UK Upton Festival May Day w/e is GO -

Subject: UK Upton Festival May Day w/e is GO -
From: GUEST,Mr Red (who has been at everyone)
Date: 22 Jan 07 - 07:55 AM

New organisers (Lisa from Malthouse Passage) told me.............

A wonderful, friendly riverside Bank Holiday weekend crammed full of music
and dance . Well over 40 Morris sides plus ceilidhs, concerts, workshops,
craft fair, sessions, grand procession... even a duck race!

Booked so far:
Witches of Elswick, Nancy Kerr & James Fagan, Karen Tweed & Roger Wilson,
Les Barker, Peeping Tom with Martyn Harvey, Devil¹s Interval, Craig, Morgan
& Robson, Jackie Oates, Ed Rennie, Malthouse Passage, Bagelfish Orchestra,
Chris Moreton, Mick Holditch, Quartz, Flatworld, Diskan, Loman, Compost
Heap, Shellback Chorus, Rod Penlington, Vital Spark, That Shallott with Paul
Weir, Matt Black, Set E¹m Up Joe... more to be announced!

Info/tickets:
http://www.uptonfolk.org
or sae to:
Box Office, Tudor House, 9 Kinnersley, Severn Stoke, Worcester. WR8 9JR

Subject: RE: UK Upton Festival May Day w/e is GO -
From: Mr Yellow
Date: 22 Jan 07 - 08:08 AM

yup , Miss Yellow will be there too

Subject: RE: UK Upton Festival May Day w/e is GO -
From: muppitz
Date: 22 Jan 07 - 08:20 AM

If I weren't booked at Moor & Coast the same weekend I could be convinced to go with that line up!

muppitz
x

Subject: RE: UK Upton Festival May Day w/e is GO -
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 22 Jan 07 - 08:23 AM

I'd be interested too, but I saw Les only a few weeks ago, and therefore think he deserves another year or so before I'm inflicted on him again.

LTS

Subject: RE: UK Upton Festival May Day w/e is GO -
From: LesB
Date: 22 Jan 07 - 12:50 PM

I'll be paying my 1st visit with the Southport Swords.
Cheers
Les

Subject: RE: UK Upton Festival May Day w/e is GO -
From: Splott Man
Date: 23 Jan 07 - 04:10 AM

Llantrisant Folk Club will be there.

Subject: RE: UK Upton Festival May Day w/e is GO -
From: GUEST,Staffordsteve
Date: 23 Jan 07 - 12:52 PM

Hmmm.

I went last year it was great! No guests to speak of, just sessions and dancing AND.............. only £10.00 camping for the weekend. Brilliant. Everyone I spoke to loved it.

This looks like being just another festival now - what a shame.

Subject: RE: UK Upton Festival May Day w/e is GO -
From: SussexCarole
Date: 23 Jan 07 - 01:24 PM

I agree. Last year was the best Upton weekend I have been to, it was a wonderful mixture of song, sessions and dancing. Wish it could be the same this year.

Subject: RE: UK Upton Festival May Day w/e is GO -
From: Carol
Date: 23 Jan 07 - 02:07 PM

No prices on the Web site as yet and by the comments I think I would have really enjoyed last year's festival.

Subject: RE: UK Upton Festival May Day w/e is GO -
From: Mr Red
Date: 24 Jan 07 - 05:16 AM

Apart from the concerts and probably more ceilidhs the festival will have the same feel - because the town want it by and large and the regular attendees are what make it.

Trust me I have been to every one and I don't see it changing materially from two years ago - but I agree that concerts are a drain on resources and organisation and need not be as numerous considering the number of audience at certain times of the day.

BUT even if you don't favour concerts, the outside possibility of Karen (Twelve Fingers) Tweed &/or Nancy Kerr in a session must gladden the hearts of musicians - and not a few males. And James Fagan for the ladies ditto.........

I did not miss the concerts last year but I am not "Mr Typical Everyone".

Subject: RE: UK Upton Festival May Day w/e is GO -
From: Andy Jackson
Date: 24 Jan 07 - 12:31 PM

IMHO festivals thrive or fall on the atmosphere during the event. Upton has always been friendly and welcoming.
Last year was the proof that the regulars wanted to keep it alive, and the weekend was of course glorious.
Now Lisa is at the helm we must look forward to more of the same atmosphere and the ressurection of concerts and other features that had a holiday last year.
Good luck to Lisa and her merry band. (There is always a merry band in the background!)

See you there,

Andy

Subject: RE: UK Upton Festival May Day w/e is GO -
From: Mrs.Duck
Date: 24 Jan 07 - 12:56 PM

Booked!

Subject: RE: UK Upton Festival May Day w/e is GO -
From: GUEST,Lisa
Date: 30 Jan 07 - 08:12 PM

Thanks very much for your supportive comments. As Miskin Man points out, I'm not at the helm (that's Richard's job), but one of the merry band. We've listened to comments made over the last few years and hope that we've come up with a festival that will appeal to as many as possible. Upton is a friendly and welcoming festival, and long may it remain so. There will be plenty of the street entertainment that is so core to the festival. We appreciate that for many, this is why they come to Upton.

However, last year's 'DIY' was run by calling on a lot of goodwill, for which we were very grateful, but can't necessarily keep calling on for future years. There are also growing numbers who enjoy the concerts and ceilidhs. This generates revenue to keep the festival healthy. For 2007 we're re-introducing the Friday ceilidh (so make sure you turn up to it if you want to keep it going!). There's also a great concert line-up fom Friday evening, right through to Monday afternonon/early evening. (Now that the committee is back to full strength, the concerts are also back.) Again, we've listened to what people want, so we've put together a line-up to suit, without, we hope, going over board and losing the friendly atmosphere.

There will still be lots of song, session and dancing...

Lisa

Subject: RE: UK Upton Festival May Day w/e is GO -
From: Andy Jackson
Date: 30 Jan 07 - 08:29 PM

Sorry to try and put the blame all on you Lisa, I missed the brackets in Mr Red's original post.
It looks like it is well sorted then, I look forward to Upton as a wind down after my hectic few weeks, see you there,

Andy

Subject: RE: UK Upton Festival May Day w/e is GO -
From: Folkie
Date: 31 Jan 07 - 05:18 AM

It looks a great line up for Upton this year. I agree that last year's DIY festival was fun but this was partly because we had good weather so could enjoy being outside on the river front. If it rains, however, we certainly need plenty of things going on under cover. I'm very glad to see so many quality performers in the line up because for too long Upton has had maybe one or two really good guests and the rest have been disappointing. Publicity needs to be sorted though - I can't find anything about Upton in either the national or regional folk press!

Subject: RE: UK Upton Festival May Day w/e is GO -
From: GUEST,Lisa
Date: 31 Jan 07 - 12:42 PM

No problem Andy - I was one of the culprits last year.

Yes, more publicity is needed (we do have the website though). I've just placed an add in the next issue of Folk Roots (March), and a listing in their April Festival Guide. At some stage soon we need to email the usual websites etc. Anyone found any new, good festival sites lately?

Lisa

Subject: To Lisa: UK Upton Festival May Day w/e is GO -
From: GUEST,Wayne
Date: 04 Feb 07 - 05:43 PM

To Lisa
Sorry to interrupt this thread-wanting to know if Lisa still has SIGMA guitar? If so please e-mail Wayne at [e-mail].
Bye

Subject: RE: UK Upton Festival May Day w/e is GO -
From: old girl 1
Date: 05 Feb 07 - 04:01 PM

We will be there, so will most of Newport folk club So keep your eye out for the welsh flags.