Avalon is dying

[philipsteak]

I used to spend a fair bit of time there, both actively going to see specific acts as well as just hanging out there if nothing much took my fancy elsewhere but that's not been the case for a few years. 

I missed 2024 but I don't think I saw a single thing there in 2023

[Fishman]

43 minutes ago, philipsteak said:

I used to spend a fair bit of time there, both actively going to see specific acts as well as just hanging out there if nothing much took my fancy elsewhere but that's not been the case for a few years. 

I missed 2024 but I don't think I saw a single thing there in 2023

 

Exactly the same ...

[CaledonianGonzo]

It's a shame that the diner went, but the booking policy in the big tent seems fairly consistent with the way it was 10 - 15 years ago.

[GhostOfMaurice]

I used to like Avalon's smaller venue. Was it just called Avalon Cafe? But I heard somewhere that it's not there any more.

[Dark Star]

1 hour ago, GhostOfMaurice said:

I used to like Avalon's smaller venue. Was it just called Avalon Cafe? But I heard somewhere that it's not there any more.

Avalon Cafe, yes! Saw some good stuff in there, had some excellent food over the years too. 

[Avalon_Fields]

1 hour ago, GhostOfMaurice said:

I used to like Avalon's smaller venue. Was it just called Avalon Cafe? But I heard somewhere that it's not there any more.

Yes, and it was replaced by a smaller tent last year, but now it’s gone too. 

[Havors]

It's definitely become more of an after thought every year since 2019. Think 2017 was the last time it felt like a fully fledged stand alone area and not a pathway to elsewhere 

[Olshansky]

how do you all imagine what an Avalon "glow-up" would look like?  

[Skip997]

4 minutes ago, Olshansky said:

how do you all imagine what an Avalon "glow-up" would look like?  

Here’s my preference.

 

Since the demise of The Gully and The Blues we’re suffering from a lack of Reggae/Dancehall/Dub. 
 

So let’s have a Reggae themed “glow up”

[Ayrshire Chris]

Always think the Avalon is best suited to folk/rock bands such as Skinny Lister or that band from Weston SuperMare called the Leylines. A bit of high energy in the tent. Add in some more folksy stuff and a few heritage acts. 
and of course Frank Turner as a headliner. 

[CharlotteB]

I think Avalon has become a victim of it's novelty pop act crowd surges. It gets so busy that people get negative connotations about it and don't want to visit it any other time.

[CaledonianGonzo]

That's been happening for decades though.  It's been 15 years since The Wombles played it.

 

I know it happened for Sugababes three years ago, but can't think of any other occasions post Covid.  All the chat on here that Lulu would attract a dangerous crowd and should have been on the Pyramid was way off.

[Skip997]

3 hours ago, CaledonianGonzo said:

That's been happening for decades though.  It's been 15 years since The Wombles played it

Yeah. Avalon has always had a slant towards deliberately booking shite acts. 
 

IIRC even Michael was disgusted with The Wombles being booked and apologised for it. 

[Skip997]

ME regrets Wombles booking

[CaledonianGonzo]

Yes - but the whoever books the stage ignored him and booked Bruce Forsyth the following year.

[Crazyfool01]

Plenty of room for some novelty / fun acts in my opinion … 100 stages 1000s of acts … as long as the acts aren’t playing to a couple of people then it’s all good 

Edited January 26, 2025 by Crazyfool01

[CaledonianGonzo]

I mean the Wombles areb basically Mike Batt having a bit of fun.  Think that's a case of Michael getting it wrong.

[Beerqueen]

I just looked at the lineup for last year.  There was plenty I'd have been happy to see but due to clashes, I think I only saw Haircut 100 who I thoroughly enjoyed.  There always seems to be plenty for me but that's probably because I'm an uncool 62 year old!

[GhostOfMaurice]

22 hours ago, Avalon_Fields said:

Yes, and it was replaced by a smaller tent last year, but now it’s gone too. 

 

Makes you wonder if there's any long term plans to have a revamp of the whole area. Maybe after the fallow year?

[CaledonianGonzo]

They've brought in a bigger tent with screens outside. That's the revamp.

[CaledonianGonzo]

Agreed.  

[gfa]

1 hour ago, Skip997 said:

ME regrets Wombles booking

Very rude to outwardly speak about this. Not a good look

[stuie]

40 minutes ago, Nobody Interesting said:

and in Avalon they play to packed tents.

 

Avalon was always busy last year - we went mid day, mid afternoon, early evening and later evening and it was always busty.

Even when the Sugarbabes were packing WH Avalon was very very busy.

 

That is not something that is dying it is a place alive and well but just a bit different to how it used to be.

yeah every time I see the thread title I think it’s a bit dramatic.   The area always seems busy enough to me. 
 

The original Avalon cafe people parted ways with the festival so things changed, but it’s hardly a tumbleweed farm. 

[Dark Star]

17 hours ago, Ayrshire Chris said:

Always think the Avalon is best suited to folk/rock bands such as Skinny Lister or that band from Weston SuperMare called the Leylines. A bit of high energy in the tent. Add in some more folksy stuff and a few heritage acts. 
and of course Frank Turner as a headliner. 

Yeah, was always suited to the folk/punk type thing. Saw some great sets in there from the likes of Peatbog Faeries, Flogging Molly, Show Of Hands, The Damned, Pronghorn, Ozric Tentacles, Levellers, Nik Turner's Space Ritual, Waterboys, King Blues... 

 

Think the first cheesy novelty act was Will Young in 2009? 

[CaledonianGonzo]

The folky stuff hasn't gone anywhere mind - Frank Turner was again on last year.