How Do You Choose Which Fest?

Subject: RE: How Do You Choose Which Fest?
From: GUEST,Fidjit
Date: 11 Jan 07 - 01:59 PM

Yeah Kate and Dave get my vote for a great small festival. It has it all. Worthwhile guests, SAR's, Ceilidh, workshops, camping, enough showers for everyone, food. Fits in nicely between Broadstairs and Towersey. Very cheap too..

Chas

Subject: RE: How Do You Choose Which Fest?
From: Mo the caller
Date: 11 Jan 07 - 08:40 AM

How I choose depends.
If I'm travelling far I want some 'proper' dance (Playford, Contra, Square, not just a noisy ceili that I'm too old for).
But I enjoy a chance to play in sessions, hear new acts and old favs in concerts, sing some shanty choruses - I have less time for that when I'm at home.
I really enjoy the Sunday at Bromyard, sessions in pubs, lots of young new talent & big names. I'd think twice about travelling and paying for my ticket & B&B if they didn't have the Day of Dance on the Sat though.
Whitby and Chippenham have everything (except time to get to everything!)
If it's a local fest I might not buy a ticket, just go along for the sessions. If you buy, say, an evening ticket, and go to a dance or concert, it costs you more than going to an evening dance, or hearing that act at a folk club. And you can only do one thing at a time. I pay up for Feb folk day in Chester though.

Subject: RE: How Do You Choose Which Fest?
From: Forsh
Date: 11 Jan 07 - 07:51 AM

For those of you asking about singing/performing/etc, I happen to agree that EVERYONE should get a chance to take part in a festival, should they wish, and to provide opportunities to do so is important if we are to keep people interested, (Yep, even shakey egg players! :) )on my FESTIVAL SITE you will find the following text:
FESTIVAL NEWS:
Session Musicans, Session Singers, First Timers, Story Tellers Etc, Are All Very Welcome At The Festival. There Will Be A Number Of Sessions Over The Period, So Come All Ye!
"Guarenteed Weather"!

Subject: RE: How Do You Choose Which Fest?
From: Forsh
Date: 11 Jan 07 - 07:10 AM

My Guru>>> The Weather will be right, for, in the words of that great sage Mr Billy Connelly, "There's no such thing as the wrong weather, just the wrong clothes"! :-))

Subject: RE: How Do You Choose Which Fest?
From: My guru always said
Date: 11 Jan 07 - 05:55 AM

Guaranteed sunny weather? Fantastic! Pop it on the web-site & I think you'll be sold-out :-)

Subject: RE: How Do You Choose Which Fest?
From: Forsh
Date: 10 Jan 07 - 04:36 PM

GUREST WAYNE: Yup, Clennell Hall's Got em All!
MY GURU... : I think we fit the bill.. All except the last bit! :)
Everyone: Holmfirth Clashes, I know, but why not try something new & different? :oD

Subject: RE: How Do You Choose Which Fest?
From: My guru always said
Date: 10 Jan 07 - 03:35 PM

No Carol, they're different Beasties! Wallingford's a 'proper' festival with booked guests & stages & stuff, but am sure you'd enjoy it!

As to how I choose festivals, well most of the ones I already go to through the year (almost every weekend - titter ye not, it's a knackering lifestyle) were chosen for (not necessarily in this order):

Location - not more than 4 hours pulling the van
Song & Ales - usually a very good combination
Guest list - yes, little-known names attract me too
Variety of Guests booked - to cater for different tastes & times of day
Weekend ticket price - if it's too expensive I've probably seen all the guests before
Campsite - near to festival and fringe pubs
Campsite facilities - including quality of stewarding
Campsite catering - no names!
Good known fringe venues for SAR's & sessions
Good festival organisation
Beer tent or real ale available - only if properly cared for & doesn't run out too quickly
Good web-site can be very attractive too
Guaranteed sunny weather in with the ticket price
Oh, and if I'm booked *grin*

Sounds like this could be a good growing festival, though it's too far from Surrey & clashes with Cromer, Tredegar & probably Fox & Hounds, Bury St Edmunds & Exmoor too. Worth watching perhaps, have bookmarked. Good luck!

Subject: RE: How Do You Choose Which Fest?
From: Carol
Date: 10 Jan 07 - 02:59 PM

I do enjoy the White Horse have been several times over the years and managed to get there last year - season ticket price for oldies very reasonable! Although I stayed in the SARS, Friday evening was great! Would give Katie and Dave gold stars as festival organisers.
Wallingford isn't Lechlade is it - my geography's not great!

Subject: RE: How Do You Choose Which Fest?
From: GUEST,Wayne
Date: 10 Jan 07 - 08:41 AM

I'm more attracted to festivals that have guests I've never heard of. No point in splashing the cash for people you've already seen a hundred times. So local & new talent does it for me.

Also, I like quite a wide definition of folk music so maybe a bit of country/rock or the odd singer-songwriter would pull me in.

Finally, a pleasant location - somewhere you can go for a walk in the morning - is good. Oh and did I mention a Vegetarian friendly pub/foodstall?

Festivals which tick all these boxes include Chester, Otley and the aformentioned Bromyard. It seems to me that your bash in Northumerland does too!

Subject: RE: How Do You Choose Which Fest?
From: VIN
Date: 10 Jan 07 - 08:40 AM

Location, like Saddleworth (10th this year) is important, guests, open mindededness i.e. non prejudiced (trad v conempory), facilities especially camping, friendliness and of course a fair price - Saddleworth's got all these - sorry! I must get out more.

Missed the xtravaganza last time Bernard but hope to be there this time - a nice mini fest in a nice little pub in the wilds of Manchestu / Owdum.

Subject: RE: How Do You Choose Which Fest?
From: muppitz
Date: 10 Jan 07 - 08:07 AM

I don't choose the festivals, Glen (Of Moor & Coast food tent) requests my presence for the purposes of slavery!
(Unless I get booked, "Giz a job" fashion!)

muppitz x

Subject: RE: How Do You Choose Which Fest?
From: Scrump
Date: 10 Jan 07 - 06:56 AM

Scrump - you've never heard me at a Les Barker concert have you?

Yes, we had an exchange on another thread not long ago.

Effect on JK? Do tell, I'm intrigued now! :-)

Subject: RE: How Do You Choose Which Fest?
From: Forsh
Date: 10 Jan 07 - 06:25 AM

I take on board the comments regarding 'Line Dancing' and will move to ensure that we have enough toilets on site! Of course, the loos in the actual building will also be available from 9am - 3 am! (Lovely Late Bars Here!)
And... to confirm once again.. IF YOU WANT TO SING/PERFORM THERE WILL BE AMPLE OPPORTUNIIES @ Clennell Hall Folk Festival!!
Like I keep stressing, I would like this to be a Festival FOR Folk, ie for the people paying the ticket price, not for the organizers anyone else. I positively WANT folk to come along and sing at sessions, sing arounds & wokshops, and, if possible, on the same bill as the 'booked' acts! There is no regular public transport from Rothbury to Alwinton, so the Hotel are putting on a FREE 8 seeter shuttle, and we are negotiating with local bus company to get them to put a couple of mini busses on over the weekend, so, access shouldn't be a problem.
I hope that I can re-create the 'feeling' of that Bromyard '74 fest that I went to, and create a festival that is different to all the others, in location, facilities, accessability, and ambiance. And I hope you can come! WEB SITE

Subject: RE: How Do You Choose Which Fest?
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 10 Jan 07 - 06:15 AM

Scrump - you've never heard me at a Les Barker concert have you?

I've brought Roy Bailey, Packie Byrne, Jim Davidson (it was a freebie), Martin Carthy and the Spooky Men's Chorale to a standstill too....

I've also had an effect on John Kirkpatrick but that was for an entirely different reason!

LTS

Subject: RE: How Do You Choose Which Fest?
From: Scrump
Date: 10 Jan 07 - 06:03 AM

LTS: audiences need to make noise too, y'know! :-)

To add to my earlier comments, I also like a chance to perform myself (assuming I'm attending a fest I've not been booked for), but it's not essential if I go to see particular guests.

As for camping, I'm not bothered about being close to the toilet block (in fact I wouldn't want to be too close!), but I do hate it when there aren't enough facilities to cope with peak times (mainly first thing in the morning, when everyone's "fair brastin'"!) If I wasn't desperate myself, I'd find it quite funny to see the impromptu line dancing that goes on at such times :-)

Subject: RE: How Do You Choose Which Fest?
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 10 Jan 07 - 05:33 AM

To go with the thread title -

Cost: Can I get a free ticket by stewarding? If yes, it's a goer, if no... no go if over a weeks wages.

Camping: I'm happy roughing it but as age creeps on, I do find being near the toilet block a blessing.

Acts: Not really an issue. If I really want to see a person, I'll make an effort and do so, but I'm happiest when making noise so I'm not the best audient.

Singarounds/Sessions: Always a bonus. Music that I like to listen to, want to learn and can join in with.

Location: I always like going to places I've never been but then again, I do like seeing old friends and places. I'm willing to try anywhere once.

Dates: Bank Holidays are good but get booked up really quickly. There are months where there are festivals every weekend and some where there are 4 on the same weekend. I can't afford more than 3 festivals a year, and certainly not more than one a month. Therefore, the one that offers me the best overall package and doesn't clash with other commitments will win.

I'd like to try this new festival of yours, but it is too close to a concert I'm performing in and too far to travel sensibly on a Friday.

LTS

Subject: RE: How Do You Choose Which Fest?
From: GUEST, Topsie
Date: 10 Jan 07 - 05:30 AM

Herga Kitty
- No, by the time I started to go to Sidmouth the LNE was up at the Bowd. This doesn't necessarily mean I'm younger than you thought, just that I was a bit of a late starter.

Forsh
- Your festival certainly looks like good value, but the distance from Hampshire would add considerably to the overall cost.
If I can combine it with something else, e.g. Mayday bank holiday in Yorkshire, and/or visiting friends or family, I'll give it serious thought.

Subject: RE: How Do You Choose Which Fest?
From: GUEST,Fidjit on the move
Date: 10 Jan 07 - 05:02 AM

Big or small they have to atract in some way. Distance not the problem, but the time involved in getting to and fro. Also combining several helps.

Carol, get to Straw Bear and Miskin. Same goes for White Horse and Wallingford. Great for sing-a-rounds

I prefer the ones where I can get to sing myself as well.

Chas

Subject: RE: How Do You Choose Which Fest?
From: Andy Jackson
Date: 10 Jan 07 - 04:41 AM

Subject: RE: How Do You Choose Which Fest?
Should this thread be renamed " have you heard about my festival and can you give me more advice"?

As shown by :

From: Forsh - PM
Date: 09 Jan 07 - 06:35 PM

OI Bernard, start your own thread!

And there was me thinking it was a chance to plug our favorite festival!!
Oh thats Miskin at Easter
by the way.

Andy

Subject: RE: How Do You Choose Which Fest?
From: Forsh
Date: 09 Jan 07 - 06:54 PM

And KEEPING to the subject at hand, I had no choice about Bromyard 1974, My Old Dad, (Forsh the original of Rumbylowe fame) just packed me up and took me! The Last fest I managed to get to a fest was the Scarboro festival of the sea thing, and I have done that for the last 2 years, because it is the sort of fest where non-folkies come along also, and it is good to see the really good acts 'turning them on'! LOCATION is important, I gues, as is the cost of distance to travel, cost of camping (FREE at Clennell Hall Fest!) beer food etc. As to Acts, I look to see that there is at least one that I know/like, so that I am guarenteed some enjoyment for my travels, and everything else is a bonus. If I went for NAMES alone, I would Never have had the pleasure of the Unthank Sisters (singing!) Nor Emily Slade before she hit the 'big time'. I love to find New folk to rave about, I gues, and to keep the folk experience as fresh as I can for me.

Subject: RE: How Do You Choose Which Fest?
From: Mr Red
Date: 09 Jan 07 - 06:42 PM

Burnham-on-Sea, Somerset had a festival Aug/Sept last year and one this year. Given that I publish data like that and I have communicated with the principle organisers you would think they would be happy to tell people who list such events in their area.

I may go because I used to visit there in a previous relationship..........

Subject: RE: How Do You Choose Which Fest?
From: Bernard
Date: 09 Jan 07 - 06:39 PM

Moi?!

;o)

Subject: RE: How Do You Choose Which Fest?
From: Forsh
Date: 09 Jan 07 - 06:38 PM

effsee sans cookie: If I sell anything more than break-even, I have crt blanche to hire more acts, so, IF this happens, I will look into your recommendation, and possibly book Norman Stewart. THEN would you come? ! (As if Jez Lowe et al aint enough... :) )

Subject: RE: How Do You Choose Which Fest?
From: Forsh
Date: 09 Jan 07 - 06:35 PM

OI Bernard, start your own thread!

Subject: RE: How Do You Choose Which Fest?
From: Bernard
Date: 09 Jan 07 - 06:33 PM

In case anyone isn't aware, the Poynton Festival is no more... the name has changed to the Woodford Festival - cos that's where it's held, anyway!

The new website will be appearing in the next few days (when someone gives me the FTP details!!) - meanwhile, some information is available on the old website... new website...

The Open Door Extravaganza is on Sunday March 25th - we've got Scolds Bridle, Tom Bliss and John Kirkpatrick. More details in a thread nearer the time.

Subject: RE: How Do You Choose Which Fest?
From: GUEST,effsee sans cookie
Date: 09 Jan 07 - 06:31 PM

Hi Forsh, why don't you get Norman Stewart the Highland singer on your bill? Superb singer, lives just north of Wark!

Subject: RE: How Do You Choose Which Fest?
From: Forsh
Date: 09 Jan 07 - 06:23 PM

RICHARD B: As an Ex Truck Driver, I can assure you that the 387 miles from Dover to Alwinton is a lovely drive- especially the Northumberland bit!

Subject: RE: How Do You Choose Which Fest?
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 09 Jan 07 - 06:15 PM

Hmmm. Just a lot more than a lot too far from Kent.

Subject: RE: How Do You Choose Which Fest?
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 09 Jan 07 - 06:12 PM

Topsie

So, do you remember when LNE was in the Drill Hall?

Kitty

Subject: RE: How Do You Choose Which Fest?
From: Forsh
Date: 09 Jan 07 - 06:00 PM

Righto chaps & capesses, and chapofnospescificgenders; :)
TOPSIE: The equasion you present is quite accurate, so I supose we can half it and double the cost £ 2 per Act 1nd £1 an hour... Still with free camping and great views etc!
OPEN MIKE:Come and Sing! Sing arounds, workshops, sessions and ad-hoc sessions all over the place! AND if you bring a FULL car that 300 miles, (ie 3 paying customers) I may even let you in free- and give you a spot!
CAROL: Nowt wrong with FREE camping, is there mate? AND the Festival Tickets are only £10 cons' if booked before March 31st!
The First Fest I went to was Bromyard in 1974, and I am trying to recreate that experience: Marquee, Big Bar with Guests & Sing arounds/ Sessions, Small Intimate rooms for sessions & workshops, propper Pub Prices, Pub Food, Festival Snacks, a sort of 'Festival FOR the Folk' Come on over and make it a success!
FESTIVAL PAGE
Best of Old & New acts, youth and experience, Childres Bands, Shanties etc etc. AND MR RED Yes! there are TWO CEILIDH BANDS!

Subject: RE: How Do You Choose Which Fest?
From: Leadfingers
Date: 09 Jan 07 - 03:05 PM

When I had the day Job , I could afford to do quite a few festivals IF I could get the Friday afternoon / monday morning off - Now that Music is my main income , and more than enough gigs are on a friday or saturday , it means that I dont get to so many - UNLESS I am being paid , and if i am NOT working , it works out a bit expensive ! Catch 22 strikes again !
For me , its as much Sessions as guests that get me to a festival though

Subject: RE: How Do You Choose Which Fest?
From: Mr Red
Date: 09 Jan 07 - 02:33 PM

It would be advisable to put the some textual guide to location right at the top. Like the county.
OK I assume it is in Northumberland but had to scan a bit to find that clue. Added to that there is a bug somewhere that I very rarely see on pages that crashes IE5.5 without leaving the URL in the history . And bugs usually hit the Visual Studio Debugger rather than crash-out - which I can't switch-off because I program using it. Many sites - professional ones have bugs that ignore legacy browsers but this is the only one that crashes the browser after scrolling up and down a bit (maybe fast).
Good luck with the festival - and posting here and similar places is all good publicity. Doubt I will be there - apart from distance - I ceilidh, it is a rule with use.

Subject: RE: How Do You Choose Which Fest?
From: Carol
Date: 09 Jan 07 - 02:26 PM

Sorry Andy
But I stick with whatever it was I said before! There are many different types of festivals and yes I do agree that I should pay for camping and something towards the festival,and have 'made donation' to festivals if I wasn't buying a ticket.
However to pay for 2 season tickets for 2 OAPs when he is 'only' the driver these days and I spend my time in the songarounds, works out pretty expensive.
I've heard some great reports of Miskin but as I said each to their own and there are two other festivals over Easter, Barnsley and Woodford which are a lot nearer us.

Subject: RE: How Do You Choose Which Fest?
From: The Unicorn Man
Date: 09 Jan 07 - 02:03 PM

I go to Towersey every year because it has top to good guests, great singarounds, great sessions,great folk club plus opptunities for hopeful up and coming acts to be seen to a wider spetrum,lovely yummy ale, it's on a bank holiday weekend which means I get four days of great festival fun without using up any of my yearly holiday and most of my mates go there. Plus many more reasons. I also go to about one festival a month or more because, I love meeting and playing with like minded people. And I hope to come to this new festival as well. Keep it up, without your efforts and others like you, there would be no folk anymore.

Subject: RE: How Do You Choose Which Fest?
From: Susan of DT
Date: 09 Jan 07 - 11:46 AM

the music, the location, whether we are vendors, the audience.

If we don't like the music, we don't go, no matter how close it is.
In the US, within a full day's drive to go semiregularly, like Champlain Valley in northern Vermont. But we could go once to a distant festival that sounds particularly promising. We do go to the UK for Whitby and try one other festival near Whitby in time and place. We don't take CAMSCO more than several hours drive away. One of the festivals we go to at least as much for seeing old friends in the audience as for the music.

Subject: RE: How Do You Choose Which Fest?
From: open mike
Date: 09 Jan 07 - 11:33 AM

i go to ones where i can get the chance to make music with my friends
as well as listen to the main stage acts. also i go to ones that i can
attend as a volunteer and work to be a part of the event and help make
it happen. I prefer the festivals that happen within a 5 hours drive.

Subject: RE: How Do You Choose Which Fest?
From: Andy Jackson
Date: 09 Jan 07 - 09:53 AM

Ah Carol, now you're just trying to wind me up...

"...if I need to buy a season ticket it needs to be reasonably priced as I don't usually go to concerts and so honestly don't see why I should have to subsidise them."

If you look at a season ticket as a contribution to the overall costs of a festival rather than an entry ticket it starts to feel a lot better. If all the people who went to concerts all decided to turn up at the sing arounds and sessions there would probably not be room for everyone.
Final thought,If you dont buy a ticket aren't the concert goers subsidising you?

P.S. You'd love Miskin.
Andy

Subject: RE: How Do You Choose Which Fest?
From: Bernard
Date: 09 Jan 07 - 09:42 AM

Aaah... Scrump...

Some people are born to be in the audience, others are born to take a starring role...

I've been waiting for thirty five years to be an overnight success...!!!

Subject: RE: How Do You Choose Which Fest?
From: Scrump
Date: 09 Jan 07 - 09:15 AM

I only go to ones that book me... which isn't many!!

Bernard, what would it be like if we all did that?

You wouldn't get much of an audience :-)

Subject: RE: How Do You Choose Which Fest?
From: Fliss
Date: 09 Jan 07 - 09:13 AM

I was introduced to festivals in 2000. I went to went to the Bridgnorth Festival, which is fairly local to where I live. In 2001 went to Chester and Warwick. Was all I could afford.

Then I was introduced to the All Ireland FLeadh so have been there 2001-5. Couldnt afford to go this year.

I enjoy festival at the edge.. I stewarded there this year, also at the new Shrewsbury FF.

Im hoping to do the latter 2 this summer, still cant afford Ireland... boo hoo.

Its balancing what I want to do folky, with what my partner TOny and I are involved with jointly. Namely WWII Home Front events and doing traditional brick and tile making demos.

Subject: RE: How Do You Choose Which Fest?
From: Bernard
Date: 09 Jan 07 - 09:11 AM

I only go to ones that book me... which isn't many!!

Subject: RE: How Do You Choose Which Fest?
From: Carol
Date: 09 Jan 07 - 09:04 AM

Same here Mr Red.
I'm looking for 'singers festivals' with decent camping, if I need to buy a season ticket it needs to be reasonably priced as I don't usually go to concerts and so honestly don't see why I should have to subsidise them. I've got to admit that I prefer the smaller festivals, more intimate!!
I think 150 miles from home is about our limit, just been making out a list of where I would like to get to this year and I'm hoping we'll be away for about 15 festivals.
Problem is at the moment I'm suffering from withdrawal symptoms and wondering about getting to Whittlesey which must be nearing the limit for distance. I'll probably try the new Sat. night Doncaster singaround instead that will only be 30 miles away.

Subject: RE: How Do You Choose Which Fest?
From: Mr Red
Date: 09 Jan 07 - 07:29 AM

if it is list on my website, and hence within two hours drive, I might go - otherwise not.

I used to have a billet and a reason to go to Beverley and return via Wigan so took in Beverley and Four Fools Festivals on a round trip - but the reasons no longer apply and distance certainly does now.

Pros: Familiarity, the organisers, the regular crowd, the ceilidhs, the sessions, smaller size
Lower Priorities: workshops, Concert

There are a Heap of festivals I don't go to.

Subject: RE: How Do You Choose Which Fest?
From: GUEST, Topsie
Date: 09 Jan 07 - 06:38 AM

The £1 per act and 50 pence per hour are often cancelled out by the fact that the acts you want to see are on at the same time in separate venues - you can only be in one concert/dance at a time (at least since the demise of the Drill Hall at Sidmouth, when you could attend a dance at the Ham and the Drill Hall by nipping back and forth between them).

Subject: RE: How Do You Choose Which Fest?
From: Scrump
Date: 09 Jan 07 - 05:30 AM

I've often wondered myself - I suppose in my case it's a bit of everything, i.e. all the factors you mention (who's on, date, location, probably in that order).

It depends on whether I'm playing or just a member of the audience, of course. I assume you are interested in the latter. I try to go to ones featuring guests I like to see perform, and hope to make new discoveries too. The main problem is when festivals clash date-wise, sometimes making the choice difficult.

Another factor we consider is the quality of the facilities available - camping, availability of pubs or bars serving decent ale, etc. One or two I've been to have been spoilt for us by the shortage of toilet/washroom facilities in the camping areas, resulting in huge queues at peak times (and of course in the festival site itself); or the lack of decent ale at the bar, rip-off food prices, etc.

Subject: RE: How Do You Choose Which Fest?
From: Forsh
Date: 08 Jan 07 - 06:54 PM

Hey C'mon you guys.. I know you're there! (Refresh)

Subject: How Do You Choose Which Fest?
From: Forsh
Date: 08 Jan 07 - 06:39 PM

There are loads of Folk Festivals in the UK every year, as I know, as we all know; so, How Do YOU choose which one to go to? Is it 'Who's On'? 'When it's on'? 'Where it's on'? 'Where it's at'? (Man) :) or is it just a habit? same festival(s) every year?
As regulars may recall, I am running a NEW festival this year in Northumberland, May 11th - 13th, so this is a bit of market research with a bit of a plug! FESTIVAL WEB SITE
FESTIVAL TICKET INFO
FREE Camping, £20 Weekend Tickets, 20+ Acts & 45+ hours of Folk Song & Dance: That's less than £1 per act & Less than £0.50 per hour! Not Bad, I think.. What about you lot?
Where ever you go, Have a good one!