New site for Shrewsbury FF

Subject: New site for Shrewsbury FF
From: Fliss
Date: 15 Oct 06 - 04:24 PM

Thought it easier to start new thread than wade through the old one.

Shrewsbury FF will be held on the West Mid Show ground in 07.

Much bigger venue, not as picturesque as the Quarry, but better site.

fliss

Subject: RE: New site for Shrewsbury FF
From: GUEST,j
Date: 16 Oct 06 - 05:20 AM

Looks promising

Subject: RE: New site for Shrewsbury FF
From: Moses
Date: 16 Oct 06 - 12:01 PM

Where's that then?

Will the camp site be less than 20 minutes walk away, and if it isn't will there be transport back and forth that gets there quicker than walking?

And will the showers work?

Subject: RE: New site for Shrewsbury FF
From: Singing Referee
Date: 16 Oct 06 - 12:21 PM

Map here

Subject: RE: New site for Shrewsbury FF
From: My guru always said
Date: 16 Oct 06 - 12:54 PM

Here's the info!

Subject: RE: New site for Shrewsbury FF
From: Andy Jackson
Date: 16 Oct 06 - 01:19 PM

Wow, now there's a site. (sight?)
With a five year contract the festival can only get better and better. Well done and good luck to Alan and team.
Andy

Subject: RE: New site for Shrewsbury FF
From: Fliss
Date: 16 Oct 06 - 06:59 PM

Thanks for info link 'my guru'.

There are alleys thru from the site for those wanting to walk. I think one is called 'Pig Trough Alley' !

Hopefully not as many residents to complain as there were around THe Quarry. THere are lots of events at the West Mid Ground during the year.

Hopefully it wont be as disjointed as this year. I didnt get a good sing song at Moor and Coast as was too tired after all the walking. I didnt bother with a shower.. just wet wipes... phew!

Lets hope people arnt too greedy with the amount of space they stake out. Thats what caused probs this year. Also letting people camp before they paid, leaving those with weekend tickets struggling to find space when they arrived. Plus stewards will be onsite and not have to hike it back to make food.

Dont get me wrong I did enjoy myself and will probably volunteer to steward again.

Subject: RE: New site for Shrewsbury FF
From: Cod Fiddler
Date: 17 Oct 06 - 03:53 AM

The new site is a long way from the nice end of town. It seems such a shame not to make use of the many lovely things and places the town has to offer - in particular, the market square, which seems like such a good place to get folk into the open air.

As well as entertainment for the converted, the Festival should have two other major functions.
1) engage the young (or folk dies)
2) engage those who might not normally buy tickets because they don't know what they're missing.

I just hope you do well on the engaging the young bit. There should be artists visiting local schools and performing with the children at the festival.

Subject: RE: New site for Shrewsbury FF
From: Cod Fiddler
Date: 17 Oct 06 - 07:43 AM

Take a look at the Shrewsbury Medieval Weekend for inspiration:

http://www.shrewsburysummer.co.uk/events-listings/programme-medieval.shtml

Look at the highly sucessful use of the town square for Opera

http://www.shrewsburysummer.co.uk/events/cosi-fan-tutte.shtml

Subject: RE: New site for Shrewsbury FF
From: Fliss
Date: 17 Oct 06 - 06:32 PM

Im sure they will use the Square again. Its a great setting for events.

It was great seeing it 'victorian' for the film 'A Christmas Carol' years ago.

Think the busses will need to run all round the town to link up with town centre venues. Talk of water transport too.

fxx

Subject: RE: New site for Shrewsbury FF
From: Steve in Sidmouth
Date: 18 Oct 06 - 03:56 PM

Truly amazing it has all happened so quickly!

Subject: RE: New site for Shrewsbury FF
From: the lemonade lady
Date: 18 Oct 06 - 04:39 PM

This is going to be a big one, which Shropshire truley deserves. Shake 'em up, that's what I say. Can I come again next year, pweeeese?

Sal

Subject: RE: New site for Shrewsbury FF
From: GUEST,Alan Surtees
Date: 19 Oct 06 - 05:38 AM

Eh Up Folks

Sandra and I walked from Shrewsbury railway station to the West Midlands Showground on Monday using the "Pig Trough" and the "Flash" (don't get any ideas,)it took 15 minutes at a very slow pace. My guess walking to the Square would take another 10 minutes. The festival will have a bus service with several drop off points including the Square. We will continue to do lots of stuff in the town centre and the pubs in Shrewsbury.

I totally agree with Cod Fidler attracting young people and new audiences has always been my intention. Watch the web site for developments. www.shrewsburyfolkfestival.co.uk

Thanks for all of the kind comments, you know Sandra and I care about our visitors. Things were difficult this year, moving, coping with substantial growth and poor weather was a big challenge. We know the West Midlands Showground will provide a much better home for all of us.

We are sure the 2007 line up will meet with your approval. But you will have to wait a few weeks yet to find out.

look after yourselves

Alan

Sal: more grovelling needed.

Subject: RE: New site for Shrewsbury FF
From: Fliss
Date: 20 Oct 06 - 11:34 AM

Hi ALan

Great new venue. Im Shrewsbury born & bred... although living in Madeley now. Its just what the town has needed for ages.

Really excited about the new move. Do involve more pub tho. Ones this year were very packed and there is apub for every day of the year in town.

Sally - glad youve cheered up and are returning - we would miss your lemonade and singing. Whats grovelling amongst friends :))

fliss

Subject: RE: New site for Shrewsbury FF
From: the lemonade lady
Date: 20 Oct 06 - 04:04 PM

I'm not the grovelling kind Alan! I believe that you have a prime site and the support of most of the folkies in the country. This fest is going to take off big time and will be international in no time at all. You have the winning formular and I believe a gap in the market. I will leave it to the uk folkies to decide if they'd like The Lemonade Lady to relieve their hangovers! Should I be lucky enough to accepted when I apply for a pitch, I shall do my duty with a smile. Good luck, I know how stressful it is.

8)
Sal

Subject: RE: New site for Shrewsbury FF
From: GUEST,Sandra
Date: 23 Feb 07 - 11:06 AM

Fliss - I have posted your steward's form. Hope you can make it. I have only just seen this thread - don't know where I have been since October. We would love to use more Pubs but with food being a major income earner most pubs don't want sessions etc. It frightens off the regular clientele and of course a lot of the pubs are too far away from the site to use - I will try to get more of them involved, it's a dirty job but someone has to do it.

Sandra

Subject: RE: New site for Shrewsbury FF
From: GUEST,Ed Jones
Date: 23 Feb 07 - 09:43 PM

I used to love Bridgnorth as a town and always enjoyed watching the 'folk steam train' chug off down the line but I still think last summer's move to Shrewsbury was a sensible one.

Shrewsbury and Wickham were my two favourite festivals of the summer. Both were on new sites, both had excellent line-ups, both were relatively small and very friendly with a nice relaxed atmosphere and no trouble.

I'll be going to Shrewsbury and Wickham (August 2-5) again this year. I feel newer festivals like these can teach some of the longer-established festivals like Cropredy, Cambridge and Sidmouth a thing or two about 'customer care' - Cambridge in particular is far too cramped and over-populated a site to be enjoyable these days and I feel the organisers just take their annual 'sell-out' audiences for granted.

Subject: RE: New site for Shrewsbury FF
From: danensis
Date: 24 Feb 07 - 12:37 PM

Sandra, Have you warned the town that its happening this year? They ran out of food very quickly last year, and many of the eateries seemed to be closed at those crucial times between the afternoon and evening concerts.

John

Subject: RE: New site for Shrewsbury FF
From: GUEST,Sandra
Date: 24 Feb 07 - 04:14 PM

They new last year - well the chamber of commerce new! We will inform them again and local advertising is already planned. Leaflets will be put out (again) in shops, pubs, cafes and restaurants - you can only do so much and as they say 'the rest is up to them'

Sandra

Subject: RE: New site for Shrewsbury FF
From: GUEST,Ed Jones
Date: 24 Feb 07 - 07:32 PM

The smart traders soon realise there's money to be made by catering for the needs of festival-goers. If they can't be bothered to open at the right times then they don't deserve our business.

Having said that I still hope you can persuade more of the little cafeterias and restaurants to extend their hours Sandra as however good the food vans on your festival site are a sit-down meal with decent green veg helps me get through the weekend.

It's one reason why I like festivals in or near attractive towns and villages like Shrewsbury, Wickham, Bromyard, Wimborne et al. It's nice to escape the festival site and wander into town at some point.   If the festival is bang in the middle of nowhere then you only have whatever food is available onsite.

Ed

Subject: RE: New site for Shrewsbury FF
From: the lemonade lady
Date: 25 Feb 07 - 04:16 PM

And Freshly Squeezed Lemonade!

Sal

Subject: RE: New site for Shrewsbury FF
From: Dave Hunt
Date: 25 Feb 07 - 06:19 PM

Re the message from Cod Fiddler above about childrens and youth events at SFF - we provided a full programme of these last year very successfully and have even more events planned for this year for both those age groups. Youth events at the festival will include Longsword with Sue Coe, Vocal workshops with Matt Price and Stream of Sound, Music workshops with Matt Keegan-Phipps (both Matts are young but highly qualified and experienced tutors) plus Caribbean Landship Dance with Sunshine Arts and Arts Access plus other activities yet to be finalised.
For the children we have Circus skills and much more with Professor Panic. An English Mummers play, a Barbadian Tuk band, Costume making plus super songs and games with Dr. Sunshine,Pete Coe and others. For families there will be a family ceilidh and several performances by Hand to Mouth Theatre of their wonderful show Jiggery Pokery.
In addition, prior to the festival, Sunshine Arts and 422 will be working with local schools involving them in traditional song, dance and music.

To see what some of our artists do just take a look at their websites!
www.sunshinearts.co.uk
www.artsaccess.co.uk
www.paniccircus.co.uk
www.handtomouth.co.uk
www.the-422.co.uk
www.ryburn3step.org.uk/appstep.htm (Sue Coe)
www.backshift.demon.co.uk/home.htm (Pete Coe)


Dave and Maggie Hunt. Joint directors - Childrens and Youth Festivals at Shrewsbury Folk Festival

Subject: RE: New site for Shrewsbury FF
From: Dave Hunt
Date: 26 Feb 07 - 01:30 PM

refresh

Subject: RE: New site for Shrewsbury FF
From: Fliss
Date: 26 Feb 07 - 02:49 PM

Stewards Pack has arrived and Ive filled in the form. Many thanks Sandra. Must remember to post it back.

Looks a great line up.

Have you done a mail shot of local pubs? The Wheatsheaf in High Street didnt know what had hit them! What about all the pubs that run sessions already?

Why not try a few restaurants to run sessions too? eg Darwin Centre. Also do a session under the Old Market Hall.

Perhaps the river boat will be back - session up and down river.

Could still use Band stand in Quarry. Just a thought.

Subject: RE: New site for Shrewsbury FF
From: GUEST
Date: 26 Feb 07 - 03:19 PM

would it be possible to unofficially designate a pub or pubs as the place for sessions on the thursday and Monday evening when people are camping but there aren't any festival events?

Subject: RE: New site for Shrewsbury FF
From: Fliss
Date: 28 Feb 07 - 12:17 PM

Good idea

Subject: RE: New site for Shrewsbury FF
From: GUEST,Sandra
Date: 02 Mar 07 - 05:38 AM

Pubs are almost at the top of the list to sort out. We already have the Bird in Hand which has regular sessions - and it's a good sized room. If the pub is up for it I would suggest it's the best one for Thursday and Monday. It is certainly the closest to the festival site. There is also a proper bar on-site which should be good for sessions. The pubs we used last year want us to go back. We will not be using the Old Lion Tap again. I think some of them will now be too far away so it's off to Shrewsbury for a pub crawl.....

Subject: RE: New site for Shrewsbury FF
From: GUEST,Sandra
Date: 02 Mar 07 - 08:11 AM

'Have you done a mail shot of local pubs? The Wheatsheaf in High Street didn't know what had hit them!

Fliss the Wheatsheaf did know what was going to happen. The landlord had been to the pubs at Bridgnorth FF and saw the crowds. And we had talked to about what to expect!

Subject: RE: New site for Shrewsbury FF
From: Fliss
Date: 02 Mar 07 - 06:34 PM

I really enjoyed the session at the Wheatsheaf, but are you sure he understood, as no tables had been set aside for the musicians. The staff didnt seem to have any idea what was happening. Sheila M and I organised seating. It was so packed there wasnt any room for any audience. A lot of the musicians were playing standing up. The landlord was very welcoming by the end of the first session. He said had he realised the numbers he wouldnt have tried to serve meals but put on snacks instead.

Also people got their Wheatsheafs muddled and ended up in Frankwell.

Subject: RE: New site for Shrewsbury FF
From: Dave Hunt
Date: 02 Mar 07 - 10:07 PM

Fliss said - 'Also people got their Wheatsheafs muddled and ended up in Frankwell'. True, but the landlord at the Frankwell Wheatsheaf was very welcoming and I believe that there were some good sessions there too
Dave

Subject: RE: New site for Shrewsbury FF
From: GUEST,Sandra
Date: 03 Mar 07 - 03:32 AM

Yes he understood - he had been to the Bell & Talbot during the Bridgnorth festivals. That pub used to be packed to the rafters. The trouble with landlords is they want everything and never think it's going to happen to them. I'm not knocking the bloke at all and I'm sure it will be better this year.

I new there were two Wheatsheafs in Shrewsbury that's why I put (High Street) in the souvenir programme. Actually it's a good job some people went to Frankwell - they would not have got into the other sessions.

Subject: RE: New site for Shrewsbury FF
From: Fliss
Date: 05 Mar 07 - 05:40 AM

Im sure the little hiccups will be sorted for this year. Its great that Shrewsbury has this event. Im sure the West Mid showground will be a super venue.

Are the busses going all round the town or just to the bus station and back? Suggest the former as this will drop people in the Square?

Thanks for the invite and map. I hope to be able to make the event in April.

fxx

Subject: RE: New site for Shrewsbury FF
From: GUEST,Sandra
Date: 05 Mar 07 - 10:44 AM

The bus is not at the top of my do list at the mo - I will get it sorted when we have agreed a route a bit later in the year.
See you at the stewards party in April all being well.

Subject: RE: New site for Shrewsbury FF
From: Steve in Sidmouth
Date: 11 Mar 07 - 01:39 PM

I seem to have missed out on the mailshots this year - has there been a problem with some of them?