39 replies to this topic

[eFestivals]

The future of GuilFest could be under threat, from a new festival that wants to be held on the same Stoke Park site.

http://www.efestival...s/080924d.shtml

[Paul ™]

Blimey

Such a shame if AEG do push out Guilfest

What is your thoughts on this Neil?

[5co77ie]

A new festival run by the corporates. I wonder how many other successful independent festivals could find themselves also 'under offer' in the coming year or two.

[Paul ™]

5co77ie, on Sep 24 2008, 05:31 PM, said:

A new festival run by the corporates. I wonder how many other successful independent festivals could find themselves also 'under offer' in the coming year or two.

Probably quite a few.

Same company now control Rockness, I was speaking to Robert Hicks at the weekend about the whole festival scene at the moment and was talking about how hard it is just now to survive. Kinda wonder if thats why they got involved with AEG but didn't want to push it.

He even mentioned about one of the other festivals he is involved with, Belladrum, and how a few months ago he was going to give it up which would have been sad as it's one of the best around.

So if AEG think they can just push out smaller independant companies without a care for the honest hard working people who build up events for years, it's a sad sad way things are going

[5co77ie]

It's not just AEG

WOMAD now has Festival Republic staging a direct competitor

Live Nation are bound to also want to get involved in more festivals.

and Vince Power is also back on the scene although at least he's doing his own thing.

[chownsy]

No doubt what the penny pinching council will decide and then choose

RIP Guilfest

[timespeedsup]

chownsy, on Sep 24 2008, 08:10 PM, said:

No doubt what the penny pinching council will decide and then choose

RIP Guilfest :(

Alas my current experience of councils everywhere is that budgets are really tight. & I know that councils will let go of services that work if a better offer (by a larger organization) comes along. So I fear the worst.

Only other thought is that could there be a long-term plan to get rid of Guilford having any festival?

[ig1234]

Some kind of petition stating we won't go near any new corporate peice of **** festival?

Councils have to preserve decent arts, so they may have this in their favour...

Only been to Guilfest once, in 2004, for the day, but it was a good day, and seems to have remained good.

[barrychuckle]

Guilfest needs to be saved, it is one of the few events left that recognises that it is far more than just the music - it is about getting the community involved -

Good luck Tony!!!

[TalkShow Bob]

5co77ie, on Sep 24 2008, 06:02 PM, said:

It's not just AEG

WOMAD now has Festival Republic staging a direct competitor

Live Nation are bound to also want to get involved in more festivals.

and Vince Power is also back on the scene although at least he's doing his own thing.

Are you talking about Hevenly*? From what I have heard its RBC and the ex WOMAD guy who are mainly incharge, I dont know how much Mr Benn and FR will have to do with it.

*I think thats its name, the new proposed fest for Reading.

[port]

Its a kick in the teeth for the organisers that they are even considering it, but the locals could boycott the new festival or make life very difficult in regard to co-operation. I have never been to this festival but surely not all ground being used is council owned? parking ground, access etc', its wether principles are more important to some people over greed.

[Paul ™]

TalkShow Bob, on Sep 25 2008, 12:13 AM, said:

Are you talking about Hevenly*? From what I have heard its RBC and the ex WOMAD guy who are mainly incharge, I dont know how much Mr Benn and FR will have to do with it.

*I think thats its name, the new proposed fest for Reading.

Pretty sure they are heavily involved.

They own the land, also will provide all the infrastructure.

http://www.efestival...s/080919a.shtml

[Little Chief]

This would be such a shame and as part of an independent festival, I have to hope that this larger sized festival can keep the flag flying for true independence.

Good luck Tony

Little Chief
Blissfields Festival

[Mackem]

Terrible news, but like the rest of you I fear the council will make the obvious choice. There's very little sentiment in local politics.

If the worst does happen, maybe Tony can find another venue in the area.

[eFestivals]

timespeedsup, on Sep 24 2008, 10:24 PM, said:

Only other thought is that could there be a long-term plan to get rid of Guilford having any festival?

i'd doubt that - i believe that central govt have been pushing the idea on councils in the last few years that each should be having a festival in their area. And as far as I'm aware, there's not any significant opposition to a festival happening in Guildford, it appears to have been running pretty smoothly from that angle.

[eFestivals]

TalkShow Bob, on Sep 25 2008, 12:13 AM, said:

Are you talking about Hevenly*? From what I have heard its RBC and the ex WOMAD guy who are mainly incharge, I dont know how much Mr Benn and FR will have to do with it.

*I think thats its name, the new proposed fest for Reading.

I'd guess that one of the reasons for FR's involvement is their ownership of some of the land it'll use - if they can get a cut of the profits thru them allowing their land to be used when it wouldn't otherwise be used it's a good bit of business for them.

[eFestivals]

port, on Sep 25 2008, 01:09 AM, said:

Its a kick in the teeth for the organisers that they are even considering it, but the locals could boycott the new festival or make life very difficult in regard to co-operation. I have never been to this festival but surely not all ground being used is council owned? parking ground, access etc', its wether principles are more important to some people over greed.

while a boycott might be a good idea, in general people just don't care enough about what to them are side issues - all any potential audience will care about is what any festival is offering them. If it has bands they want to see, they'll go.

And all of the land used is council owned - it's held in a council owned park, with everything within that park (the arena, camping, & car parking), and access directly off a public road.

[5co77ie]

Mackem, on Sep 25 2008, 09:05 AM, said:

Terrible news, but like the rest of you I fear the council will make the obvious choice. There's very little sentiment in local politics.

If the worst does happen, maybe Tony can find another venue in the area.

Tony didn't seem that keen as the interview with him shows, it would only water down ticket sales having the other event on - and tony wouldn't be able to run it as a loss where as the corporates would. Effectively it would force him out of business if he tried to compete with them.

[5co77ie]

eFestivals, on Sep 25 2008, 09:13 AM, said:

And all of the land used is council owned - it's held in a council owned park, with everything within that park (the arena, camping, & car parking), and access directly off a public road.

Just out of interest does anyone know roughly how many other largish independent festivals are run on council owned property - i couldn't think of any last night.

[5co77ie]

TalkShow Bob, on Sep 24 2008, 11:13 PM, said:

Are you talking about Hevenly*? From what I have heard its RBC and the ex WOMAD guy who are mainly incharge, I dont know how much Mr Benn and FR will have to do with it.

*I think thats its name, the new proposed fest for Reading.

The point was it's clearly been set up to compete with WOMAD.