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16 Jul 09 - 05:17 AM (#2681266) Subject: Traditions Festival - the end From: Barb'ry Angie and Ken Bladen, who have run the Traditions Festival (previously 4 Fools Folk Festival) for the past 21 years, have decided to call it a day. They sent out a message last night to people helping with the organisation, and Angie asked me to let people know on Mudcat. Part of her message is as follows: 'It is with quite a tinge of sadness that we have decided not to continue with Traditions Festival next year. We have thought long and hard about this and have decided we have just had enough of time spent trying to scrape up enough funding etc to enable the Festival to continue from year to year. The lottery money gained us enough to take us through to the Festival this year, (well nearly, we have actually had to add a bit)...21 years isn't a bad run and we've had a really great time.' I feel really sad about this - it was one of the festivals where you were guaranteed to find traditional song and music, as well as being one of the friendliest festivals I have been to. I think both Angie and Ken are 'unswayable' in their decision - but maybe someone else can take over...? I'd like to thank both of them for the hard work they've put in over the years to make the festivals so enjoyable for musicians, singers and dancers. Barbara |
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16 Jul 09 - 05:36 AM (#2681272) Subject: RE: Traditions Festival From: Fred McCormick Ah shucks. This was the first year ever that I managed to get to it. I enjoyed myself so much that I was really looking forward to the next one. |
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16 Jul 09 - 05:36 AM (#2681273) Subject: RE: Traditions Festival From: Phil Edwards No! This year's lineup looked fantastic, & I remember thinking I would definitely, definitely make the effort to go next year. Ultimately it's about somebody, or several somebodies, putting in the work to do the organising and solicit the funding - and that's a lot of effort without very much reward, so I wouldn't dream of criticising Angie and Ken's decision to call it a day. But it would be so good if there were somebody out there who could pick up the baton. It would be a shame to let this Tradition die out. |
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16 Jul 09 - 05:54 AM (#2681275) Subject: RE: Traditions Festival From: Fred McCormick Pip Radish. "so I wouldn't dream of criticising Angie and Ken's decision to call it a day." No, neither would I. It must be an awful slog putting something like that together. In a world where there are so many takers, let's be thnkful there are just a few givers.a |
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16 Jul 09 - 06:00 AM (#2681279) Subject: RE: Traditions Festival From: GUEST,Graham Bradshaw Indeeda great shame. Haven't been for some years, but used to go regularly in the old 4 Fools days. Actually, this throws up another pertinent question. Most of the organisers of the established festivals are starting to "get on a bit". It's only a matter of time before we start seeing a lot throwing in the towel. Various reasons. Getting too old. Getting tired of the increasing levels of hassle associated with funding, H&S, risk assessments etc etc. Dare I say it? - also dying!! We used to worry about the numbers of young performers coming through. No worries on that front anymore - there's loads of them. But, are there any young/new potential organisers coming through? If not, the numbers of festivals will shrink rapidly in the next few years, and with little or no folk club network these days, there will be precious few places for the bright young things to play. Discuss. |
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16 Jul 09 - 06:01 AM (#2681280) Subject: RE: Traditions Festival From: Leadfingers Having 'Run' a weekly folk club , I have a LOT of admiration for ANYONE who can get the enthusiasm up to organise even a small weekend festival ! Especially with all the legal Hoops you have to jump through , and the fund raising that is now mandatory . |
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16 Jul 09 - 06:28 AM (#2681292) Subject: RE: Traditions Festival From: nutty So Sad to hear this news - The festival was something totally different. Just one big party with all my favourite people attending and this year seemed to be the best ever. Certainly a grand finish for Ken and Angie who have done so much for traditional folk music over the years. I wish them a Happy Retirement. Hazel Bolton |
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16 Jul 09 - 07:53 AM (#2681326) Subject: RE: Traditions Festival From: Surreysinger Sad news indeed. This was the first year that I managed to make it as well, having intended for years to try and get there, and in the end making it there as part of the lineup. There was so much going on, and all of it the sort of "stuff" that interests me . What I saw of the festival was incredibly enjoyable, and what I participated in was also great fun ... and I had been looking forward to making it up to Preston again next year. Obviously that's now not to be. I'd like to say thanks to Ken and Angie for their hard work, and for their hospitality. It was a privilege to be able to be there, even if for only one year. |
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16 Jul 09 - 10:16 AM (#2681422) Subject: RE: Traditions Festival From: GUEST, Sminky This is all very sad. A big thanks to Ken and Angie for making this festival such an enjoyable experience in the past. I'm sorely tempted to dive into the breach and help keep it going. I'm a local lad, but I'm still in full-time work and I haven't done anything remotely like organising an event like this before. I wouldn't wish to commit to something I couldn't bring to successful fruition. But I'm not going to wimp out either. If anyone with the 'know-how' is prepared to take up the challenge and keep this wonderful event going, then they can count on my absolute (practical) support and involvement. |
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16 Jul 09 - 11:33 AM (#2681468) Subject: RE: Traditions Festival From: Brian Peters What a shame. Thanks, Angie and Ken, for all those great ones. |
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16 Jul 09 - 12:26 PM (#2681507) Subject: RE: Traditions Festival From: sid Eight years ago, Angie and Ken were reckless enough to give me a 90 minute spot on Sunday afternoon to do with as I pleased on the general subject of "Old Lancashire". A Lancashire Garland has been on every year since - and always a new show. The History of Lancashire Songs, The Cotton Famine, An Evening with Edwin Waugh, a series of plays and sketches, The history of the Jone o' Grinfilt songs, Love and Romance in Victorian Lancashire and this year a concert of Victorian Parlour Songs. Chris Pollington and Mark Dowding recorded most of them live - so they're not lost. I still perform these talks and shows and would like to publicly thank Ken and Angie for their support and encouragement of the Lancashire Dialect over the years. Thank you both and I'll see you on Monday at the Club. (The Crown in Worthington just north of Wigan if anyone wants to come!) SID |
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16 Jul 09 - 12:37 PM (#2681523) Subject: RE: Traditions Festival From: Barb'ry That's true, Sid. Angie and Ken have a lot to answer for! The Crown is a great folk club too - please come and join us. |
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16 Jul 09 - 01:03 PM (#2681542) Subject: RE: Traditions Festival From: John Routledge A big thank you to Angie and Ken for a succession of superb festivals. Without doubt our favourite of the weekend festivals. Such a warm welcoming atmosphere and a guest list of singers to excite even the most jaded of palettes.!! |
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17 Jul 09 - 03:58 AM (#2682001) Subject: RE: Traditions Festival From: Goldengob Having been regulars for the past few years Bill & I will miss this festival which has such a different feel from any other. Angie and Ken have always done a superb job and considering how little of the festival they actually managed to see themselves over the weekend it is a real tribute to their dedication that it ran as long as it did. Well done to them both Dave F |
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17 Jul 09 - 01:58 PM (#2682334) Subject: RE: Traditions Festival From: The Doctor I've only managed to get there a couple of times but enjoyed it enormously on both of them. I thought this last one was particularly good. Where else could I see/hear so many of my all time favourites, in such a compact and friendly venue? I can fully understand why Angie and Ken want to have a rest, having tried, not very successfully, to run a folk event in Leeds, but we can only hope that someone else feels sufficiently inspired to take up the mantle. |
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19 Jul 09 - 06:53 PM (#2683548) Subject: RE: Traditions Festival From: Barb'ry Any takers? It's so sad to lose this fantastic festival. |
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19 Jul 09 - 08:43 PM (#2683603) Subject: RE: Traditions Festival From: Dave Hunt Having run several weekend events - mostly English music ones and nowhere near the scale of 4 Fools/Traditions - I have some idea of the amount of work involved and I'd like to add my own very big thank you to Angie and Ken for their comittment and dedication and sheer hard work in keeping such a successful festival going all these years. Dave. |
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20 Jul 09 - 05:07 AM (#2683724) Subject: RE: Traditions Festival From: GUEST,Ralphie Just to add my grateful thanks to Angie and Ken. Have only been this year and last, but both were a joy to attend. Good luck with your future and no doubt we'll meet somewhere else down the road. At least you will have more time to visit more gigs yourselves hopefully. Ralphie |