New Tipi Tent...Thoughts?

[Fareham Grecian]

Sorry - post festival paranoid android that I am...only thought it was a dig because I did the "unofficial clash guide"...no worries!

[airwaves]

Lovely place to spend some time.

Crap as a music venue - sight lines, crowds, sound quality, The Local too close, ...........

[geofelgie]

Have to agree with what's been said - the Tipi Tent was undoubtedly the worst thing about the festival for me this year. There were major problems with the Bimble last year, with people being able to get in/see anything/hear properly, but I thought it was far worse this year. It was a real shame as there were a few bands I really wanted to see in there, but by the time of the later sets it seemed that if you hadn't been camped out for a long time already you had no chance of seeing or hearing anything. It was lovely in there, but especially by later on at night there appeared to be about 10 people in front of the stage who could see, and everyone else had no chance.

I fully understand the issue of making it larger meaning that it detracts from the very idea of the stage - ie. that it is intimate, etc., but I really think that it is the one area that needs some serious brain-storming before next year as there must be something that can be done to improve the situation. Perhaps having more than one stage that continued until 3am with 'secret' and small sets would make a serious improvement - that would split the crowd and improve the chance of being able to see something.

Also, something definitely needs to be done about the sound from the Local. A very touching and wonderful set from Sam Baker was marred by being able to clearly hear the very loud bassline from the Local.

This is all very much meant as constructive criticism though, I truly love this festival, had another wonderful weekend and think they are spot-on with pretty much every single other thing.

[strummerville]

Tipi Tent was a great idea that could have been better situated.

Was best place to get a beer whe things got busy so for that alone it was a success. Nice cask ales.

[carrotrope]

Not a fan of the Tipi Tent I'm afraid.. it's definitely nice to have smaller stages, but this was such a weird shape, and unless you were at the very front, or you're unnaturally tall, the view was absolute pish (which sort of goes for The Local too actually - is there no chance of making the stage a little taller?)

[HeyJoe-85]

It was silly to have an entrace at one and and an exit only at the other. Bottle necking in the middle by the sound desk, meant half the tent was empty and there was no through access. This just lead to a 1 in 1 out policy for a half full tent.

Also miss the Bimble Inn's comfy floor cushions!

[Sipperana]

Though the Bimble was always very busy there was always a half-decent chance of getting a decent spot where you could see the bands. In comparison, the Tipi was piss-poor for watching bands for anyone other than about the first six rows of people, not being helped by there being virtually no uplift to the stage. I know he's small but I was still taller than Eamon from Brakes when he was on stage!

Not only that but the sound system was a problem. While Blitzen Trapper worked ok, the Sunday night was appalling for both Franz and Brakes. To not get the volume settings right for two bands on the trot was abysmal.

And where did they hire the security from? Humourless-Gits-R-Us?

The one good thing about the Tipi was the bar which was always accessible and had fantastically friendly and funny bar staff. Though I never experienced any major problems getting served in the Bimble either.

All in all the Tipi was less successful than the Bimble and I would be much happier to see the Bimble return next year.

[RedRockRick]

Great place maybe for a salad or a coffee. A music venue where from the majority of the floor area you can't see or hear...? I could hear Peter Broderick better outiside than in.

[fogged]

Have to agree with what's been said - the Tipi Tent was undoubtedly the worst thing about the festival for me this year.

...

[GeordieMartin]

Don't have a tipi at all would be my solution and just have a smaller square shaped tent with a couple of little stools, some comfy big beanbags etc around and a bar withna little stage showcasing up and coming talent, be it musicians, comedians, poets, whatever really.

[SweepingTheNation]

Two years ago the local was inbetween the main stage and the pavillion. I'm sure there was a reason it moved but maybe they could reinvestigate this. I suspect that this would mean that more of the side of the Tipi could be open, thus making it much easier to see.

[Fat_Buddha]

Me and my equally short arsed mate spent the weekend bemoaning the nations improved diet, which means that everyone under the age of about 30 is at least a foot taller than us!

Can we have a short persons tent?