicates, MU minimum rates are very far from excessive, yet you are begrudging artists even that. I find this shameful.

Giok

I wasn't actually taking about the geographically-challenged tour 'organiser' who dreams up this sort of punishing schedule as a result of never having passed 'O'-level geography but the festival booker who summons a 5-piece (at least) band from all corners of the universe for a one-off @ 3/6d, no expenses. no accommodation, just piss off and we'll see you next year and be grateful we remember you.

Subject: RE: Sparkling Sidmouth!! :0)
From: The Borchester Echo
Date: 29 Jun 06 - 03:49 PM

Oh, so who is this pudperson anyway? I've no idea so will ignore it/him/her. Most people know who I am and know that I'm notoriously gangless. And that my appreciation of Sidmouth as a 'joy and a treasure' predates that of most around here.

Subject: RE: Sparkling Sidmouth!! :0)
From: Chris Cole
Date: 29 Jun 06 - 05:01 PM

Who do I have to be? Why is it relevant? Why can I not join in? who makes the rules?

Subject: RE: Sparkling Sidmouth!! :0)
From: Cllr
Date: 29 Jun 06 - 05:25 PM

I like lizzies comments i enjoy reading them and sharing the enthusiasm for well everything really (mainly for SoH who i think are brillaint)

I like countess richard. we have had intelligent discussions and i'm always happy to have a debate with her.

I love sidmouth festival, I havn't missed one for over twenty years so im biased.


I do not care what guest, feckless, clueless and nameless says as I believe they are trolling and add nothing to the conversation.
Note that guest in one form or another has attacked both CR and LC and Whatever one may think of them, LC or CR do not post annony annam anams err umm at least we know who they are.

I personally would be happy to buy either lC or CR a drink and discuss or views on music and hopefully will but guest can kiss my virtual shiny behind.

Cllr

Subject: RE: Sparkling Sidmouth!! :0)
From: GUEST,Guest
Date: 29 Jun 06 - 10:20 PM

Countess Dick!

In answer to your earlier reply re: MU rates and mercenaries. Well, I am a performer too and tax registered and have spent my time driving 500 mile round trips for 1 gig or driving home 200 miles after a late night gig cos the organiser has 'forgotten' to arrange something. I've been stuffed with filthy accommodation from festival organisers, unmanageable performance schedules and low fees so I appreciate both points of view based on experience.

But, all that taken into consideration, one £500 gig per week is equivalent to a gross annual income of £26,000 which aint bad for a part-time worker even if you add travel time (for one gig remember) and rehearsal time. Most people have to travel to work everyday of their working lives!

Subject: RE: Sparkling Sidmouth!! :0)
From: GUEST,Liam
Date: 30 Jun 06 - 03:05 AM

>>Acts are costing rediculous sums of money (including massive agency fees of course) eg £2,500 for a 45 mins spot and also imposing other clauses such as minimum hotel standards, the type of flowers they want in their dressing rooms, the right 'type' of water, free meals, transport etc.

Apparently Dave Allen did a tour in the late 80s and was perplexed why so many of the principal dressing rooms at the theatres he was playing were freshly painted pink. It turned out that Shirley Bassey had played most of the same circuit of theatres just before, and her contract stipulated that the Great Diva a pink dressing room.

I have yet to see a folk perfomer's contract rider stipulating the colour of their dressing room, or indeed demanding flowers (white lillies for Mick Jagger I'm told) but I have seen some other clauses that have made me shake my head in wonder. There are several performers out there that have been merrily shoving their prices up while dramatically shortening the time they play for. Those are the sort of performers that need to see rather less bums on seats at their gigs, in my view.

As to the great debate about whether "New Sidmouth" is better or worse than "Old Sidmouth", I think the only way to really know is to come and experience it. It is after all a rather nice place anyway, even without the music. What I do know is that the economics of Sidmouth in its old form had become unsustainable.

Subject: RE: Sparkling Sidmouth!! :0)
From: Dave Earl
Date: 30 Jun 06 - 03:10 AM

Maybe all this stuff about Artists pay etc should be in another thread!

I work in a Concert Hall and could tell you a few stories - but I wont here cos that's not what the thread started for!!

Dave

Subject: RE: Sparkling Sidmouth!! :0)
From: The Borchester Echo
Date: 30 Jun 06 - 03:55 AM

If Ian Anderson and I have to spend a week in a virtual Carina's, we'll have the rest of Tiger Moth there and a copy of Stepping Up.

Who would you spend the week with and what music would you have?

Subject: RE: Sparkling Sidmouth!! :0)
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 30 Jun 06 - 04:29 AM

Kathryn Tickell and Karen Tweed, sod the music.

eric

Subject: RE: Sparkling Sidmouth!! :0)
From: Blowzabella
Date: 30 Jun 06 - 04:49 AM

I'd quite like to spend a week with Jim Eldon and his collection of hats.

Subject: RE: Sparkling Sidmouth!! :0)
From: IanC
Date: 30 Jun 06 - 04:52 AM

Er ... I've got a nice collection of hats, and I think we're performing at Sidmouth next year.

;-)

Subject: RE: Sparkling Sidmouth!! :0)
From: Blowzabella
Date: 30 Jun 06 - 04:54 AM

But do you have Jim's quintessential 'Jimness' ??? (Heaven help you if you do!) *g*

Subject: RE: Sparkling Sidmouth!! :0)
From: IanC
Date: 30 Jun 06 - 04:58 AM

More of an IanNess with me, actually, though I do do a One Man Mummers with the hyats.

:-)

Subject: RE: Sparkling Sidmouth!! :0)
From: The Borchester Echo
Date: 30 Jun 06 - 05:10 AM

Jims (as well as Eldon) I'd happily spend the week with:

Causley
Moray
Delarre
Raynard

DEAD LIST

Hendrix
Morrison

RESERVE LIST

Younger
Patterson
Taylor

(and any other old bloke Jims I've forgotten about)

NO-NOs

Boyes
Blunt

Subject: RE: Sparkling Sidmouth!! :0)
From: Folkiedave
Date: 30 Jun 06 - 05:24 AM

actually, though I do do a One Man Mummers with the hyats.

What about this for a link(!!) The first person I ever saw do a one man mummers play - and using hats for the characters - was Steve Heap. About 1966/1967

Subject: RE: Sparkling Sidmouth!! :0)
From: GUEST,Liam
Date: 30 Jun 06 - 05:25 AM

Jim Morrison will sadly have been dead 35 years this Monday coming. That is unless the rumours are true and he is going to come and surprise us at Sidmouth...

Subject: RE: Sparkling Sidmouth!! :0)
From: The Borchester Echo
Date: 30 Jun 06 - 05:36 AM

Well. I did put Jim Morrison on the Dead List . . .

Sidmouth could relocate to Père Lachaise. Meanwhile, let's have THE OLD HAT CONCERT PARTY (for when Tiger Moth needs a break). As for Steve Heap, does he feature on anybody's list of 'Steves To Spend The Week With'? (I'm having Stefans Grossman and Sobell . . .)

Subject: RE: Sparkling Sidmouth!! :0)
From: GUEST,Jon
Date: 30 Jun 06 - 05:42 AM

Looks like I'd just end up spending the week squabbling with Eric The Red ;-)

Subject: RE: Sparkling Sidmouth!! :0)
From: The Barden of England
Date: 30 Jun 06 - 05:42 AM

'Steves To Spend The Week With'

Nicks - but I'm still too old for her!!

Subject: RE: Sparkling Sidmouth!! :0)
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 30 Jun 06 - 05:46 AM

May as well confess to a hankering for a bit of time spent with Karine Polwart, if we're talking music that is. If it were to be anybody in the world, then it would have to be Goldie Hawn of course.
Giok

Subject: RE: Sparkling Sidmouth!! :0)
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 30 Jun 06 - 05:47 AM

Where are you....................

Subject: RE: Sparkling Sidmouth!! :0)
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 30 Jun 06 - 05:48 AM

Terry?