Ashton Court

[barrychuckle]

I've heard some rumours of club promoters in Bristol getting together to put on a Ashton Court Festival next year.

Clearly it will not be run on the weirdy beardy 'come it's free but please donate £20' basis it used to be if Bristol Club promoters are involved, but can anybody corroborate this?

[eFestivals]

Since Ashton Court fest folded, there's been a fest called BristFest that's been set up in its place and runs within the city centre, which is heavily based around the Bristol venues with the top bod being a Bristol promoter or ex-promoter.

I'd guess that that person might well be keen to run something bigger at Ashton Court, as I know he's been involved previously in a fest planned for nearby to Bristol that failed to get off the ground, and I think he might have also been involved in running a stage or two at Ashton Court fest until there was a bit of a fall-out between the fest and some of the dancey stuff it used to put on.

While I'd love to see a fest re-established at Ashton Court, I have a feeling that any attempt will suffer from the same problem as the old fest had - and that's the locals believing that they shouldn't have to pay for it.

[barrychuckle]

No, not the BrisFest people. As nice as they are, the event I have heard rumours about is being run along far more commercial lines.

A proper professionally organised paid for event in Bristol along the lines of Parklife in Manchester.

Edited November 3, 2010 by barrychuckle

[JC-Mo'Fucka]

did the bootleg beatles and dame 'what ever her name is' not go down very well this year?

[eFestivals]

No, not the BrisFest people. As nice as they are, the event I have heard rumours about is being run along far more commercial lines.

A proper professionally organised paid for event in Bristol along the lines of Parklife in Manchester.

Ahhh, OK.

Something like that was tried in 2001, by Essential Festival. They went bankrupt as a result of the festival's failure.

The same problem applies, in that Bristolians expect music events at Ashton Court to be free. They might choose to try and attend, but they won't want to pay to attend.

[t0paz]

I thought the big problem with Essential was it had themed days. Indie day, Dance day and Roots day. Most people want a mix and so Indie day didn't sell at all well. Plus they had flooding problems and had to close a stage - Although that was probably handy as they couldn't pay for all the acts!

The Bootleg Beatles etc gigs in the summer were cancelled too. Probably because not enough people would pay for the expensive corporate entertainment bits.

I can't see Ashton Court being used for a festival again. It's a great venue, but until they allow camping people are going to go on Saturday but not on Sunday; which is what I think really finished off the original festival in the end. (i.e. once people started having to pay, if they'd have gone on Sundays as well, the debt from the previous year would have been less/manageable).

[barrychuckle]

To say because previous organisers have failed all events in this location is short sighted. Though there is much to learn from their experiences.

I do think there is potential for a one day event, but not a two day event.