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Post by olirow on Nov 5, 2024 14:42:38 GMT
Just seen the message to say there won't be a Womad 2025, and Womad 2026 will be in a new venue.
That's both concerning and intriguing but hopefully will turn out well since many, including myself, feel a refresh is needed.
Anyone have a theory about where the new venue will be?
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Post by jessica on Nov 5, 2024 14:57:09 GMT
I'm pretty devastated to be honest! I've been going since the festival moved to Charlton Park - I have so many memories there, and the site itself has such sentimental value to me. Also very disappointed there isn't going to be a festival to look forward to next year. Anyone have any suggestions of an alternative festival I could try?
I really hope the new site is nice and that they can recreate the beauty of the arboretum! My guess would be that they will pick a site closer to Bristol, Bath or Reading for better public transport links. However, I hope they go more rural and pick a site that has lots of natural beauty. A bit like the site for Green Man, which is spectacular.
I'm all for a bit of a refresh but I hope they don't change Womad too much. There's so much they get right - I don't think that they need to reinvent it. I hope they keep the Siam tent!
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Post by beef on Nov 5, 2024 15:37:59 GMT
The survey from a few months ago hinted that things were going to change. I guess the fact that there's no Womad 2025 means that CP is no longer viable and that they're still looking for an alternative. I feel sad about it too, but then I felt the same about the move from Reading.
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Post by mikey on Nov 5, 2024 17:38:31 GMT
Well, did not see that coming! Although the survey that went out earlier did hint that changes may be necessary. Hopefully, will find out where the new location will be in the coming weeks, but my guess is that WOMAD 2026 may have a different ‘vibe’ to it.
I wonder if CP was too big a site for what was maybe a smaller weekend audience following Covid.
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Post by olirow on Nov 5, 2024 19:08:56 GMT
I'm pretty devastated to be honest! I've been going since the festival moved to Charlton Park - I have so many memories there, and the site itself has such sentimental value to me. Also very disappointed there isn't going to be a festival to look forward to next year. Anyone have any suggestions of an alternative festival I could try? I really hope the new site is nice and that they can recreate the beauty of the arboretum! My guess would be that they will pick a site closer to Bristol, Bath or Reading for better public transport links. However, I hope they go more rural and pick a site that has lots of natural beauty. A bit like the site for Green Man, which is spectacular. I'm all for a bit of a refresh but I hope they don't change Womad too much. There's so much they get right - I don't think that they need to reinvent it. I hope they keep the Siam tent! If you have never been to Musicport, you should go. But it's a late October festival, so one to attend in addition to Womad, not as an alternative. I'm thinking I might try an overseas Womad, have never done that before. |
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Post by digitalmonkey on Nov 5, 2024 19:37:59 GMT
I'm pretty devastated to be honest! I've been going since the festival moved to Charlton Park - I have so many memories there, and the site itself has such sentimental value to me. Also very disappointed there isn't going to be a festival to look forward to next year. Anyone have any suggestions of an alternative festival I could try? I really hope the new site is nice and that they can recreate the beauty of the arboretum! My guess would be that they will pick a site closer to Bristol, Bath or Reading for better public transport links. However, I hope they go more rural and pick a site that has lots of natural beauty. A bit like the site for Green Man, which is spectacular. I'm all for a bit of a refresh but I hope they don't change Womad too much. There's so much they get right - I don't think that they need to reinvent it. I hope they keep the Siam tent! I recommend Purbeck Valley Folk Festival. It is a stunning little festival near Corfu Castle that I only found out about thanks to this forum. It is folk so may not entirely your thing but usually a couple world acts that fit the WOMAD vibe |
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Post by digitalmonkey on Nov 5, 2024 19:43:03 GMT
I'm not entirely surprised by the news certainly after the slightly reduced line up this year, lower numbers in attendance and the survey they pinged out.
I'm summarizing that the coat of the land to host it is becoming prohibitive in relation to tickets sold. It is sad not to head back to Charlton Park but let's hope WOMAD does return hopefully not with too drastically cut
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Post by calndel on Nov 5, 2024 22:36:41 GMT
I noticed the Charlton Park Estate was being develop and that work has continued after WOMAD ended. I think the new lord of the manner doesn't want WOMAD to continue on their land as they want to turn it into a up market Butlins.
We only went to Reading once, and the stage more or less stayed the same when they moved to Charlton park, there was just more room for the stages, and everything else.
On the upside Radio WOMAD have said they will do something this year to help fill the gap.
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Post by deserttraveller on Nov 6, 2024 0:43:25 GMT
I'm pretty devastated to be honest! I've been going since the festival moved to Charlton Park - I have so many memories there, and the site itself has such sentimental value to me. Also very disappointed there isn't going to be a festival to look forward to next year. Anyone have any suggestions of an alternative festival I could try? I really hope the new site is nice and that they can recreate the beauty of the arboretum! My guess would be that they will pick a site closer to Bristol, Bath or Reading for better public transport links. However, I hope they go more rural and pick a site that has lots of natural beauty. A bit like the site for Green Man, which is spectacular. I'm all for a bit of a refresh but I hope they don't change Womad too much. There's so much they get right - I don't think that they need to reinvent it. I hope they keep the Siam tent! I asked Peter Gabriel this very question 2 years ago, of course he said the festivals future was assured. The demographic is getting older, Womad is just not attracting younger people. Attendance was down in 2024. with what's happening in the event industry ( I was involved in that until 3 years ago) I feared this day would come and like you Jessica I am devastated and your words speak for me, but I'm not surprised in the least. It needed a re boot and to keep it alive for a future big changes are needed. Yea, I'm really upset; aside from my PG forum friends I made a lots of friends there many on here. Any new festival will be smaller to reduce costs and greener no doubt. |
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Post by deserttraveller on Nov 6, 2024 1:14:39 GMT
As for a new venue, I suggest one with existing infrastructure as that is VERY expensive to put into a rural site. Think of any existing festival site that has been tried and tested and divide Womad in 2 say 15/20K with 2 main stages and smaller stages.
One not with an existing festival on it around the end of July, or look at the Womads overseas and how they operate.
Jessica I recommend Purbeck as a very small Festival only 5k, punching well above its weight.
2024 has been the worst year of my life and with news like this it seems it ain't done with me yet.
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Post by Rendrags on Nov 6, 2024 15:23:18 GMT
Well I was gutted by this announcement.
I have been incredibly fortunate in having Womad on my doorstep - The Red Gate was only ten minute's walk away from my house - and I've been able to enjoy some amazing Womads so conveniently over the years.
I was half expecting an announcement of a slimmed-down Womad next year, so it came as a great shock that not only will there not be one next year, but it's moving somewhere else. In 2017 it was announced that Womad was committed to Charlton Park until at least 2030. I can only assume that Womad and CP could not agree on how CP could accommodate what Womad has in mind. I've read today a comment from Chris Smith, festival director, that 'some of the changes we want to make would be difficult to make in the home we've had'. Make of that what you will.
Mr Smith said that 'they hope to stay nearby, possibly still in Wiltshire'. I'm struggling to think of a location which is already set up to host festivals in this area, other than Larmer Tree Gardens, home of the End of the Road festival on the Wiltshire/Dorset border. I wouldn't call this 'near' at about 55 miles away from CP.
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Post by deserttraveller on Nov 6, 2024 18:10:39 GMT
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Post by Zenrider on Nov 7, 2024 4:26:43 GMT
Well I was gutted by this announcement.
I have been incredibly fortunate in having Womad on my doorstep - The Red Gate was only ten minute's walk away from my house - and I've been able to enjoy some amazing Womads so conveniently over the years. I was half expecting an announcement of a slimmed-down Womad next year, so it came as a great shock that not only will there not be one next year, but it's moving somewhere else. In 2017 it was announced that Womad was committed to Charlton Park until at least 2030. I can only assume that Womad and CP could not agree on how CP could accommodate what Womad has in mind. I've read today a comment from Chris Smith, festival director, that 'some of the changes we want to make would be difficult to make in the home we've had'. Make of that what you will.
Mr Smith said that 'they hope to stay nearby, possibly still in Wiltshire'. I'm struggling to think of a location which is already set up to host festivals in this area, other than Larmer Tree Gardens, home of the End of the Road festival on the Wiltshire/Dorset border. I wouldn't call this 'near' at about 55 miles away from CP. When the current owner's father, Peter Gabriel's friend, passed away that likely ended them being there until 2030. Had he not passed away, it would likely have stayed on that path. WOMAD was likely fortunate to have been allowed to stay a couple of years after his passing. It will be interesting to see where the festival lands. Whether it shares space with festivals that occur on different months, or if it will take up on some new farm land, will have to wait and see. It would seem they are trying to find a location where the parking is on higher ground to eliminate some of the mud issues. Am guessing the WOMAD organizers have a spot in mind, just have to make sure it's viable, as far as land use permits, and such need to be figured out. In the States 55 miles is considered close by.  |
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Post by beef on Nov 7, 2024 6:43:54 GMT
Well I was gutted by this announcement.
I have been incredibly fortunate in having Womad on my doorstep - The Red Gate was only ten minute's walk away from my house - and I've been able to enjoy some amazing Womads so conveniently over the years.
I was half expecting an announcement of a slimmed-down Womad next year, so it came as a great shock that not only will there not be one next year, but it's moving somewhere else. In 2017 it was announced that Womad was committed to Charlton Park until at least 2030. I can only assume that Womad and CP could not agree on how CP could accommodate what Womad has in mind. I've read today a comment from Chris Smith, festival director, that 'some of the changes we want to make would be difficult to make in the home we've had'. Make of that what you will.
Mr Smith said that 'they hope to stay nearby, possibly still in Wiltshire'. I'm struggling to think of a location which is already set up to host festivals in this area, other than Larmer Tree Gardens, home of the End of the Road festival on the Wiltshire/Dorset border. I wouldn't call this 'near' at about 55 miles away from CP.
...you'll have to move house rendrags! |
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Post by Zenrider on Nov 7, 2024 17:49:55 GMT
For some reason I'm thinking it could be near somewhere like Chippenham or Swindon. Places with trains and hotels. Could be a private farm, not a lord or lady's estate.
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