|
|
Post by Purpledawn on Nov 7, 2024 22:33:01 GMT
Hello all, like you I'm gutted, especially as most decent festivals for 2025 have sold out. Poor timing, thanks Womad! If anyone knows of any that are worth a look around the same time of year as Womad that would be good.
|
|
|
|
Post by jessica on Nov 8, 2024 15:34:28 GMT
Well, I think it's finally sinking in. It's the end of an era (and for me, the end of a very happy era!) I hope it's also the beginning of a similarly enjoyable Womad era elsewhere.
Thank you to all who suggested alternative festivals - Purbeck and Musicport both seem like good options! I will investigate further. I'd love to try another Womad abroad. I think the one in Australia is most comparable to the UK in size. But the flights are very expensive! (as you'd expect!) I was surprised to see that none of the other festivals offer camping. Is that right? I was thinking I'd try Green Man again, but that has already sold out.
I think Larmer Tree Gardens looks like the most likely alternative (unless of course they go for an entirely new festival site, or leave Wiltshire). It ticks a lot of boxes - very beautiful, smaller and would probably save the team a lot of money as I imagine they could share a fair bit of the infrastructure costs with EOTR. My only concern is that EOTR is 15,000 capacity, which would be a significant reduction for Womad.
I know that there is another festival in Wiltshire - Fieldview in Little Somerton, but that site looks quite small.
I think I just really hope they find another site with fields, forests etc.! I dread the thought of a more urban Womad as it wouldn't be the same without the camping experience, the trees and spending a weekend outdoors.
I also wonder what the changes are that they wanted to make which weren't possible at CP...? Any thoughts?
|
|
|
|
Post by Zenrider on Nov 8, 2024 17:56:10 GMT
Besides parking on higher ground that cars won't get stuck in, maybe somewhere they can build some permanent stages, toilets and such.
Would make annual set-up easier. Making it possible to use for other stand alone concerts and such.
Those are my best guesses.
|
|
|
|
Post by Purpledawn on Nov 8, 2024 20:03:53 GMT
I also wonder what the changes are that they wanted to make which weren't possible at CP...? Any thoughts? Womad could well have had a licensing condition demand? It only takes two or three complaints from the public, police or one of two of the other concerned bodies meaning a possible review of the licence. Maybe Womad couldn't agree to the conditions if this was the case? I'm just speculating but I think it's more likely calndel idea regarding the new Earl of Suffolk and family no longer wanting the bother of a huge 'inconvenience' on their land. |
|
|
|
Post by Zenrider on Nov 9, 2024 13:20:06 GMT
I also wonder what the changes are that they wanted to make which weren't possible at CP...? Any thoughts? Womad could well have had a licensing condition demand? It only takes two or three complaints from the public, police or one of two of the other concerned bodies meaning a possible review of the licence. Maybe Womad couldn't agree to the conditions if this was the case? I'm just speculating but I think it's more likely calndel idea regarding the new Earl of Suffolk and family no longer wanting the bother of a huge 'inconvenience' on their land. If that had been the reason, there would have never been a 2025 announcement. Pretty sure most of the area was pretty onboard with WOMAD. Pretty sure the new lord has a lot to do with it and what he wants to do with his land. Was startling to see the overgrown grove of trees that held the Moon for a few years plowed over. If I had a guess, he plans to improve the runway to pander to those that can afford planes to bop around on. It would be a convenient place to park a plane and visit the area. Perhaps, have some rental cars available? I don't know, just speculating. Then again, it could be a bit of both and Peter realized he needed a better location to suit his needs. All we can do is speculate and wait until Peter clues us in. |
|
|
|
Post by Purpledawn on Nov 9, 2024 18:18:56 GMT
Womad could well have had a licensing condition demand? It only takes two or three complaints from the public, police or one of two of the other concerned bodies meaning a possible review of the licence. Maybe Womad couldn't agree to the conditions if this was the case? I'm just speculating but I think it's more likely calndel idea regarding the new Earl of Suffolk and family no longer wanting the bother of a huge 'inconvenience' on their land. Pretty sure most of the area was pretty onboard with WOMAD. You would assume so, but in my 15 years' experience working in licensing there's always one or two who may object. As you say Zenrider, we'll have to wait to see what happens. |
|
|
|
Post by currygoat on Nov 10, 2024 12:06:38 GMT
The writing was on the wall for the UK Womad festival ever since Peter Gabriel said that he wanted Womad to be self sufficient because he didn't want to have to subsidise it anymore ... the UK festival needs a patron like the great composers needed patrons in the old days ... can't understand why, after sorting out his kids' inheritances, a super-rich music lover wouldn't want to make the UK festival the main recipient of his charity donations so that it could concentrate on pleasing music lovers without the pressure of commercial competition.
Hope to see all the Lizard Tent hedonists at the Tonnau Tropical Garden Party in Anglesey next July ... love to you all xx
|
|
|
|
Post by Zenrider on Nov 14, 2024 3:15:44 GMT
Kinda hoping Peter makes a full moon announcement. It is his favorite, the Full Beaver Moon, and it's a super moon, so a Full Super Beaver Moon! Probably too soon, but not sure I can handle the suspense much longer. Need diversion from the nightmare that is transpiring this side of the pond.
|
|
|
|
Post by beef on Nov 14, 2024 6:49:45 GMT
Kinda hoping Peter makes a full moon announcement. It is his favorite, the Full Beaver Moon, and it's a super moon, so a Full Super Beaver Moon! Probably too soon, but not sure I can handle the suspense much longer. Need diversion from the nightmare that is transpiring this side of the pond. ...do you mean on Bandcamp Zenrider? There's been some interesting old unreleased stuff come out over the year. |
|
|
|
Post by deserttraveller on Nov 23, 2024 18:33:15 GMT
Not just Womad, Balaton Sound a huge dance festival in Hungary has bailed and those tickets used to sell very fast. Wonderful festival for those a third of my age, but not so much those in their third age.  |
|
|
|
Post by beef on Nov 24, 2024 8:37:02 GMT
|
|
|
|
Post by olirow on Nov 24, 2024 22:21:47 GMT
I guess what's happening is that there are too many festivals and it's too easy to have a bad time at a festival (weather, no sleep, exhausted, can't see the bands etc) so lots of people are getting jaded... plus they are increasingly expensive... plus everyone has seen all the top bands now, not many new headliners coming through... so not surprising really.
|
|
|
|
Post by Zenrider on Nov 25, 2024 1:46:31 GMT
I guess what's happening is that there are too many festivals and it's too easy to have a bad time at a festival (weather, no sleep, exhausted, can't see the bands etc) so lots of people are getting jaded... plus they are increasingly expensive... plus everyone has seen all the top bands now, not many new headliners coming through... so not surprising really. It's a combination of a lot of things. COVID certainly put a lot of festivals off their rhythm. The Chicago Blues Festival is not what it used to be, but at least it's still there. There are hints it may be more it's old self next year. It's a free festival. So the price is right. Because of when May ends, not sure if I have the right week off in June. Then again I have only seemed to make it on Sundays anyway. |
|
