TalkAwhile - The Folk Corporation Forum

Not counting Fairport & Richard Thompson of course  :)

For me, Best was probably The Saw Doctors, a great good time band,
Worst was the Bootleg Beatles, who took themselves far too seriously for me*

*Caveat - I was also freezing cold,which may have contributed to the bad vibes.

Incredible String Band. I think we've all agreed on that haven't we?

Best? Let's have those votes flooding in readers...

ISB were the worst headliner by a very long way.

The best, Show of Hands, The Oysterband.

Jackdaw

Best - difficult, but The Home Service get it.

Worst?  The Leningrad Cowboys.  Failed totally to light my fire despite all the hype. They just pip Priory Of Bryon, Roy Wood and De Dannan who bored me and e2k who just didn't work)

By headliner I assume we mean "final act on the night?"  If so, then ISB doesn't qualify.  Neither does Show of Hands (remarkably)

Yeah, but De Danaan were just boring. The Incredibles were a tragedy!

Who said they've got to be last on? My personal best of all time would have to be John Martyn and he was followed by the Flapjack Band.

ISB weren't just the worst headliner. They must be the worst band I,ve ever seen anywhere by a fair distance. Like the leningrads though. Best must be Saw Doctors and Oysters.

Footnote: ISB weren't always the worst band though, Nick. That's the tragedy.

Doesn't make him a "headliner" though.  My personal bests of all time would be While and Matthews and Jackie McCauley's Poormouth.

"head·lin·er (hdlnr)
n.
A performer who receives prominent billing; a star."

So maybe it does, dependant on the advertsing.  That means I can nominate Roy Harper, too, as being a diabolical bore.

John Martyn not a headliner! Pshaw!



Then that is what you must say, Bazza. We'll have no hidden agendas here!

Just trying to respond to the question.

As an aside, I really enjoyed the John Martyn/Danny thompson set in 1987.  And I've just checked "Expletinve Delighted" and they closed the Friday night! 

Prominent Billing. I loved them.

And The Hamsters.

Prominent Billing with Gerry Conway or the set on their own?

The Best for me were The Oysterband and the worst The Priory of Brion I'm afraid

Yup - I meant "final act" or at least "most prominent act", otherwise I would have voted for All About Eve as the best - but they were on in the afternoon.

What year were Home Service? - either a) Pre 1985, or b) 25th Aniversary (I was in hospital, winge,moan)  or c) I drank how much?

But that means that the Incredible String Band weren't the worst band ever!

Where's the justice in that!

The Incredible String Band are awesome and so obviously can't possibly be the worse headliners ever, even though I missed that one  ;)

Priory of Brion were great although were designed for small venues so did seem a bit pointless headlining a day.  Still Percy on an off day is vastly superior to most people on form.

Leningrad Cowboys were awful.  Were they meant to be funny or good?  Well, they failed on both counts with me.  Everyone around me - partners, children, best mates all loved them though....

Steeleye are great both times I've seen them headline....but my vote for best would have to be John Martyn and Danny Thompson.  

Don't worry, Cocker, they qualify on "prominent billing".  And were followed by All About Eve who closed the night.

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ISB were awesome but not the last time they played Cropredy, David.  ;D

Mike Heron had to read the words to "Painting Box"!

Thank goodness, Baz.

Otherwise we'd have had to have had:

Worst act ever - Fairport Convention
Best act ever - Fairport Convention

Controversial!

Best for me was Lindisfarne

Worst - Procul Harum, not a nice noise

rachel

I agree.  I'm not proud to admit I got very drunk and started shouting 'Oh just play it and bugger off will you' until I got threatened by a gang of marauding Harumites.  Not my finest hour.  Or Cropredy's.

As for Y2K...the REAL stars of that lineup were Stackridge.  Tell me I'm wrong..  Actually, on second thoughts....  ;)

Hey
I think the worst mst have been Eugene Wallace (although i was not rude enough to boo him!!)

The best has got to br this years performance from Glenn Tillbrook - never seen him bfore and was totaly captivated!!!

Di

Hey me again

Just realised its all aobut the headliners!!!! but forgive me as I am NEW!!!

Eugene Wallce was not at all good though!!

Wouldn't disagree there.  Good enough to get me to go and see them again at Cecil Sharp House (with a friend who lived next door to the Evans' whilst she was growing up and knew them all!).  They took great umbrage at the noise limiter at the back of the hall .... and great pleasure at blowing it on the last chord of the night.

It's taken a while and a trawl through my old programmes.. but here is my offering...

Worst: 
John Martyn 06
Country Joe 04
Musafir 01
Priory of Brion 00 (with copious apologies to Sandy!)
Otway & Barrett 97
Lenningrad Cowboys 93

Best (not counting Fairport, RT or SofH):
10CC 06 (Oh YES!!)
Lazarus 06
Lindisfarne 03
Blue Tapesrty 03
The Dubliners 02
Lonnie Donnegan 01
Joe Brown 96
Lindisfarne 94

hi Amethyst

i liked the Priory of Brion - does that make me very stange or just strange????

Must agree with you over Lazarus though -fantastic!!

Worst for me =Jethro Tull -----dissapointed -expected better .
Best  = Country Joe McDonald Band----totally blew me away un-expectedly . In fact I have`nt got back yet from being blown away .Oh how I wish I could have been at Woodstock . GIMME AN F  ::)

One of the best singers in the world singing some of the best material ever written?  Why on earth would you want to like that, Mistress Strange of Strangeville, Strange County?   ;D

What year was he on?

If you have to look it up, it wasn't memorable enough  ::)

Best - Edward The Second and The Red Hot Polkas, Barrage and The Dubliners
Worst - umm...hang on, I'll have to go and look it up, I may have been in The Red Lion at the time....

Looked up to get the correct year Skirky  ;D

Thanks.. I forgot the great Edward 2nd.. 98..

1991, Friday afternoon. Never heard of him before nor since, but I do recall him using foul language from the stage not at all in keeping with the Cropredy ethic.

For the rest, I'd second Amethyst with the exception of 10cc (sorry Amy!), with Lonnie Donegan top of the list. If it hadn't been for him, however you define it, folk-rock music as we now know it would never have got going iMHO.

No need to apologise Malcolm.. it's a good thing that we don't all like the same  ;D

Indeed he was, having reminded myself by looking at the programme.....Google produces one reference, on Chris Spedding's site.

The Dubliners let me down. Not the same band since Ronnie left.

For me, there are too many contenders for the best headliner (although the last two Lindisfarne appearances would take some beating) but one really does stand head and shoulders above the rest as the worst. In over 30 years of concert going, I've only ever left once in the middle of a set and it was....The Bootleg Beatles I'm afraid. I left the field feeling sad that any tribute band should take themselves so seriously.

At the risk of causing much controversy, I did really enjoy the ISB. They thrived in their day by playing to small audiences with concerts being more like a get together of a few friends and I guess it's not the sort of thing that translates well to a field of 15,000 people, many of whom, in fairness, wouldn't have had a clue who they were. I was a couple of rows back from the front where I'm sure the atmosphere was much different from that further up the field. I'd seen them a few weeks before at the much smaller Bloomsbury Theatre (with Robert Plant and Roy Harper sitting right behind me - unsubtle name-dropping but true!) where the atmosphere was ideal and the performance excellent.

I knew who they were - the previous worst gig I have ever seen was (you've guessed it) ISB in the early 70's, when they had a silly man who looked liked Tiny Tim and 2 strange women. Absolutely appalling.

Interesting that the ISB are (rightly) slated, when one of the best acts over the years for me was when Robin Williamson did a solo slot a few years ago - totally magical.

Robin Williamson solo is still an excellent performer.

I was a great ISB fan which was why their Cropredy performance was such a disappointment.

Nick, are you talking about the dancemeister, Malcolm Lemaistre (sp?)?

He's also fab with John Renbourn

Yes I think so.

For me:

Best - Home Service

Worst - Saw Doctors

For me:
worst: Dubliners or Lonnie Donegan  ???
best: Edward II or Barrage  ???

Best Headliner - Joint First

The Leningrad Cowboys '93 - My first Cropredy so everything was good that weekend.  ;D
All About Eve '00
The Oysterband '04
10cc '06

Worst

Country Joe McDonald '05 - The first time I've ever gone to the Brasenose during a headline act.

However, for me the best band ever at Cropredy was Blue Tapestry '03, an absolutely stunning performance.  [;-) [;-) [;-)

The worst bands I've seen at Cropredy were the ISB '00 & Jah Wobble '05, though if I had to make a choice I'd prefer to watch Jah Wobble again.

Worst - Roy Williamson: I had to go and cringe in a corner. A great shame cos I adored them in the old days
and most strangely, one early RT set when I just wasn't in the mood (and it was raining...)
Best - the last RT set when I definately was in the mood! Also, the great Lonnie Donnegan who took me completely by surprise by his energy and was better than I remembered from the days of my youth childhood!
 and SofH of course and Chris & Julie in all their guises (including their great last Albion set)

worst let down for me was the ISB  I was a big fan in the 60's n 70's   really disappointing

many candidates for best, Lonnie Donegan, Roy Wood, Joe Brown, Barrage, Edward ll, Lindisfarne, the list goes on, 

Interestingly Tull haven't featured in many peoples lists in either category, which says to me, they always did ok but were never exceptional, is that fair ?

Now where did I put my tin hat ?  :-X

I'm almost certainly wrong, but haven't they only appeared as Tull in recent years - 2004 was it?  '87 was as Special Guests Ian Anderson and Martin Barre wasn't it?  '89 was unnanounced wasn't it?  They must have played in the 90's sometime I guess...but my memory is a little hazy..Also I'm not a huge fan so I don't tend to pay that much attention...quickly borrows hat off Martin ;)

You're right David. The only proper Tull appearance was the one a couple of years ago, which I didn't see but have heard was a bit disappointing/underwhelming. It's a shame they didn't headline when they were really worth seeing, perhaps in 1982 when they were touring 'Broadsword' and played at the Theakston's festival with Swarb & Nicol and Lindisfarne. The 1987 guest appearance has long been talked of as one of a lot of people's - including myself - favourite Cropredy moments though.

The '89 was sort of unannounced, Martin Barre was pre-announced, listed in the programme etc, but Ian was a surprise guest. He just jammed along on 'John Barleycorn' and 'Matty' though so no real Tull content.

Bloody hell...David in memory not quite failed completely yet shocker  ;) 

Not a headliner, but Martin Barre's 'Summer Band' was another of those great Cropredy unexpected afternoons... Can't remember the year, but was it when Ian Anderson guested later?

Mark Tucker played guitar in that band.

Martin Barre Band played in 1993 and special guest on Saturday was Robert Plant. My first Cropredy  {:-)

Pretty sure Barre and Anderson guested in 2001 in Fairport's set too doing some Tull numbers.

I alwats find the scratch bands that crop up at Fairport a real turn off. I know there ar great musicians on show but it just ain't my thing. The Backroom Boys, Then Came the Wheel, Robbie MacIntosh Band, etc etc. Still, it gives me time to go down to the village so mustn't complain.

Jackdaw

Has anyone mentioned The Hellecasters?  Thousands of would be guitarists sitting in the field muttering "bastards" every five minutes as they dazzled the crowd.

Definately next on my 'Great afternoons' list! - although the last time Jerry D played I was disappointed, it didn't seem to have the passion of the early Hellecasters.

The best? Probably anyone playing in 2002 which was my first year at Cropredy. But if I have to choose then..

Worst would be a tie between Country Joe (during which I also left and went down the Brasenose) and Mostly Autumn.

Best other than SoH and RT would be the Oysters and Blue Tapestry with a very special mention to The Family Mahone. the last simply because of the company I watched them with. though they were fun  ;D [;-)

I really enjoyed Steeleye Span this year.  Do the Morris On Band count?  If so they'd be up there too.

The worst I've seen is Nick Harper - and thankfully I didn't see much of him, being back at my tent most of the time.

I tend to agree with Will, Nick H. wasn't my cuppa at all. Morris On were definitely the highligh in 200?4?

I would like to vote for the Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain (1995) - I don't care if they were not headliners I just loved 'em!

My worst was Country Joe Muck Donald also 95 - not because of the music but his snotty attitude

I think you're in the wrong century!

Yep 2005.

Whats that spell?
Whats that spell?

Stupid Brits don't know all 7 verses. Damn!

I've only been to two Cropredy's so I don't feel confident giving a best and worst.

I wasn't terribly keen on John Martyn this year but I've bought his album since and it's fantastic. I really wish I'd paid more attention.

I thought 10CC were really good this year, but they were one of my favourite bands of the 70s so I think I just enjoyed singing along (I originally typed sining along which, in retrospect, would have been a lot more memorable!)  ::)

I think all bands have their merits - even if it's only to prompt you to move around or away a bit and get some exercise! I'm sure the Brasenose would be happy for the ISB to play every year!

Ok so the beer was really good that year I meant 2005

Worst:

The Leningrad Cowboys were a waste of time - the film was amusing but the live version wasn't.
Stockton's Wing were dull

Best:

The first time All About Eve played (88??89??) sticks in my mind, although obviously not the year.

 Robert Plant playing with the lads was amazing. Their rendition of "Thank you" made the sky stand still for a few minutes.

  Thought Roger Hodgson was pretty dull. Not awful, just dull  :-\

WHAT?

Roger Hodgson was FANTASTIC
For me it was a dream coming true, because I used to be a real Supertramp fan when I was young.

I met him earlier that year, when he did the Excalibur thing with the Fairports in Quimper.
I showed my best (embarrassing) fan behaviour  :-\
Rob Braviner could stop me  ::)
And Roger was just nice  :-*

   Oh, sorry. I must have meant...er.....another Roger Hodgson.

Oh dear, I thought Country Joe was fab, and it took me back to my young days, I must be older than most of you, 'cos 1967 - 69 were the best years of my life!!!  Country Joe was connected with the politics and general feeling  of the time.. plus Janis Joplin,  and  that wonderful belief that  we, the young peeps were going to change the world...think we did a bit,  but not for the better I'm afraid, we got lots of freedom of expression etc. but that seems to be denied us these days everyone too afraid to speak up..  p.c. and all that ....shame really, still I have the memories !!!  And thanks to Peggy and  Croppers, I  did relive a little of that time for a couple of hours in a cold and windy field !!!  Give me a 'P' and then an 'E' ..ho ho...

Best: All About Eve (both times), Steeleye Span

Worst: All those dreary blues/rock bands - lazy, lazy music. Man were particularly poor.....

Cheers

Adam

Name and shame Adam, name and shame (although we know who you mean really!)  ;)

You are not alone Bernie, perhaps we are of a similar vintage but I also thoroughly enjoyed Country Joe. However I can understand him not being to everyone's taste but contrary to Jim's opinion, I found the man very approachable and pleasant.
I'm not sure if people realise, it was Country Joe and his band that helped save the day when that strange Mr Wobble chap decided to walk off stage 30 minutes before he should have.
Like the true professionals they are, were able to get on stage at very short notice and fill the time gap created by Mr Wobble. I doubt many folk actually noticed the slightly extended break in musical proceedings, or as Eric Morcombe might have said, "you didn't see the join"

Most people didn't notice because of the catatonic state induced by the aforementioned Mrs Wobble.

So Jah had a Wobble?  Is he related to Uncle Bulgaria?

(Sorry, getting silly now)

I spoke to Country Joe at a gig a few months before Cropredy and he was very friendly. The support group were a young local band and he bought their self produced CD.
I always remember seeing him in the early 70's (solo) when the dreaded football songs were rife. He asked for requests and some wag shouted "Blue is the Colour". Joe played the whole song from start to finish and he'd only been in the country a few days!

I didn't partake in the Summer of Love, instead chosing to get myself born in it.  So maybe a different generation but I love Country Joe (& The Fish).  For those that don't know it and think of Joe as a bit of a 'hippie novelty act' you should check out 'Electric Music for the Mind & Body', truly one of THE great psychedelic albums...

Best for me??...............Tull and 10cc worst??................... errrmmm struggling actually......... really am..help...... hopefully not this year coming!!!!!!!!!!

Or see them on the Monterey 67 film. Very hippie, Very trippy, Berkeley variety. Owsley's influence all over that gathering

So he's a glory hunting Chelsea w***a is he, as if I needed another reason for not liking him.  ::)

I know what people mean when they say he was part of their yoof and connected to the politics of the time way back, but so was Tariq Ali, and I wouldn't want to see him at Croppers either.  O0

I thought Country Joe was dull, very disappointing, but the Dylan Project the next night were fantastic.

I've only been to two, so can't contribute much, but last year was superb I thought, The Ukeleles, Muffin Men, Hamsters, Dylan P, RT, some wonderful highlights.

I forgot, a brilliant hour of Loudon Wainwright!

Would love to see him back.

Superb!  I'm all in favour of Tariq making an appearance... He's currently on a South American trip with a new book, so seeing 20,000 6X'd up Folkies shouting their support for the policies of Hugo Chavez would be a joy to behold ;D

I'm going to tell you a little secret.  Just to be kept between us, so don't tell.  I'll whisper it... I think the Dylan Project are really awful.  There, I've said it.  I've been carrying this around for too long...  God, I'm so sorry.....  ;)

ps 5 letter words beginning with w and ending in a.....??  Give us a clue?   :o

OK, you've talked me into it, Tariq Ali for Cropredy 2007! Get the campaign started. O0

The cropredy headliners that really delivered for me were in no particular order were (although strictly speaking some of these were not the last act of the evening - does this matter?)

John Martyn - 2006
Lazarus - 2006
The Richard Thompson Big Band - from way back when - Hand of kindness period
The Home Service - 1985 & 1982
The Battlefield Band - 1984
Feast of Fiddles - 2006
Dick Vaughan
Albion Band - sometime in the early 80's - could be the same year of the aforementioned Thompson Gig.


I choose not to dwell on the worst acts at cropredy.

I'd forgotten them...they were great!  My first Cropredy...done on a wing and a prayer...hardly ate anything...although I just had enough cash (7 quid if I remember correctly) to buy a copy of the Boot on the last day...

John Martyn, eh?

Welcome to Talkawhile, Simon. We need men of taste.  :)

And also men to explain to some of us what theheck it was all about  ::)

What was what all about, Albie?

Exactly. Maybe Simon can explain what the John Martyn performance was all about.  ;D

Well, I'm not sure it had to be about anything. But, be assured, Albie, it was awesome.  ;D

We shall agree to differ then. Or at least, I will agree to differ.  :D

Agreed.

I beg to differ.... Car Park.....Now !  >:(

Who?!?! :-)

I assume you mean Mr Gaughan?.....

norman gaughan?
swinging/dodgy ye sassenach gets

I think he might have meant Dick Vaughan Dyke, the Mary Poppins chimney sweep.

Isn't he the one who was Vaughan to be Wild?

(okay, too silly, I know....... :P)

Did Roses grow on him?

Wasn't that on Sunday Night at the London Palladium??

Norman Vaughan..   ::)

women eh? watcha gonna do with em?

ah Yes! Dick Gaughan in deed it was ... simply a careless slip of the key board..

Well done for getting this thread back on topic, Simon ::)

As for me - only "done" two Cropredy's so hardly qualified to comment.

But since you ask ;)

Best 10CC. Worst  - well I wouldn't go that far, but John Martyn left me a bit cold. Having said that, I had never seen/heard him before, so I am not "dissing" the guy at all. Just didn't do it for me at Cropredy.

.38 Special was pretty bad!

As in Mr Van Zandt, brother of...Ronnie???  When did they play?

Oh yeah!  That was at the Wichita International Speedway - wretched place! 

Wow!  What a relief!  ;D

best ?country joe worst  John martyn (is that spelt right?).                    jamesc

Can't remember individual yeras but off top of head (and they're not all headliners....):

Best:  Family Mahone, Country Joe and Fish, Priory of Bryon, Muffin Men, Nick Harper and early line-up FC at the 97 bash (it was really hot the day....)

Worst:  Dubliners, ISB

Best: any version of Fairport, but yes particularly that very hot day in 1997; the Muffin men couple of years ago, (an unexpected delight).
Worst: Lindisfarne, I think 1994, almost a parody of their former selves; Jethro Tull a couple of years ago- allright not that bad, but sound was awful and they played too many "medleys". A great band like that could have done a lot better.

Nick Harper was dire a couple of years ago.  Don't think that Glen Tilbrook really worked on his own either - sort of came into his own when he came on with Fairport and they turned into Squeeze for 15 minutes, but still neither nowhere near as bad as ISB in 2000...  Also Musafir - what was that all about then........

I remember hearing Robert Plant in 1992 as we were putting the tent up - that was awful for me  :'(

I'm curious, what particularly did you consider dire about Nick's set ?

It's a really strange thing, but I know a lot of people who REALLY don't like Nick's stuff.  I find it hard to put myself in that place, but it is certainly true.  I guess the fact that people go one way or the other is a good one really - indifference is something to fight against (if I could be bothered!)....

Because it was puerile drivel IMHO anyway

I thought there were just two things wrong with Nick's set.

His singing and his guitar playing.

Sorry GoatBoy but I am another one of the many whose boat Harper Jr doesn't float.

Jackdaw

Interesting.  I was surprised he did his Zappa TnB cover, I bet that polarized a few opinions...

It polarised me. I couldn't bear him   ::)

"Puerile drivel"? Mm. Pretty much sums it up for me, although I know some people will require more debate  

8)

Didn't enjoy it all and if it hadn't been for the follow on, would have gone back to my tent.  He was hopeless - apart from that he just didn't seem to be able to ignite the crowd.  Everyone around us seemed to agree.....nothing personal.   (Unlike the band who shall remain nameless who keep giving me random dirty looks...........)

Procul Harem in 2003(ish?) were brilliant!!!!

For what it's worth, I didn't enjoy Nick Harper at Cropredy at all, BUT I saw him a little while after supporting the Oysterband in Manchester and found him absolutely spellbinding, in a small room you really got the feel for what he was doing

Got to agree with DV, the Cropredy set did absolutly nothing for me.  saw him a while later supporting the oysters at Wolverhampton (with Pastie, clive and grahameH) and he was fantastic.  Sometimes wonder if Cropredy is the right setting for solo acoustic gigs?

Glenn Tillbrook fared ok!

I was at both gigs (Cropredy & Wolverhampton) and came to exactly the same conclusions, as did Mrs Reg.

Agreed, although he was playing mainly to the standing crowd at the front and working off the feedback from them. When I took a trip up field to the loos he definitely lost something over the distance. The talking from the crowd was quite loud and, I noticed, particularly drowned out the banter in between songs which was a shame because he was very entertaining and "held his own".

Maybe Cropredy needs to experiment with a smaller "acoustic" tent at the top end of the field?  :o :o   Just a thought - will no doubt be shot down in flames!

I don't think the current site could cope wih an acoustic tent at that site. Maybe in another field?

Well, I don't have a huge experience of Cropredy but there was a lot of talk after this years about how spread out the crowd is getting now that most people take some form of chair/portable garden hammock along. So, maybe the answer would be to move the artists into the next field (but still make 'em use our bar!), move the stage back a bit and then add an acoustic tent (would have to be a tent) at the top end, or in the next field near the artists.

I dunno. As I say, I've not been that many times and I've never organised anything remotely like a festival (except my 40th birthday party, that took some doing ...)

But ,would a giant sized tv screen  directly behind the sound tower be of any benefit for those farther back .? When I make some of my many dashes /forays up-field for the loos I  always seem to miss something .
 In  Utopia  the band  playing should say "Hold on a few more minutes  ---PB`s off for a wee . Wait till he comes back so he does`nt miss anything".  [;-)
  The Prom in the park at Belton House (near me) has a giant screen and it works wonderfully for the 8000 crowd . Everyone can see the show then .

Where can I get tickets for Utopia? Are they on sale yet?

Yes I think a big screen would be a good idea. Dunno why they don't do it already.

I think there was a ginormous debate about this last year somewhere.

I think it was decided to be an unworkable idea..... ;D

I expect someone will find the link for it.... :D

Found it

http://www.talkawhile.co.uk/yabbse/index.php?topic=13274.0 (http://www.talkawhile.co.uk/yabbse/index.php?topic=13274.0)

usual culprits - cost and the traditionalists and that ugly word "corporate sponsorship". Wash my mouth out etc  :-X

The big screen is a fantastic idea. But the debate last year rather got bogged down with "I like Cropredy as it is" type comments. Which is a shame. Because if that attitude had prevailed 30 years ago it'd still be in someone's back garden!

Re. Nick Harper- similar sounding, but not a patch on his father. A bit boring actually. I also saw him supporting the Oyster Band. That guitar sound was very irritating after a short while. Spoke to him in the bar afterwards. Let's just say he seems to have a strange sense of humour...

I think the problem last year was the weather. The strong wind blew the acoustic stuff away, not just Glenn Tilbrook but others as well. It was OK at the front but patchy sound as you moved up the field. As for the between song banter, that was very difficult to pick up at times. I kept wanting to grab the remote and turn the volume up.  :)

Which begs the question; why did the organisers not arrange better weather?  :P
Seriously, let's hope for a nice calm (weatherwise) weekend next August, so we can hear everything.

I'm not sure it did in the way you mention....it was collectively agreed that the cost (around £20K) was an extra cost on the organisers without a way (except an increase in ticket prices) to cover it. Chances are that it would reduce the capacity of the site too (by extra equipment & the people needed to run it) - hence reducing the maximum total income & thus increasing costs per punter even further.

Unfortunately, these reasons (cost & space reduction) also covers the suggestion of another acoustic tent on the site (which has also previously been suggested). You would also need another PA etc for the tent, again increasing costs.

Corporate sponsorship (over & above Wadworth's) was suggested as a way of alleviating these extra costs, and that's when all the comments about it being OK as it is came about.

£20k? That's about £1 per person. Hardly a huge hike in price.

That's right! The ticket would be something like 38 quid instead of 37 (in early June of course).

I think that the acoustic tent idea has more in favour than against.Some of the smaller acts that Fairport have always encouraged can get lost on the big stage and the tent would provide them with a more intimate venue. It also would allow more acts to play including young and upcoming artists (the future?) and  give people an alternative to what's on the main stage. It'll cost a bit but I'd pay an extra few quid.

Sorry Mods if we're drifting off topic. 

Umm, haven't we lost direction somewhat in this thread? :-X

I thought there was a different thread elsewhere debating the big screen question, Mods.

Don't know about losing direction ;D

The informative and fascinating big screen debate can be found here:

http://www.talkawhile.co.uk/yabbse/index.php?topic=13274.0

Good grief....must be on the wrong site altogether. Ok, only read the first 10 pages here (you've no idea how tedious it is scrolling through the same 2 or 3 messages unselectively quoted time and time again....) but the Leningrad Cowboys were excellent, as were Musafir, as Robin Williamson always is. Ok... I'll grant you all that the ISB weren't at their best, but for worst ever I give you 10cc (for all the gods' sake), Man, Digance every bloody year (and I'd give him more time without the asylum-seeker cracks), but worst ever, and the only act in 25 years to send me fleeing with hands over my ears.... Chris Newman(who I'll forgive as the fall-guy) and Maire Ni Chathasaigh. Never were the Knightr required more, just to drown it all out.

As usual, the topic drift is my fault as I mentioned an acoustic tent for the quieter acts. If the cost is only about £1/£2 per person then I say go with it. To stand still is to go backwards.  ;D

And hey Mikemush - 10CC were brilliant!  ???

Trouble is, it isn't!

That may be the actual cost of marquee, PA etc., but you need extra stewards to sreward it, more crew to erect / remove it, and probably the biggest cost of all - the space that it will take up! This will reduce the capacity by at least 500 punters, times the entrance fee = a lot of money. Various stalls would trhen complain that they have fewer punters to sell to (the bar, especially!), resulting in less money coming from stallholders.

It's a no go, basically on current budgets.

THe screen on the back of the sound tower, howeever, probably wouldn't affect the amount of 'punter space', so could probably be afforded on an extra cost to addmittance.

If its on an adjacent field it could increase the capacity.

But then there's the cost of the extra infrastructure.

All current space is allocated somehow. So a further field would be required....

I'm not being a killjoy, just realistic.

How about our own personal screens attached to our camping chairs or better still inside our pop up tents?

Or better still televise the festival then we wouldn't have to drag ourselves all the way over to Oxfordshire.

 ;) ;) ;)

That must be a really heavy bummer, all the way from Worcester!!  ;)

I still think a big screen would be a good idea, as people do take up more space now (and will continue to whether we like it or not as it's almost impossible to police) so the crowd have moved a lot further back than they used to be. The sound quality recedes the futher back you go, as borne out by many posts just on Talkawhile, so a big screen would help focus attention forwards, as it were. We can't all go and stand at the front, there isn't the space and it would cause more of a health hazard to have 20,000 people trying to get down the front. But a big screen or two would ensure fair play for everyone. I was amazed they didn't have one first time I went.

Just my humble opinion, you understand.

Off-topic a bit, sorry, but I have to agree with Bridgwit - I thought a screen at the back of the sound stand would have been a good idea too. But what really needs sorting out is the sound quality at the top of the field. First time we went we were sat way back and thought it was great anyway - second time we sat nearer the front and realised what we'd been missing!

Oh and I liked 10CC too.

But I thought Jethro Tull were the bee's knees in 2004.

you mean like these?

http://images.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://www.oao.co.uk/music/barndance/beesknee.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.oao.co.uk/music/barndance/&h=444&w=300&sz=16&hl=en&start=11&tbnid=V3A6wC-joDLhIM:&tbnh=127&tbnw=86&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dbee%2527s%2Bknees%26svnum%3D10%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26newwindow%3D1

anyone know how to add a link behind a word please?

glad this topics still off-topic. these things need to be discussed!

Best band i've ever seen at Crorpredy were the Muffin Men and the worst was anything that ever involved bleeding morris dancers

Presumably they were bleeding because you were bouncing bottles off their heads?  ::)

Anguschacha... well there I was about to rush over to buy you a 6x to celebrate your fine taste and recognition of the Muffin Men...but then you go an dis' the morris dancers

Damn your hide Angus  ;D Did you miss Morris On The Road ... good 'eavens

Willie The Pimp at Cropredy was very cool though  ;D

What about Field 11 - where the Wristband Exchange is situated.  It tends not to get used very much - too uneven for a start.  

Field 11 is a very important field - the Emergency Evacuation field, should anything go seriously wrong in the arena....

Bleeding morris men are a real nuisance. They make such a mess of the nice white costumes.

"Stabber" Leslie. He's the worst  :o :o

Remind me to pack my sticks this year. Now where do you usually sit Mr Chacha??? >:(

You are all so hard on the Incredibles.  Those who missed the banjo solo missed something..... quite unique!  But on the good side, I see no mention of Lonnie Donegan.  I think we were privileged to see a great man so close to his death.  I thought it was a brilliant set and am very pleased we were there to see it.

Lonnie was indeed brilliant but never has a band been so inaptly named as the Incredibles????!!!!. We were nowhere near hard enough.
Welcome to the board!

Where did that snowman come from? I didn't invite him in. If a discussion gets heated will he melt, leaving just a hat and scarf?



Edit: Three question marks in a row will cause the "Huh" smiley to be drawn (whether snowman or golden bauble or other smiley set) - Cheers Nick