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Post by scott on Aug 5, 2016 23:18:52 GMT
This is the third time for me at Womad now.I wish I had gone sooner as it's the festival I look forward to the most now in the year. I have also done other festivals like Glastonbury (Johnny Cash year, still my favourite gig)Bearded Theory, Green Man, Latitude and End of the Road over the years.
Apart from the music Glastonbury doesn't offer me anything now, too many people and the state of the place after a couple of days is disheartening, I will still continue to go for the music though. Latitude offers great comedy, poetry and literary tents. Green Man has pretty good music and the setting for the main stage is stunning.Bearded Theory for some good old 80s/90s music, always a welcome reminder of good times.
After three years attending I really do feel nothing compares to the quality of music that Womad has to offer but then you guys already know that so I'm not telling you anything you don't already know. If anyone has any recommendation for festivals like Womad that would be great.
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Post by mikey on Aug 6, 2016 6:04:24 GMT
The two festivals for me are Womad and Green Man*, initially because they are both near to where I live but now dedicated to each one and will be ready to buy my early bird Womad ticket in November. The reason these are both so good is they are not dominated by corporate sponsorship or treat punters as a commodity to get more money off them once the festival commences. just look at the website of some of the largest festival and you will see the sponsors displayed and talking to others who have been events like Reading, lured by the big names, who do not have the freedom around the arena that Womad offers or the activities stretching in to the early hours of the morning. Look at v festival and you will see the VIP upgrades which only offers the basic extras we take for granted at Womad.
What I am saying is if looking at other festivals, do not necessarily go for the big names on offer but check out how 'independent' they are and offer a full and enjoyable festival experience. It is better to discover great new music than go to see what you are expecting and risk being disappointed.
*other independent festivals are available
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Post by jax2000 on Aug 6, 2016 7:41:33 GMT
We are going to Shambala for the first time this year. I'll report back after the August Bank holiday weekend!  |
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Post by hotdrummer on Aug 6, 2016 8:01:43 GMT
Musicport is nice and a few Womadders go. It's in Whitby. The free Womad in Caceres, Spain has a great buzz and the Spaniards know how to party and are very friendly. You have to cope with the rivers of wee and some very late nights.
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Post by dorsethelen on Aug 6, 2016 8:27:33 GMT
Our favourite is Purbeck Valley. It's a festival in a farmyard with stages and bars in the barns and in tents in fields so it can get very muddy but no one cares! The location is stunning -views of Corfe Castle, the Purbecks and the sea from the campsite. Food and beer/cider is good quality and cheap. Burgers from the cattle on the farm but plenty of veggie/vegan and other options too.The showers and most of the loos are pretty primitive - no spa here! There's fancy dress, competitions for local talent, ceilidhs, activities for kids, workshops for adults, Morris dancing, that uni cyclist who was at WOMAD this year, song writing workshops, poetry slam, lots and lots going on. Separate sitting and standing areas in the main barn. It's fun, friendly, relaxed, certainly not corporate in any shape or form. There's a great home-made feel to it....but the line up is fantastic. Mainly but not completely UK folk - Proclaimers, Eliza Carthy, The Villagers, John Bramwell (I am Kloot), Lucy Ward, Sheelanagig, Nizlopi! Maz o'connor, Kathryn Roberts & Sean Lakeman, Moscow Drug Club, Undercover Hippy, Boo Hewerdine, The Hot Seats, Latin Quarter, Rory McLeod
It's just brilliant - held Thursday evening to late Sunday of the August Bank Holiday weekend
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Post by grey on Aug 6, 2016 9:21:41 GMT
We did WOMAD Fuerteventura last year which was great for some winter sunshine. The festival is set on a beach with stages at either end so as one stage finishes the other one starts, Dancing on the sand for hours takes its toll but HeyHo the local Rum sorts that ;0) The acts were heavily Spanish but three of this years CP acts played so its an early indication as to who will play next July. We did have plans to go to Cerys Matthews The Good Life Experience but a week in Majorca won that one. www.thegoodlifeexperience.co.ukWe've also done Latitude which is great and MELT a German festival which is less than great. |
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Post by dorsethelen on Aug 6, 2016 9:52:57 GMT
We tried to do Les Vieilles Charrues in Brittany last year on a day ticket. After being stuck in the traffic queue to get to the car park for over 3 hours, barely moving, still with a long way to go, in 30C heat and having already missed Anna Calvi, we turned round and went back to our Gite. We reckon it would have taken at least another 3 hours to have got to the car park and then there was a 30min walk to the site. Their Facebook page was full of angry messages from people in similar circumstances but not refunds were given . Many people missed the entire event as traffic management was abysmal. The gates did not open till 5pm, first act on at 7pm so huge huge queues built up as people arrived early but couldn't get onto the site!
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Post by scott on Aug 6, 2016 10:19:02 GMT
We tried to do Les Vieilles Charrues in Brittany last year on a day ticket. After being stuck in the traffic queue to get to the car park for over 3 hours, barely moving, still with a long way to go, in 30C heat and having already missed Anna Calvi, we turned round and went back to our Gite. We reckon it would have taken at least another 3 hours to have got to the car park and then there was a 30min walk to the site. Their Facebook page was full of angry messages from people in similar circumstances but not refunds were given . Many people missed the entire event as traffic management was abysmal. The gates did not open till 5pm, first act on at 7pm so huge huge queues built up as people arrived early but couldn't get onto the site! Unlucky with that day, I feel your pain. I get the feeling it won't put you off trying other events as you never know what little gem you might discover. |
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Post by scott on Aug 6, 2016 10:29:58 GMT
Thanks for the input everyone. Its interesting to know what other feśtivals people like. I will be looking at a couple of the smaller one mentioned. I've heard good things about Shambala, so looking forward to how you get on with that one.
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Post by calndel on Aug 6, 2016 18:15:33 GMT
the other festivals we do are Celtic Connections, Glasgow Film Festival, Edinburgh Fringe.
We tried the Eden festival in Scotland but found it to be full off teenagers who just wanted to take drugs
we have thought about the green man festival as we might do it one day
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Post by Purpledawn on Aug 6, 2016 19:18:38 GMT
We are going to Shambala for the first time this year. I'll report back after the August Bank holiday weekend! I hope it meets your expectations Jax as I recommended it  I like it because rather than several large tented venues and one big open air stage there is only one stage and loads of small venues. As a shortarse I struggle at large festivals to see anything unless I manage to get near the front. Shambala is great as it's all accessible and there's no need to be at the front to get a good view. Also, there's no rush to get from one venue to the next in a short space of time. They also put on a huge firework display on Sunday night with a beautiful lake as backdrop. I actually enjoyed it more than Womad so hopefully this year will prove to be even better than 2015. |
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Post by jax2000 on Aug 6, 2016 19:33:44 GMT
I have no doubt that we will enjoy ourselves PD. |
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Post by scott on Aug 6, 2016 20:45:28 GMT
the other festivals we do are Celtic Connections, Glasgow Film Festival, Edinburgh Fringe. We tried the Eden festival in Scotland but found it to be full off teenagers who just wanted to take drugs we have thought about the green man festival as we might do it one day One of these years I will get up to the Edinburgh Fringe, its one I think I would like. Comedy is always good for the soul. |
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Post by olirow on Aug 7, 2016 0:13:47 GMT
Went to Latitude for the first time this year, it was pretty good and lovely location. A bit conservative perhaps. They had John Grant, no other Womad acts IIRC.
Also been to Love Supreme, which is quite chilled and again a beautiful location. Saint Germain played.
Finally Blues on the Farm, much smaller, and I have only ever made it for a day, but passionate crowd who love their music.
The London one day events (eg British Summer Time) are soulless in comparison.
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Post by beanstew on Aug 7, 2016 9:20:33 GMT
I'll be going to Green Man (my 2nd) and End of the Road (my 6th) again this year. I love them both. Very friendly and relaxed with great food and beer and brilliant music especially if you like indie and alternative rock and Americana with a side dish of pop and electronica. Both offer good viewing of some stages too with sloping fields. Green Man's main stage and stunning backdrop:  I've never been to Lattitude but would like to give it a go one year. The new Blue Dot (Jean Michel Jarre at Jodrell Bank!) looked amazing this year but I had used up too much leave from work moving house so couldn't have another long weekend. I might consider it next year. I go to a few free one day or weekend but with no camping festivals around London as they tend to offer a few WOMADy acts. The brilliant Fanfare Ciocarlia brought the tent down at Walthmanstow Garden Party a few weeks ago. |
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I like it because rather than several large tented venues and one big open air stage there is only one stage and loads of small venues. As a shortarse I struggle at large festivals to see anything unless I manage to get near the front. Shambala is great as it's all accessible and there's no need to be at the front to get a good view. Also, there's no rush to get from one venue to the next in a short space of time. They also put on a huge firework display on Sunday night with a beautiful lake as backdrop. I actually enjoyed it more than Womad so hopefully this year will prove to be even better than 2015. 
