Sidmouth Folk Week: This is the index page for the section "Sidmouth Folk Festival" or "Sidmouth International Festival"
As an experiment I have inserted some background music on this popular webpage. Please let me know if it gives any problems in downloading. Download time on a slow modem will be about 3 minutes. Credits: Dartmoor Pixies at www.moormusic.co.uk
For August 2008 - small touring caravan for hire if you don't fancy living in your tent at Sidmouth - can be located on any camping field by agreement - also space available for a motor camper or caravan in Sidford (this applies all year round).
Search the whole SeeRed website Index for festival section
This is part of Sidmouth's largest website. The 50th Sidmouth Festival in 2004 was a huge success. During 2004/5 most 'folkies' and many people in Sidmouth said they wanted 'folk week' to continue in substantially the same form - as an internationally renowned festival. Following the 'new style' event in 2005, things were not so clear cut. This website is being maintained to record the development of 'folk week' - and will likely continue to include much material not present on the official site (albeit there will not be so much computer generated graphics!).
Contributions and comments to improve or extend the newer webpages will be welcomed. Guidance on printing webpages. Amongst the most popular pages during the build-up to Folk Week 2005 were folk51 and folk51a. These have been left much as they were in July 2005, albeit with some superfluous material removed that is of no historical interest. An analysis of where the money might go in 2005 is on folk54. The future of the social dancing is central to how folk week develops beyond 2005. The town seemed just so lifeless without the music from good quality dance bands drifting across from Blackmore Gradens and Church House Lawn from early morning and well into the night.
Thankfully, in 2007, the Church House Lawn marquee was reinstated - allegedly because the Anchor pub threatened to pull out of holding ceilidhs and the festival organisers needed a replacement venue in town. But there were certainly changes evident at the Anchor in 2007 - a much smaller stage (more space for drinkers and easier access to the rear fire exit?) and the Middle Bar Singers were moved to an upstairs room. As a consolation, this apparently has better acoustics for singing. It is rumoured that the Anchor wanted to have rock bands instead of the traditional 'free' folk ceilidhs, and that they were 'leaned on' to change their minds. It may be only a rumour....
Dating from before Folk Week 2005, views of other festival organisers are at folk63. Comments by a supportive Sidmouth resident are at folk70 with contrasting, more sober opinions at folk71. Highlights from a mid-January 2005 newsletter are at folk72. Reports from the 11 February 2005 meeting are at folk77 and folk78 (and 78a,78b) - see also folk79.
Amongst the most important of the earlier pages are folk21and folk22 which discuss economic analysis of festivals. It is argued that the larger festivals should perhaps most appropriately be subsidised from central rather than local funds. Folk26a is a dated yet perceptive document.
The latest news is always on the last few pages in the index below. Please tell all your folk friends and any press/media contacts about this website.
An early website, run by a couple of East Devon councillors was called sidmouthfestival.org and was seen as an attempt to 'cash in' by organising 'non-folk' events during August 2005 whilst utilising the name of the festival. This is further discussed here and with an update here. The material is now out of date but will be preserved for the historical record.
There was concern in 2005 that any money collected from ticket sales, etc, should be properly accounted for by persons independent of East Devon councillors and should be devoted to supporting future folk festivals in Sidmouth. As of February 2005 this ideal seemed likely to be realised with the exception of the social dancing. As of 2006, this issue became 'history'. However, financial problems will continue to determine the future of the event. 2006 was a good year - which is just as well because otherwise it could have been the last!
Over 50 years, the Sidmouth festival grew to become a highlight in the folk calendar. It is also what brings Sidmouth 'alive' during one week of the year. The town itself would be a principal loser if the festival were to be downsized or abandoned.
This section of SeeRed serves merely as a record of what happened, who said and did what, and with what final outcome. The pages are largely in chronological order.
The 2004 Sidmouth Festival was the 50th anniversary. However, the build-up was overshadowed by an administrative shambles over ticket sales and behind the scenes 'politics' as to future funding arrangements. As may be seen from many letters and articles in the local paper, there had been signs of trouble for years. However, only in January 2004 was East Devon District Council warned that 2004 might be the last festival run by the current management team. The first the town as a whole knew about this was a press release from the festival organisers dated 7 May 2004.
Photographs from the 2003 festival are presently located within an older section of this website. A selection of professional photos is available on the BBC website. (you may need to allow time for the photos to load before you can see the 'next' and 'back' buttons).
Other sections also deal with aspects of Sidmouth politics - these may be accessed from the main sitelayout page. A summary of why this website was developed is also available. If your principal interest is the Sidmouth Festival you need not venture outside of this section - simply read some of the pages listed below.
Index for the folk festival section of SeeRed (largely in chronological order)
Trouble brewing - extracts from the Sidmouth Herald - 17 August 2001
Typical 'anti-festival' letter in the Sidmouth Herald - 24 August 2001
Report of an 'internet row' over the quality of the 2001 event
Yet more storm clouds - article of 14 December 2001
Petty squabbles with Sidmouth Town Council - 26 April 2002
Typical absurd claim for profits generated - 8 August 2003
Typical (and annual) letter from an anti-festival Sidmouthian - 15 August 2003
The threat of closure: Press release of 7 May 2004 and EDDC's response
The shambles of ticket sales in 2004
Initial local press comment - May 2004
Letter from Sidmouth resident calling festival visitors 'riff-raff' - May 2004
Letter from Derek Schofield - financing of the International Festival explained
Letters of support for the festival 26 May 2004
Letter centred upon festival history - 4 June 2004
Letter centred on festival finances - 4 June 2004
Letters in support of the festival over the years
Letter critical of festival 'begging bowl' mentality 11 June 2004
Options put before the 'Town meeting' held on 14 June 2004
Discussion at the Town Meeting : summary of issues raised
Local press comment following the Town Meeting
Middle Bar Singers vow to continue - press report of 25 June
Calculation of economic benefits of the Sidmouth Festival : is money everything?
Discussion of the AFO report of March 2004 - all gloss and little substance?
Report to Sidmouth Town Council 5 July 2004
Latest news - as of before the 2004 festival
Internet chatter and comments on the Sidmouth Festival crisis - Aug/Sept 2004
Views of councils and EDDC
Views of Steve Heap and Mrs Casey's Music
Sponsorship, the Arts and Opera - comparisons
Sidmouth is special - in more ways than one
Sidmouth is unique
A poem posted on the Internet
Gripes corner, cynics rectangle, and other geometry
The festival and local people
The Arena marquee - to cover or not to cover
Trust Funds, Underwriting and Insurance
The Fringe - many views but it is an integral part
Type and size of festival - some comparisons
Infamous last words?
A Golden Welcome - extract from Festival News 30 July 2004
Festival News 2005??: an important unofficial leaflet distributed in limited numbers
A draft letter to Tessa Jowell - made available in dance marquees
Policing the Sidmouth Festival - and EDDC's No Trading notice - what a joke!
Council crackdown on seafront traders
Festival Press Release - August 2004
Job application by Steve Heap (spoof notice posted on festival boards)
"Thank you" from Steve Heap and David Slater - from Festival News 6 Aug 2004
Advert for JKL video marking the 50th anniversary - from Festival News 6 Aug 2004
Report 'Crisis meeting to save Festival' - Sidmouth Herald 6 August 2004
Press Release issued 6 August 2004
Giving the Festival a bad name - local press coverage
Letters - Sidmouth Herald 13 August 2004
The festival must go on - press report 13 August 2004
Warning about the sidmouthfestival.org website. internet warning
Caribbean Night in Sidmouth - cash in hand?
Newsletter on Sidmouth Fringe 2005, distributed at Towersey 2004
Observations from a festival organiser - do EDDC know what they are taking on?
Could other festivals replace Sidmouth? - a collation of internet discussion.
Letter of support for Steve Heap - from the Sidmouth Herald 10 Sept 2004
Proposed concerts in the arena during 2005 - a conflict in the making?
Sidmouth festival to be starved of cash aid? - report of 1 October 2004
Please write to the BBC - let's see more of Sidmouth 2004!
Dancing and workshops at Sidmouth 2005
Discussion of venues and photographs
Intrigue, double dealing and incompetence at EDDC? Updated 14 October 2004
EDDC Executive Board report - a missed opportunity for the folk movement?
"Save our festival today or it will die" - a belated appeal by Sidmouth Town Council
Questions and answers for Sidmouth 2005 - you can submit your questions
Tickets for Sidmouth Folk Festival 2005 - ticket information here
Questions and answers for Sidmouth 2006 - replaced by page folk83.
Sidmouth's SeeRed website praised
Sidmouth fringe festival 2005 - where is all the money going?
Money from the arena - a challenge to Councillor Stuart Hughes
Cllr Hughes sees red - can the festival survive if run by amateurs?
Report of Fringe Festival planning meeting - held in Sidmouth on 23 October 2004
The new sidmouthfolkweek website - yet another one!
Sidmouth's Councillor Stuart Hughes - some history
Fur flies on mudcat - showing the standard of internet 'debates'
Press Release of 9 November 2004 - following the meeting on 23 October
Sidmouth Folk Week 2005 - time for some realism?
Sidmouth Folk Week 2005 - errors in the proposed structure
Sidmouth Folk Week 2005 - the experts cast doubt?
Festival volunteers left in the dark - from the Sidmouth Herald 19 November 2004
Hugo Swire becomes shadow Arts Minister - East Devon's part-time MP is promoted.
Broadstairs anyone? - a comment from the BBC Folk and Acoustic website.
Press Release of 24 November 2004 - primarily a response to my letter of 19 November?
Safety on the Bulverton camp site - introduction
Caravan safety - letter of 15 June 1998 to the Chief Executive of EDDC
Caravan safety - letter of 14 July 1998 to Sidmouth Festival Office
Caravan safety - letter of 29 July 1998 to Chief Executive EDDC
Caravan safety - letter of 17 August 1998 to Mrs Ferrero EDDC
Caravan safety - a guide for site organisers (allow gifs time to download)
Caravan safety - experience on a Caravan Club site
Reality check - 31 December 2004 - proposed use of the arena is abandoned
Comments from 'Lizzie' in Sidmouth - early 2005
Comments from another Sidmouth resident - early 2005
Festival Newsletter of January 2005 - and local comments thereon
Does no-one care about the festival? From the Sidmouth Herald, 21 January 2005
On the move to Wales? But would a field in Wales be a replacement for Sidmouth?
Town Meeting of 11 Feb 2005 - haunted by uncertainty and rumour on mudcat?
Town Council Meeting of 7 Feb 2005 - expenditure on Britain in Bloom denounced
Article in the Sidmouth Herald of 11 February - report of the meeting
Report of the Town Meeting, 11 February 2005
Press coverage of the 11 February meeting - from the Sidmouth Herald, 18 Feb
Official Sidmouth Folk Week colour leaflet (allow time to download)
Second official leaflet (allow time to download)
Evening ceilidhs and other developments - May/June 2005
LNE event cancelled - and then resurrected - late June 2005
Impressions of the 2005 week - and feedback for planning 2006 - updated 10 Aug 2005
Social dances a huge success - but not financially? Newspaper article of 5 Aug 2005
Letter to Gordon Newton, late July 2005 - do ceilidhs have to be so noisy?!
Prospects for Sidmouth Folk Week 2006 - comparisons with other festivals
Post Mortem declared by Sidmouth Town Council - did they really mean after death?
Could good weather be a risk to Sidmouth folk week? A comparison to Chippenham
Analysis of the Sidmouth Festival - as an example of Coase Theorem Failure
Report of a public meeting in Sidmouth - 17 February 2006
Report in the Sidmouth Herald 14 July 2006
Folk week 2006 - some observations and topics for discussion - have your say!
Folk Week 2006 - Health and Safety issues, as if common sense mattered.
Folk Week 2006 - local press coverage - articles from the Sidmouth Herald.
Sidmouth vs Shrewsbury Some observations from Shrewsbury Folk Festival 2006 and highlighting the differences between local council attitudes and finances.
Showers at folk festivals - calculations based on the Shrewsbury experience!
Floods in Shrewsbury - photos in an EA publication (pdf file 461kB)
Noise of outdoor events drives a Shrewsbury resident to move home!
Sidmouth Rugby Club hands over cheque - article from the Sidmouth Herald, November 2006
Sidmouth Festival tickets 2007 - confusion and complexity as the organisers attempt the impossible!
Sidmouth Folk Week 2007 - synopsis: once again the weather was kind - but financial problems still loom.
Sidmouth Folk Week 2007 - problems at the Bulverton campsite - is it time this was properly managed?
Sidmouth Folk Week 2007 - social dance, ceilidhs and the marquees.
Sidmouth Folk Week 2007 - letters in the Sidmouth Herald of 17 August 2007 .
Sidmouth Folk Week 2007 - lessons from 2007 - can do even better in 2008?
Sidmouth - the end of the line for a special town? saturated by intrusive CCTV?
Sidmouth Folk Week - tickets and stewarding in 2008. All change again - and more expensive!
Sidmouth Folk Week - seafront traders warned about 'a new approach' to policing. Call that headline news?!
Folk Week accounts - 2006 - from the Charity Commission website, how close to no content can you get?
Seafront traders - lots of hype but no prospect of action?
Seafront traders - a letter from John Dowell - confirmation of Police and EDDC impotence!
Midnight curfew on Sundays at LNE - yet more 'environmental health' rules?
Curfews and conditions at other folk festivals - yet more power vested in mediocre council officers?
Sidmouth Folk Week 2008 - wet, windy but with people in great spirit - but did they make a profit?
You may email the author of this website. Please keep emails short and in plain text. Please state if you object to possible inclusion of your comments on this website. Attachments may be deleted without being opened.
The principal Sidmouth Folk Week organisers for 2005 were John Dowell and Tony Day (more details including postal address here). Gordon Newton organised the Ham marquee and events and (since late June 2005) also the LNE at Bulverton. These were both pivotal to the success of 2005 and (thereby) to the whole future of a folk week in Sidmouth. Malcolm Burrough (a local farmer) abandoned plans to hold the LNE event. It seems unlikely he will be involved again. Gordon Newton opted out of 2006 owing to other business commitments - but he deserves lasting thanks for his help in 2005.
The new festival director (as from 2008) is Leo Beirne (for contact details, try Google)
To email the chief reporter of the Sidmouth Herald use diana.bowerman@archant.co.uk or telephone (+44) (0) 1395 515191. Fax (+44) (0) 1395 579159
To email Sidmouth Town Council use feedback@sidmouth.gov.uk
To email EDDC use dpagett@devon.gov.uk
To email the SeeRed author use stevewozniak42@hotmail.com