Medina
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Posts posted by Medina
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Very good to see that Tony Scott can apply to run Guilfest again in 2014. I hope he's successful.
The Guilfest promotional video on the efestival link
http://www.efestival...3/131011a.shtml is great. -
Wilko Johnson just added to the line-up - see http://www.facebook.com/WickhamFestival2013
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You've been around a long time mr blue!
More artists just added to this year's Wickham line-up including Public Service Broadcasting who went down a storm at last weekend's Wychwood Festival
See www.facebook.com/WickhamFestival2013 for latest news, also to let us know which real ales and ciders you'd like us to stock this year.
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Our Sunday headliner, Rolf Harris, will still be appearing at Wickham as planned.
We spoke to Rolf's agent today (9th May) who confirmed the show goes ahead as does Rolf's show in Bristol next week which is a 3,000 sell-out.
It's good to see Rolf's fans staying loyal to him and we hope to see lots of them at Wickham in August.
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Dexys; 10cc; and The South among many acts just added to the line-up:
http://www.facebook.com/WickhamFestival2013
Cheap-rate 'Earlybird' weekend season tickets still available if booked by post in the next few days.
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Lovely line-up but if the Festival wasn't 'bust' before it certainly would be with the cost of booking that lot!
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I see the first acts have been announced for next year's world music Rhythmtree Festival on the Isle of Wight.
I went for the first time this year and was really impressed by the site layout, the range of music on offer and the really lovely chilled vibe.
Rhythmtree is a relatively small festival, very relaxed and friendly, highly recommended to anyone fancying a weekend of great music on the lovely isle of Wight without all the crowds and traffic chaos of the other Island festivals.
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Very sorry to hear Endorse It is no more... but maybe I can now book Pronghorn for the Wickham Festival in early August?
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As the police face more and more budget cuts of their own I fear they will start trying to charge festivals more for 'special policing' or even just to cover the cost of their normal policing in the surrounding area.
This could become a real problem especially as the cost for each police officer can exceed £50 per hour, substantially more than the cost of experienced SIA-badged security personnel.
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Desperately sad news if it's ceased trading. I've been to every one.
If anyone thinks that Festival organisers make huge sums of money, the news from Guilfest coming just days after the news about Vince Power's Hop Farm should make people think again.
Tony Scott deserves better. He is one of the good guys who, with his team, has worked damn hard to keep an excellent festival going over many years.
Tony's had to overcome huge obstacles before. I very much hope he can do so again.
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Wickham 2012 was a huge success with record crowds, great live music, glorious sunshine and not a single theft or crime all weekend. Many thanks to all who attended for making it so enjoyable with a wonderful relaxed atmosphere.
For those who weren't there, here's a 'taster' video of Oysterband interviewed backstage and performing live on the Wickham main stage:
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Further proof of what a difficult summer it's been for festivals large and small. A few including Beautiful Days, Shrewsbury and my own at Wickham have bucked the trend and seen ticket sales increase but many others have found it very difficult indeed and I fear some will not return in 2013.
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I've only just seen this thread having been busy organising last weekend's (very successful) Wickham Festival. I'm appalled by some of the comments directed at Jim who is one of the good guys on the festival scene. I can only sympathise with him on the problems he faced because I know what it's like to face such problems. He would not have cancelled without good reason and I hope those who supported Rhythm in the past will do so again in the future.
Certainly all of us involved with the Wickham Festival wish Jim and Rhythm well and if there's anything we can do to help Jim then help him we will.
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Sun's been blazing down in Wickham today and our site looks fantastic. We've just added extra grassed fields for camping... no corn stubble to contend with this year... and unlike many festivals this summer we've no mud on our campsites and no chance of vehicles getting stuck either.
Our new grassed camping fields are right alongside Westlands Farm Shop so you don't have far to walk for all your campsite catering needs.
We've also booked two big screens for those who want to watch the Olympics as well as enjoy great live music on three stages at Wickham this year.
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As a PS to my last comment, it's good to see a news piece on efestivals today about the long range weather forecast being good.
It's been a rotten summer so far for festival-goers, festival organisers, caterers, traders etc. etc. although firms hiring-out roadway or supplying bark chippings are probably doing o.k.
Festival organisers at Larmer Tree, Guilfest, Latitude and other events last weekend went to enormous lengths to get their events on. Other organisers have found it impossible to get their sites ready in time but some of those events such as Rhythmtree and Blues on the Farm have been arranged for later this summer so do please support them.
Wickham is ON in just over two weeks time but we too are looking forward to the sunshine that's now promised - we've had more than our fill of mud this summer.
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Pleased to say we had an excellent site meeting with our farmer / landowner on Sunday morning. He's tremendously supportive of the Festival and we're very fortunate to have him. With the long-range weather forecast looking promising the Wickham Festival is ON!
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And with all the rain we've been having our purpose-built bar with heated indoor seating may well come in handy!
The long-range weather forecast for Wickham is actually pretty good but, just in case, all our stages are under cover (our main stage being in a huge circus-style 'Big Top') and we've also got a cinema tent, storytelling tent, a (non-animal) circus in a proper circus tent etc. etc. so everyone can stay dry whatever the weather.
We've invested heavily in extra roadway and re-designed our arena so we can cope with just about anything the British summer can throw at us.
Just as well cos' the British summer seems to really have it in for festivals and festival-goers this year.
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I'm not sure. Where there any festivals in March?
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Lets hope other major festivals in August are dry!
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Please don't forget the real Cider and excellent food stalls
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I'd think that's quite possible. This year didn't sell out and in the present economic climate the promoter can probably live with a reduced capacity.
If it had sold out the traffic and access problems would have been even greater.
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I would think it's fairly certain there will be a Licence review. What the outcome of that will be is anyone's guess. Ultimately it is the local Council who decide whether to grant a Licence and with what conditions imposed on it. The conditions can cover everything from site capacity and opening times to noise levels, traffic management and emergency planning.
Many years ago I was the local Councillor for the Fairlee Ward in Newport where the Festival is now located (hence my name 'Medina'). I also played a small role in persuading the Council to support the reintroduction of the Festival ten years ago (the Council Leader at the time used to work with me for the former MP for the Isle of Wight). It had taken nearly 30 years from the last Festival in 1970 to 'persuade' the Island that it could cope with a Festival again.
The 1970 Festival actually created as many problems for the Islanders and those attending as the 2012 Festival has done but one thing is common to both. Many Islanders are hostile to the Festival despite the income it generates for the Island. A sizeable chunk of the Island population is either totally opposed to any festival on the Island or believes that with Bestival et al there are now too many festivals on the Island and the Island infrastructure cannot cope with such a massive number of visitors all arriving at one time.
My guess is that the Festival will be granted a Licence again but, with an eye on public opinion, stringent extra conditions (and costs) imposed on the organisers. Those organisers will have taken a hefty financial 'hit' this weekend with all the extra costs they've incurred coupled with the fact that the Festival did not sell out. They may well have a massive bill for additional policing to pay as well - the police wanted £143,000 upfront from another (now cancelled) festival on the Island this August. I doubt whether there will be much public sympathy for John Giddings right now but those who wish the Festival to continue will need to support him in the months to come against those who are anti all festivals full stop.
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I agree with Nikki. Having never been before I got there on a blisteringly hot Saturday and thought it was tremendous. Lovely village, lovely site, very relaxed laid-back atmosphere, thoroughly enjoyable in every way.
Victorious Festival Portsmouth - Dizzee Rascal and Seasick Steve to headline
in other UK festivals
Posted
The new Castle Field site for this Festival is the same seafront site used by the Heineken Big Top Festivals many years ago. Lovely on a sunny day. Not so lovely if wet or windy as gales can blow straight in off the English Channel.
No camping facilities nearby but plenty of reasonably-priced B&Bs within walking distance.
Victorious was a huge success in the Portsmouth Dockyard last year. Business-wise it works on the principle of maximising attendance through very cheap ticket prices then making money from the bar and food concessions. The move to Southsea seafront provides more space (it was very cramped last year) though it may create some security problems for the organisers. Travel-wise it's 20 minutes walk or taxi from Portsmouth & Southsea or Portsmouth Harbour stations. Note that parking in Portsmouth can be expensive.
I'd recommend Victorious. The organisers know what they're doing, the tickets are dirt-cheap for the high quality music on offer, you've got the facilities of a city all around you and can't really go wrong.