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Author Topic: Which summer festival to go to?  (Read 6743 times)

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butimba

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Which summer festival to go to?
« on: May 30, 2015, 12:26:38 PM »

Hi all,

I've got the money and time to get to one summer festival this year and have been thinking about either Towersey or Folkeast (or maybe Sidmouth, although I'm kind of put off by the idea of having to camp for a week!) Just wondering if anyone who's been to Towersey and Folkeast has a preference for one or the other, and why? (And what are they like for sessions/ceilidhs/things to join in with?)

I'm a complete noob when it comes to festivals so any advice is welcome...
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baz parkes

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Re: Which summer festival to go to?
« Reply #1 on: May 30, 2015, 12:37:03 PM »

Know excellent nothing about Folkeast, but Towersey has along standing excellent reputation...it's ceilidh line up is excellent and ceilidhs, box players and sessions sort of go together...having said that they've changed site this year...so I can't comment not having been to it

Where are you based...a little further North is Shrewsbury...which also has excellent sessions both on site and in the town...

I'm going to neither, so can't be accused of bias... :|glug
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John MacKenzie (Cugiok)

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Re: Which summer festival to go to?
« Reply #2 on: May 30, 2015, 12:49:51 PM »

There's only one festival to go to: Whitby.

John
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Theo

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Re: Which summer festival to go to?
« Reply #3 on: May 30, 2015, 12:56:03 PM »

Whitby is a bit different from most if the others in that there is no festival site,  venues are spread throughout the town.  There is a varity of accommodation but much will be booked by now.  Whitby tourist information will find you B&B if any is available.
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Nick Collis Bird

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Re: Which summer festival to go to?
« Reply #4 on: May 30, 2015, 03:47:29 PM »

I know I will probably be shot down for this, but as far as Sidmouth is concerned don't bother.
When it was Sidmouth International Folk Festival it was fantastic. I visited a couple of years ago. It was a former shadow of itself. My opinion I know, but I was very disappointed. One complaint I have is the shear greediness of the pubs. Eg two tier prices plus the total commercialism of the whole enterprise .  >:( :'(
« Last Edit: May 30, 2015, 10:09:58 PM by Nick Collis Bird »
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911377brian

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Re: Which summer festival to go to?
« Reply #5 on: May 30, 2015, 04:49:19 PM »

I was disappointed as well Nick and agree with you totally. At least I could get home at night as I lived in Devon at the time. It used to be so good...
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Anahata

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Re: Which summer festival to go to?
« Reply #6 on: May 30, 2015, 04:52:47 PM »

Mary H and I will be performing at Folk East and Shrewsbury this year. That's far from a recommendation, but do come and say hello if you choose either of those and our paths cross.
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John MacKenzie (Cugiok)

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Re: Which summer festival to go to?
« Reply #7 on: May 30, 2015, 05:31:13 PM »

Oh I am glad that it's not just me, who finds Sidmouth passé. As you say, the glory days are gone, long gone!

John
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Graham Spencer

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Re: Which summer festival to go to?
« Reply #8 on: May 30, 2015, 05:32:35 PM »

I know I will probably be shot down for this, but as far as Sidmouth is concerned don't bother.
When it was Sidmouth International Folk Festival it was fantastic. I visited a couple of years ago. It was a former shadow of itself. My opinion I know, but I was very disappointed. One complaint I have is the shear greediness of the pubs. Eg two tier prices plus the total commercialism of the whole enterprise . ;D :'(

Absolutely with you, Nick. I remember the festival over a nimber of years in Bill Rutter's time, when I played there with a couple of bands and participated with both a morris side and a country dance display team, and it was a great experience. We were worked hard - especially as a ceilidh band - but it was very rewarding, we were well treated and I made lots of lifelong friends. Now? I just wouldn't bother.

Graham
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Graham Spencer

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Re: Which summer festival to go to?
« Reply #9 on: May 30, 2015, 05:37:35 PM »

H'mmm....... reading that back makes me realise how long ago that was and how old it makes me. So how come I still feel about 19?  ::)
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Among others, Saltarelle Pastourelle II D/G; Hohner 4-stop 1-rows in C & G; assorted Hohners; 3-voice German (?) G/C of uncertain parentage; lovely little Hlavacek 1-row Heligonka; B♭/E♭ Koch. Newly acquired G/C Hohner Viktoria. Also Fender Jazz bass, Telecaster, Stratocaster, Epiphone Sheraton, Charvel-Jackson 00-style acoustic guitar, Danelectro 12-string and other stuff..........

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malcolmbebb

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Re: Which summer festival to go to?
« Reply #10 on: May 30, 2015, 05:56:05 PM »

With all due respect to the old folks, Sidmouth may not be what it once was but it's still a major folk festival. Especially the first weekend.
(And, these days, AFAIK, solvent.)

And if you want to be ripped off in pubs, come to the New Forest. Lyndhurst is good. £4 a pint, off season.
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Mike Carney

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Re: Which summer festival to go to?
« Reply #11 on: May 30, 2015, 06:02:00 PM »

Great thread. Been once to Whitby and enjoyed it but there is a lot of walking involved..as Theo says, it is spread over a wide area. Otherwise great. Last year we did FolkCamp in Germany - fantastic (going again next year). Being new to this game we have decided this year to try a smaller one site event and decided on Warwick,at the end of July, having had it recommended.
Also going to trad music day (with camping) at Stowmarket on 5th September, which we've been to before and was wonderful.
Mike
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Graham Spencer

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Re: Which summer festival to go to?
« Reply #12 on: May 30, 2015, 06:20:42 PM »

Not been to Warwick for a good while, but I used to steward there, and it was always an excellent weekend. Good choice.

Graham
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TomB

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Re: Which summer festival to go to?
« Reply #13 on: May 30, 2015, 06:37:30 PM »

And if you want to be ripped off in pubs, come to the New Forest. Lyndhurst is good. £4 a pint, off season.


Or try Chester Festival, £5+for a pint of Guinness, no wonder pubs are closing.


Go to Whitby, you get a top notch festival and come away super fit with all the excersise  ;)
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rees

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Re: Which summer festival to go to?
« Reply #14 on: May 30, 2015, 08:10:07 PM »

I vote for Dartmoor Folk Festival - small but perfectly formed.
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911377brian

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Re: Which summer festival to go to?
« Reply #15 on: May 30, 2015, 09:02:52 PM »

Me too Rees...
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malcolmbebb

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Re: Which summer festival to go to?
« Reply #16 on: May 30, 2015, 09:24:44 PM »

A word of warning about Dartmoor. I expect to be there. (And Sidmouth, stewarding.)
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Re: Which summer festival to go to?
« Reply #17 on: May 31, 2015, 01:05:01 AM »

Maybe different people want different things from a festival, but I can't understand why several people have criticised Sidmouth on this thread. For me, it is still the best festival of all with a wonderful array of concerts, workshops, sessions etc. and a great atmosphere. Whitby comes close, IMHO, but if I could only attend one, it would be Sidmouth.

Sidmouth is different from when Mrs Casey/Rocking Horse Music ran it (less commercial, for one thing), but that is hardly the fault of the current organisers, who have done a great job in restoring the event after the the intransigence of East Devon Council forced Mrs. Casey/Rocking Horse Music to pull out a few years ago. As for the prices charged in pubs, not all of them in Sidmouth hike their prices, while I have experienced the same price increases at some pubs during other festivals, including Whitby.

However, none of this answers the original poster's question. I am not personally in a good position to do so because, while I go to Sidmouth every year, I haven't been to Towersey or Folk East recently, but hopefully there are others who can.
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Graham Spencer

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Re: Which summer festival to go to?
« Reply #18 on: May 31, 2015, 05:03:38 AM »

To be honest, Bob, I haven't been to Sidmouth under the current management, so it may well be more like its old self again. My feelings are based on the difference between "the old days" and the Mrs Casey period. I really ought to go again to give it a fair go. Maybe next year....

Graham
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Among others, Saltarelle Pastourelle II D/G; Hohner 4-stop 1-rows in C & G; assorted Hohners; 3-voice German (?) G/C of uncertain parentage; lovely little Hlavacek 1-row Heligonka; B♭/E♭ Koch. Newly acquired G/C Hohner Viktoria. Also Fender Jazz bass, Telecaster, Stratocaster, Epiphone Sheraton, Charvel-Jackson 00-style acoustic guitar, Danelectro 12-string and other stuff..........

Squeezing in the Cyprus sunshine

Chris Ryall

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Re: Which summer festival to go to?
« Reply #19 on: May 31, 2015, 08:56:54 AM »

i went to Chester and was also disappointed, both with the beers and most of the sessional music. It was all small groups doing their own thing with little in the way of joining up. Having said that I skipped the Sunday and Monday (which might have been better)?

One surprise there was "UK" Folk Camps stall - I last went to one in the 70's and thought the organisation had folded. Had been to a Dutch one since, and the German scene looks big? Recommended, but of course very dependent on the"mix" in a particular camp. At my last on I "supported" Taffy Thomas's dance on the ceiling, we'd got bored of tables

Whitby has everything except electropop - and yes it is good for your legs.

I use http://www.folkandroots.co.uk/festivals.html (there are others) and … sort of plan a summer of weekends. The adherents are commonly the same people anyway, I might do a NE festival because I'm seeing my mum up there, etcetera. French festivals are listed on the "Trad" site incidentally
« Last Edit: May 31, 2015, 09:04:13 AM by Chris Ryall »
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